Returned yesterday, pretty darn good race, nice weather, a bit windy but fast (altho’ the run is kinda twisty). Met Matt Reed, what a nice guy, finished 1st at 1:49 (and I’m trying to get under 2:50, ha). 5150 certainly has had their troubles (cancelling Clearwater w/700 participants is a head scratcher, Dallas Toyota Cup had about 700, I’m sure they feel that was a success). I can’t fault B Burke’s enthusiasm tho’ and I hope they make a go of it.
Wish they were still run by Keith those were the days…
KJ ran a great race, I’m sure that’s what made it attractive to WTC (same goes for the Austin 70.3, ne Longhorn). Even so, I hope B Burke makes a success of it. I don’t think the tri community wins if these ‘big series’ type races aren’t a success (whatever that might be).
Bill normally puts on great races… I just don’t like to deal with the all the extra stuff before the race. I still love LTF (now minneapolis triathlon). If you can’t get there the day before go in the morning pick up your packet rack your bike go race. Its just more personable.
I think at this point the Lifetime fitness series is doing a better job than 5150. Funny, when the issue of only ‘700’ entrants led to the cancellation of Clearwater I checked the US Open in Dallas results (altho’ I had to struggle to find a reason to go to Dallas, I really enjoyed the race) and there were 619 entrants (if I’m reading the results page right)…the Toyota people seemed pretty pleased with that race.
Thats actually shockingly small compared to their normal number of participants at races like Minneapolis and Chicago
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I went as a spectator to support a friend and my wife. They both had a great time racing. Well organised event in general. Yes the run course looked a little intricate for those that like to get into a stride and stay there. Lots of U turns. Only complaint was that there was no aid stations until the run. So for a 40K bike coming out of a salt water swim, a bit eugghh.
Impressed with Matty Reid’s 10K time. 32 mins just 2 weeks after Kona and apparently he only found out about the race on Thursday and decided to do it then. On a twisty run course that is a very good time, particularly as he had pushed the bike very hard to get a buffer.
Really an aid station on the bike because of swimming in salt water? Its only 40k
I think I’m reading it right http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=118034, 619 finishers.
I pulled it up too and you are right. Just surprising are there other big races going on around then?
I raced this event and thought they did an amazing job really. I was originally signed up for the Vegas 5150…until it was canceled. Glad I chose this over Clearwater. For a first time event, I think they got the big stuff right. The only complaint I had was being asked to leave transition 1 hour before the race started. But that was disclosed in the schedule, so it was something I knew about.
The swim was fine, seemed long (I think we all say that when we our times are not as fast as we want them), and they marked it well and made it safe at the exit where there was an oyster bed.
Tons of room in transition and flow was standard.
Bike was a little flatter than I thought ever was possible. I am not from TX, and thought I had an idea as to what ‘flat’ might look like. I thought North Dakota was flat…holy cow…Galveston sets the standard. I think I could get on someone’s shoulders and see across the state. The bike started with a series of corners (a little technical) but were marked fine. Road surface in the first mile was the only rough areas. Once on the highway it was fast. Cross/head wind out, cross/tail back. I did not see any packs out there at all. If you were to ask me how many people were in the race by what I saw in terms of congestion on the road, I would say about 150 people. For a flat course, that was surprising.
When I came into T2, I noticed a few elites/pros had not negotiated the final turns too well and were sprawled out on the road. A couple guys and one gal. All looked fine though.
The run was cool. It was a 2 lap race. Yes there were a few turns, but it went by FAST. It always seemed like you were headed to ‘something.’ No long stretches of pain. They had music all around the course and plenty of aid and the volunteers at the aid stations were plentiful.
Post race atmosphere was good. Lots of people, food for athletes, and an awards ceremony that happened quickly. You did not have to wait around for hours after you finished…that was nice.
Those that qualified for HyVee champs next year got a certificate and a visor. They made registering for the event pretty easy. The awards for the top 5 in each group were cool. It is an “i” dot. Wonder who will get the first ‘i’ dot tattoo?
Participant t shirt is nice.
Parking was a piece of cake and getting in and out of the event was easy too. Galveston is pretty simple to get around too.
What I would change…hmmm…I am not a huge fan of cheking in your bike the day before. But, come race morning, it’s nice to not have to worry about your bike.
Can’t complain too much about anything. I don’t like wind, but I think it is always windy there.
That’s all. Galveston 5150. I’d do it again.
Nice write up, pretty much describes the race, I’d definitely do it again.
I got a chuckle from the race web site that showed Matt Reed and Becky Lavelle winning, there’s an (R) and an (L) besides their names in case you can’t recognize which one is Matt and which one is Becky…I got it right without checking the answers (add smiley face).
The event is well run, always has been. I’ve done it for the past several years, but it was a lot more fun when Keith Jordan ran it. He got all the local tri shops involved, more much to do/see other than just the race, and the atmosphere was a lot more festive in general - and there was beer afterwards.
The event is well run, always has been. I’ve done it for the past several years, but it was a lot more fun when Keith Jordan ran it. He got all the local tri shops involved, more much to do/see other than just the race, and the atmosphere was a lot more festive in general - and there was beer afterwards.
Where is the website for the race that was held here before the 5150 this year? I was looking all over for results to see what kind of splits are done on it. Or, was it a different course?
The course changed like 3 times in the first three years, at least the run course. Also they don’t have the olympic course up so i really have no idea what it looked like this year. They are only showing the sprint. Another thing the race wasn’t an olympic it was a quarter iron, so they could run the same bike course and run course just double loops so you had a longer bike and run.
Really an aid station on the bike because of swimming in salt water? Its only 40k
yeah I guess you’re right. For some reason I was expecting some water station on the bike somewhere. probably due to it being Texas and still quite hot.
Normally they do have at least water coming into t1 though, since its the same spot as coming out for t2. At least how I remember it. But that was also with Keith where the volunteer ratio was like 15:1. I remember biking there in the morning for one of them and there was legitimately 50-75 people doing body marking, enough that they were bored and holding my bike and everything for me.
I think at this point the Lifetime fitness series is doing a better job than 5150. Funny, when the issue of only ‘700’ entrants led to the cancellation of Clearwater I checked the US Open in Dallas results (altho’ I had to struggle to find a reason to go to Dallas, I really enjoyed the race) and there were 619 entrants (if I’m reading the results page right)…the Toyota people seemed pretty pleased with that race.
There was a total of 1200 particpants combined with the sprint and oly.
I’m not sure I’d count on a Galveston 5150 next year when only 300-something people showed up. Yikes!
Not sure the old website is still up. You used to be a me to link to the “Lonestar” event through KJ’s website which I think endorfunsports.com.