The last man standing at The Game; Ironman Lubbock 70.3 bike course
Plus Big Ring Challenge, Austin Marathon and more races on tap as racing continues to come back.
Hello endurance athletes, as races continue to come back I was able to participate in my first live event this week, a local charity 5K/10K in Conroe, it was a terrific day. Hope you are planning what your return to racing looks like if you haven’t hit a registration button lately, even if that just means getting back in shape after a layoff.
On with the news…
The Game was for keeps
San Francisco attorney Vincent Barrientos was the last man standing at this weekend’s The Game, a “golden coin” event for Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra. The race is done in the style of Big’s in distance and time. He completed 34 4.1667 mile laps on the hour, every hour for the win. That earned him $400, a pair of La Sportiva shoes and, most importantly, that sweet golden coin to qualify for Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra in Tennessee later this year.
He’ll have to run more than that to take the crown, where last year Courtney Dauwalter won and tied the record for 68 laps.
Details on The Game race here via Spectrum Trail Running’s Instagram account.
Here’s Barrientos’ race notes from Instagram.
Coyote Trail Run
Trail Racing Over Texas’ race at Cleburne State Park saw some spectacular conditions according to several race reports we read. Sounds like the course was challenging, including one Strava segment called “Up the Hill of Torture.” But the struggle was worth it for some really amazing smooth single track through fields of blue bonnets and paintbrush. Some scenes below:
Final results here.
Trail running notes:
Tejas Trails’ Pandora’s Box of Rox race is scheduled for this weekend in Burnet. Their Spider Mountain Trail Race is on for May 15-16, it includes timed events and goes down at Spider Mountain Bike Park, also in Burnet.
Trail Racing Over Texas’ Wildflower Trail Run at Bastrop State Park is May 8-9, Possum’s Revenge coming May 22-23 at Possum Kingdom Hike and Bike Trail. After that Rob Goyen and team take a break from hosting races until the August Habanero 100.
New race company Texas Outlaw Running Company hosts the Chupacabra 50K and 17K at Copper Breaks State Park in Quanah Saturday, May 8. Their East Texas Ultra 50K, 28K and 7K is May 22 at Bob Sandlin State Park.
Ironman Lubbock 70.3 bike course announced
The former Ironman Buffalo Springs was long-considered one of the toughest U.S. 70.3s thanks to grueling climbs in and out of the canyons around Lubbock. Not to mention doing so during the West Texas summer. The course changed dramatically two years ago, and Ironman continues to tweak it. This year the course is notably flatter and faster. Which was met with a resounding, “meh,” from athletes.
Here’s a link to the full course.
One Facebook comment from a participant summed it up for many:
This will be my 17th and unfortunately last time to race in Lubbock. So many memories and sadly I will only get to race on a small portion of the course that made me fall in love with the sport.
Do you plan to go? Thoughts on the new course? Tell us in the comments.
Triathlon notes:
Unfortunately, while a lot of races are coming back, we’re still seeing some cancellations. The long-running Rookie Tri and Jack’s Generic Tri in the Austin area have both been cancelled this year, but registrants can request a refund or can choose from a list of quality events:
- Austin Half Marathon - April 25, 2021
- CapTex Tri Rookie, Sprint, or Olympic distance - May 31, 2021
- Kerrville Triathlon Rookie, Quarter, or Half distance - September 25-26, 2021
- 3M Half Marathon - January 23, 2022
- Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5K - February 20, 2022
CapTex Tri is always a big race on Memorial Day weekend in Austin and Kerrville is a great destination race. More information on those races here: CapTex | Kerrville. Nice work by High Five Events to take care of their entrants.
Dallas Athletes Racing’s The Texasman Triathlon will be May 2 in Valley View. Some unusual distances add some variety to your longer distance tris. There is also a sprint and Aqua-bike division.
Race Revolution’s Muleshoe Off-Road Triathlon, Duathlon & 5X5 Trail Run is coming up May 15-16 at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area in Spicewood. Details here.
The Big Ring Challenge @ Rocky Hill Ranch
Set for Sunday, May 2 at Rocky Hill Ranch near Smithville, this race features a number of categories, all the way from Pros to masters to youth. Organized by Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association with presenting sponsor Bikeland, the GHORBA folks have this to say about the race:
The course will be one that has never been raced or ridden. It’s sure to be super fun and flowing. It’s not a race to miss. This may never happen again at Rocky Hill Ranch, so don’t miss out on all the racing fun. It’s being designed by Rocky Hill Ranch trail steward Paul Uhl and GHORBA’s Guvernor Kevin Highfield.
Race details and registration here.
Cycling notes
Road: Davy Crockett Classic - April 24-25 - Crockett
MTB: Sugar Cycles presents The Warda Race - May 15-16 in Warda
Road running notes
The long distance road running season is just about over, but thanks mostly to COVID we have a handful left on the calendar.
The Austin Marathon is set for this weekend, and as of this writing slots are still available. No actual marathon this year, but the half is set to go at 7 a.m. Sunday.
The Cowtown Marathon, also topping out with a half marathon, is on for May 8th. There are also 10K and 5K races. Registration is still open.
The Hachie 50 in Waxahachie has distances of 50 miles, 50K, a full marathon and relay options. It is also a Boston Qualifier. Looks like it’s wait-listed for all but the 50 mile relay.
Then there’s the Texas Triple, with three marathons over Memorial Day weekend in Dallas. Saturday is the MS Marathon and Half, Sunday is the Wayne’s World Marathon and Half and Monday is the Memorial Day Marathon and Half. Details here.
Meme of the Week
What we’re reading
Our Guide To Under-The-Radar Races to Consider In 2021 - Triathlete.com
Bentonville is a mountain biking paradise - Texas Monthly
City of Tyler asking drivers, cyclists to be aware of their surroundings with new bike lanes - KLTV
Ultrarunner Candice Burt saves man from burning car - Canadian Trail Running
TAMU’s Athing Mu Shatters the Collegiate Record in the 800 Meters - Runner’s World
How fast will Houston’s Simone Manuel swim at the U.S. Olympic Trials - SwimSwam
9 new U.S. trails you should try - Outside (Texas trail mentioned)
Get out there!
