Galveston 70.3 (Page 2)

Anyone interested in a series of group rides on the course?  Once or twice a month?  Maybe a group OWS as well?

I'm thinking once in Jan/Feb and maybe twice in March.  Doesn't have to be the whole course (in fact I'm not sure I'm up for the whole course yet).  But I'd like to ride the roads / wind a few more times before the race.

Bob what would you compare this to Oilman in terms of firsts?
Obviously I jumped into Oilman just to experience it, now the real training had begun.
I may do this at the start of the season, not sure if it'll be just me or if I'll do the relay yet.

Like every newbie my biggest concern is the saltwater, as I have never swam in it, but then again I didn't start swimming till this year any ways.

David,

I actually prefer swimming in saltwater over fresh water for the simple reason you're more buoyant in saltwater.  It "should" make swimming easier.  There are a couple of issues with swimming in a body of saltwater though.  You don't want to drink too much of it for obvious reasons. In general, saltwater swims are in larger bodies of water.  Prevailing weather conditions usually wreak more havoc on a large body of water than they do on a smaller lake.  Expect a saltwater swim to be choppier than what you've experienced swimming in fresh water lakes.  Don't be too worried.  You always have the wetsuit as an anti-drowning mechanism. :-)

I did Galveston as my first ever HIM last year.  My 2 cents:

-Salt water is no problem.  I only learned how to swim a year before the race.  And I had only been swimming without a nose plug for 4 months!  I will say that it's good be be able to breathe on both sides... most of the swim is parallel to the shore, so if there are big waves, just switch to breathing every 2 strokes and breathe on the side away from the waves.  Also, I could float in my wet suit without having to tread water w/ my arms, so no worries of drowning... in fact, I had to stop mid-way and wipe the fog from my goggles and thanks to the wetsuit, it was very easy.

-The bike was windy, but very flat!  Here's the basic elevation of the bike course: 

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That one hill is the bridge...

-The 4 loop run has enough twists and turns that half the time I never really knew where I was, lol... they do have signs out periodically.  There were even a few spots where music was playing.  By this point in the race, especially for newbies like me, it's all mental anyway.  Just dont focus too much on the 4 loops and get it done.  But do keep count, there was a guy last year that exited after 3 loops and was DQ'd.

From my experience, this was a great first race.  One other thing, Moody Gardens is closest, but Inn at the Waterpark is close as well.  If you dont get the hotel you want, ask them to put you on a waiting list... then, if they call a few weeks out, just cancel whichever one you settled for.

I was just out there last weekend on my tri bike, logged 51 miles with 22mph wind gusts, and a headwind the entire way to Andice....you had to continue to pedal down hill just to keep your bike from blowing over.  Heading back was a little better, but then had a cross wind leaving Andice until I turned back to Austin.  Oh...and it's hilly as crap out there!!  I'm pretty confident if I can do hilly and 22mph winds, I can do flat and 22 mph winds!  ;-)

Now...the sore ankle is nother story all together....  I still haven't signed up, will make my final decision before the final price increase.  Hope to make it and see you all there!

Lance is in, so so am I.  I have a long road to go in 7 weeks.  Look forward to seeing you all out there - I will be in Sweeper position on the run!  This will be my wife's first half - she is very competitive and with my little training she knows this is her best chance ever to finish ahead of me in any kind of race. It may be a sprint to the finish but she should be able to earn the family victory.

Just signed up for the race (my 2nd HIM - did the same race last year).  Anybody holding on to a room at Moody Gardens for the evening of the 31st that they aren't planning on using?  Please PM me!  

Thanks!

According to Tripadvisor.com, only like 15 of the hotels on the island have availability the night of 3/31.  

I got cleared from my doc on Thurs and signed up this weekend.  I booked at the La Quinta on Travelocity.  Not a super fancy hotel, but I liked that it wasn't super far away, and they have fridges and microwaves in the rooms since I like to pack and bring my own food.  All the hotels with the Ironman promo discounts were sold out.  I called each by phone and they all told me no availability for the 31st.  I'm only staying 1 night, driving home after the race since I have to work bright and early the next morning.

This will be my first 1/2 and I'm sooooo excited (and nervous)!!  Can't wait!

Just got an e-mail from IM Lonestar stating the run course has changed this year ... 3 loops instead of 4

link ... http://ironmanlonestar.com/course/run/

BIB numbers are up on the Website

http://ironmanlonestar.com/files/2011/10/BIB-LIST-2-28-2012.pdf

Xtri has just received word that Michael Raelert will be racing Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas on April 1. This race was already pegged to be the biggest triathlon event on the spring schedule. With Raelert heading to the start line next to Lieto and Armstrong, there is no doubt that this race will be a good ol' fashion Texas showdown.

http://www.xtri.com/features/detail/284-itemId.511713727.html