Buffalo Springs 70.3
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Anton posted 1 year ago.
Can't speak directly to Buff.Spgs. but can offer advice on clothing...
No real need to change clothes...if you find something that you are comfortable to both ride and run in, as well as being comfortable under your wet suit..if you have to wear one. Most folks I see at IM's don't change clothes either, but wear the same all day,unless conditions are nasty and you need dry or less salty togs.
Saves loads of time in the T's and besides you look the same in all your pics.;)
Most HIM's will have a bottle hand up on the bike...check the Buff. Spgs. web site. Food wise...best to carry what you are comfortable with...and it's only 56 miles how much ya gonna need? (joke) Never done an HIM with special needs bags...never heard of one ...
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
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mdd posted 1 year ago.
I figured there wouldn't be any special needs bags because it didn't seem long enough but again I have no experience at this distance. Thanks for the info on the TAs. Will be much easier to avoid changing clothes and the swim is in a lake so there are no salt water issues. Do 70.3 races have people helping you get your wetsuit off like at full Ironman events?
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Red Devil posted 1 year ago.
I rand BSLT a few times. there are no special needs bags. you really don't need them, their are fully stocked aid tables every 10mi on the bike and every mi on the run. I will be running it again this year, it is an awesome race!
For wetsuits, there are people there to unzip as you get out of the water, nonebody helped you take them off though.
One piece of advice for the bike and run , find some HILLS!!!! the prop James Bonney had a great line at the expo, "either you are on flat road or you are on a hill" He couldn't have been more right on that. The bike is fast, but there are some massive hills, like 8% grade.
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mdd posted 1 year ago.
Thanks for the info, it is great to hear from someone who has done the event. How is the heat/sun? I normally don't stop to waste time with sunscreen but I hear you will be cooked alive without sunscreen in this event. Also was there a pretty good expo before the event?
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jeslol posted 1 year ago.
BSLT is an exceptionally well ran event. The Greers are awesome. I just put on sunscreen before the swim, no need to reapply. Transition times DO matter in a HIM event so wear your favorite tri suit and you will be fine. 2006 was pleasant as far as temps go, but it is usually in the 90s for the event. The lake is even rather warm. They pull all sorts of tricks to make the thermometer read cold enough so that the swim is wetsuit legal. However, I cook in a sleeveless wetsuit. I still use it because everyone else does. They do have an expo the day before the race, 2005 was alright and 2006 was pretty lame.
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trigirl97 posted 1 year ago.
Hey there,
I did BSLT this year as my second half-IM. I'd have to echo the others here and say it's an extremely well-run event. I'm a back of the packer and at most events the aid stations are cleaned out by the end of the day. Not BSLT. Those volunteers were out there hooting and hollering and handing out water like I was the first to be there all day.
Even though this year was milder than it could have been, it was still hot by the run. In fact, there's a long stretch between miles 6-9 with relatively no shade. So yes, wear sunscreen!
The swim is pretty straightforward but the bike was pretty challenging. I'd focus on building strength/power over the winter, get your trainer set up and push some big gears.
The run has a few good hills too but nothing like the bike. Overall, it's one of the best races I've done, although quite humbling given the talent that showed up this year.
It was pretty cool walking around with Natasha and the other pros. I mostly just saw them blow past me. ;-)
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." ~T.S. Eliot
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mdd posted 1 year ago.
I am really looking forward to the event especially after all of the good reviews. Hopefully there will be a bunch of Tri-Fuelers out there in 2007!
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I just signed up for the Buffalo Springs 70.3 held in Lubbock, Texas June 24, 2007. This is going to be my FIRST 70.3 race and I am very excited.
I am just completeing my first full season of triathlon which has included 4 sprints and 2 olympic distance races. I come from an Adventure Racing background (mostly 1 & 2 day events) so I have a very solid base and my triathlon racing has improved with each event. I think between now and June 2007 there is plenty of time to get ready although I hear that Buffalo Springs is a tough race. I intend to do two Half Ironman Races next year along with 7-8 other spring/olympic length events. Assuming next season goes well then I will tackle an Ironman length events in 2008. I probably need to start a blog once my Buffalo Springs training begins in earnest to help get feedback, etc.
Anyway in the short term what kind of differences can I except between a 70.3 and these shorter races I have been doing? Should I be taking time in TA to actually change into riding specific or run specific clothing or is that something you only do for Ironman length events? Should I expect to be stopping on the course for food/fluids or should I be self contained (do they have special needs bags in HIM)? Can you typically pratice the swim course a week in advance? Since this is an official "Iron Man series" event should I expect it to be well run? Anything else you can think of that is different in a HIM than in lesser races would be helpful.
To give everyone an idea about my level of racing it should take me about 35-40 minutes to complete the swim (my weakest area), about 2:40 on the bike, and the run in around less than 2 hours. I would consider myself a mid-packer at best and my goal is to finish strong but knowing that I have no ability to "win" anything or qualify for any other races.
Feedback would be great, thanks!
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