Anyone ever do the “Hughston Sports Medicine Center” Duathlon at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA?
This year it is a 5k-30k-5k on May 15th and I wanted to see if it was a quality event before I registered. I will have about a three hour drive from where I am and wanted to find out anything I could about it. Checked out the main details on the active.com website but wanted to get some opinions of anyone who has been there.
Michael
Did this a couple of years ago. Don’t know about the recent editions.
The Gardens sure make for a scenic location and you can always visit the butterfly-house, which is really cool. They also had some birds of prey up for display and you also could go on a hot-air ballon ride, since the race did fall together with some festival in the park on this weekend. I remember the bike as being 2-3 loops in the park that were somewhat “technical” but flat (almost no car traffic). The runs were in the park as well. Nothing special regarding pre- and post race activities. I enjoyed it since there was something to enjoy beside the race (you could have brought the whole family).
Can’t comment about the recent editions, though.
Thanks for the info…anyone else?
Michael
I did the race last year. Very well organized and a beautiful course through Callaway Gardens. Racks are first come, first serve, so get there early if you are picky about where you rack your bike. The run and bike are rolling hills but nothing I would call steep. A few short steeper areas but no long hills. I don’t think I saw a single car on the bike course. I agree with the description of the bike course being somewhat “technical”. If I remember correctly the roads are all within the Callaway Gardens property. Lots of curves as the roads meander through the park. Nothing special about the post race food or ceremony but nothing to complain about either. Standard post race food. They did give medals to all finishers (very basic medals).
I didn’t explore Callaway Gardens but there seemed to be plenty to see if you wanted to make a day trip of it. They are well know for their huge indoor butterfly garden which I think they just remodeled. They have some hotels on the property which I heard from some people had pretty good rates for duathlon competitors. I drove from just north of Atlanta so I didn’t stay the night before.
There was also a 5k held in conjunction with the duathlon if you have any family members who come along and want to do a run. Less than 100 people in that one but my mom did it and enjoyed it.
I’ve never done the duathlon, but I have ridden my bike in Callaway Gardens. I had to attend a conference there a few years ago, and I took my bike with me. It’s a beautiful place, very scenic. I thought it was fairly hilly, but you must remember that I’m from the flatland pinewoods of south Georgia. Anything larger than a railroad crossing is a hill to me. That being said, there weren’t any huge hills, just lots of rollers. I would think the race would be a good one to do. Callaway Gardens is a first class destination, and anything put on inside its gates should be well organized.
RP
I did it for the first time last year and am registered for it again this year.
The bike course has lots of turns, but no major hills. It’s a 2 loop course. I remember that I had a lot of trouble passing people because they weren’t staying to the right side of the road, but that’s my only complaint.
Run course wasn’t hilly.
A nice race, but nothing super spectacular. Post race activities was lacking.
Well, thanks for all the comments. Looks like everything is pretty much positive so after my dose of ST I will head over and register online.
See you guys there…maybe can meet up somewhere the night prior as I will most likely be staying at the Mountain Creek Inn.
Michael