Event Date 2026-06-21
Event Location Huntsville
This was a challenging, hilly and fantastic race course. It was well organized and had a great small town feel. A limited participant field helped minimize potential congestion for all the various events taking place simultaneously.
Overall Venue Rating: 4 – Great
Overall Course Rating 4 – Great
Hosted at the Canada Summit Centre, there was plenty of parking at the site as well as on nearby streets. Bridge construction on the bike course required the organizers and OPP to restrict car traffic – this resulted in a closed course for the bike leg. Swim start was at Fairy Lake, cycle was out on Brunel road, and run was hilly including up to the Lion’s Lookout to add spice to an already very challenging course.
Please rate the aid stations 3 – Good
What was provided at the aid stations?
FC2 and water
How was the weather?
Early morning was cool, but soon warmed up with the sun. Temperatures topped out at 20 degrees Celsius.
My Race Experience
I registered early for the Trimuskokan knowing that it limited the registrants. I was planning to use this event as a warmup to the Muskoka Half Ironman two weeks later. As it turned out, there were only 202 participants in my event, the short course triathlon, but there were many other simultaneous events like the tri-a-tri, the swim-bike, relays and duathlon. The swim was listed as 850 meters with a start at the same location as the Half – down a dirt road with access to Fairy Lake. The course layout had a sighting buoy on the right at 125 meters to direct swimmers to head left and then along the river into the current. Swimmers had to keep the buoys to their left and they had volunteers on watch to make sure everyone was following suit. I seeded myself in the “medium” category, but when I had to pass several people who were breastroking, I realized I should have placed myself much closer to the front. Lesson learned for next time. Water temp was perfect at 19. I was actually worried that it would be as cold as it was in Mont Tremblant that same weekend, but we were fortunate. Unfortunately, it was a “long” 850 and combined with facing a current, my time was not at all what I expected. There were wetsuit peelers available and I had tucked a pair of sliders on the side of the exit to run to T1, which is the same distance as it is for the Half. I’d asked if leaving footwear was allowed for this race, and there was no problem. I had my bike ready in an easy gear due to the climb immediately after the mounting line (same start as the Half). Lots of volunteers helping to get everyone on the road and a lot of OPP too. The bike ride is 30k and very hilly – punchy and steep. I’d worked hard on the Corkstown hill in Kanata so was able to use leg speed to keep my momentum going up the hills. As usual, some folks were walking their bikes up the first few hills, but everyone seemed happy and ok. During the ride, I was glad that I’d decided against wearing a vest and hot gloves – I was plenty hot.
After the turnaround, there were fewer hills to climb, but what a fabulous time coming back into town. The nice thing about the downhills in Huntsville is that you can see the road as you are descending – no big curves or blind spots. Into T2, and ready to run. I was not sure what the run held in store because it was not along the Half course, but I knew it was hilly. We had to head out to the same route as to the swim start, and took a right across a small footbridge to climb up to the lookout. There was a 1k sign about 100 meters from the top, and most of us walked from that sign to the top and then started running when we got on a muddy, dirt running track. What goes up must come down, and the downhill after the dirt track was steep and back on pavement. Climbing up and then down again to a rubber track, and then back way down another hill to a turnaround. The course then took up back up, up, up, and then down, down, down to do it all over again. I was working to maintain the same pace as I did in the first half, and was happy that I was pretty close. The second time around the loop, you had to stay to the left to descend even further to the finish.
The finish chute was fun – music, volunteers, and the announcer/organizer/cheerleader pronounced my last name correctly! I was thrilled with my race – I felt great and left it all out on the run course, but recovered quickly. Mind you, there were moments of suffering too: swimming against the current, the first few cycling hills heading out of town, and the uphills on the run. There were freezies and drinks and lots of food for athletes at the finish.
Would you do this event again?
This is a terrific event and because it is a locally sponsored race, the residents respect the race organizer and come out in droves to volunteer. I would absolutely do this race again, and I would also recommend it for folks participating in the Half Ironman two weeks later. And because there are shorter events and even relays, it is very inclusive and can be very family-friendly.
Closing thoughts. Any hints for others planning to do this race? Where to stay? Things to bring? What to wear?
I stayed out at the Best Western, which is on the way out of town, but it was a great choice because it allowed me to avoid the horrible road congestion due to the massive construction project they town has going on. Hunstville is always congested with car traffic, but this was over the top! Since this race is still in June, the weather can be unpredictable. Bring all your clothes – and check the weather on race morning. Most of all, have fun!
Run K2J 