Middle TN Off-Road Duathlon

Karin · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject: Middle TN Off-Road Duathlon

Middle TN Off-Road Duathlon
AEDC Tullahoma (Saturday June 13)
Starts at 9am

A GREAT TRAINING DAY! Cool

9 miles of trail running and 9 miles of mountain biking (bike first)
This will be a marked course. No navigation skills are required.
Course will be a combination of single track, double track, horse trails and Fire Service roads.

This event is only open to TrailBlazers members (non-members can purchase a TBARC membership the day of the event for $25). No registration is required.

Link to the marked trail system:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i118/TNcaveman/AEDCTrailMapinetsmalljpg.jpg

There are a good number of additional trails that are not marked on this map but it gives you some idea of what the area looks like. This event will also give you SOME idea of the area where the navigation training event will take place in July (but just some) . Wink

More info to follow in the next newsletter and also posted in this thread.

dwightwater · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

Middle TN is pretty big. Where is this?

Karin · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Tullahoma is exactly half way between Nashville and Chattanooga. AEDC is Arnold Engineering Development Center (part of Arnold's Air Force Base) and home to UTSI (UT Space Institute) - wind tunnel research, aerodynamics etc.. UTSI has trained many astronauts (including some recently who have been to the International Space Station).

The mountain bike trails are easily accessible from I-24. They're less than 10 minutes from the interstate.

I'm putting this on for the Nashville branch members, but all TBARC members are welcome to come out and get in a good training day.

After it's done I'll post times/placements on here.

867-5309 · I Pretend I Can Navigate Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 33

I really hate to miss this but I'll most likely be out of pocket that day. Sad

Karin · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject:

Directions to AEDC:

I-24 from either Nashville or Chattanooga
Arnold Engineering/UTSI exit (Exit 117). Go South towards Tullahoma.
Go approx 8 miles, past Base Gate 2. Turn L onto UTSI road.
Go about 2 miles. Turn L at 4-way Stop. (Northshore)
1/2 mile or so to AEDC Saddle Club parking lot on L (there's a sign).

We're setting up shop at a large picnic shelter. Once you turn onto the gravel road to the Saddle Club, you'll come to a gravel parking lot. The picnic shelter is down the gravel road from the parking lot (you'll see it when you get to the parking lot) about 500 yards.

1. There are rest rooms across the road from the trails at the beach area, with running water. We'll also have water on-site if you need to fill up.

2. The closest store and gas station is 4 or 5 miles away, so (especially re: food, drink mixes etc) bring enough to get you through the whole 18 miles.

3. We'll have some food and drink, as well as draw prizes and other handout stuff at the end of the event, so I think it'll be a great deal of fun

4. The trails are in great shape even with all the rain we've had over the past couple of months. The single-track is a bit rooty and rocky, a good number of short steep climbs, some fun and fast downhill sections, but nothing super-technical. If you've done even a few stints on a mountain bike on single track you won't have any problems completing this. The FS and double track sections are pretty flat and fast.

5. The first event (bike) starts at 9am sharp (one central TA to switch from bike to foot). I'll be set up out there by 8am. For those who are already TB members registration will just be a case of signing a waiver and making sure I get you on the list of participants so we can record times. For non-members they'll also have to fill out reg. form and pay the $25 so it'll take a couple of extra minutes.

6. As a heads up - there's lots of ticks out there, and poison-everything (ivy, sumac, oak, whatever else).

7. Hope to see a bunch of you there. I'll post up more as we get closer to the day.
Very Happy

Karin · Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:17 am Post subject:

Moderate temps and cloudy in the forecast for Saturday (some possibility of rain/storms). Trails are in great shape. Marking the course on Friday. Hope you can make it this weekend. Cool

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Tullahoma&state=TN&site=OHX&textField1=35.3735&textField2=-86.2095

Karin · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Weather forecast hasn't changed much all week, except for prediction of being a couple of degrees warmer (high 86).

Course is marked - approx 9-10 miles of each (don't know exact distance 'cause I ran out of flags and had to backtrack a bit). Either way, long-ish and hot-ish. Trails are in great shape.

As a heads-up for those coming from Nashville - Bonnaroo http://www.bonnaroo.com/ is in full swing in Manchester (a few exits before your turn-off). Everyone who's planning on going is already there though, and the event is scheduled through Sunday. Bottom line - there may be a bit more traffic on I-24 around the Manchester area, but it shouldn't be too bad tomorrow.

Hope to see you folks tomorrow.

Reminder - I'll be setting up around 8. Event starts at 9. Cell phone number is (931) 581-zero-six-five-four Cool