Race Day at Waco 70.3: Timeline, Common Mistakes, and Plan B

The Days Before

Two to three days out: bib pickup and briefing (times in the Athlete Guide, not available in the sources consulted). Scout the two things that surprise people most at Waco:

1. The walk from Indian Spring Park (transition) to Pecan Bottom Park (swim start): about 1 mile. Walk the route, time it. 2. The swim exit: dock, zig-zag concrete ramp, then roughly 470 meters to the change area. Look at it from land: knowing what's coming beats any visualization.

The day before: bike check-in if required, check your bottle cages (chip seal launches bottles), moderate tire pressure for the rough surface. Normal dinner, no experiments.

The Morning: Sample Timeline

Official times aren't in the sources: this is a framework to fill in with the Athlete Guide.

• Wake-up: at least 3 hours before the start. Your tried-and-tested breakfast.
• Arrive at transition: as soon as it opens. Set up T1/T2 (single transition area, a plus). Dress in layers: mid-November average lows are around 12°C, but Texas can drop even lower in the morning.
• Walk to the start: 1.6 km on foot in old shoes and a throwaway hoodie. Allow 20-25 minutes at an easy pace.
• At the start: self-seeded corrals by realistic swim time. Line up where you actually swim, not where you'd like to swim: the rolling start only works if everyone is honest.
• Wetsuit call: announced in the morning. With a stated average water temp of 18°C and a mid-November date, a wetsuit-legal swim is very likely, but in the October editions the water was 81°F and wetsuits were banned. Bring your wetsuit and be ready for both scenarios.

During the Race: The Three Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: trusting the current. The swim is downstream in the Brazos, but the push is light and depends on dam releases. There's also a short upstream stretch at the start. Swim your own pace, sight straight on the long lines, dark goggles for the low sun from the left.

Mistake 2: sprinting the swim exit. Concrete ramp and a 470-meter run to the change area, with your heart rate already high. Lift your head, breathe, walk the ramp if you need to. Those 30 'lost' seconds come back with interest.

Mistake 3: chasing speed on the bike in the first half. The sharp turn on Washington Avenue 300 m from transition, then the gradual climb from mile 16 to 22 and the kicker at miles 25-26: everything invites you to push. Resist. The fast stretch from miles 33 to 45 and the rolling half marathon will reward your patience.

The Weather: Plan for Two Races

The temperature swing is this race's signature: mornings around 4-5°C and afternoons above 30°C are both in the Texas record books, even if mid-November averages say 12-26°C.

Cold scenario: arm warmers or a vest in T1, to shed on the bike. Cold hands mean slow transitions: practice dressing with numb fingers, at least once.

Hot scenario: early hydration already on the bike, more sodium without extra calories (that's the official advice for Texas heat), ice at the run aid stations, reduced pace target from the first km.

Plan B

• Wetsuit banned: same race, just a slightly slower swim. Doesn't change your bike and run pacing.
• Strong wind: cut 3-5% off your target watts and accept a slower bike split.
• Hot day: slow the run by 10-15"/km from the start and walk the aid stations.
• Bad day: the finish on the Waco Suspension Bridge is the same for everyone. Finishing a hard day well is an achievement, not a consolation prize.