IM Boulder 70.3 Race Report (6/8/2024)

IM Boulder 70.3 Race Report (6/8/2024)

Another Ironman 70.3 is in the books 🙌 — this time in Boulder, Colorado, about 1,000 miles from home. I’m really grateful to my wife and kids for making this race possible. Traveling for races always adds complexity for the family, so I try to turn it into a road trip so everyone can enjoy the journey a bit more.

This trip became a 2,000+ mile loop: California → Utah → Colorado → New Mexico → Arizona → California 🚗. I chose this race partly because it was still drivable, and we had previously done an even longer trip to Coeur d’Alene in 2021 for my first full Ironman, so I knew it was doable. The course didn’t look overly intimidating on paper, but the big unknown for me was altitude. Living and training at sea level, this was my first real experience racing at elevation, and I knew it would be a key challenge.

Stay 🏨

We stayed at a Courtyard using points, about a 5-minute drive from the venue. I was lucky enough to get a first-floor room near the pool, which made things easy for unloading gear and helped the kids enjoy the stay. The front desk staff was also surprisingly friendly and even shared a personal connection to my hometown area, which was a nice touch.

Check-In & Pre-Race 🏊‍♂️

We arrived two days before the race after leaving home on Tuesday. Race day was Saturday, so I had enough time to settle in. Check-in was smooth, and temperatures were already around 90°F, though race day forecast looked better at ~80°F. The lake practice swim on Friday was especially helpful. Water temperature was around 66–67°F, and it felt comfortable enough to get a good preview of race conditions.

Race Day 🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

I took the shuttle early (around 5:00 a.m.) and avoided the long lines later athletes experienced. That alone made race morning much smoother.

Swim — 43:26 🏊‍♂️

At altitude, I expected things to feel different, so I started conservatively. After about 300 yards, I struggled to breathe and wasn’t sure if it was altitude or panic. I had to reset a few times before settling in. Around halfway, I finally found a rhythm. On the return, my goggles fogged up and I followed what I thought was a buoy, only to realize I was tracking a lifeguard boat moving slightly off course 🤦‍♂️. Lesson learned: always verify sighting before committing.

T1 — 4:29 ⏱️

Wetsuit strippers made transition fast and efficient. I got through smoothly and onto the bike without issues.

Bike — 2:49:08 🚴‍♂️

Elevation gain was around 2,700 ft. The course was mostly two loops with rolling climbs, and overall felt manageable. The biggest challenge came on the second lap when heat started building and my stomach began to feel off. I adjusted by taking in small bites of rice ball 🍙 to keep nutrition going and avoid bonking.

T2 — 5:05 ⏱️

Legs felt heavy coming into T2, so I took a moment to reset, apply sunscreen, and prepare mentally for the run. No issues getting into running gear.

Run — 2:06:06 🏃‍♂️

Early on, I felt like my right thigh might cramp at any moment, so I used every aid station strategically — water, ice, electrolytes, and bananas to stay ahead of it. Even though it was “only” around 80°F, the heat felt much more intense at altitude. My strategy became simple: slow down and survive each mile. On the second loop, I ran alongside a female athlete who was incredibly encouraging. We supported each other all the way to the finish and crossed the line together, which made the last miles much more meaningful.

Post Race 🏁

Post-race food was on the lighter side (quinoa, chicken, potatoes), and honestly I was hoping for something more comforting like pizza. My stomach wasn’t great anyway, so I couldn’t eat much. The shuttle situation was the biggest downside — long waits have been a known issue. Instead of waiting, I ended up walking about an hour with other athletes to pick up the car, then drove back to the hotel.

Despite that, the race itself was very well organized. Volunteers were excellent, transition access was convenient, and the overall experience at altitude was a valuable challenge.

Final Thoughts This race ended up being a big milestone: a new PR at 5:48:13, and my first time finishing a 70.3 under 6 hours.

There are still improvements to make across all three disciplines, but overall I’m happy with the execution — especially handling altitude, heat, and nutrition adjustments on the fly. Excited for the next one.