BS stands for Buffalo Springs

"This is ALL Rachael's fault."

That's all I could think around mile 9 of Buffalo Springs. I was on my second loop of the brutally hot run, going back and forth between jogging and walking, desperately looking for the next aid station that was never close enough, constantly looking down at my watch and thinking "how on God's desolate Earth have I only gone a QUARTER OF A MILE SINCE LAST TIME I CHECKED MY WATCH!?" .....and a stranger just poured a cup of ice down my bra that I, without words, just pointed and motioned to my shirt. It's not every day a teenager gets to dump ice down a woman's tri top. What can I say except thank you, and you're welcome.

"DAMNIT RACHAEL. This was a terrible idea." Mile 10. 

I put one foot in front of the other down the hill, my entire kit soaking wet with sweat and ice and gatorade and water and, yes, pee. So much pee.

I knew in a few minutes I would see some of my Trail Dog Tri teammates who were baking out in the sun to bring some comfort to our poor souls, and fingers crossed that would give me enough of a boost to run the last 3 miles to the finish line. It didn't.

I continued alternating between walking and running, zigzagging across the road for shade, and opening up my top for the underaged to dump ice down. It would be pretty funny to me if I wasn't so damn hot! It took all my effort to mutter "water" to the volunteers. One grabbed my hat off my head and dumped it in ice water and sploshed it back onto my head without me asking. Another one noticed that I asked for water but apparently I didn't realize I had already passed the aid station, 20 seconds later he was running next to me handing me two cups of water and shoving a freezing rag down my back, giving it a pat and running back to aid the next wave of carnage to come through.

Running 9 minute miles as the second place female overall, the ice I dumped down my pants clickity clacked to the rhythm of my gait and I mustered enough energy to desperately glance across the lake at the finish line.

The sign said Mile 11. My watch said Mile 12. One more to go. Or maybe two.

Rewind 3 months.

My phone buzzed and it's Rach, which happens approximately 102 times a day on messages, Instagram messenger, and Facebook messenger- "Signed up for Buffalo Springs - you in?"

I mildly protested and procrastinated about signing up, and it wasn't until she reminded me about that time I convinced her to sign up for the notoriously hard Puzzler mountain bike race that I remembered I kind of owed her one.

"Sanka, you are my best friend. We've been through a whole heap together. And I really, really, really need YOU."

Beside's all that, Rachael ALWAYS has good ideas. I signed up a few days later.

It seemed like no time at all that I was packing up my car and heading to good ol' Lubbock, Texas. The only other half Ironman I had done was Boulder 70.3 in 2013. I was grossly undertrained and bullshitted my way through subpar training that mostly included never once swimming, frolicking around on the trails in Utah, and ignoring the fact that a triathlon included a bike. I think I biked once for 36 miles and called it all good. All things considered my 5 1/2 hour finish time was impressive considering my wild lack of training. I got my finisher t-shirt and hung up my triathlon equipment for another 2-3 years while fully immersing myself in trail running. And then threw myself into full Ironman training for a few years. I was ready to settle for a happy medium. Enter half Ironman training!

Buffalo Springs is a pretty chill half. It's one of the last locally owned Ironman race and has a good, small hometown vibe. It's also known for it's 100+ degree temps, crazy wind, and tough bike course. I ignored all of these things prior to race morning. I was so happy to just have a weekend away with some of my favorite people, including my friend Alex from college who I duped into signing up and flying in.

So Lubbock is hot. The day before my max temperature read 103. My swim prep felt awesome and even though I completely forgot my wetsuit at the house (My brand new wetsuit I had never worn before), getting in the water felt great. It's a really pretty lake in the bottom of the gorge and swimming around in the cool water almost made me forget the Lubbock horror that was the 2012 collegiate nationals.

The prep run and bike not so much. I felt the heat rising off the pavement and I was dripping in sweat just walking my bike outside. I felt my heart rate skyrocket on the run and even just the easy jog felt hard. That's the first moment I got a taste of what the next day might hold, but still I was optimistic that it couldn't possibly be THAT bad. 

We all shared a house and the night before made dinner and hung out and had a beer and laughs. Everyone was very happy and confident that the next day was going to be an awesome day. After dinner we all  got double scoops of icecream, to which I got a panicked message from my ever-loving coach.

"DAIRY the night before a race!?"
"Lighten up coach, tomorrow is going to be a great day."
"Crush it."

