stoney98 wrote:
Toby wrote:
mbwallis wrote:
I think a lot of the complaints are exaggerated. Traffic does back up race morning, so leave early. The grass burs in T1 are a pain, but just know they're there and carry your bike in/out. The roads are better than they used to be on the bike course. Feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions on it.
Thing is though, it's really not a nice venue. That's just a fact. Can you race on it? Sure. However, I had injury prevent me from starting Buffalo Springs, and instead of signing up for Austin, I'm doing Kerrville (no MDOT, of course). There's just no way I'm doing this course, even though I live here. It's just not worth it. I'd rather find some other race to do.
I know this is an old thread, so apologies for bringing it to the top. I have read people complaining about the bike course being rough, but what is it about the overall event that would prevent you from participating in it?
As a secondary question, is this a course where you would benefit from a disc wheel? I am not familiar with the winds in the Austin area.
Thanks.
I'll probably still be doing it this year, but just bc i have an iron distance 2 weeks before Kerrville. To answer your second question, a disc should be fine.
But things besides the bike:
Run course is boring as hell, windy (as in lots of turns, not breeze) 3 loop course. It used to be a 2-loop w/ a pretty decent sized hill, but they cut it out one year b/c it rained really bad before the event. The finish inside the events center IS pretty cool though.
The lake is pretty gross, but not horrible
For some odd reason they put the transition area in a place where there are thorns everywhere. So if you run barefoot, you're likely to get one in your foot. It doesn't hurt that bad, but it's annoying as hell. So you either have to put flip flops at the swim exit and run up a pretty decent sized hill in them to the transition area. Or you have to take your chances on getting one in the foot. Then, you have to run through transition w/ your bike shoes on, and if it is muddy, good luck clipping in (happened to a lot of folks last year).
The race itself doesn't have the typical Ironman feel (If i pay IM prices, I want the experience). The village at the Galveston half was packed. This one is just, blah.
The separated T1 and T2 is kind of annoying, but not as bad as I thought it'd be. It does increase your T1 time b/c you have to pack your wetsuit and anything else you want brought over to T2 in your T1 bag, but everyone else has to do this also.
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"Sweep the leg...Do you have a problem with that?" - John Kreese