Snyder, Blackbird and Hardy Rock Redman Half

            Three area athletes dared to venture across the Red River -- a week before the annual battle between Texas and Oklahoma – to compete in the 6th annual Redman Half Distance Triathlon.

            The Woodlands’ Buck Snyder, 39, continues to glow in the success of his showing this summer at Ironman Austria as he turned in the fifth best half iron distance performance in the Woodlands MultiSport coverage area for 2010.

            While finishing ninth in his age group on Saturday, September 25, he was just shy of breaking five hours with a time of 5:02:02.

            In doing so, Snyder became only the fifth person in the area to enter the Top 25 Half Iron Discipline list in each discipline from the same race.  

            His swim of 35:05 was 20th best and the bike of 2:46:40 was 24th while his half marathon time of 1:35:40 was the third best all-season behind Dana Lyons and Kim Hager.

            He joined Ed York, Tim Monk, Mike Bard and Jim Harrington with listings in each discipline from the same race.

            Dropping his time by nearly 21 minutes since this summer’s Ironman 70.3 Kansas, The Woodlands’ William Blackbird posted the 22nd best half iron distance showing in Montgomery County and Spring with his 5:28:34 finish.

            Blackbird’s 35:11 out of the water and 2:45:45 on the bike placed him at 21st and 20th on the half iron discipline lists.

            He was fifth in his 45-49 age group at Redman.

            Spring’s Steve Hardy was 10th in his age group with a time of 5:38:51 – 27 seconds off of his Ironman 70.3 Texas time.

            All three athletes are coached by Dana Lyons’ Finish Strong Racing.

            The three half iron finishes escalate the Woodlands MultiSport coverage area total to 115 with men outnumbering the women, 80 to 35.