Buffalo Springs Lake Ironman 70.3 - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Lubbock, Texas
United States
Buffalo Springs Lake Ironman 70.3
87F / 31C
Sunny
Total Time = 5h 03m 5s
Overall Rank = 177/856
Age Group = M35-39
Age Group Rank = 29/106
Pre-race routine:

Woke up at 3:55. I wanted to leave the hotel by 4:30 because of the traffic getting to the race site. I left at 5:05 last year and had to really rush through transition.

I woke up, brewed some coffee and showered. At a Honey Stinger bar and used the facilities. Left the hotel at 4:35 and drove to the race site. The timing was perfect. No traffic and I got to the site with more than enough time to get ready.

The day before the race, the Head Official said the water was 81 degrees and it would not be wetsuit legal. So, dumbass me left my suit in the hotel. I was driving there thinking, you know, I should have brought the suit just in case. I got the race site and they claimed the water was suddenly 76. I didn't have a suit. FUCK!!!

Luckily for me, another TxFe athlete had a busted derailluer hanger and couldn't race. REally sucks to come all that way and have a mechanical before the start. I borrowed his suit and it made all the difference.

Used the port-o-cans and ate another bar an hour before the start. Had a Honey Stinger gel just before leaving transition and headed to the water.
Event warmup:

A really short 50m swim just to test out the water.
Swim
  • 32m 35s
  • 1931 meters
  • 01m 41s / 100 meters
Comments:

The swim was short, but this was my best swim time/pace ever...by far. I'm not complaining.

Based on comments from the peanut gallery, the swim was likely 200m short. So, assuming it takes me 4:00 to swim the last 200m, i still would have PR'ed the swim so I'm pretty happy about it. However, my placement in AG and Overall supports the fact that I'm not improving significantly against the pack.
What would you do differently?:

Draft better - i didn't draft at all.
Transition 1
  • 02m 20s
Comments:

Suit got seriously stuck on my ankles despite a bunch of body glide.
I felt the transition was slow, but it wasn't horrible.
What would you do differently?:

get the suit of better.
Bike
  • 2h 46m 17s
  • 56 miles
  • 20.21 mile/hr
Comments:

Tough ride. Wind started out from the south and shifted to be from the east. That made the last 15 miles a headwind that seriously slowed me down.
What would you do differently?:

not a whole lot. I pushed as hard as I wanted to make sure I saved something for the run. I was feeling pretty fatigued on the bike so I'm happy that I did the best I could on this day.
Transition 2
  • 01m 52s
Comments:

I stopped to drink my pickle juice. Took some time, but it was worth it in the end. No cramps.
Run
  • 1h 40m 1s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 07m 38s  min/mile
Comments:

Its a tough course. I did a good job with pacing. I didn't go out to fast and was able to maintain a consistent pace throughout. I never had to walk and was able to maintain a stronger finish this year than last.
What would you do differently?:

Not a whole lot.
Post race
Warm down:

sat in the water - had a beer, packed up and headed back to the hotel for a shower.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

The wind.

Event comments:

happier this year than last. Overall, a better race for me and I got a Clearwater spot.





Last updated: 2010-06-27 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:32:35 | 1931 meters | 01m 41s / 100meters
Age Group: 64/106
Overall: 427/856
Performance: Good
Suit: Xterra Vendetta
Course: modified rectangle, lake swim, buoys on the left.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 0F / 0C Current: Low
200M Perf. Good Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Bad
Waves: Average Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 02:20
Performance: Average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off:
No
Wetsuit stuck? Yes Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: Yes
Getting up to speed: Good
Biking
02:46:17 | 56 miles | 20.21 mile/hr
Age Group: 41/106
Overall: 249/856
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong
Course:
Road: Rough Dry Cadence: 87
Turns: Good Cornering: Good
Gear changes: Good Hills: Good
Race pace: Hard Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 01:52
Overall: Good
Riding w/ feet on shoes Good
Jumping off bike Good
Running with bike Good
Racking bike Good
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
01:40:01 | 13.1 miles | 07m 38s  min/mile
Age Group: 29/106
Overall: 111/856
Performance: Good
Course: 3 big hills, some wind in the energy lab going out.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4