But first, I crushed the ice cream.

We woke up bright and early the next morning at a time I can't remember and I found Rach eating breakfast in the kitchen. We shared our long, lingering hug that includes a few back scratches and "hi queen I love you queen you're so pretty you're so fast we're gonna fuck up all the bitches today" words of encouragement. All I remember is that we left the house perfectly on time and despite the 3:30 ish or so wake up call, much to Chris and Alex's dismay I loudly rapped to Cardi B all the way to the race site.

The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the car at the race sight is the wind immediately whipped sand into my eyes and flew my passenger car door open. I shot Chris a look and he smiled back. Hmmm.

As we walked our bikes down the hill to transition, a volunteer laughed at my bewildered face and screamed through the wind, "Don't worry, the wind will pick up at sunrise!" Ah ha - Lubbock people have humor.

Before I knew it, it was time to line up for the swim! I LOVE a good mass start on the beach so I was so pumped. I picked my line, hugged Rach and Steph, and got in ready position right on the buoy line. 

The gun went off and I remember being the first one to dive into the water. There was one other girl to my right who was right next to me. I felt so fast and comfortable in the water and, to my good luck, my new wet suit felt great! The wind pushed us to the first turn around, and then we fought the wind all the way upstream to the turn, and then we fought the wind pushing us sideways to the exit. Overall I can't complain with a 28 minute swim and I was very happy to be done and onto my favorite part: the bike! 

There's a pretty steep, long climb out of transition and I remember passing two girls up the hill thanks to my Albuquerque climbing skills. I flew out of the park feeling strong and fast and easily settled into a pace. The roads were smooth and I remember being very happy that it didn't feel hot - yet. I focused on my heart rate, nutrition, and pace and so passed the miles. At times the wind was so strong I could feel myself leaning against it. I could feel all the work I had put into the bike the past few months, and my heart soared when I saw my teammates Rachael and Stephanie on the course. It wasn't long before I passed the first place female on the bike and took what I was pretty sure was the lead.

And it also wasn't long before the winds reared their ugly head. The course is a series of out and backs and loops, so everyone tail wind is met with the understanding and warning that it will soon be followed with a head wind. It was just as tough physically as it was mentally. This race was definitely another "keep your head in the game" race, and I had to continually remind myself calm down, don't get too mad about the wind, and stick to my nutrition plan. I definitely had to adjust my expectation of bike time, but everything else went perfectly.

Around mile 40 I had to keep sitting up and pushing my butt forward to stretch my back out, I was only mildly regretting not getting a bike fit prior to the race. I was pretty sure it was also the wind pushing me out of my comfortable position - at one point I was flying going 37 MPH with a HR in the 140's, only to turn around a cone and my heart rate shot up to 176 and I was going 8 MPH. "Yes! THIS is Ironnman." I love a hard course.

Around mile 45 a particularly attractive, fit looking guy passed me. It honestly took me a half a second to realize the stud muffin next to me was my husband! Lucky me! Chris had FINALLY passed me on the bike. He started way back behind me in the swim waves, and I had been waiting for him to catch up. I held on as long as I could, but within a few minutes he was out of sight. The last few miles were a little brutal, and I was ready to get on with the race.

The last 2 miles back into transition I was passed by the second place female. Where did you come from!? As she passed I shouted a "YOU GO GIRL!" to her, but quickly passed her back. I was pretty set on having the fastest bike split of the day and I wasn't about to lose it in the last mile. She passed me on the descent into transition, and I probably took the last .10 mile a little too aggressive - flying around the corner on her heels. I thought I MIGHT have her, but she did an incredible flying dismount and crossed the mat 4 seconds in front of me. Dangit! She deserved it, she executed that like a gymnast. Happy to be in second.

She also FLEW in and out of transition. I literally looked down to put on my shoes, looked up and she was gone. I tore after her as fast as I could, but quickly the heat set in and realized she was a far more talented runner. Volunteer and spectators shouted at me, "First place female 20 seconds up!" to which I smiled and waved. It's all good. She was dynamite and I needed to run my own race to survive. I might catch her, I might not, but I wasn't going to sabotage my race in the first few miles.

I came out of transition, the adrenaline rush wore off, and it slowly set it in just how hot it was. 

