California Wildflower Triathlon

Why do the Wildflower Triathlon?  I can tell you why not.  It is early in

the year, thus hard to train for when living in Ohio.  It is in California

so it is an expensive trip and takes a long time to get there.  It is 45

minutes from any hotels so the best option for lodging is a tent.  Race

fees are expensive.  It is crowded because 7,500 athletes compete over the

weekend.  There are hills everywhere on the bike and run course.  You can

bring your food or you need to rely on the vendors for food.

Again, why?  Some of the reasons I competed in 2005 are because it is

a well known triathlon, it is in California so the weather is good, it is a

challenge, camping can be fun, and most importantly, it gave me a reason

to train during the winter and got my butt off the couch and in the pool.

My experience was like the profile of the bike and run course: up

(negative experience "*") and down (positive experience "*"), up and down,

up and down.

Beginning a week before the race, my power meter broke and I

could not get it fixed before the race *.  As I unpacked my bags at the

airport I stepped in a puddle and my foot was wet for the flight.  At the

airport, the ticket agent checked my bike without a fee *.  The flights to

California were uneventful *.  The car rental place was closed when we

arrived in San Jose so Amy and I spent a few hours in the airport *.  The

weather was great the entire trip, highs in the low 70s and lows in the

40s *.  Camping was great since our friends (Fred and Kay) reserved a

quiet, uncrowded area with a fire pit and picnic tables *.  Fred and I got

in a swim Thursday and a bike ride to preview parts of the course.  I ran

a portion of the run course Friday and registered.  What a great sport to

be able to see the pros at the press conferences and meandering through

the camp and around the expo.

Friday was time to shop, relax, fuel up, prepare, and then sleep.  Before

I fell asleep, I told Amy that I was anxious.  I did not know how I would

perform.  I was ready to get it done because I put a lot of effort into

training, traveled a long way, paid the money, set my expectations, and I

did not want to perform under my abilities.

Saturday morning arrived and it was great.  Jump out of the tent, take a

shower, change, and hop on the bike to transition.  Transition was pretty

relaxed.  No need to park the car.  No need to unpack the car.  All my

gear was on my back.  I made sure everything was arranged and pulled on

the wetsuit.  The pro men started, then pro women, then 25-29 men.

Before the swim, I remember hearing the announcer tell the crowds about

the returning Wildflower athletes that performed well last year.  As the

swim started, I took my time starting.  It would be a long day so why save

a few seconds fighting to get in the water.  It was my second time in a

wetsuit for the year and it felt good.  I love wetsuits.  The water felt

great because of all the adrenaline.  Why can't it always feel warm?  I

found a few feet to follow during the first part of the swim.  A few

swimmers just swam away so I let them go.  I remember seeing a big kicker

in the middle of the swim and I enjoyed following him.  On the second

half, one swimmer was always around to draft off.  He may have been

slightly faster than me, but perfect to get behind because it did not

strain me to follow him.  I never tried to sight on the way out and the

turn around came quickly.  I was always close to the buoys and I knew they

ran in a straight line out.  On the return, I spotted the boathouse a

couple of times to make sure I was on track.  I am glad I previewed the

swim before the race so I knew what to look for.  I finished the swim and

felt pretty good.  It was still early in the day.  I struggled during my

last half iron distance race so I played it cool.

Transition went smoothly and off to bike.  The first mile and a half

followed the lake and went well.  Beach Hill is the first climb and it is

steeper than the computrainer course.  I took it easy and stayed pretty

even with the riders close to me.  The first 20 miles of the ride were

great.  I thought to myself, what a great place to ride and what beautiful

scenery.  I really enjoy a race course with limited traffic.  I felt alone

out there and it was so quiet.  Was my first half like this?  My legs felt

a little tired this early in the bike.  I was a little concerned since my

quads hurt during the run of my first half iron distance race.  I was

pushing the pedals lightly so I continued and thought I can't go much

slower.  I planned out my nutrition and even taped the plan to my bike.

It was fun to compare my splits to my predictions and also have the

information about where and when to expect the bike course bottle

exchanges.  I took 2 Enduralytes an hour on the bike.  This was different

from my first half and I hoped it would reduce my chances for cramps.  The

bike course climbed and descended for 56 miles.  I felt tired from miles

41 on and was concerned because the run was ahead.  Was I being too

conservative and worrying too much about the run or did I not have enough

bike endurance to run a strong half marathon?  I would find out and I was

still racing my own race and setting a conservative pace.

Back to transition and time to run.   I threw on my shoes, grabbed my

visor, more Enduralytes, and Pepsi.  I felt good but how good and would it

last?  I caught a few runners and tried to see the ages on their calves.

I did not remember who passed on the bike, but I hoped to catch some

people in my age group.  The hills began around mile 4 and continued to

mile 6.  I hit the wrong button on my watch and I messed up my splits

during the run.  I recorded a few splits and started my watch again and

got an idea of my pace.  I figured I was running around 8 minute miles and

9-minute miles going up the hills.  Again, this was similar to my first

half.  I felt good again at the beginning of the run but would it

continue.  I continued and stayed humble.  My Enduralytes vanished by mile

2 so I hoped I had enough salt and electrolytes to make it through.  I

sipped my Pepsi during the first 7 miles and grabbed Gatorade at most aid

stations to get as much sodium as possible.  Water was great on the head

and I was grateful for the visor.  My hair stayed wet for about a mile and

it was time to repeat the process.  Miles 9 through 11 is an out and back

section.  I descended most of mile 9 and 10 so I knew I would climb on the

return.  At mile 10, I told myself, "Two more miles".  Mile 13 was all

downhill so I had to make it to the top of the hill.  I knew I could let

gravity take over on the downhill so I was not worried about the last

mile.  I got to the top of Lynch Hill and descended.  I thought my quads

would kill, but I felt good.  I knew the finish area and the long

finishing shoot so I stayed pretty conservative near the end.  A fellow

25-29 male passed me near the finish shoot and I knew I would regret it if

I lost a position in my age group at the end.  I had a little extra in me

and finished strong.

What a race.  The bike course was great.  The run course was as pretty as I have ever seen.  I love the event and hope to be back eventually.  It is fun to read past race reports and compare my experience to thousands of other triathletes.  I have some work to do, but it is now getting warm in

Ohio and that is what the summer is for.  Can I go harder on the bike and

not sacrifice the run?  We will find out later this year.

Check out <http://www.tricalifornia.com/wildflower/2005/resultsSun.htm>

for some results.