MCCORMICK, SC - The Hickory Knob International Triathlon takes place in the Hickory Knob State Resort Park, perhaps the most beautiful of all South Carolina Parks, on Saturday, October 13. Athletes have the ability to stay in the park lodge rooms just feet from the transition area and finish line.

The swim is a clockwise triangular course with wetsuits always being allowed. Water temperatures normally range between 70 and 73 degrees for this in water start. Depending on the wind there may be a light to moderate chop with little to no current. A very steep climb out of the lake greets athletes after the swim.

The bike is long and tough, but not as tough as past years as the course is now a 22 mile one loop affair. With the steepest grades being found in the first 3 miles the course flattens out in the middle with a new stretch on Huguenot Parkway. A water bottle handoff can be found at mile 13. Turns are marked with pavement arrows and directional signs. Police and volunteers man all intersections.

The run is an out and back 10k course. Perhaps the toughest run in the SCTS, the Hickory Knob course winds past the golf course and up and down a series of very steep grades before leveling out near the campground. Then it is around the turn around point to finish with a gradual ascent to the finish line.

Hickory Knob Sprint Triathlon

Hickory Knob mixes things up a bit by offering a second distance to the already popular season ending International distance event. The Hickory Knob Sprint Triathlon distance event gives those folks not quite ready to tackle the International distance event a chance to earn points at the last SCTS event of the year. It also gives the top Age Group and Elite athletes a real decision to make as they try to make the most of the last points event of the year. This event will take place in the Hickory Knob State Resort Park which is possibly the most scenic parks in all of South Carolina. Overall the course is fairly tough, but who could think of a better way to finish off a long and tough SCTS season.

The short 500 meter swim is great for first timers but long enough to get a good feel for the open water lake swim course. Wetsuits will be allowed and the course will be a clockwise loop. Sprint distance athletes will turn at the yellow cylinder buoys rather than continuing straight as the International distance athletes will do. We expect water temperatures to be between 70 and 73 degrees.

The 10 mile bike course is a simple out and back design with only one turn and the turn around point being found on Hwy 7 just outside the main entrance to the park. So, the majority of this course will take place on the quiet roads of the State Park. The course is best described as rolling to hilly, but with only 10 miles to tackle it is over before you know it.

The 5K run is also an out and back affair with all of the course being held on the main road leading into the State Park. Straight out and straight back with no turns, this course is simple and straight forward. The terrain is rolling with a significant downhill starting the event and the same hill, only the opposite direction (UP!), to finish it off. Aid Stations are at miles 0.8 and 1.55 serving Cytomax, Water and Hammer Gel.

All SCTS events benefit Donate Life - SC, working to promote tissue and organ donation across the state of South Carolina. Please consider making a donation to this worthy cause during the registration process.

A minimum donation of $20 will earn you a free coaching consultation. If you do donate more $20 or more to Donate Life during this registration please let us know using the contact us link at the top of this page.