Getting up early last Sunday was no problem because team BornToPaddle was competing in the 8th Annual Lost Loon Triathlon at Long Hunter State Park, just east of Nashville, Tennessee.

 
Once again, arriving early to this event gave us the race team bib #1. But that’s OK. We’ve been given that number before and we accepted the pressure that comes with wearing #1. I’d like to say we lived up to our number and came in first but we didn’t, and I really couldn’t tell you what place we came in. You see, this family friendly triathlon has no time keepers and no timing chips.

The Lost Loon Triathlon is a fun family event in which all family members of all ages can compete.  Although the race course consists of a 9 mile bike ride, a 2 mile canoe paddle and a 4 mile trail run, competitors can complete all or some of these challenges depending on how they feel. Everyone that has entered this race before knows that you haven’t finished the race until you squeeze the stuffed loon sitting in the tree and smile for the camera!

This is the only race I have competed in where you aren’t going to win an award for coming in first, but you might for coming in last! And your chances of an award increases by the costume that you wear (this year we had bumble bees, gangsters, and princesses)  and how nice you are to the volunteers!

 
My favorite part of the race course was the canoe paddle. If I had more time, I would have liked to paddle our canoe around for another 2 mile loop, but my team member still had to run 4 miles and get back in time for the pizza, cake, and of course the awards ceremony.

The Lost Loon Triathlon is a fundraising event to benefit the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

What did you do on the 4^th of July?

My family went to Lexington, TN and entered the 4^th annual Lap on the Lake Kayak & Canoe Race!

Lap on the Lake is part of Henderson County’s July 4^th celebration called Festival of the Lakes. Besides the kayak & canoe race, The Festival of the Lakes included a fireworks show, BBQ Cook-off, Cardboard Boat Race, Motorcycle Dice Run, “Beech” Baby and Miss Festival of the Lakes Pageant, and live entertainment.

The kayak & canoe race was a 5k (3 mile) lap around beautiful Beech Lake.

This was my first time kayaking on Beech Lake and it won’t be my last. Although I was putting all my energy in catching up to the lead paddler in my category I did have an opportunity to look around and see the beautiful and scenic views around this lake.

I didn’t win the race; but I did find another great place to kayak and my family will be back to leisurely paddle and explore Beech Lake.

My family had a great time kayaking in Henderson County’s Lap on the Lake kayak & canoe race, we met friendly paddlers as well as spectators and we’ll be back for next year’s race.

To find more information on Lap on the Lake or to find other paddling events, paddlefests, kayak races, canoe races, festivals, adventure races or triathlons, click here to go to our kayak & canoe races & events calendar.

Looking for kayaking locations or canoeing locations in your state?

Search our places to paddle page for places to kayak or canoe for flatwater or whitewater.  Kayaking and canoeing paddling locations are listed by U.S. State.

If you have a kayak race, canoe race or paddling event that you would like listed on our paddling races and events calendar, please use our handy contact form to send us the details.