Race Founders Russ Callen, Payson Kennedy, & John Burton

Dear 2022 Outdoorsman Triathletes, Once again you have braved the raw elements of the Smoky Mountains to compete in the Nation’s Oldest Triathlon! This year was a milestone in that we had all three Race Founders (Russ Callen, John Burton, and Payson Kennedy) return and compete! We owe much gratitude to our volunteers without which this race Read More …

2019 Outdoorsman Triathlon

Dear Outdoorsman Triathletes, Once again you have braved the raw elements of the Smoky Mountains to compete in the Nation’s Oldest Triathlon! As with most years, there is always something new to contend with. This year it was the great landslides of 2019 resulting in the additional challenge on the run. Lest you feel compelled Read More …

2018 Outdoorsman Triathlon

Hi Outdoorsman Triathletes, Thanks to all our volunteers (Sue Havens, Sue Dillery, Mary Garland, Paul Wolf, Jamie, Karla “Dog Whisperer” Havens, Scott Dillery, Keith Havens, Jim Ross, Kathleen “Dog Wrangler” McNamee, Zaak “Dog Mover” Havens, Dodge Havens, Jim Hall, Kade Havens and all those helping carry competitors’ canoes up the hill!) and our wonderful sponsors (The Outdoorsman Triathlon Charitable Read More …

2016 Outdoorsman

Hi all, To those who braved the gas shortage and low water on the Little Tennessee (3rd lowest level over the 41 year period), the results from the 41st Outdoorsman Triathlon are now available at  https://outdoorsmantriathlon.org Race Results / 2016. A couple notable events at this year’s race included two of the Race Founders competing. Read More …

Paddle, swim and run against the elements in Outdoorsman Triathlon

The Outdoorsman Triathlon is coming to the Little Tennessee River in Swain County this weekend, Sept. 25 and 26. The nation’s oldest continuous triathlon started in 1976, when outdoorsman Payson Kennedy, the founder of the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and Olympic canoeist John Burton, issued a challenge to athletes to come battle the raw elements of Read More …

Triathletes In Training

Triathletes in training Athletes conquer intramurals By Emily Thompson, Staff Writer “I was thinking, when the hell is this gonna be over,” Matthew Baran, South Lyon sophomore. “I almost threw up. There was a point where I almost stopped, but I kept thinking, I am going to finish this,” Katherine Svoke, Farmington Hills junior. “I Read More …

Karla Havens Overall Champion

Outdoorsman Triathlon (29-30 Sept 2001) MAPA hosted the 26th Annual Outdoorsman Triathlon, the Nation’s oldest triathlon and considered one of the most grueling races for the distance, on September 29/30 in the Nantahala Gorge area of Western North Carolina. For the first time in the event’s history, the overall race championship was claimed by a Read More …

SCC ODL team places in Outdoorsman Triathlon

Thursday, 13 October 2011 From left, Southwestern Community College Outdoor Leadership faculty team Jimmy Leithauser, Paul Wolf and Stephan Hart won the Men’s Master division in the 36th Annual Outdoorsman Triathlon, the nation’s oldest continuous triathlon. Students and faculty of Southwestern Community College’s Outdoor Leadership program placed in the 36th Annual Outdoorsman Triathlon held near Read More …

Albion High School graduate wins men’s individual event, part of runner-up relay team for triahtlon

Zane Havens, a 2008 Albion High School graduate, captured the men’s individual event and was part of the runner-up relay team for the Albion College Canoe Club at the Outdoorsman Triathlon in Bryson City, N.C., on Sept. 23-24. The triathlon included a 1-mile swim, 4-mile run and an 8-mile paddle through the Little Tennessee River. Read More …