I am entered in the upcoming IM 70.3 in Galveston in April. Its has been several years since I have done any type of Triathlon. I did this event a few times about a decade ago. It was always fun and am looking forward to this one.
My brother who lives at San Luis Pass( along the bike route) received notification yesterday in his mailbox of the upcoming race next month pertaining to the road and bridge closures that will affect him. He was jacking with me about this Inconvenience that will only affect for a few hours. He lives on the Freeport side of San Luis Pass so he is not really affected to much. I thought it was a Good job on Ironman’s part to notify residents almost a month in advance of this April race.
Anyway, looking forward to it. Appears to be around 2300 or so peeps signed up so far and think Registration is still open.
I had only one good experience with this race after doing it several times so I stop doing it. Damn windy, cold, run was interrupted by storm… it’s just no fun. Most of all, it’s impossible for me to get in a wetsuit and practice OWS in March. I’ve heard new pavement feels fantastic. Good luck!!
I had only one good experience with this race after doing it several times so I stop doing it. Damn windy, cold, run was interrupted by storm… it’s just no fun. Most of all, it’s impossible for me to get in a wetsuit and practice OWS in March. I’ve heard new pavement feels fantastic. Good luck!!.
Galveston coastal weather…you never know what you are going to get. I have been fortunate to get decent weather when I did these in the past.
I am most worried about being older now ( 60-69 age group) versus toeing the line was I was 45 or so. Definitely lost some speed, not that it was ever blazing, but have enjoyed getting back to training for these type events. I feel like my swim has actually improved but guess will find out for sure on April 2nd.
I am doing this race for the first time. It’s also going to be my first 70.3 since 2015. I have heard mixed reviews from past participants, but most of the negatives center around bi-polar Texas spring time weather. I am looking forward to hopefully a good race.
I’ll be there and looking forward to it. This will be my 3rd time. And I guess I’m fortunate the last two, in '16 and '18 I believe, the weather was good. If not a little warm. It’s a fun weekend. We’re staying on site. Several friends going. Group dinner the evening prior. Can’t wait.
I’ll be there - it’s a shakedown race for me and, having been dealing with some lower leg issues, I may pull the plug at the run. But looking forward to the race, nonetheless!
Have raced there 5-6 times and always find the swim slow. I can’t really identify why but every single race, I come out of the water 2-3min slower than I expect or do in other 70.3s. Water is not too rough, and is salty, and most years, it is wetsuit legal.
My garmin has always shown slightly different distances some very long some not too much longer, and some of my early races I did not sight as well. Many of my mates have the same swim issues, feels long but doesn’t always measure so… My mental model is just relax with the time on the watch upon exiting and focus on the steps ahead, the bike and run are where the fun is!
I’m going as a first timer as well. Anybody know what the swim leg there is like ?
Saltwater, mild “waves†at the furthest out but relatively calm for an “ocean†bay swim.
There’s a nice riverboat ferry thing you can sight to see how far you are from the swim exit.
I was wondering if the Old Riverboat ferry thing was still there or not. I breath only to the left so the Swim course fits my breathing style with being able to sight using the Moody Pyramids and then the Old Ferry boat.
I’m going as a first timer as well. Anybody know what the swim leg there is like ?
Not sure if it’s still the same, but you have to jump in and tread water for a while till the gun goes off for the age groupers. I usually wait a little and jump in so I don’t have to tread water for a while. It’s salt water with wet suit on, so pretty easy and not tiring. I think you will have tail wind swimming toward finish line. Wind usually picks up later, so if your age group starts early, that’s good for you. No practice swim around swim starts a day before and race day. I saw people swim near Galveston bait & tackle a day before. There’s a park. If you want to feel the water with a wetsuit on a day before, that could be the spot for you. Anyways, best of luck!!!
Now the swim is self seated based on corrals like a marathon. You jump off a dock and start swimming. No longer tread water and deep water start.
Yes, i just saw in the most recent Athlete Guide that was released stating it will be a " Rolling Start " for the swim.
I seem to remember it used to be an Age group start. Even thought each age group wore a different color swim cap back then to signify your age group. Could be wrong, that was long time ago.
Now the swim is self seated based on corrals like a marathon. You jump off a dock and start swimming. No longer tread water and deep water start.
Yes, i just saw in the most recent Athlete Guide that was released stating it will be a " Rolling Start " for the swim.
I seem to remember it used to be an Age group start. Even thought each age group wore a different color swim cap back then to signify your age group. Could be wrong, that was long time ago.
I did it the first five years it was a branded race and have also spectated three or four other times. I think there might have been a year where they had different colored caps for AGs but it’s usually one color for men and one for women.
It was definitely an AG wave start swim up until very recently.
Thanks for the tip! Will try to get in the water at bait and tackle before the race ðŸ‘
I was down at San Luis Pass yesterday and did a wet suit swim in my Brother’s canal. Water looked warm with the Sun being out and all, but dang, my 1st response was, “WOW…this water is chilly”. Not sure the exact temp, but felt like upper 60’s to me. Only swam for about 20 minutes or so and by the time I got out, water felt awesome.
Been many years since I put the Xterra full suit on. Either the suit has shrunk or I got bigger.
