Looking Forward: Ft. Benning Reverse Sprint Triathlon

While I am previewing upcoming races in which I will be participating, I wanted to go ahead and bring up the 2009 Ft. Benning Reverse Sprint Triathlon. It is being held on June 6th at 8 a.m., a week after I am scheduled to compete in the Grandman Triathlon. The reason that I decided to go for two in a row is that I am very familiar with the run and bike routes for this race. Here are PDF's of the race flyer and registration form.

This is a bit of an unusual race, in that you run first, bike second, and swim third. I have been practicing for normal triathlons with the upcoming Grandman and will only have a few days to re-train my body to get accustomed to a reverse order. The race starts out from the Main Post Bowling Center on Ft. Benning Army Post just south of Columbus, Georgia. The race is open to the public, but be sure that everyone in your party has a valid driver's license (or photo ID) and vehicle registration & insurance to get on post.
The Route Preview: The run starts at the Bowling Center, which is also the T1 and T2 Transition Areas. It starts off on only one of two real uphill climbs on the 3.1 mile route. On this portion of the route, you pass by several Airborne Training Mock-ups. You continue up and around the back of the outdoor pool, where the swim portion of the event will be held, and along Riordon Street to Burr Street. Here you run alongside the three jump towers that have become somewhat iconic to Ft. Benning. There are also a few vintage, WWII airplanes on display on the parade grounds in front of the jump towers. The run up Burr Street is the second uphill climb. As you continue and make your turn onto Eckel Street and pass the Smith Fitness Center, you have a smooth downhill run back to the Transition Area for the bike ride.

The bike ride begins with a left turn out of the Bowling Center onto Sightseeing Road for the 12.4 mile out & back route. The first stretch of the route is all uphill and the roads are not in great condition. Be on the lookout for potholes and loose gravel. As you make the turn onto Dixie Rd, and eventually Sunshine Rd, it is a gentle descent until the turn around. There will be one big hill before the turn around spot just past a bridge. Everything that goes downhill, must come back up on an out & back route. The only real relief you get is around the Lawson Army Airfield runway coming and going. Finally, you crest the hill back onto Sightseeing Road and head back down to the Bowling Center for the transition to the swim.

Once you leave T2 from the bike ride, you make a short run across Eckel Street and through a parking lot to Cary Pool for a 550 meter swim. From what I hear, this part of the race gets a little crowded. Once the racer is in the pool, there are 11 - 50 meter laps to complete, down the length of the pool, swim under the rope, and back the other way. The race concludes with the final lap swum. The race is conducted by the Army M.W.R. Department, and they hold post-race awards ceremony at a Mexican Restaurant just around the corner from the Bowling Center and Cary Pool open for everyone to attend.

One final note: Ft. Benning recently reopened the National Infantry Museum in a state-of-the-art facility. They have an IMAX theatre, the Fife & Drum Restaurant, large parade ground, and an authentically renovated WWII barracks area on the property. Inside the museum are memorabilia and artifacts from every major conflict that the U.S. Army Infantry has been involved. It really is something to see if you have the rest of the day free after the race.

Graphics from www.benningmwr.com