My coach told me my goal pace would be around 7:30s for the run. My first mile clocked in around 7:40 and after that I watched the pacing in my watch tick up to 7:45....7:55....8:20....8:55. My calves ached, my lower back hurt, the heat was setting in and I overall just felt so tired. I shuffled along as best I could, watching the first place female pull further and further ahead around the lake. At mile 2 I peed my pants. 

"This is SUCH bullshit." was my thought around mile 4. I was SO hot. I could NOT get my legs to move any faster. At this rate Chris can pick me up tomorrow. I'll still be here. Running around this lake. Forever.

Guys passed me bouncing along as though they hadn't already been out there for 3 hours. I put a curse on every one of them. 

I knew I was second place female and I thought I could hold onto it, as long as I didn't walk. My coach just told me don't stop and don't walk. I've been here before, so many times. Don't stop. Don't walk. Run to the tree. Run to the aid station. Run to Ryan. Run to the turn around. Run to the bridge. Repeat. 

Ryan and Jane were at the bridge that went to the second loop and even though I was so happy to see them, I couldn't quit get my face or my mouth to express that - which resulted in me just mean mugging and staring blankly at Ryan as I ran passed. I love you so much Ryan, I'm so sorry for my race face! I was so focused on just keeping up the run and not getting passed, I had no idea how far back the third place female was and so all of my energy went into not giving up any more time.

It was at the bridge heading into the second loop that something clicked - I hadn't seen Rachael since the bike course. Panic set in and I mustered enough energy to yell to Ryan to ask where she was and what was happening. He told me Rach was having a bad race and wasn't feeling good. My heart sank. She worked SO hard in training and is SUCH a talented, fast triathlete. But Lubbock will rip you apart, even the best of us. I wished I could see her on the course so I could've given her some encouragement and a solid ass tap. I pushed on, hoping to see her at the next turn around. I did get to see my other teammate, Steph, on a few turn arounds. She honestly didn't even look tired- she was just bouncing along! She's worked SO hard this year and it made me so happy that she was having another good race. Her energy gave me a little burst of energy and even though I once again could barely mutter out her name and wave, it helped me SO much to see her on the course.

The second loop felt like it took forever and I was walking more and more, fighting myself each step. More ice down my front, my back and my pants, more water on the head, more rags tucked into my shoulders - I was continually soaking wet doing anything I could do keep my temps down. Mile 10 rolled around and I promised myself I would run the last 3 miles. It's JUST three miles. But I couldn't do it, despite kicking and screaming at myself. I continued to alternate between a walk and run, just trying to get to the finish line as fast as possible.

This was a terrible idea. Rachael has TERRIBLE ideas.

At mile 12 I remember looking up and seeing a sign that said "Mile 11" and I threw a royal fit to myself. No. NO. THIS IS MILE 12 MY WATCH SAYS 12. The sign must've knocked over and when someone put it back up they flipped it the wrong direction, sending Ironman-brain induced panic to several athletes including myself. I managed to run the last mile to the finish line and finish with a smile. I was beat by a solid 10 minutes, but of course I was thrilled to finish second!

As soon as I crossed I was shuffled to the med tent where I was plopped into a rusty collapsing lawn chair and a non-optional IV was stuck into my arm by some overly cheerful med tent volunteers. I was reunited with that hot guy I saw on the bike course and it wasn't long before my teammates were crossing the finish line and we were reunited in the glory of finishing Buffalo Springs 70.3.

Rachael DOES have good ideas after all.

Overall Buffalo Springs was everything that everyone had told me about. It was hella hot, hella windy, and an overall tough course. But honestly I would do it again! It was a wonderful event and for those of us who revel in the challenge of a tough course, it's the perfect race. I told a few people it felt way harder than Kona! At least in Kona you have the thought of being at the World Championships to get you through, this was just Lubbock. I'm not sure what my next half is but I'm hoping maybe at some point I can have a race that's not SUCH a mental battle. I feel like my last 3 big races have been huge tests of deep can I dig during a race, and I'm ready for a race that isn't as dramatic. Then again I really love getting to that point and pushing further, so maybe this is just kind of my thing now. We'll see!

-Katie

Buffalo Springs Stats:
Strongest wind gust: 48 mph
Average wind: 27 mph
Afternoon temp high: 106 degrees
Group temp during the run: 117 degrees

Race Stats:
Overall time: 5:15:04
Gender place: 2/135
Overall place: 26/457

Swim: 28:27
Bike: 2:47
Run: 1:55

Rating: 12/10 would do again