Great weather (Sunday at least). I think I’m going to avoid some hills for a while 
I want in on the triple next year. Need a partner though. Any takers? KJGrog?
Little Smokies is damn hard. just did it today - but the TTT is a killer. 4 races in 3 days. i was impressed with everyone who finished. seemed like there were more solos then last year.
They changed the bike course from last year - only 4000 feet of climbing this year instead of 5000. but it seemed harder for some reason.
ouch. i’ll be back next year… (unless i got to Brazil). No drafting however at the little smokies - only 150 racers and all hills…
Yeah, I laughed at how few cyclists I actually came across. 150 people scattered about that “forest” was awesome. I was following some young strapping guy up the switchbacks and we joked about “drafting” at 6 mph.
Did you encounter any of the hikers/backpackers in the woods? They were fun - thought we were all crazy, but fun anyway.
yea the backpackers were funny, but the best was the “hunting camp” at mile 23-ish on the bike where the backwoods crew had set up a little tent and had three ATVs out and were all hanging out drinking beer watching the race! that was SWEET!
The race was harder then i expected it to be - and i did it last year too - ha! but i’m glad i went it was worth it…
now - if only i wasn’t sitting in the columbus airport all day today because NW cancelled our flight home…
Sorry to hear that! I’m in Cincy, so I just drove over (about 2 hours).
Yeah, I liked that “camp” with the ATV’s and such. I was actually glad it was a 2 loop course to see all the scenery that I missed or wizzed by earlier. I was a little afraid of some of the kids RIGHT on the road (7 year olds may have been drinking too) or one of the ATV’s darting across the road. I could imagine what they were thinking (or not)
Actually, I was more worried about wildlife than I ever was on a bike ride, but only saw a red fox. I figured a deer (or bear!) could come out at any time. That would make for a great story!
BTW, did that water taste pretty bad near the start or was it just me?
Saw this race a little while back and I’m considering it for next year. A race report or any tips would be awsome. I expect it’s very different from the usual one day tri’s
Kevin
Ah, yeah! Best overall tri experience out there. 4 “races” over 3 days totaling more than a full ironman. Just the half iron on Sunday is great too.
You are basically out in the sticks of a VERY hilly state forest in southern Ohio. Never more than about 150 people (and that is on Sunday when the half iron takes place). Fri and Sat there are maybe 75 people. True Tri enthusiasts. Gordo called this the “hardest 1/2 I ever did.”
My best advice is to bring your own food and a good road bike instead of your tri bike because the course has lots of very sharp turns and lots of climbing (between 4 and 5,000 feet) for 56 miles. There is a shorter team (or individual) time trial though that you could use your tri bike for - I guess bring both! Also, a full wetsuit would be good as the water temps are usually in the upper 60’s. I had a sleevelss and was fine though. Lastly, don’t wear true “race” shoes as the run is basically a cross country off-road one in grass, dirt, rocks, etc. and also quite hilly. Your overall time will be at least 30 mins slower than you normal 1/2 time - but more rewarding
The little smokies is a great race. Really well run and really challenging. Here a little summary:
Swim - the swim is in a small lake right at the base of the road up to Shawnee State Park. This year the half IM swim was a two lap swim (and it was a bit long i think maybe 100 yards). Last year it was a one lap swim so the lake is big enough. the swim had an exit the water after one lap which i find a bit tough but hey everyone has to do it! The lake is clean, but the water is a bit murky and hard to see though. T1 is a 100 yrd run from the lake exit.
Ride - Wow what a crusher. The ride is a two lapper through the state park & state forest roads. it is really hard, but beautiful and there are almost no cars. the whole ride is undulating with two pretty good climbs (1 main climb of about 1.5 miles). There is probably about 4000 feet of climbing over the two laps. There are no real flat sections so I think a road bike is a much better option. I did however use a disc and I think i would do that again. The hardest part of the ride was the last rolling section before the downhill to the start finish area. This was with about 5 miles left in the course. There was a very small aid station at the 14 mile point with pretzels / cookies / banannas but the only place to get water was a the start / finish after one lap. You had to either re-fill bottles or pick up ones you left there.
Run - yup, same deal crushing. It is a 2x out and back over the forest roads which are mostly dirt. The run basically goes up a pretty big hill and then down the other side - turn around repeat - turn around and repeat the whole thing again. There is probably about 1000 - 1200 feet of climbing on the run. The second time up the hill was actually easier then the first - it was rough getting started.
