Sunday, June 04, 2000

Little Miami Triathlon today

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By Pete Holtermann
Enquirer contributor

        With more than 1,000 participants in the 21st Little Miami Triathlon, race director Gary Morgan has been busy preparing.

AT A GLANCE

• What: Little Miami Triathlon <   • Where: Fort Ancient State Park <   • Directions: Exit 32 off I-71. Turn left onto State Route 350 and go three miles to Morgan's Livery. <   • Start: 8-10:30 a.m. Six-canoe heats will start every two minutes. <   • Race: 6 miles canoeing, 6 miles running, 6 miles biking. <   • Division: Open, Male/Male, Male/Female, Female/Female, Parent/Child, Masters <   • Registration: 6:30-8:30 a.m. at the Livery <   • Cost: $80 per team

        The one thing he can't control is the weather, but he's thrilled to see a forecast that calls for temperatures in the 60s and clear skies for today's race.

        “It's going to be a picture-perfect day,” Morgan said.

        The triathlon will get underway at 8a.m. at Morgan's Livery in Fort Ancient State Park.

        The Little Miami Triathlon is unique in that it is a team race that involves canoeing, biking and running. After partners canoe for 6 miles on the Little Miami River, they both run for 6 miles and then bike 18 miles. The individual times are combined, and the lowest team total is the winner.

        “Not many people in the field are great canoeists,” Morgan said. “I call the canoeing the great equalizer.”

        Morgan said he thinks a lot of people simply enjoy the challenge of finishing the race.

        “For 50 percent of the people, it's not the time, it's the accomplishment of completing all three events,” he said.

        The layout of the course helps the triathletes. The canoeing goes downstream, and the running and biking paths are fairly flat, with the exception of one 200-yard steep climb at the end of the run called “Killer Hill.”

       

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