Pushing the limit

Saturday, October 2, 2010
Steve Marquardt, of Nevada, Mo., emerges from Lake Taneycomo and prepares for the challenges still ahead. Marquardt was among themore than 1,400 participants in the first K-Swiss Ironman 70.3 in Branson, Mo., on Sept. 19. He was one of approximately 500 athletes who were ultimately unable to overcome the weather to finish the race.

BRANSON, Mo. -- The air was heavy -- both with anticipation of what more than 1,400 athletes were about to endure in a matter of hours and with hot humidity -- but the mood was light at the pre-race pasta party at the Chateau on the Lake in preparation for the Ironman 70.3 triathlon on Sept. 19.

The K-Swiss Ironman Branson 70.3 is one of 40 international qualifying races for the 2010 Foster Grant World Triathlon Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla. More than 1,400 athletes -- including 20 professionals competing for a $25,000 prize purse -- registered for the event, representing 40 states and seven countries. Technically a half-Ironman, 70.3 is a reference to the miles athletes will travel during the entire event.

The weekend's festivities kicked off on Friday night, Sept. 17, with a Block Party at the Branson Landing fountain starring Chain Reaction, a Journey tribute band. The Ironman Expo, open to athletes and the general public, was open afternoons on Friday, Sept. 17, and Saturday, Sept. 18, at Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center. A Pasta Party on the Garden Terrace at the Chateau followed on Saturday evening from 5-8 p.m.

The triathlon began at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, with a 1.2 mile swim at Moonshine Beach on Table Rock Lake. Athletes transitioned from swim to bike at Moonshine Beach. The 56-mile bike route traveled through the Ozark Mountains via the scenic High Road and ended at Branson Landing.

Athletes transitioned from bike to run in the parking lot located on the north end of Branson Landing. The spectator-friendly run course went south through Branson Landing, the City Campground and neighborhoods along Lake Taneycomo. Among the roughly 1,400 athletes who participated in the event were three locals -- Nevada's Steve Marquardt and Brandi and Kevin McCullough, of El Dorado Springs.

Unexpectedly hot weather became a significant factor very early on in the race. That inclement weather claimed a number of victims, narrowing the starting field by nearly 500 athletes by the time all was said and done.

Of the 938 who finished, two of the three local participants posted some strong performances. Marquardt, however, saw his day end under very undesirable circumstances.

"Basically the race had unexpectadly hot weather for all. I think I didn't get on the fluids soon enough and was dehydrated going in," Marquardt said. "Then it just got worse on the bike despite lots of fluids -- Gatorade and water. About 4 1/2 hours in with only 3 miles to go on the bike I got dizzy/wobbly and stopped for safety. After a long rest, I finished the bike but bowed out at the transition."

Marquardt said the 1.2-mile swim that athletes started with was "fine, but a bit crowded" as large groups of athletes were sent into the water at 3-minute intervals, but once the bike ride through the Branson hills began, then things got tricky. A number of athletes, including Marquardt, struggled through the bike portion and were ultimately unable to finish the race.

Those results were surprising for Marquardt since he ran another half triathlon in Kansas in June and finished the entire event in 6 hours, 18 minutes. "I felt I had a good swim, but the bike was very hard," Marquardt said. "Extreme hills, which I hadn't planned on, but I didn't count on 93 degrees and humid."

Both Brandi and Kevin McCullough had much more promising results. Marquardt told the Herald-Tribune that the McCulloughs were both able to finish the entire event and Kevin ended up cutting the time he posted at the Kansas event as he finished 121st with a time of roughly 5:30, while Brandi posted a time of 6:55 in her first-ever attempt at a half triathlon.

The McCulloughs both said that the run course was very flat along the Lake Taneycomo shoreline, but was very hot. One homeowner, who was not affiliated with the event in any way, gave the participates a little extra help by hosing them off on the way by with his garden hose.

Though Marquardt said that his results from the day weren't what he was hoping for, his career as a triathlete isn't over. "We all had a good time and I have already decided I won't end this distance on a sour note, so I plan to repeat my Kansas Ironman 70.3 next year," he said. "Spring is much better for me to do an event of this length since training can get so hard to fit in with three kids, home activities and heat!"

Full results of the event have not yet been made available for the event, but if and when they are compiled, can be viewed online at ironmanbranson.com.