Ironman 70.3 Austin : Official Thread (Page 2)

A little uneasy.  This is my first HIM so I have no idea what to expect.  It's a journey into the unknown which leaves you a little anxious, if that's the right word.

Hey There.

I am racing. Any words of wisdom regarding the course? Are the roads in good condition etc..?  I have done done a 1/2 in a couple of years.  I'm feeling pretty good and hope to have a decent race. I'd be really happy with a sub 6, but am worried that I may not make it with the hills. Trying to ride and run as many hills as I can here in Florida.

It's not that hilly of a bike course.  My Garmin 500 had 1650' of elevation gain.  It's not flat by any stretch of the imagination but it's not hilly like the more challenging 70.3 bike courses. The challenge with the Austin bike course is navigating the terrible road conditions.

The course would be much tougher if it was on the other side of Austin.

Thanks for the inputs. That is still a lot of climbing for a flat lander : )  Luckily I have reduced my BMI significantly and hope to be more lean by race time. That should help.  Hate that the road conditions suck. My neck has some bone spurs and the bumps are hard on me.  I'll have to make sure I am diligent about my exercises to make sure my neck is as good as it can be going in.

Nice to know about the heat. Kinda figured being from the Gulf Coast myself  that it might be toastly.  I've done GCT quite a few times, and have never managed to start slow enough on the run. Hopefully some wisdom will kick in this time!  

Happy Taper Time everyone.  Could not come at a better time for me.

Having some severe IT issues.  Most people get them in the knee area but for me it is centered in my right hip.  Have about 1 good run a week in me.  Limped through a half marathon yesterday in 2:32.

Plan on only running a 5k at a local sprint next Sunday and then nothing else until race day.  Lots of easy bike and swims in the next 2 weeks.

I know the weather people don't really know anything, but the extended forecast on accuweather looks promising!

TAPIR TIME

Wingfan5 - Thank you so much for posting that!! That was really cool. This is my first HIM, and I'm getting really nervous. I had some questions about the bike leg, and you really put a lot of that to rest. I won't be in town until Thursday evening, and I might drive part of the course, but it really helps to hear a detailed account from someone who actually rode it.

Any info about the run? I had heard in the past there was a hill called quadzilla. Is that still part of the course. I noticed a significant hill going into the stadium (which will be repeated three times because of the loops). How bad is it?

Thanks again!!

The Austin HIM will be my first HIM.  I am most nervous about the swim as I recently just learnned how to swim.

Does anyone know the current temperture of Decker lake?  What is the likelyhood that wetsuit will be legal??

Thanks for the post.  I have been out there before but never paid attention to the roads.  Good information.  If you are able to check out the run course, please post. Thanks, Lance

Great to see some more first timers to the Austin 70.3! Looking forward to coming back home to Texas and doing it there! No other place I would rather do my 1st one.

Enjoyed reading that the roads are not as bad as I have been training. And have seen the EXPO hill. Trust me these aren't the Austin hills we all know near lake Travis or other parts of Austin. I can ensure you that it's nothing you can't handle, but considering it's after 57.2 miles of exercise it may be a bit tougher even for those who have trained in the hills.

Like some of you I have an injury from falling directly on my knee caps about a month out. Just finished the Nike Women's San Fran 1/2 marathon, but not without pain. Been told to take it easy for the next two weeks and suppose when a PT ''8 time Ironman'' tells me my performance won't get better 10 days out I better listen to him. Sometimes your body just needs that and suppose that will make our race in just over a week that much easier to get through with hopefully less pain we are in now.

Wishing all of you a great race! Glad to know we can support each other as 1st timers! 

Wingfan5

Thank for the info of last year temperature.  Being from Austin, if possibble, could you stick a thermostat in the water to check on the temperature.

Having a wetsuit would ensure that the likelyhood of NOT drowning from being poop out--  as we can just float on the wetsuit.

If wetsuit is not legal and we still use wetsuit; we would be put on the last swim wave and  be stuck with a 1 hr 10 minute limit.    I am slow enough that the time limit maybe chalenging.  looking at your picture, I maybe double your age and there maybe some zigzag swiming from bad sitting.

thanks