Tomahawk Sprint & Super Sprint Triathlons

Staged out of the municipal pool complex along Mulberry Street in Loudon, the Tomahawk Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlons offer a structured, fast-paced test in East Tennessee's Ridge-and-Valley province. The race begins with an outdoor pool swim—150 yards for the Sprint distance and 90 yards for the Super Sprint—which replaces open-water sighting and chop with precise lane navigation and immediate high-cadence pacing. If you take on the Super Sprint Triple, expect a non-traditional multi-round format that sends you back through the pool, bike, and run sequence across three separate rounds, making tactical energy distribution and clean transitions essential.

Once out on the bike course, you encounter the rolling topography typical of the Tennessee River basin. The paved roads feature frequent undulations rather than extended climbs, requiring active gear selection and consistent power management to sustain momentum over the 10-mile or 5-mile segments. The run routes (4 kilometers for the Sprint and 2 kilometers per round for the Super Sprint) trace neighborhood corridors and municipal pathways near Loudon High School. While the elevation profile is manageable, the punchy rollers and late-summer humidity demand measured pacing right out of transition two.

Loudon sits roughly 30 miles southwest of Knoxville along Interstate 75 and U.S. Route 11, making road travel straightforward for regional athletes. If you are flying into the area, McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Alcoa is the primary commercial hub, located approximately a 35-minute drive from the race venue. For accommodations, you will find limited chain hotels near the I-75 junction in Loudon, while larger selections of full-service lodging and dining cluster north in Lenoir City or further northeast in Knoxville's Turkey Creek district, roughly 20 to 25 minutes away.

Early September weather in East Tennessee brings warm, humid race-day mornings. You can anticipate starting temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s Fahrenheit, climbing rapidly toward afternoon highs in the low to mid-80s, so proactive hydration in transition is vital. Logistics on race morning are straightforward, with designated parking situated at adjacent Loudon High School within short walking distance of the transition area and pool. Because the city sits around 850 feet above sea level, altitude adjustment is not an issue, leaving your preparation focused on quick transition setups and dealing with morning humidity.