A number of OTTC members will participate in the White Lake Half Ironman in North Carolina on May 8. It is a great course for triathletes attempting their first half distance race since the course is extremely flat. It is a popular race, so sign up soon. Go to the following site for more details:

http://www.setupevent...

Course Description:

Swim:
The basic reason that both White Lake races (the Half and the Sprint) have become so popular over the years is the lake itself. White Lake is one of the finest lakes you will ever have the pleasure to swim in – a perfect oval, two miles long and one mile across. The lake which is fed by subterranean springs is crystal clear with a sand bottom – about nine feet deep out in the very middle. Most mornings, White Lake is so perfectly flat; you’d swear you were looking at a sheet of ice. This is an in-water start with participants lining up with the end of the two piers/docks at the NCFFA Center. The swim course is a triangular shaped course. Participants exit the water at the end of the easternmost pier/dock and run about 300 yards to the transition area. The water temperature at White Lake is usually very close to the USAT threshold temperature of 78 degrees. Check out the USA Triathlon wetsuit rules if you’re not familiar with them – the rules can be found on the following link.

Bike:
The bike course is a 56 mile loop featuring minimum turns. The course is about as flat as a course can possibly be, and is open to vehicular traffic. Having said that, White Lake is in a very rural part of North Carolina, so vehicular traffic on race day will be minimal. Road surfaces are very good. The first long stretch on Hwy 41 and the longest segment of the course down Hwy 210 are on excellent and very smooth surfaces. The long stretch coming back to the FFA Center along Hwy 53 isn't as good, but it's still not bad.

Run Course:
The run course is a "out & back" design.
The course is flat, features a fair amount of shading, but also some long stretches without shade. If the temperature is warm/hot, we suggest you take advantage of all the aid stations. This race has a well deserved reputation for being a "heatfest". The course is on the bike lane along Hwy 701 the bike lane along Hwy 53. Vehicular traffic and runners will be separated by DOT traffic cones. Any runner caught running outside the traffic cones will be DQ'd on the spot. This is a very important safety consideration, so violations to this rule will be dealt with severely - NO WARNING.