Participant Info
Below are pre-race instructions, bike map, run map & Common USAT Violations. Volunteers and Police will be assisting but drivers don't always heed signs, volunteers & Police - please be careful. COURSES ARE OPEN TO TRAFFIC. Please see detailed race information further down in the email.
Weather / Water: Welcome to October! Chilly mornings and warm afternoons - next week!. Water temperature will be posted Wednesday Sept - expect temps to go down as lake levels are lowered & expect wetsuits to be legal.
Finishers Awards: Races will have custom finisher medal. Please make sure you get your awards!
Lodging / Food: Most are within 5 - 6 miles of the park entrance.
Lenoir City Hotels
Inn of Lenoir Motor Lodge (865) 986-8043 503
Hampton Inn (865) 988-2000
www.hamptoninn.hilton.com
King's Inn Motel (865) 986-9091
Crossroads Inn (865) 986-6454
Days Inn (865) 986-2011 ww.days.com
Econo Lodge (865) 986-0295
Comfort Inn (865) 988-8880
www.choicehotels.com
Ramada Inn Limited (865) 986-9000
Holiday Inn Express (877) 863-4780
Knoxville Hotels Nearby - Econo Lodge
(865) 288-3641 Concord, TN
Holiday Inn Express W-Campbell Stat. RD
(800) 718-8466 Knoxville, TN
Showers: the bath house right at the swim area has showers with hot water, courtesy of the solar panels on the roof.
Area Attractions: Visit Knoxville (link) - make sure you check out all Knoxville has to offer - Dollywood / Pigeon Forge - click here for details on fun things to do in the Smokies & at Dollywood - great Fall colors and attractions for all - Great Smokies National Park - see why GSNP is the most visited park in the nation
Please let us know how we can assist you. Racers have special needs and we'd like to help in any way we can!
Thank you for choosing our Atomic races. We look forward to seeing you soon!!
Cheers, Atomic Team
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Atomic Sprint / Olympic Tri/Du
Welcome to the 2023 Atomic Olympic / Sprint Triathlons / Duathlon. The events start with - triathlon with 500 meter Swim or Duathlon with 5K Run. Olympic waves will start after Sprint triathlon waves. Both sprint events continue with 30K Bike and 5K Run. Oly 40K bike & 10K run. Wetsuit ruling will be made race morning per USAT rules but looks to be legal with lake being dropped daily & cooler temps next week.
PACKET PICKUP & LATE REGISTRATION- PICTURE ID REQUIRED Friday, Sept 29th - 5 PM - 6:30 PM at race site - see race location below. Saturday - Race morning from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM - at race site. Registration is open race morning! Relays MUST come together to pick-up packets - no exceptions.
RACE LOCATION - The TVA Melton Hill Recreation Area is located outside Lenoir City , TN just off Hwy 321/95. The race site is about 30 miles West of Knoxville. From I-40 exit #364 towards Oak Ridge approximately 1/2 mile to park entrance on your RIGHT Look for Endurance Sports Management / Toughman banners! GPS location: Melton Hill Dam Campground, Lenoir City , TN 37771
IMPORTANT - PARKING: Lower lots below dam - walk up hill to transition. No boat ramp access for racers. Upper bath house lot gear / bike drop-off OK but no parking.
USAT Info: ALL USAT RULES APPLY- Remember to stay to the far right unless you are passing someone. Helmets must be buckled at ALL TIMES WHILE ON THE BIKE . This includes warm up and after the event! No warnings! Please do not ruin your day by not wearing your helmet! Photo ID is required at packet pickup for all participants. Bring your USAT card to registration or be prepared to pay the $15 one-day fee. Most common USAT violations - link.
Course Map Links -
Olympic: Swim (2 loops- stay in water to start 2nd) - Bike - Run(New)
Half Iron: Swim(2Loops) - Bike(2Loops) - Run(2Loops)NEW
Timing - Regular Triathlon Timing Strap w/chips attached will be used. STRAP WILL BE PLACED ON LEFT ANKLE. Times are recorded as you cross SWIM ENTRY MAT and all subsequent timing locations. Make sure you cross SWIM ENTRY MAT before entering water.
DUATHLON START INFORMATION: Race will begin before triathlon with 5K run starting on roadway along campground, just outside transition. Stay LEFT throughout course. Route is basic out & back down park road with turn-around at bottom of hill before park front exit. You will see cone delineators on your way in race morning. First run & bike end near start of race by Bath House. Stay Left on the road so that Half Iron Bikes won't be on your side of the road when they leave transition to the bike course.
SWIM START INFORMATION-
Half Iron will start at approximately 7:45am by wave, TBA. Fog generally is an issue so we will make a start judgement as the morning prevails so that we are the safest for everyone.
Sprint Triathlon will start approximately 10 minutes after Duathlon to avoid bike/runner cross over at run turn around. Sprint course is one-loop of small rectangle. Olympic Swim will start after Sprint waves and be 2-loops of longer rectangle. The swim is a wave start from just outside the swim area at the dam end. The course will be a rectangular course finishing on the beach of the swim area. Keep buoys to your Right. Follow flagging/markings to transition area. Provided swim cap MUST BE WORN.
BIKE TRANSITION AND COURSE - Bike racks will be on a first come basis. All competitors will be going through the entire transition area. NO RIDING ON GRASS. Bike will be mounted in the boat ramp lot and dismounted in the upper lot by the bath house. NOTE: Hwy 95 has paved WIDE SHOULDERS most of the route - Cyclists are to ride to the RIGHT OF THE WHITE LINE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.Sprint Bike course heads out Hwy 95 to turn-around at approx. 7 miles - return to RIGHT on Bear Creek Road approx. 2 miles to turn-around at Central Training Facility - return to park - dismount in upper lot just past camping area. Six total turns.
Olympic Bike: same first 7.5 miles (no turn-around here) - continue straight on 95 toward Kingston bearing LEFT on Cloverleaf to Oak Ridge Turnpike (ORTP)- Right onto Blair Road approx. 2 miles to turnaround & back to ORTP - NOTE DANGER: RR tracks each way will have heavy rubber mats - slow & go over mats to avoid wreck
- right on ORTP to right on access to Bear Creek - LEFT at bottom of access road - follow Bear Creek to right on 95 & back to park / bike dismount in upper bath house lot. Total turns = 9.
Cedar Bluff Cycles will be on-site for bike adjustments and help on the bike course.
RUN COURSES - The run is a scenic route within the TVA park. Same route as noted on earlier Duathlon description. Runners will STAY RIGHT & pass aid stations on the out to entrance and back to Finish for the Sprint/Duathlon. Olympic is 1 loop to the other side of the Dam on the Lock Access Rd and turnaround to the Finish. Half Iron run will do the Olympic 2x, with an additional distance on the opposite side of the Dam on Lock Access Rd. Each station will be ready with Gatorade and water. Finish down the boat ramp access & under arch.
POST RACE - Beverages / food will be available after the race. Splits will be available via result kiosks set up under pavilion & will be loaded to our website right after awards.
RACE SCHEDULE - FRIDAY - Sept 29th - 5 pm - 6:30 pm Registration & packet pick-up -
RaceSite:
TVA Melton Hill Dam - Hwy. 95, Lenoir City , TN 37771 - *Bring Photo ID * & USAT card
SATURDAY - Sept 30th- RACE DAY!!! - Parking: Park on left below Dam & walk to transition approx. 250 yards - Gear / bike drop-off OK at boat ramp lot but then move vehicle below Dam.
