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Description
A challenging, yet spectacular venue for a half-Iron distance event in the American Pyrenees - the Great Smoky Mountains Mountains!

Swim Course
The Beast of The East Half Ironman: Course Logged in as: Bastos | edit profile | message center SWIM COURSE: It is a one lap course that goes out under the dam wharf and comes back through the other side of the island that sits in the middle of the lake. Wetsuits will likely be permitted, but temperature will be checked the morning of the race. 1 lap of 1,900 meters ( 1.2 miles) On Friday, the day before the race, we will have a mini clinic starting promptly at 5 pm. Brazilian professional triathlete Felipe Bastos will lead the group on an easy swim that will cover the 1.2 miles of the lake swim, and then we will have some time for Q&A. Wetsuits are recommended, but not mandatory. There wull be no lifeguards on duty, swim at your own risk. The clinic is free for racers.

Bike Course
Once onto your bike, you will leave the transition area from the Clay County Rec. Park (5 miles from Hiawassee, GA ( but actually in Hayesville, NC) onto the lightly traveled roads of our farming community. Most of the ride is done on back roads that have been resurfaced in the last 2 years giving you - the racer - a nice, smooth ride. For the most part, the bike course has lots of rolling hills that will let you know that you are not racing at the beaches in Florida, but it won't leave you feeling like your going up the roads in the Rockies, either. We have one big climb to deal with, starting around mile 10 - this infamous two mile stretch has been nicknamed the BEAST OF THE EAST. This leads you into a screaming, fast, technical ride downhill. Guaranteed you will not feel unchallenged after riding this course.

Run Course
This is an ondulating path that takes you through the campgrounds and out onto the dam, down a steep hill and a lightly traveled country road to the turnaround. As the saying goes, "what goes up must come down", but in this case, what goes down will go up. You will have to deal with a steep hill leading up to the dam twice, but that is the only real tough part of the run course. The views from the dam are spectacular, to say the least. We have a relaxed feel to our races that many racers say they truly enjoy. We follow all the rules that the USAT requires of us, but don't make the rules the main focus of the day. This year of 2005 we decided to put this race both early in May and late in September so you can use it as an early season tune-up to see where you stand and a late season indicator to see how you improved over the summer. We know that there are many races to choose from, but we think if you decide to come to the mountains to do the Beast of the East you will put it on your race calendar as a yearly event.

Distance Details
1/2 mi Swim / 56 mi Bike / 13.1 mi Run

Submitted by: fbastos
Last Updated: Sun Dec 11 2005