Toughest 70.3 in Texas?

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Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
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Buffalo Springs14 Votes - [82.35%]
Longhorn3 Votes - [17.65%]

2008-10-07 7:16 AM

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Extreme Veteran
527
50025
Round Rock, Texas
Subject: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?

I was going to wait a few weeks to ask this but couldn't wait to see everyone's opinion. 

What is the toughest 70.3 in Texas and why?  Is it the weather, the bike, the run?

Here is my opinion:  Longhorn beats BSLT by a hair.  BSLT bike is harder and has steeper hills on the run but the fairly long sections of flat on the run make BSLT easier overall.

What does everyone else think?



2008-10-07 7:41 AM
in reply to: #1723307

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2008-10-07 8:45 AM
in reply to: #1723307

Champion
8540
50002000100050025
the colony texas
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?

Doing Longhorn last year with a heat index of 105/106, no shade on the run gets my vote,,

2008-10-07 9:16 AM
in reply to: #1723307

Elite
3088
20001000252525
Austin, TX
Gold member
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
Done both: BSLT

- No shade on the bike.
- 6-8% climbs with little chance to make up time on the downhills because of twisty roads.
- When you're not on the hills, you're in the wind. There's a reason all those wind farms are out in west Texas and if you're not down in the canyon, there's not a damn thing to hide behind.
- Run has it's own brutal climb and almost no shade.
2008-10-07 10:44 AM
in reply to: #1723307

Master
2381
2000100100100252525
Frisco, Texas
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
It's a close call...but I vote for BSLT.  The heat and wind at BSLT are tough.  And you have to deal with the hills without any down hill.  Nothing more demoralizing than climbing a steep hill only to see miles of flat, hot, windy road ahead.  Hills without downhills just isn't right.
2008-10-07 12:11 PM
in reply to: #1723307

Expert
1103
1000100
Plano, TX
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?

BSLT. 

(Doesn't help that I crashed in Lubbock, but not in Austin.)

2008-10-07 2:11 PM
in reply to: #1723307

Expert
762
5001001002525
San Antonio, TX
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?

Bike is easier at Longhorn. The heat and wind can kill you in June at BSLT.  Nothing like going 10mph into the wind on a flat stretch to make you wonder what the hell made you think you could do a HIM.  (...I still need to go back and make amends. )

I however LOVE Longhorn more.  I like "EVENTS" and not just races and that's what Longhorn is. Now if we could just move LH to a Saturday instead of Sunday so we could really enjoy Austin life would be really good.



Edited by tri-chic 2008-10-07 2:14 PM
2008-10-07 4:33 PM
in reply to: #1723307

Champion
8766
5000200010005001001002525
Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?

I've done both and I think BSLT is harder.  NO shade or protection from the wind on that course at all....and steep hills beat Longhorn's mini speed bumps any day...

2008-10-07 8:50 PM
in reply to: #1723307

Regular
100
100
Allen, TX ( Basically North of Dallas)
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
BSLT!!!!  Easy way to look at it is.  My PR in Austin is 5:16 with a bike crash, PR at Lubbock is 6:21 with no bike crash!!!
2008-10-08 7:20 AM
in reply to: #1723307

Member
63
2525
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
BSLT is way harder. The bike course is brutal and so is the run. I have done both races. I did BSLT this year in the rain and kicked my but. I could only imagine how much more difficult it would have been in 100+ degree weather. Its so damn hilly on both the bike and the run. The bike at Longhorn is a joke compared to BSLT... The runs are about equal.

IMO this year both swims at both races were short.
2008-10-08 11:08 AM
in reply to: #1723307

Regular
124
100
Austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
BLST for sure. Ditto the comments above about heat, wind. Tough technical climbs and descents in a lot of places make it a meaner bike ride ride. Oh...and don't get me started on the hot blacktop, wind and long hills on the run. Oof. The wind at Longhorn this year definitely added a toughness factor to the bike, but it doesn't have the wide, wide, wide, wide open sections of heavy headwind of BSLT. Both the Greers and Keith are top notch RD's, though, so it makes up for the toughness factor.

2008-10-08 11:32 PM
in reply to: #1723307

Extreme Veteran
594
500252525
Austin, TX
Subject: RE: Toughest 70.3 in Texas?
I'm beginning to get really excited I signed up for BSLT for my first 70.3 next season...
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