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Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star
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 2010-06-19 9:27 AM |
Expert  1138    Texas (Houston area) |  Subject: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron StarI've had a few tri club friends ask me which half I was going to do this year. I hadn't even really considered it until their encouraging words about my swim, bike and run. Just wondering which event would be better or more fun for a first time HIM distance race. Longhorn is a further drive, but I have a free place to stay so no hotel is needed (I live south of Houston). Iron Star would not necessarily require a stay overnight, but would be a tough drive before and after a HIM. Also, as of today the registration fees are $125 more for Longhorn ($275) than for Iron Star. I'm thinking Longhorn can't be that much better. Whatcha think? |
| 2010-06-19 7:36 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
Extreme Veteran 569 Austin, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star Never heard of "Ironstar" so I gave it a quick search. After reviewing the description, I can tell you that Longhorn is going to be a harder course and have a lot more racers. Longhorn was my first 70.3 (last year) and I had a good time there. |
| 2010-06-19 9:00 PM in reply to: #2932071 |
Extreme Veteran 599 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star Longhorn and Ironstar are completely different race environments. Ironstar will only be ~200-300 athletes in the entire race and Longhorn will have that many people in my AG. I've never done Ironstar but have done Longhorn twice and would highly recommend it to anyone. It really depends on what kind of environment you want at your race... |
| 2010-06-19 9:02 PM in reply to: #2932150 |
Master 1318 Houston | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star Posted under my wifes login  Betsy0706 - 2010-06-19 9:00 PM Longhorn and Ironstar are completely different race environments. Ironstar will only be ~200-300 athletes in the entire race and Longhorn will have that many people in my AG. I've never done Ironstar but have done Longhorn twice and would highly recommend it to anyone. It really depends on what kind of environment you want at your race... |
| 2010-06-19 9:07 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I absolutely love Ironstar. It's a smaller race but the course is great and the atmosphere is great. Someone last year described it best... 'I've never been to a race where everyone was so excited just to be here'. |
| 2010-06-20 5:23 AM in reply to: #2931578 |
Member 46 Houston | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I did Ironstar last year for my first half iron distance tri and had a great experience. The race was indeed small and had almost a small town, we all kinda know each other even though we don't type feel to it. I have thought about doing Longhorn 70.3 this year instead of Ironstar, I have even been out to ride the bike course, but I will hold off on the decision until after BSLT to see if I like the whole Ironman brand on a race. It really does depend on what type of race environment you like. As the the cliche goes, "just my 2 cents" |
| 2010-06-20 7:17 AM in reply to: #2931578 |
| Member 33 | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I did Ironstar the first year they had it (2003) and last year. I really love this race and plan to come back this November. |
| 2010-06-20 8:46 AM in reply to: #2931578 |
Expert 944 Waller County, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I've done Iron Star 4 years in a row and other big races, and Longhorn is not that much better. Like the others have said; Iron Star is a great race. The RD is a very experienced (and fast) triathlete and knows how to put on a solid race. The attendance here has dropped some in the last couple of years with all the new races popping up, but it's still first class. If you want a huge field with lots of race buzz, bells and whistles; go to Longhorn. If you want a well-run race with a beautiful bike course at half the cost; come to Iron Star |
| 2010-06-20 9:59 AM in reply to: #2931578 |
Pro 4311 Texas | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I won't speak to Ironstar as I haven't done it, but Longhorn is arguably the most well-run event I've raced at in my ~4 years of doing races. You definitely get your money's worth from Endorfun. |
| 2010-06-20 10:20 AM in reply to: #2931578 |
Champion 6973 marietta | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star i'll echo all the good everyone is saying about ironstar. awesome race. craig i wouldn't use buffalo springs as a 70.3 gauge. you might be let down at the next one. oh... beer coolers are on the left ~25 feet past the finish line. ;-) have fun man. Edited by fattyfatfat 2010-06-20 10:21 AM |
| 2010-06-20 1:45 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
| Tyler, | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star Iron Star will is probably the best bang for your buck!!! I've done it the last two years in a row and came ahead out ahead "smilford" because of good luck. The only reason I am not going back this year is to race in clearwater. It's a great and challenging course. There are hills out there b/c I remember struggling up them. |
| 2010-06-20 5:52 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
Regular 238 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I chose to do Iron Star this year as my first HIM over Longhorn. I live in Austin and race Decker lake a bit too often for my liking. That is a TOUGH area to ride and run in. It's very hilly. So....i figured I would give relatively flat Conroe a shot and just suck it up for the travel! Everyone has also mentioned the "feel". I am really wanting a small feel to my first HIM and don't care as much about the IM branding. |
