Snapping Tortuga, Ironman Texas swim prep
Plus, Arlington youth is USAT Duathlete of the Year; Galveston doctor killed on her bike.
Hello endurance athletes,
It’s a quiet Sunday morning as I write this, drinking coffee and resting up after yesterday’s Find Your Pace 12 Hour Endurance Run. It was a small, local, event that raised awareness for several charities like the Thrive With Autism Foundation and Ainsley’s Angels. The race also raised funds to the tune of around $10,000. Really impressive when you consider it was a free event with almost no budget. Van “The Speedo Bandito” Joslin was joined by Fleet Feet’s Diego Marquez in putting the event on. It was a fantastic day. I made about 7 hours and had to drop with some foot pain. A shame, as I was cruising along pretty well. The foot is still sore, and it kept me up some overnight, so I made the right decision. But, dang, it was a perfect day for running.
The top three finishers absolutely crushed it out there for many, many, many loops on a 1-mile mostly gravel course. Congrats to Pamela Lockhart 1st (50.2 miles), Diego Marquez 2nd (45.01 miles) and Jennifer Elliott 3rd (40.25 miles).
On with the news….
Snapping Tortuga coming up
The annual spring version of the Snapping Tortuga open water swim race is coming up April 9. You can race a 5K, 2.5K or 1250m around a course on Lake Conroe.
It’s a great tune-up for Ironman competitors and just anyone else who wants to get a swim in.
It’s also one of just a precious few open water swim races in Texas.
I spoke with Snapping Tortuga race director and head coach / owner of Magnolia Master, Tim Floyd, about the race and the state of open water swimming in Texas.
He says that one of the challenges of open water swimming races in Texas is the relatively short window where conditions are truly good for long distance swimming in this part of the state. Combine that with the expense of putting on such an event, and it just makes for a challenging business model.
Floyd, also the former swim director for Ironman Texas said, that “for an Ironman, they have around 44 buoys, and the big turn buoys cost $750 a piece.” Hosting his own event, he has a trailer for all the equipment, safety radios for the support team and a number of other expenses that add up. While lots of athletes talk about wanting to improve their open water swimming, he says they often skip the few available open water swimming races for other events.
For athletes prepping for Ironman Texas, he recommends that athletes familiarize themselves with the course. By the end of the day Thursday the course will be marked and swimmers can stand on the Lake Woodlands bridge, align with the buoys and pick out opportunities for sightlines. Also, study the course map, and look for opportunities and places where picking the right line will save you extra yards.
Of course, he says the main thing you can do to get ready for a big swim like an Ironman is be dedicated to your pool workouts. Get the yardage in over several months of training and you’ll be ready. But, he adds that it happens way too often that someone waits until the last minute to start swimming and then expects a swim coach to work miracles. Don’t be that person.
You can register now for the spring 2022 Snapping Tortuga here.
Floyd’s YouTube channel, Easy Speed, is filled with great content that can help you improve your swimming. This recent video was quite popular and includes a drill to help fix the common crossover stroke problem.
Moore named Junior Duathlete of the Year
Luke Moore, a multisport athlete from Arlington is the top male junior duathlete of the year for 2021, as announced by USA Triathlon earlier this month. The 17-year-old placed second in his age group at the national championships, was eighth overall in the draft legal field. He placed 11th at the Duathlon World Championships in Aviles, Spain. He told USATRI magazine that, “I started triathlon and duathlon as a way to fundraise for the nonprofit I established during the pandemic, Knowing Neighbors. The purpose of Knowing Neighbors is to connect, encourage and bless those in the community, especially the elderly. I loved knowing that I participated not only to challenge myself, but also to bless those around me.” He plans to participate in the USAT Multisport National Championships again this year, with the event a little closer to home, in Irving, April 28-May 1.
Conroe man charged in hit-and-run death of Galveston doctor
Nancy Hughes, a 67-year-old doctor and avid cyclist, was struck and killed by a driver near the east end of Seawall Boulevard early Friday morning.
The accused driver, Logan Llewellen, 21, was arrested Sunday in Seguin and charged with the hit-and-run death.
From the Chronicle, which has more details here.
Hughes, 67, was an internal medicine specialist who came from a family of Galveston doctors that stretched back to 1939, when her father, Dr. Edward James Lebefer, began providing care to the island’s residents, according to her website. She graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1994.
A report from KHOU from before the arrest with details on Dr. Hughes.
And a report from after the arrest, with more details on the accused killer.
Meme of the Week
Featured Events
XTERRA Bluebonnet Triathlon | Offroad Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon | Burnet | March 26
The Southwest 100 | 104M, 52M, 26.2M 13.1M, 10K, 5K trail runs | Fort Davis | March 26-27
Headwaters of the Frio Trail Marathon | 26.2, 13.1, 12K, 5K trail runs | Leakey | April 2
Ironman 70.3 Texas | 70.3 triathlon | Galveston | April 3
Brazos Bend 50 | 100K, 50M, 50K, 25K, 10K, 5K trail runs | Brazos Bend State Park | April 9
Snapping Tortuga | OWS 1250M, 2.5K, 5K | Lake Conroe | April 9
Gran Fondo Texas | 88, 67, 31 mile ride | Montgomery | April 9
Gator Bait Adventure Race | Adventure Race | Huntsville State Park | April 23
Ironman Texas | 140.6 triathlon | The Woodlands | April 23
Jailbreak 100 / Jailbird 55 Gravel Challenge | Gravel ride 100 or 55 miles | Huntsville | April 23
Wild Canyons Ultra | 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 5 kilometer trail runs | Caprock Canyon | April 23-24
Cal Tri San Antonio | Variety of multisport events | New Braunfels | April 24
Gator Bait Trail Race | 5K, 15K, 13.1 trail runs | Huntsville State Park | April 24
Texas Switchback | 26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K trail run | Johnson City | May 7
Gravel Locos | 30 - 150 mile gravel grinder | Hico | May 12-14
Texas State Time Trial Championships | Individual and team trial race | Hempstead | May 14
Possums Revenge | 69M, 52M, 56K, 17M, 8M AND 4M trail runs | Possum Kingdom Lake | May 21
Texas Trail Running Festival | 26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K, Youth 1 mile trail runs | Krause Springs | June 4
Media We are Consuming
‘We’re showing we’re alive’: the older Ukrainians running daily as war rages (The Guardian)
Strickland ‘all lungs and heart’ for off-road test to start Life Time Grand Prix (CyclingNews)
Lululemon's First Ever Running Shoe Is Here and Available to Shop Now (Runner’s World)
Hunting Numbers Are Down—So What Does That Mean for Conservation Funding? (Adventure-Journal)
8 camping apps every backpacker needs on their phone (Input)
Zwift's push into competitive cycling could change esports (Morning Brew)
What does your running shoe wear pattern tell you? (Canadian Running)
FS1 to showcase CLASH Endurance Miami Professional Triathlon During Primetime Tonight (Endurance Sportswire)
Get Out There
One of my bucket list races, the Mount Marathon 5K in Seward, Alaska.