Cedar Bluff's Weiss Lake triathlon set for Sept. 29

By Dawn Treglown

CEDAR BLUFF — Years of dreaming and four months of hard planning have finally paid off for a group of event organizers hoping to bring a major triathlon competition to Cherokee County.

The inaugural Weiss Lake Triathlon, hosted by the town of Cedar Bluff, will take place Saturday, Sept. 29.

“We hope to make this an annual event,” said event organizer Angela Towe.

Towe, her husband David Towe, Renee Coley and Delmus Brewster, worked together to bring the event to Cedar Bluff.

“My husband has been doing triathlons for about 20 years, and he's always saying that it's a shame that there's no triathlon here,” Towe said.

Although Towe and her husband planned the path of the eventual race course about two years ago, it wasn't until the local organizers got together earlier this summer that the dream began to take shape. Since then, the planners have remained busy coordinating the event, which they hope will be successful for years to come.

“We've already got over 60 people registered to compete,” Towe said.

The Weiss Lake Triathlon is a USA Triathlon (USAT) sanctioned competition in which participants will swim for a quarter-mile, followed by a 17-mile bicycle race and a 3.1-mile run.

The swim will begin and end at Weiss Mart on Highway 9, and will consist of a triangular course involving a 200-yard swim out into Weiss Lake. Next is a 40-yard swim almost parallel to the shoreline. Competitors will then swim 200 yards back to the shore.

After the swimmers exit the water, they will run to Cedar Bluff Park, where they will mount on bicycles and complete a 17-mile course through Cedar Bluff that leads back to the park.

The final leg is a 3.1-mile race, which begins and ends in the park.

Although this year's severe drought has adversely affected water levels in Weiss Lake, Towe said the course laid out for swimmers is safe for competition.

“We check the lake every day,” Towe said. “There are a lot of deep spots right in there where they'll be swimming.”

However, because of the low lake levels, Towe said several yards of carpet may need to be temporarily placed on the lakebed to help participants safely wade out to deeper water. She said other USAT-sanctioned events in other locations have effectively used carpet in similar situations. She said the ideal plan is to place carpet all the way up to the pavement.

Organizers are hoping that a carpet shop or mill will step up and help out. About 100 yards of carpeting are needed to effectively provide a safe and efficient race environment at the lake, Towe said.

“But we'll take any or all that we can get,” she added.

She said many local residents have already agreed to donate their time.

Towe said a police escort would be available for portions of the race, and Spring Garden coach Rickey Austin has agreed to bring his volleyball and basketball teams to help cover the running course. The volunteers will hand out drinks at the water station, direct runners along the course and cheer on the participants.

Registration is $35 through Sept. 24 and goes up to $45. An addition $10 fee is required from anyone who is not a current USAT member.

Trophies will be awarded in all age categories, along with awards for the male and female overall masters division winners (ages 40 and above) and male and female overall competition winners.

On the Friday before the event, participants can register at the Cedar Bluff Park Pavilion from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. At the same time, Fibber's restaurant will host an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner for $8, including salad and a drink.

On race day, competitors may also register from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m. at the park. The race will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Towe cautioned drivers who plan to travel through Cedar Bluff on Sept. 29 that many cyclists and runners would be on the town streets on race day, especially between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. She hopes local residents will also be tolerant of the loud music that will be played during the race.

“We have a sound guy that will be playing 1950's and 60's rock to motivate the competitors,” she said.

Organizers are hopeful that local residents will come out of their homes and cheer on the competitors.

“We're actually hoping to become a big part of the area,” Towe said. “I hope the whole community will come together to support us and the competitors.”

Cedar Bluff Mayor Martha Baker said she's looking forward to the event.

“We think this is wonderful,” she said. “We're real excited about it and hope it will work out.”

Online registration for the Weiss Lake Triathlon is available at www.active.com. For more information at the triathlon call 927-2999 or 256-996-2000.