Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3

June 27, 2010 - Lubbock, TX
Overall: 1st age group, 80th woman, 297 overall
Time: 5:23:44
Swim: 33:11
T1: 3:01
Bike: 2:59:39
T2: 2:11
Run: 1:45:42

Wow. That's all I have to say. I came here with a not-so-secret goal, get my Kona slot. I knew it would be harder here since I am not a speedy athlete, but I figured having two shots to qualify is better than one, right?

So I found myself in Lubbock on Friday. My mother flew down from NY to spend the weekend with me. The last time I was here was back in 2008, where I met Jocelyn for the first time. It rained that year, the weather was not as advertised - 60s and pouring for most of the bike. This year though was looking to be hot, meaning BSLT 70.3 would live up to its reputation of hot.

Friday afternoon I assembled my bike, found a local bike shop (dfc cycles), and brought it there to see if they could look it over to make sure I didn't mess anything up. And they obliged, being very nice about it. Then we went to the expo so I could pick up my race packet and check out what the vendors had. Strangely no one sold Powergel there.

Buffalo Springs Lake

Saturday morning dawned sunny and hot. My mother and I went to Buffalo Springs Lake so I could do my short prerace workout. Did a short swim in the lake and it was warm! I eve tried out my speedsuit just in case I would need it the following day. Practiced biking up the first hill out of transition and did a short run. Spent the rest of the day inside and sitting down. Oh and got some frozen custard.

Setting up transition the day before

Race morning came. I think it thunderstormed the night before, but the ground wasn't wet. I told myself to just race the best I could and just see what happens. In the end, it's a race against yourself, and I told myself not to worry about the competition. The strategy for this race was to swim like hell, bike hard, and use whatever is left to hammer the run. Oh and remember to hydrate and eat!

The weather gods were kind on race day as there was a thin layer of clouds in the sky meaning the strongest sunlight was blocked keeping the temperatures cooler than Saturday. And, the lake was magically under 78 degrees and we were allowed to wear wetsuits.

So the swim went off, they added a buoy this year so no one could run on the shoreline and gain time. Since after Wildflower I decided I sucked at swimming in a fullsuit wetsuit, I was wearing my old sleeveless suit. Considering my swim time at the Tri for Real and this time, I'd say I am not really good at swimming in a fullsuit. I try to find feet, it doesn't really work. I have improved my ability to swim straight this year, somehow, so that's a big help. I do my best to swim hard, it also helps that in a sleeveless suit there isn't the feeling of shoulder restriction that comes with a fullsuit. I pass some of the earlier waves, and there are some other white caps from my wave around me. But my wave was women 34 and under and I think 45 and over, so it's hard to tell who's who.

Get out of the water, the awesome thing about M-dot branded races is the wetsuit strippers. This is a great help since I am terrible at getting out my wetsuit. Run into T1 and look at my watch. 34 minutes?? No way, I have never swam a half-ironman distance swim that long before! I am excited. Get my stuff on in T1 and head out.

Right out of T1 is the hill I practiced yesterday. Its not that long, but its kind of steep. Basically I grind up it. Then there's a downhill and another steep uphill before getting to the top of the canyon where it's flat as you pass through the park entrance gate and out of the park. The course has like 3 out-and-backs. First out-and-back has flat, then downhill, then flat. The turnaround comes at like mile 16 and I am making pretty good time. The next two out-and-backs are kind of combined. Take one road west and then south, and there was a strong headwind when heading south. For once in a half-ironman, I was not getting passed by everyone and their grandma though! It was exciting, and I was even doing some passing including when there was a headwind. I was proud of myself. Mile 29 came pretty quickly, and I did the first 29 miles in 1:28, so I only lost a few minutes on the second half. The two hills on the 2nd/3rd out-and-backs are switchbacks, so not steep going up or down, but twisty. I descended slowly as to not take out the other competitors ahead of me.

I definitely appreciated the hills on this course as it gave me a chance to sit up. I'm started to realize I don't digest well when in aero position all the time, and so the Gatorade started coming back up. The last 16 or so miles back into the park were long, probably more mental than anything. There were a couple of refs on this course, and I was trying to pass people so I had to drop the hammer at times. There were also some guys on this stretch who really didn't like getting passed by girls. That always gets annoying.

Okay so back into the park. There's one more uphill, the one on which we initially went downhill. Legs feel okay, I hope I ate enough on the bike. Heading into T2 I can't decide whether I should pee now or wait until I'm on the course. I decide to stop before as to not break my stride during the actual run.

Okay now out onto the run. Basically running as hard as I can in order to sustain a decent clip. Passing pretty much everyone. So this run course is an out-and-back, with the turnaround at mile 6.55. On the way out there are 2 big hills, not so fun at this point in the race. Just tell myself to keep running. Though, this course is not as hard as Wildflower since I was able to run the entire time. After the hills the course goes on this flat 2 or 3 mile portion to the turnaround. The way out had a stiff headwind, which made running a bit more difficult. Still passing people. Nearing the turnaround I see a girl with a number close to mine moving at a decent clip. Make the turn and yay, no more headwind. Increase my pace but I get run down by a girl who has "24" written on her leg and is moving at a really fast pace. I try to stay with her, but as it is before mile 7 I know I will not make it back if I keep at that pace. So, slow down and she slowly gets farther away. Once off the flat part, there is 1 more uphill remaining. I pass another girl (later I realize maybe this is the same girl but by now I am just concentrating on keeping myself moving forward) on the hill and take it back into the park. Running through the park through the neighborhood part I am hoping the finish comes soon. In the last mile though, a girl comes up to me and pulls even. I look at her kit and realize I know who she is and she is in my age group. So I speed up, expecting her to follow but somehow I manage to keep a fast enough pace to get a slight gap. Literally a sprint finish, as she finished 10 seconds behind me.

Cross the finish line...done finally! Have no clue who finished ahead of me, just glad to be finished! My mother checks the preliminary results...I'm first??? How can that be, what happened to that girl?

So it's official. First in age group and I got my coveted Kona slot. And this time, I feel I actually earned it!