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The Great Smoky Mountains Triathlon Club was founded in the summer of 1998 by me, Scott
Hanna, race director and founding member of the club. I was working at a local hospital in the physical therapy
dept. when I was inspired by fellow workers to start training and getting back in shape. It had been years sense
I had done any real good cardio workouts or swimming, but with the inspiration for loosing some weight, I, and
fellow workers started to go to the local dam and start to run. It was a slow process at first, but as the weeks
went by and the weather started to warm, the running progressed to biking, while all the time the lure of the water
was at hand. It just happened that the bike and running path were both located on the top of the wall of the dam
and stretched out for a half mile before going into the woods and becoming a mountain bike trail. A perfrect place
to do a triathlon race.
Working out outside was a welcome relief to working inside all winter. Once the water warmed
to the mid 70s, we began the swimming . It was slow at first, and we were just swimming a few hundred yards at
a time, but eventually we built up to a mile. It almost seemed impossible to think of combining a swim with a run
and bike ride, but after a few weeks of practice we were able to combine the three events at a workout.
This little mountain town, located in the western end of NC, has it's share of good athletes, and slowly the word
got out about the triathlon training that was being done 3 nights a week at the dam. Soon the 2 people became 4,
then 6 and 8. That's when the idea of a race came about and took off. In our small group were some fine bikers
and runners with just a hand full of swimmers, but we had the drive to put a race on. It all came together on August
8th when 35 people showed up to compete. We were excited because it was the first time an event like this had been
tried in this small mountain town, but the dye was cast and the beginning of a new era was born.
Training continued through the year, with swimming being done at the local college in N.GA and the biking and running
done where ever you could do it. Early in the spring of 99 the triathletes started to trickle back to the dam and
the new season of training began.
This year was going to be more exciting because there were 3 events being planned. A relay
event was held on the July 4th weekend followed by a small local race on August 7th and finally a USAT sanctioned
race on the 8th.
The race on the 8th was exciting because it was promoted around the southern region, and was the first race done
in association with the USA Triathlon. We had an elite group of athletes come to participate and earn their share
of the $1000. in prize money. The race started out with a 1.2 mile swim in the beautiful and clean lake that shares
the boarders of NC and GA. Lake Chatuge is becoming a big attraction to the people of the Atlanta area because
it's in the mountains and offers some relief from the hot sticky summers of the south.
The bike portion of the race covered 18 miles, and went from the dam in Hayesville NC to
the Georgia Mountain Fair Grounds in Hiawassee GA. and was supported by both the Ga. and NC state patrol and many
other organizations that volunteer their services for the racers.
Finally the run, which covered 4.2 miles of a cross country course and was designed by the
local track coach of Hayesville High School, was attacked by the elite triathletes that came into the area to give
this virgin course a go. Everyone said they totally enjoyed the race and the area it was held in. We received high
encouragement to continue with our plans of putting on more races for the future.
In early September, we topped of the summer with a 4.5 mile open water swim (as seen on map below. The dam is marked
with a circle where the race ends and the start of the open water swim is marked with a square) across the lake
from the Fieldstone Hotel in Hiawassee Ga. to the Chatuge Dam in Hayesville NC. This event was done to raise money
for the local hospital and promises to be a big race for the future.
In October we did our final race of the year. This race was not a planned at the beginning of the season but will
be part of the race schedule for 2000. It also pulled in several athletes from as far away as Raleigh, Charlotte,
Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville and Birmingham. Even though it was held on a cool rainy day, no ones spirits were
dampened and the race went on to a successful conclusion.
All the races being held and put on by the Great Smoky Mountain Triathlon Club are basically being done in the
same area, but all the courses are different, and cover new routes. The map below shows the lake area and all the
roads near by that we use for the bike and running portion of the triathlons, duathlons.
This year we are planning 9 events which include 3 triathlons, 2 duathlons, 1 half marathon, 1 mountain bike race,
1 road cycling race and 1 open water swim race. These events will run from March to November of 2000.
Our club is always looking for new members, so if you live in the local area and want to join in our events, workouts
or club parties you are welcome. For more information about our club you can contact Scott Hanna at 828-389-6982
or e-mail me at [email protected]. I will be glad to send any and all info you may need to help you with your race
planes for the new year.
 This
is the master map of the areas most of the races will take place in. For more detailed maps of each race, go to
Race Schedule 2000 and click on the race your interested in.
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Fieldstone Inn: for the mountains best in overnight accomidations and water sports. Call
1-706-896-2262
The Country Cottage Restaurant: Hayesville NC
For the best in country dinning and down home good food and hospitality.
You won't leave hungry or broke. Try the Philly Steak and Cheese.
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