RE: Bill's Buffalo Springs 70.3 Questions

Normally, we could just leave comments after someone posts, but this was a big enough question to warrant its own post.

Bill is wondering about what to expect and how to prepare for the Buffalo Springs 70.3. It's a good topic for discussion. This is a great event and since it's the closest 70.3 to us, it's worth trying for everyone in this region.

First of all it's well run and a great layout for a race. The lake doesn't have very good parking, however, so be prepared to get there really early or else you're gonna get a bad spot out in the field they use for parking. You gotta walk your bike (don't let it touch the ground in the field, as there are thorns) down the big hill to the lake for the transition area/start/finish. Otherwise, it's a great place for a triathlon.

The lake is warm; it's spring-fed and is always on the warm side for a wetsuit, but it's still nice to have (it's always wetsuit-legal). I have used both sleeveless and full-sleeve, and I gotta say, I way prefer the sleeveless. I keep my body temp lower and I just feel more at ease in water that is that warm. It's a big circle swim, so bouy sighting is very crucial. It's easy to see a bouy that is shorter to reach than the one you're supposed to swim to, so be careful. If you find yourself alone, take a quick moment to ensure you're on course. I actually got pretty far off course my first time there because of this very issue. It has been a somewhat stormy morning two out of the five times I've done this event, so it could be choppy and grey out (flat light). Being comfortable in open water is important in this swim for some reason, but it's not a bad swim, really.

If you can swing it, I would try to make it to the "Buffman & Squeaky" race, which is an Olympic version of the 70.3 about a month and a half earlier. It will be a great "dry run" practice event, and you could let me tag along with you so that I don't have to drive there myself =) (kidding)

Really, check the SWCS schedule from the blog links page on the Triatomics website. You can see the exact date. I don't know what it is exactly, but know it's in May.

The bike there is tough, as it is usually somewhat breezy, has some tough hills (not worse than around here) due to the nature of the heat and the race. In between, it's flat with moderately smooth to somewhat bumpy roads in some stretches. A couple of the hills are a little steep, but are not long by our standards. Be sure to hydrate and take in calories, but be careful not to overload your system. Do it a little at a time and very frequently. The heat at this race can cause your system to be very sensitive. Use a couple of the weekends in June to acclimate as much as possible by riding and running in the heat of the day. Go up the front hill from Totavi sometime around 1:00pm to 2:00pm...you'll see what I mean. That is not even nearly hot enough, but it will get your body ready. Then, when you get up to town, immediately go for a transition run. That is what this race will feel like.

Be sure to take in some plain 'ol water at times to unload the salts and sugar that'll make your stomach feel...well, not so good. I made the mistake last year of over-doing the Gatorade Performance drink, which is a little too concentrated if used just by itself. You gotta be careful of that.

The main thing is, don't skimp on the training. Really, use the hottest days we have in June to prepare yourself. Go to Cochiti lake and train in the heat of the day. It's still not as hot there as Buffalo Springs can be. Just train your body to keep moving while hydrating and taking in calories. If you can get through the training, the race is a piece of cake.

Good luck!