I was out running the trails yesterday and took this picture of the new swim venue for this weekend’s Lubbock 70.3 and one of T1 (hopefully, I can get the images to show correctly). Also, if you are in town early this week a bunch of us do a regular ride on Tues/Thurs (about 50k, three good hills) starting at the Chisum Truck Stop on Slaton Hwy (SE part of town). Y’all are welcome to join the fun! Wheels roll at 6pm.
Not this year.
I have done the Buffalo Spring Lake 1/2 Ironman probably 15 times and enjoyed it. Until Galveston it was my favorite race. After last years race I promised my wife I would not do Lubbock again.
We are moving to New Mexico next year so Lubbock will be almost local so I may be back.
I am looking forward to reading race reports from this year race.
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Group ride starting from a truck stop. Sounds about right for Lubbock.
Disclosure: I lived in Lubbock for 3 years, have done the race at least half a dozen times and think fondly of my time there. My wife, not so much. She’s never been back since we moved 20 years ago.
Still holding onto that hate after 20 years, huh?
I’ll be there but not getting into town until Friday morning. Thanks for the invite!
Not doing the 70.3, but I’ll be doing the Olympic distance on Saturday.
I take it the water will be wetsuit legal?
I’ll be there. Wasn’t planning on coming back for the torture this year but got super sick in March that screwed up my whole spring and now itching to get a race in.
Mixed feelings about the course change, would like to get revenge on that damn hill on the old run course, but in reality I’d probably end up walking it again for the 5th and 6th times. 😂
I’ll be there. The previous run courses were a great challenge, but I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do on a flat run course.
I won’t be there but wanted to say good luck to everyone racing this weekend! Be sure to drink lots of fluids/electrolytes in the hot weather.
Ill be there for my first half, getting into town on Friday
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Ill be getting in Friday. Any good bike routes to ride on Friday or Saturday? I was planning on riding around Dunbar lake on Friday.
Yes, the road around Dunbar lake is part of the the canyon lakes bike route. Just follow the green signs. It’ll take you by the windmill museum, Joyland amusement park,… just keep going until it ends at North Loop 289 (the last lake) where you can turn around and go back. It’s an easy, low traffic ride. Hebrews Coffee shop is at one of the lakes (it’s the same building as a radio station) if you need an espresso.
My last two 70.3 races had whitecaps on the swim. Sure hoping this one is better.
Anyone know the water temp?
https://ironmanlubbock.com/assets/images/faqs.pdf
If you look through there, it mentions average race day temps of 70-75F so it sound like it should be wetsuit legal.
Any reports from the race? Wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up suffering through this one next year.
As always, Mike and Marti provide a great race experience. The two transitions were well orchestrated. The lake was calm and easily wetsuit legal. The bike course was faster due to a few less canyon walls and better surface. The run was a step further from the energy-lab days, but well-supported and flat ‘n fast… bring your sunscreen.
Race Report IM 70.3 Lubbock
This is my 10th time to compete in the IM Buffalo Springs / Lubbock 70.3 Triathlons. As dedicated Triathletes themselves, Mike and Marti Greer always put on a great event and this year was no exception even with the challenges of moving the venue. While I will always have nostalgic memories of Energy Lab and Church Hill, I much prefer the new course. Sort of like my first car - a 1973 Pontiac beater. Great memories, but I’ll keep my late model car with modern conveniences thank you very much.
Swim Venue
Dunbar Lake offers a much more protected swim than Buffalo Springs. Even with high winds, I would imagine the surface of this lake would remain fairly smooth. Water temp was similar to past years in Buffalo. Wetsuit legal - however I wore a swim skin as I have done in the past few years at BSLT. Big change in the swim is the move to a rolling rather than wave start. Very well organized and virtually eliminated the jostling of a wave start. Best benefit is that I could start with my training buddies who are in different age groups. Most glaring opportunity for improvement was need for additional porta-potties. I’m sure Mike and Marti will address this next year.
Bike Route
The new bike route covers some of the same territory of the BSLT route. You still have the 4 steep, punchy climbs; the two FM400 climbs, Horseshoe and Spiral Staircase. New route offers smooth roads except for a 3 mile stretch on 19th Street. The last few miles of the ride are on Marsha Sharp Highway. Smooth and fast - even cycling into a modest (by Lubbock standards) headwind. There were 3 well supported feed zones on the bike route, and given that these were on the out-and-back portion of the route means that there were 6 opportunities to take on nutrition.
Run Route
Run was a 2 loop course on the Texas Tech campus. Great venue for athletes and spectators alike. Two out and backs on the run course where you can see your buddies tracking you down. Well supported aid stations every mile. Finish was in Jones Stadium (Texas Tech football stadium). Post race medical support remains the best of any triathlon in which I have participated. Well staffed and highly attentive to the needs of athletes finished a 70.3 in late June Texas temperatures.
I’ll definitely be back next year.
Agreed with everything you said; this was my third time out here and thought the race was great. Loved the new run course through campus and the volunteers were outstanding!
I wish WTC would throw the Greer’s a bone through. This was the 30th anniversary - no mention of the race on any of its social media platforms, only Germany and CDA. Mike Greer at the athletes meeting said how he was thankful folks from WTC Tampa decided to come out to Lubbock and when he asked them to come say a few words, turns out they weren’t even in the stadium. No pros this year either, though I expect that’s perhaps from a lack of prize money?
I’ll also second everything Wiland said.
This was the eleventh time I’ve done the race since 2002, and this year’s course was my favorite. Still challenging, but not as extreme. I liked the TT start for the swim, and it seemed to do a good job cutting down on the banging and bumping on the swim. From my MOP position, there is always very little (if any) drafting on the bike. Moving the run to the TT campus was especially nice.
They handled the two transition areas and transportation arrangements very well. Great job by all of the volunteers!
Definitely could have used more porta-potties at T-1, and I’m sure they’ll take care of this for next year’s race.
Thanks, Mike and Marti. It was a great race.