The race begins at 9, but you will need time to register and situate your bikes and boats before the race begins so show up early. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at the airport.
There will be a couple shuttle buses available for anyone needing a lift, but we highly recommend transporting all your own gear so you don't have to rely on us.
Boats need to be stationed on the SHORE on the left side of the boat ramp. First come, first serve in relation to where the boats are positioned.
Bikes need to be stationed across the road from the boat ramp and up stream about 100 yards on the creekside of the bridge over Buffalo Creek at the headwaters of Sympson Lake
Team mates taking part in the boating and biking legs of the race should remain at those locations for start time at 9 a.m.
Runners and solo racers will begin the race at 9 a.m. with the sound of an airhorn.
THE RUN (you will need strong legs and good shoes for this 5-mile + leg of the race)
The run begins on the tarmac at the beginning of the taxiway - the runners proceed to the end and turn to race down the runway, before heading to the lakeside trails. At the end of the runway, you'll see the first of many orange flags and orange race tape. This tape and these flags will guide you along the course and block off areas that are not part of the races. When in doubt, follow the tape, and you'll be fine.
After leaving the runway, you'll run down a short length of gravel road before hitting a grass path that leads to a downhill - use caution on the down hill as there are ruts and natural debris lying on it. The down hill ends and the trail bends right around a set of two shallow ponds before leading to an uphill trail on the right. At the top of the uphill trail, you will turn left onto a gravel road for about 100 yards before turning left onto another established trail and second downhill portion of the course. there is a creek at the bottom of this downhill that must be crossed. Good jumpers will find it easy to clear, but others may want to use caution at this point. From the end of that downhill trail, runners will enter a grassy area and head up on the second uphill leg of the running course. At the top of this grueling grassy hill you will bear right and travel around two large ponds before entering the Major top trail of the Sympson Lake trail system. This top trail is well established and will bend around to the first of several lake coves. Coming down halfway, this trail will intersect with the major thru trail of the Sympson Lake Trail System. At this intersection runners will continue downhill. The downhill at the cove is hazardous and caution should be used at this and any downhill near a cove. At the bottom of this cove's downhill, runners will bear right and travel along the lakeside trail leg of the Sympson Lake Trail system before bearing left and heading uphill to head into another cove area. at this cove you will cross a stream with a rock slab bed before entering an established campsite at the cove itself. From here, runners will bear right and begin the second cove downhill before reaching another portion of the lakeside trail. This final leg of lakeside trail will lead runners to another cove where the lakeside trail turns left and uphill to meet with the primary thru-trail of the Sympson Lake Trail system.
At a grassy area, runners will bear left and begin the long and strenuous haul along the primary thru trail of the Sympson Lake Trail system. This primary trail will first pass through a swampy area, then cross a bridge, then pass the previous intersection before heading into a vast cedar glade. After the Cedar Glade, the trail becomes less noticeable and eventually vanishes. From here, runners need to follow tagged trees with orange race tape to make it to the final cove and downhill before the boat ramp transition area. Runners need to again use caution at the last downhill and final creek crossing. After crossing the last cove and creek, the tree tags will lead runners to an established fisherman's trail and to Ben Irvin Road. After making it to Ben Irvin Road, runners will turn left onto the road and travel 1/4 downhill to the boat ramp transition area to meet with their boats and/or teammates for the paddle.
THE PADDLE - you will need a compass for this and footwear suitable for running through the woods. You must take a life jacket or PFD with you. Water is available at boat ramp.
At this point, solo racers get into boat and launch.
Also at this point, Team Runners need to pass off their race tags (numbers) to their paddling team member (or if paddling together, get everyone into the boat and launch.)
The paddling leg leaves the boat ramp and travels toward the dam of Sympson Lake.
At the dam, paddlers will find a buoy that must be paddled behind before turning west and down a long cove, (inlet, slew, whatever you want to call it) on the opposite (west) side of the lake. At the back of this cove, you will find another buoy or a sign with directions on it that will lead you to the navigational course.
The navigational course is not extremely long or difficult, but adds a whole new element to the paddle. At the end of the navigational course, racers will have their race tags (numbers) stamped and must then get back to their boats and make a bee line for the boat ramp.
Once back at the boat ramp, paddlers need to pull their boats ashore and then make a short walk to the bike transition area located across Ben Irvin Road from the Boat Ramp at the headwaters of Sympson Lake. The Bike transition area is located on the upstream side of a bridge at the creek in a grassy area adjacent to the creek. Bikes are stationed here. Water is available here also. Paddlers need to pass off their race tags to peddlers at this point.
THE BIKE (You will need a helmet)
The start of the bike begins with a right turn from the bike transition area and a slow climb up a hill that will certainly test your legs. Once at the top, follow race route signs to Airport Road and toward a landfill. This road bends around to Wheeler Circle, which continues several miles before coming back around to meet with Ben Irvin Road. After turning left onto Ben Irvin Road, cyclists will pass the bike and boat transition areas and continue on Ben Irvin Road until it ends at Templin Avenue. Turning right onto Templin, the road course continues onto 5th Street and into downtown Bardstown. At Broadway, cyclists turn right and follow Broadway to its intersection with U.S. 62 (Boston Road). Turn Right onto U.S 62 and head back to the airport and FINISH LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the Finish line, racers' names and numbers will be taken by a staff member. Rehydrate, Replenish and cheer the others coming in!
