Longhorn 70.3, Texas Tri Series, ...

2008's tri season is in the books with the completion of the Longhorn 70.3 this past Sunday. Wow... what a race. Course was quite challenging as expected, the run was an absolute bear, but I loved every minute of it.

Highlights:
- New PR for the swim (officially 26:40, but since it was probably ~200m short, I'll call it a 29:40)
- New power PR for the bike - 311 watts normalized over 56mi! Previously best was ~270W, and that was for an olympic distance (~26mi)!
- Solid transition times - ~1:30 combined faster than Vineman 70.3
- Not a great time in the run, but a great effort. No lie, it was the hardest run course I've encountered in a triathlon.

Not so Highlights:
- Run time. Bleh. I know I can do better.
- Having my elbow pads for my aerobar stolen off of my bike in transition. Not so cool. However, the McGyvered duct tape and sponge creations made in desperation did very well :)

- Feeling about 90% of the way there on understanding that nutrition plan, but still some work to do

Can't say enough about how great it was to have done the event along with many of my T3 teammates. What a great group of people, and what a gritty, tough group of athletes. I've seen some of the best come out of people through endurance sports in my life, and some of the very best of it all through my experience with T3. I'm very proud to be a part of the team - from what I've experienced, my fellow T3 teammates are some of the most dedicated, hard working, intelligent and group success oriented people in the sport. Way to rock it, T3.

I am learning this year how much I love the 70.3 distance. Guess I'll have to wait and see what a full Ironman event feels like in 2009 to completely make that call, but as I sit here today, the half iron distance is by far my favorite. It's got such a great balance of different challenges - endurance, speed, pacing, strategy, nutrition planning, ... all have to be taken into proper consideration.

Finishing the Longhorn 70.3 makes it two 70.3 events completed for 2008... had never done this distance prior to this year. Also, finishing the Longhorn 70.3 also completes the Texas Triathlon Series for my 2nd straight year.

It was just a great feeling crossing that line Sunday.