NO PERSONAL CANOES ALLOWED - New This Year:  Personally Owned Single-Blade Paddles Allowed
Two-person canoes from neighboring rental businesses are being provided as part of the entry fee. No personally owned canoes will be allowed for this event. Participants will need to be physically able to carry the canoe (80 lbs.), along with their partner, down an embankment to the river. Canoes and paddles will not all be identical. In fact, some canoes will be aluminum and others fiberglass or composite. Entrants must accept these shortcomings as a condition of registering. New This Year:  Personally owned single-blade paddles are allowed.

3.5-MILES ON THE DUCK RIVER
The canoe start will be near the Maury County Jail (thus the name). We will start in waves of about 30 canoes. The person in the back of the canoe hangs on to a rope strung across the river. Waves will begin about 5 minutes apart. Expect the canoe trip to take 40+ minutes. Participants will need to wear shoes, water shoes, or mountain bike shoes and expect them to get wet. Life jackets must be worn; the rental companies will provide them but personally owned jackets are allowed.  The canoe course is the same as prior years; we have updated the distance due to GPS technology.

8-MILE MOUNTAIN BIKE ON SINGLE TRACK
The bike course will be one loop of the Chickasaw Trace Park trails minus two difficult climbs. It is almost all single-track trails in woods. There are plenty of technical (difficult and challenging) sections. After two miles the course takes on several tough climbs. Participants must gain mountain bike experience on trails before racing. Beginners are welcome, but first-timers on trails may be pulled from the race. Passing is generally accomplished by the approaching rider announcing, “On your left,” and the lead rider conceding and staying to the right of the trail. Helmets must be worn.

2.5-MILE TRAIL RUN
The run section is on the flattest and easiest portion of the mountain bike trail. There are some terrain challenges and a long, gradual incline in the second mile. We do not expect bikes to be on the same trail portion at the same time as runners except as a backup plan if a trailer of canoes does not show. If this occurs we will instruct bicyclists to announce their approach and pass carefully on the left. Relay Runners: Expect to wait 40+ minutes for your partner to return from biking. You may get wet on the canoe trip, so be prepared to stay warm with a towel or blanket or a change of clothes.

TRANSITIONS
At the end of the canoe, strip off the company provided life jacket and leave it in the area. Those who will be biking will run about 50 yards from the boat ramp to transition. Bikes will be laid on their side in a grass transition area. Bicyclists will return to the same area to tag their relay partner or begin the run.  Carry your personally owned life jackets and paddles to transition to prevent mix-ups with the canoe companies.

CHECK IN AT CHICKASAW TRACE; WE WILL TRANSPORT YOU TO THE CANOE START
Participants will park and check-in at Chickasaw Trace Park. At 9:00 a.m. participants will load into the vans to be transported to the put-in. Canoes will have numbers taped on them that correspond to racer’s bib number. The start time of the race is uncertain, but hopefully by 10:00.

NO PLACE FOR SPECTATORS AT THE CANOE START
Spectators will be able to watch transitions and much of the first mile of both the run and bike. There will be no place to park at the canoe start. Therefore we ask that spectators remain at Chickasaw Trace Park and not move the cars. Bring a lawn chair.

AWARDS
Teams and Relays will be scored separately. Based on the previous year’s attendance trophies will be awarded to Females four deep, Mixed five deep, Male Relays six deep, and Male Teams twelve deep. A prize will be presented to the fastest individual male and individual female in the Team competition.

DIRECTIONS AND CHECK-IN
Chickasaw Trace Park is the check-in point and it is located on Hwy. 7, 4.5-miles from Hwy. 31 in Columbia. If traveling from Hwy 412, take the Hwy 7 exit toward Santa Fe, go 3 miles (on left). Arrive by 8:00 a.m.! Signs and volunteers will direct you. For more information on the park and better directions, see our information page.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Free primitive camping at race site.  Closest: Days Inn at Hwy 31 N., $53, 931-381-3297.  Richland Inn in Columbia at Hwy. 31 and 50; $70, 800-828-4832. At I-65 Exit 46: Comfort Inn $65, 866-656-7129 and Best Value Inn $60, (931) 381-1410.

BAD WEATHER POLICY
In the event of inclement weather or dangerously high water, the course may be modified. The canoe portion may be canceled and the event reduced to a duathlon. Heavy rains prior to, or at the race start time may cause the race director to modify the bike and run course as deemed appropriate for the conditions. An alternate course may be shorter than the advertised distances.

PARTNER CANCELS
If your partner gets sick or has to bow out after registering, substitutes may be recruited. The preferred method would be to fax an application for the substitute to Duane Leach at his office at 800-296-0419. We can also make these arrangements at the check-in table the morning of the event. Changing classifications can also be arranged in the same fashion. You may also cancel for a full refund if notified by Sept. 21 or replacement from a waiting list is successful. Please call Duane Leach at 931-388-0135 to cancel.

KNOW THE COURSE
We will work hard to make the course clear and inform our volunteers, but as with all races, participants are responsible for knowing the course. Pre-riding the bike course is recommended. Maps for the trails are located at the Club’s website and sign at the MTB parking area near the front of the park. The race will closely follow the standard loop on the map except that it will start by the Duck River. The last climb in the Trail of Tears will be skipped and the shortcut is marked with a permanent sign. The run course will consist of the River Trail, Ravine Loop and lower Woodland Trail.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Columbia Cycling Club is the host for this triathlon. For FAQ’s, additional rules, and confirmation of registration visit the website: www.columbiacyclingclub.com The race director is Gale Moore, 931.388.6290, galecourtneymoore@cpws.net

WE WANT EVERYONE TO EXERCISE
One half of the proceeds will benefit the "We Build People" campaign of the YMCA.  This program gives financial assistance with membership for lower income families and individuals.

SOUTHERN FRIED FESTIVAL
On this same weekend, September 28 & 29, the City of Columbia is hosting a festival that includes concerts, food, and activities.  See the event website.

Thanks to our Sponsors!
Miki Martin
		Printing donated by HP Printing Hohenwald, TN 615.478.8074
Raymond James Financial Services 931.388.3090		Columbia Orthopedic Clinic (Dr. James Wiseman, M.D.)
Maury County Parks & Recreation