Heart O'Dixie Triathlon

I am not going this year, but I have done HoD the past 2 years, and it is a lot of fun.

It's also kind of a pain in the butt.

HoD is a point-to-point race, so T1 and T2 are 27 miles apart, and the finish is 34 miles from the start. Race volunteers transport your run stuff to T2 on the back of a pickup truck. Sometimes, the bags fall off. I saw 2 folks last year who did not have running shoes. (Race officials went back to retrieve them, but these folks still ran at least 2 miles in their socks.)

If you do not have alternate transportation, the race provides a shuttle that will take you from the finish back to the starting area. In the past, it would stop at T2 so you could get your bike. Apparently, this year, though, the shuttle is full so they will not be able to stop at T2. You will have to retrieve your bike yourself (i.e., drive from Lake TOK in Louisville back to T2 in Philadelphia). You will have until 2 p.m. to do so.

They do not hand out swim caps. So, bring your own. And probably should be one you don't mind losing. They do gather up the stuff from T1, but it's just easier if you don't leave anything there you actually want to get back.

It really is a fun race, and the lap around the race track at the end of the run is a hoot. Food is great at the finish and the awards are decent. The people putting on the race couldn't be nicer.

Just be prepared for a bit of a "down home" feel. (Also, a lot of traffic since it is during the Neshoba County Fair.)

That is probably a good plan.

Unless you are a goggle like me and could stand to lose a pair.

I thought it was a great race..although in reality I have nothing to base that on. This was my first pure triathlon of any distance (have competed in a few off road, kayak instead of swim type triathlons).

I finished 14th of 60 in my AG (35-39)