| 2010-06-20 7:01 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
| Master 1468 Montgomery, Tx | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I did Ironstar last year as my first and I will also sign up for it this year. I like the size of the race and everything was set up great. I am looking forward to this years race. |
| 2010-06-21 4:30 PM in reply to: #2932918 |
Veteran 266 Kingwood, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star Don't be suprised, there are a lot of semi-challenging hills on the bike at the ironstar, not many flats... |
| 2010-06-21 4:52 PM in reply to: #2935260 |
Regular 238 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star jls42 - 2010-06-21 4:30 PM Don't be suprised, there are a lot of semi-challenging hills on the bike at the ironstar, not many flats... Challenging like Decker lake area or Austin area in general? I grew up in Spring and I don't recall a lot of hills other than overpasses! I am not completely familiar with Conroe though so this could be my mistake! |
| 2010-06-22 8:36 AM in reply to: #2931578 |
Veteran 266 Kingwood, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star Probably not as challenging as decker lake or the entire austin area, but it is not flat, go to mapmyride and click on the elevation link to see the profile (stretch the elevation screen up to see it better). A couple of years ago a friend of mine from Austin who is a strong rider came and did the race with me and was not to happy with me when I billed it as flat compared to Austin. http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/montgomery/115089555 |
| 2010-06-22 8:54 AM in reply to: #2936135 |
Champion 6973 marietta | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star jls42 - 2010-06-22 8:36 AM Probably not as challenging as decker lake or the entire austin area, but it is not flat, go to mapmyride and click on the elevation link to see the profile (stretch the elevation screen up to see it better). A couple of years ago a friend of mine from Austin who is a strong rider came and did the race with me and was not to happy with me when I billed it as flat compared to Austin. http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/montgomery/115089555 right on. its not flat. but its a lot of fun. that link gives a good general description of the area though i'm not sure it entirely accurate. i'm not seeing the ~5 mile out and back somewhere around mile 25. second aid station was at the the turnaround. here's the course i remember, with a profile. |
| 2010-06-22 12:59 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
Regular 238 Austin, Texas | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star After reviewing both maps Longhorn has a few tougher grade climbs, but all in all they are pretty close! (longhornVsIronstar2.jpg) Attachments ---------------- longhornVsIronstar2.jpg (88KB - 15 downloads) |
| 2010-06-22 1:23 PM in reply to: #2932156 |
Pro 4824 Houston | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star evondo - 2010-06-19 9:02 PM Posted under my wifes login Betsy0706 - 2010-06-19 9:00 PM Longhorn and Ironstar are completely different race environments. Ironstar will only be ~200-300 athletes in the entire race and Longhorn will have that many people in my AG. I've never done Ironstar but have done Longhorn twice and would highly recommend it to anyone. It really depends on what kind of environment you want at your race... I was like... WOW! I had no idea Betsy has done Longhorn TWICE!!! I have never done a HIM and am new to tri's so I don't know what I am talking about. I have been to 2 HIMs as cheerleader/volunteer Ironstar and Lonestar, never been to Longhorn. Given my very limited experience I am considering Ironstar because it is so small. It feels like everyone in your subdivision decided to do a HIM, it has a very neighborhoody feel to it and I liked that. |
| 2010-06-22 1:37 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I'm thinking I'll be at ironstar again this year, unless I'm burned out come October. Something about having bad luck two years in a row really makes you want to go back and set things straight at a race. Third times a charm, right? As everyone says, it's a lower key race, but I've had no problems(outside of my own) in the previous two years I've done the race. I like low key races, so for me it's a easy decision on Longhorn vs Ironstar. |
| 2010-06-22 1:58 PM in reply to: #2931578 |
Expert 1138 Texas (Houston area) | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star I'm leaning toward Iron Star for the cheaper and smaller aspects. Plus, it would give me a bit more time to add that distance over the oly's I've been training for. Not 100% yet though. |
| 2010-06-23 9:00 AM in reply to: #2936945 |
| Tyler, | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star You should win ironstar this year. but you'll need to man up on the bike. |
| 2010-06-23 9:11 AM in reply to: #2938416 |
Expert 1138 Texas (Houston area) | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star triritter - 2010-06-23 9:00 AM You should win ironstar this year. but you'll need to man up on the bike. I'm guessing this is directed to Stephen and not me. |
| 2010-06-23 9:38 AM in reply to: #2938416 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Longhorn Ironman 70.3 or Iron Star triritter - 2010-06-23 9:00 AM You should win ironstar this year. but you'll need to man up on the bike. I will! Now if that leads to a 1:20-25 half or a 1:40 half is the real question. Brad is also thinking about doing it, not really sure if either of us have long course down. So it would likely be whomever doesn't blow up between the two of us. |
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