Galveston Half Iron Man (Page 5)

Ok - it's about 2 weeks away and I just had the thought of signing up for my first 70.3!

I'm not sure I'm ready to 'race it' but since people always tell me to just enjoy the first one - what better way to enjoy it and not have expectations.  I have 2 weeks to get my swimming into shape (really more like  a little over a week as I will be traveling from work).   I also haven't ridden my TT bike much (only on the trainer over the winter) but I should be ok on the run (I have a half-marathon scheduled on Sunday).

You will be fine , just don't use a disc on your front wheel. it maybe get rough then. If the wind is an issue use a 404 front. I only have an 808 and disc.

I rode the course yesterday with your same setup and had no issues.  SW 15 mph winds were ok.  Mostly cross but a a little fight on the way out, nice push back.   Hoping for the same on race day.

Good luck!

what is the road surface condition like?

Hell, I am just hoping the winds don't blow me in the wrong direction?

Looking forward to a great first HIM race and meeting lots of good folks!  I will be the guy with the "why the hell did I sign up for this" look on my face 10 miles into the bike!

Good luck!

Road conditions are very nice. Most of it is smooth asphault which was "new" for the race last year. There might be a couple small stretches of chip seal, but nothing too bad. The worst segment of the ride is the San Luis Pass bridge just before you get to the turnaround, and then on the way back. Lots of waterbottles launched out of  the rear cages last year...but that's probably less than a mile stretch of road. Not sure if this has been re-paved since the race last year.

Hey, I always get that look prior to the swim start. Sometimes the prerace nerves of these big races feels like 50% of the race! You will feel fine once you hit the first buoy in the swim. I always feel SO liberated once I hit the bike.

where can you see the swim waves?

Very close to pancake flat, but can be a little windy. I'm an average biker, and I'll be using a compact crank with an 11x23 cassette. I expect I'll be in the big ring for most of the race, unless the windy get's really goofy.

spuphal - 2011-03-26 1:08 PM Second to last wave and a fluorescent orange cap. Awesome.

I'm right behind you in bright yellow. Nice. At least I don't have to worry about other waves swimming over me I suppose.

I'm riding the course tomorrow!

If the wind will stay away, I'm liking that!

I won't be there this year, but I've done the half the last 3 years (and the sprint 2 of those years as well).  I've run 404 front/disc cover every single time.  If you're an even moderately strong cyclist, you could run a 11-23 on that course and never leave the big ring.  The wind will usually be mostly across your line of travel and typically off axis enough to be a slight headwind on the way out and a slight tailwind on the way back.  If it is a cross wind, it'll feel worse than it really is.

Last year, there was a group that did a practice swim on Friday at 288 Lake in Houston. Has anybody heard anything about that happening this year?

And yes, I will be the fat slow guy on the Cervelo P2 with that "Thank God I am out of the water" look on MY face... oh, wait - then later you will see the "Oh My God! Now I have to run?" look. So when you run past me, make sure somebody pushes me into the gutter so I don't get trampled... thanks in advance.

Thanks - this is most helpful.  I am planning on running 808/808 as I don't have a disc cover and I'd rather not mess with it for this one.  I'll bring a 404 front just in case it's really windy.