I did this race last year as well and think it’s a really well organized race and would go back again if I can next year. The race is hard (harder then Wildflower) but with a small field feels like a real challenge (which of course it is!)
I would recommend either race to anyone looking to push themselves early in the season. This is the only HFP racing event i’ve done but if it’s any indication they run very good races. If I lived anywhere near Ohio I wouldn’t hesitate to do any of their other races!
Go Solo!
I did just the Little Smokies last year and decided to go for the whole enchelada this year. It was great seeing and racing against the same people each day.
The only thing I can say about the teams is that having a teammate who is relying on you does seem to put on some extra pressure. This years winners, Bruce Gennari and Craig Evans had a tough last day, and it sounded like Craig had to dig really deep to keep going to save the win. I saw one co-ed team where the girl was literally pushing the guy up the hills on the run. That had to be tough on the ego. 
“7 year olds may have been drinking too”
uh, yeah!! of course they were! babies get trained on tall boys in those parts, babe. (my parents were slightly upscale, having given me a heineken by age 3). glad you had a great time!!! now you can chill on the flats for a minute.
Ah, now that explains it Kittycat - please tell me you didn’t grow up in that area (as beautiful as it is)…
Go Solo!
I did just the Little Smokies last year and decided to go for the whole enchelada this year…
CONGRATS for your excellent racing weekend - 3rd overall in SOLO division!
Cheryl did great too - what happened in the HALF (race#4)?
I noticed you guys skipped the SWIM in race#3? (and a very uncharacteriscally for you=slow bike-split in race#2 - mechanical probs.?)
I second that - congrats to those crazy people attempting and completing the Triple T. Eric you looked too fresh on the run on sunday.
That is a tough 1/2 IM event. Could we venture to say that it is in the Top 5 toughest in the US?? I realaize that wind wouldnt effect this race much like others but just curious what others think. A colleague that just completed Wildflower then did this one on Sunday thought this was tougher.
I had a pretty good weekend. Cheryl and I both got flats during race #2! It had rained, and there was some bad chip seal roads. I inadvertently left my allen wrench in the pocket of my jeans that morning, so I couldn’t get my wheel off. I ended up riding a couple miles, and some serious descents on a flat until someone came by with a wrench. Cheryl’s race ended with a broken spoke during the 1/2.
The swim in Race #3 was canceled because of lightning. Only the top few teams and solo competitors actually completed the swim, so they didn’t count it. They delayed about 30 minutes and then had us do the run.
I don’t know about fresh, but I was able to run fairly strong.
I haven’t done Wildflower, but I can’t imagine a course being much tougher. 4000 - 5000 feet of climbing on the bike, and another 1000 on the run, very little flat.
I did both Little Smokies and Wildflower this year. Little Smokies is definately a harder course. I think there is probably only about 750 feet difference in the climbing on the bike - but it’s all hard rollers where as WF is pretty easy until you get to the two big hills at the end. The run is about = in my mind.
My time was only 5 minutes slower at Little Smokies, but I’m definately fitter now then I was a month ago. The swim was slower at Little Smokies becuase of the exit the water issue and I find 2 lap swims are always slower then 1 lap.
not in that area, but Portsmouth nonetheless. on that side of the fence by Shawnee, it is a bit…you know what I’m trying to say–kids do chew baccer by age 6. in my neck of the woods, they wait till at least age 9 or 10 lol.
I had a pretty good weekend. Cheryl and I both got flats during race #2! It had rained, and there was some bad chip seal roads. I inadvertently left my allen wrench in the pocket of my jeans that morning, so I couldn’t get my wheel off. I ended up riding a couple miles, and some serious descents on a flat until someone came by with a wrench. Cheryl’s race ended with a broken spoke during the 1/2.
The swim in Race #3 was canceled because of lightning. Only the top few teams and solo competitors actually completed the swim, so they didn’t count it. They delayed about 30 minutes and then had us do the run.
Sounds like you guys need some flat-free tires for this event!
I remember your 2004 Little Smokies RR (on transitiontimes.com) when CHERYL flatted and you stopped to help her out…
All these mechanicals should mean that you will be problem-free the rest of the season.
It’s nice to see that all the hard work on your running pays off - letting you finish strong such a demanding event!
I hope we are problem free from now on. I discovered that my front wheel was DOA when I arrived at Nankin Mills a couple weeks ago, and found a crack in my rear training wheel. These costs are adding up. I had just mounted the tire that I flatted at TTT.