7/22/2009 6:00:00 PM Heart O'Dixie going strong after 30 years
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY Sports Editor
When it comes to putting on the Heart O' Dixie Triathlon, the Philadelphia Sertoma Club knows the routine.
But after 30 years, don't think they will be taking anything for granted when the event starts at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
"It's a year-around project," race director John Williams said. "We open registration in August so that everyone will have a year to get signed up. About January and February, we start working on the triathlon.
"There are so many contacts that need to be made. We have to talk to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the police in the towns of Louisville, Noxapater and Philadelphia, and the sheriff's departments. There will between 100 to 150 wonderful volunteers helping along the way and we need to make sure they know what to do. There are so many details to check."
The club covers a lot of ground on race day. The triathlon starts with the .5 mile swim at Lake Tiak-O'Khata in Louisville. That's followed by the 27.5 mile bike race which progresses through the rolling red clay hills down Highway 25 to Philadelphia. It concludes with a seven-mile run to the Neshoba County Fairgrounds.
This year's race has one of the biggest fields ever. Registration was shut down earlier this month for safety concerns after the number of entries reached 400. But the club reconsidered and reopened registration. At this point, 430 people are signed up to compete.
The club will gather Thursday evening at Lake Tiak-O'Khata to put the gift packages together and get things set up. The competitors come in Friday evening for a meeting with race officials. That's followed by a time of fellowship as they look forward to the next day.
You might think the competitors would be going to bed early the night before the triathlon, but that's not necessarily the case.
"I ran my first Heart O' Dixie in 1987 and I don't think I have ever been able to sleep the night before," Williams said. "This is a tough course and it's always hot. You have to be in really good shape to make it.
"When you finish, you are exhausted at first. But then you start to feel better. Being out in the heat two to three hours can really tire you out. It's hard, especially the first time you do it."
Williams has competed in 16 triathlons and says it's a lot more fun to compete then to be the race director.
"I would rather compete any time," said Williams, who has directed the last three races. "We are really expecting a good field this year. Some of the best in the South have signed up and we should have a strong top 10."
