Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3

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Like Lemmings to Lubbock

by IM Age Group World Champion Cherie Gruenfeld

It's the end of June and that can only mean one thing: It's time for the Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon. This event has been around for 19 years, but it's still a fairly well-kept secret. It's in Lubbock , Texas , which is not your “garden-spot” locale. However, the old faithfuls make the trek back every year as it if were Woodstock . Why is that?

One of the reasons (actually two of the reasons) are race directors extraordinaire, Mike and Marti Greer, who put on an old-fashioned Half Ironman race where they cater to the athlete in every way (short of making the course easier). Although, since 1994 when temperatures read 113 degrees out on the run course, they've included this on their web site: “ We may alter the race based on extreme weather conditions .” So I guess they'd even make the course easier if it helped the racers.

This year a storm was predicted for race morning and, for once, the forecasters got it right. The first wave went off shortly after 6:30 a.m. with blustery winds whipping up the water. Shortly thereafter the skies opened up and sheets of wind-blown rain greeted us as we got on the bike course. Now, this is a tough situation for any race, but the Buffalo Springs bike course is full of tight, curving uphills followed by turnarounds that wind you back down the same hill. All this became especially tricky on slippery, rain-soaked surfaces. The challenge was to stay upright. As you climbed uphill you could only hope that the racers heading towards you as they curved around the downhill did the same. The good news was that the rain stopped during the run and the stormy conditions kept it quite cool in comparison to the oppressive heat that is the norm for Lubbock in June.

Although the conditions caused more than a few crashes and flat tires, most folks gamely continued through to the end and the athletes at the finish line seemed to have all but forgotten the soggy bike ride as we dug into the abundant post-race eats.

This is a very tough race course in a place that isn't easy to get to and would never be considered a prime vacation spot for the family while you race. So what is it about this race that's so special and keeps it growing?

Here's my Top 10 list of reasons why we flock to Lubbock every June:

#10: Until you get up close, the course looks flat.

#9: You can run the first 200 meters of the swim.

#8: The local bike shop, DFC, has a friendly Texan named Keith who will make your bike fast for race day

#7: Every award comes with a bottle of wine.

#6: It's the only endurance event in the world where you BBQ load the night before.

#5: There's a $25K Pro Purse. The amateur winners go home with a unique buffalo trophy that's sure to be a conversation starter

#4: Race announcer Jerry "The Human Triathlon Encyclopedia" MacNeil greets every finisher with an episode of "This is Your Life."

#3: There's no distracting scenery. Or any scenery.

#2: The aid station volunteers yell “Y'all have a good race now, ya hear?” as they hand you a Gatorade.

And the #1 reason people return to Lubbock year after year……

#1: Mike and Marti Greer

Cherie

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