Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake - Triathlon1/2 Ironman


View Member's Race Log View other race reports
Lubbock, Texas
United States
World Triathlon Corporation
110F / 43C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 6h 57m 19s
Overall Rank = 544/710
Age Group = M25-29
Age Group Rank = 49/59
Pre-race routine:

Arrived about 60 minutes before start. Took about 30 minutes to get everything unpacked and down to transition and another 15 to set up. Checked tire pressure and brakes, and lathered on the sunscreen. Ate some Gu chomps, then went for a very brief swim (25 yds) in the lake as the Pros were about to go off.
Event warmup:

Pretty much none
Swim
  • 37m 43s
  • 2112 yards
  • 01m 47s / 100 yards
Comments:

This was my first open water swim, and in my first half ironman. I'm pretty happy I did as well as I did. Breathing was calm, pace was easy, just a nice morning swim.
What would you do differently?:

I could certainly go faster and be more aggressive at the start, which would help with positioning. Drafting needs to be worked on.
Transition 1
  • 04m 26s
Comments:

Transition would have been fine except they told us we needed to wear our bib, which was pinned on my hydration belt. Unpinning that and repinning it on me took 90 sec- 2 min and really hurt this time. Other than that, it was a very thorough and methodic transition. 2:30 would have been fine by me
What would you do differently?:

Um...listen better
Bike
  • 3h 23m 26s
  • 56 miles
  • 16.52 mile/hr
Comments:

The wind and hills just sucked. However, it was a fair course, challenging. Scenery kind of sucks, though.
What would you do differently?:

Buy a better bike! As cool as it was passing people on my entry level, I know a better bike can seriously help my time. Other than that, I had a great bike. It was the only portion I beat my goal time.
Transition 2
  • 04m 50s
Comments:

By T2, I had some wobbly legs and it was well into the 90s. I had to reapply sunscreen and lube my feet, which took some time, but well worth it.
What would you do differently?:

Just need to get faster on this. T1 was explainable, but I need to be out of T2 in at least 3 min
Run
  • 2h 46m 54s
  • 13.1 miles
  • 12m 44s  min/mile
Comments:

This was the slowest run I've ever had, but at 110 degrees, I'm just happy I finished. I followed a run walk plan after the first 2 miles, picking landmarks to make it to. This was just brutal
What would you do differently?:

Cool the weather down? I don't know how people can run 2 hr halves in this, but I guess I need to train more.
Post race
Warm down:

Massage and an IV

What limited your ability to perform faster:

heat, wind, experience, hills, training

Event comments:

Honestly, this race has a lot going for it in terms of organization. The course is challenging but not as brutal as some have said. The volunteers are the best I've seen, with lots of support. It just comes down to the location. Lubbock sucks. It boring, hot, and windy. Put this in another city, with better climate, and it's a great race. Put it in Lubbock in the summer, and buyer beware




Last updated: 2011-06-27 12:00 AM
Swimming
00:37:43 | 2112 yards | 01m 47s / 100yards
Age Group: 37/59
Overall: 484/710
Performance: Average
Suit: Tri
Course: A pretty simple counterclockwise (East, north, west, south) loop around about 10 buoys, low chop, great water temp. Waves were packed to get the event started earlier, so for the first 500 or so yds I was having to constantly move around, but after that, things were smooth.
Start type: Wade Plus: Waves
Water temp: 74F / 23C Current: Low
200M Perf. Below average Remainder: Good
Breathing: Good Drafting: Average
Waves: Navigation: Average
Rounding: Average
T1
Time: 04:26
Performance: Below average
Cap removal: Good Helmet on/
Suit off: 		Yes
Wetsuit stuck? No Run with bike: Yes
Jump on bike: No
Getting up to speed: Average
Biking
03:23:26 | 56 miles | 16.52 mile/hr
Age Group: 48/59
Overall: 550/710
Performance: Good
Wind: Strong
Course: This was a pretty tough course with 7 hills and a lot of wind. It breaks up into 6 sections, each about 10 miles a piece. The first section starts with an uphill, downhill, uphill, all in the first mile (note that all the hills are about .5 miles). Then it flattens out as you go out of the lake and onto the road for the next 8 or so to the aid station. The second second is straight south. This is where the wind got nasty. It was a southwest 20-30mph wind that never let up. Great on the northeast parts, bad on the south west. Anyways, after a downhill, uphill, you battle that wind for the next 5 miles, make a turn to the east, and head 3 more to the first turnaround. The 3rd section is just the 2nd backwards, but with a sweet tailwind. Going back down that hill you can get over 40mph, and a strong cross wind gust could knock you off. The fourth section is mostly east (again, tailwind), that ends in the spiral staircase, a pretty tough .5 mile climb to the 2nd turnaround. The last two sections are just killer. Going back down the spiral staircase, you can't get much speed, and then you get into a not-so-steep but very long uphill stretch that'll eat up your calves. And then it's nothing but you and 16 miles into some nasty headwinds for over an hour. You end back at the lake.
Road: Smooth Dry Cadence: 75
Turns: Average Cornering: Average
Gear changes: Average Hills: Average
Race pace: Comfortable Drinks: Just right
T2
Time: 04:50
Overall: Below average
Riding w/ feet on shoes Below average
Jumping off bike Below average
Running with bike Average
Racking bike Average
Shoe and helmet removal Average
Running
02:46:54 | 13.1 miles | 12m 44s  min/mile
Age Group: 49/59
Overall: 550/710
Performance: Below average
Course: Lubbock at its finest. After 3 miles in the lake area, there's a big uphill, downhill, uphill over the next 1.5 miles (unless you're a true competitor, I suggest walking the hills. They are steep). The last 2 miles are straight west on a straight, flat road with nothing. No scenery, nothing. Just a big power plant. You can see forever, and it's super depressing, especially when you turnaround and realize you still have 2 to go to get back to anything interesting
Keeping cool Average Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %-4
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
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] 3