Preparing for Austin 70.3-big picture training plan question
Hey Rich-just finished IMCDA...first Ironman. 13:08 - 1:12 swim, 6:28 bike, and 5:11 run. I definitely need work on the run...was pretty much shuffling for the last 13 miles...just not walking. I put a big thanks/endorsement to you and Patrick in my race report, but thanks again! Testing this week to see where I am. VDOT has gone from 39 in late April to 43 yesterday. Decided my next race will be Austin 70.3 Oct 27. 16 weeks to go so started the 8 week get faster program this week, and planning to intercept the last 8 weeks of the advanced half ironman program for the last 8 weeks. Is that a good plan?
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I'll let Rich or Patrick answer your specific question. I'll give you some unsolicited advice on Austin.
First, it's barely in Austin so don't expect to be dazzled by the great riding and all that you hear about Austin. That's on the other side of Austin. The race is on the northwest/rural side of town.
It's a logistically challenging race to start out with. There are no hotels near the race site. The nearest hotels are at the Austin airport. There's absolutely nothing to do at the race site if you plan on bringing any family/friends. I'd leave your support crew at home. There's also two separate transition areas which means you'll be using gear bags like they use at the IM races. It works out okay but it's definitely something more to worry about. You have to take a bus from T2/Finish to T1/Swim in the morning.
Very nice swim by Texas lake standards. It's what they call a level lake so it's not affected by the drought conditions that are about to once again wreak havoc on central Texas.
The bike sucks. There's no way to sugarcoat it. The roads are in really bad condition and that's amplified when drought conditions are present. 2011 was an epic drought. Worst in 500 years or something like that. It was also the hottest summer on record. The roads were just atrocious that year. I ride on some pretty bad Texas roads but these roads were on another level of bad. I heard the roads weren't as bad last year. 2013 is shaping up to be more like 2011 than 2012. The course is hilly-ish (I want to say my Garmin had 1700 feet of gain) but you should be okay living in Tenn and having done IMCdA. The only good stretch of road is the first 10-15 miles and the last 10 miles. The 30 or so in between were on teeth rattling chip seal. The last 10 miles are on a rural highway. The road is more or less nice and smooth but that's marred by having to ride on the narrow shoulder (5-8 feet) which makes passing slower cyclists an interesting undertaking. I was in a later wave and I clocked a 2:30 bike split so I was doing a lot of passing and it got tricky at times.
The run is tough. It's a rolling and somewhat hilly run. Maybe not the best run course for you if running is your weak spot.
Then there's the possibility of blazing hot conditions for that time of the year. That's the gamble when racing in Texas in late-October. It could be 70 or it could be 90. 2011 it was 90. Last year it was 70.
Finishing in the arena was pretty neat. Post race food and massage were pretty good too.
I have a hard time recommending this race because of how bad the conditions are on the bike course. I live two hours from the race site and I'll never do it again until they move the race to another venue with road conditions that aren't so terrible. I'd pick the Miami 70.3 (same day) over Austin if it were me.
Yes, GF + HIM plan sounds good. You may or may not need to do GF wk8 = testing week, depending on how confident you are with your training zones.
Bob - thanks so much for taking your time to give me the scoop on Austin! Doesn't sound like much fun so I'm gonna find a replacement race. At first blush, I thought Austin over MiamiI but I'm going to revisit Miami Your input saved me lots of frustration!!!! Thanks again.
Since you're traveling to the race either way than I think Miami is a no-brainer. Why they keep the Austin race at its current location is beyond me. I'm sure it's cheaper is why. The race should be on the northwest side of Austin using Lake Travis as the central location.