My 3rd stab at Wildflower is in the books, and I always learn something from this race. Overall, it was a great weekend, although a bit chilly. If I've learned anything from my last 2 attempts, it is that this course demands patience. Patience or a lot of cycling fitness, and since I can only occasionally muster the former at this time of year, I focused on a steady and conservative race.
With 61 degree water temps I expected a slow swim, as I'm a massive wimp when it comes to cold. What I didn't expect was to see a 32 when I looked at my watch, which was almost 3 minutes slower than last year. So much for all of my 'improvements' in the pool!
The bike at Wildflower is beautiful and challenging, with about 3,700' of climbing. Last year I was dead by the end and I struggled in the run, so this year I took it much easier for the first half and then slowly picked it up. No one passed me on the bike, which was really strange, because guys always seem to be blowing by me for the first third of the bike.
I didn't bring any PowerBar gels or Endurance on the run, and I paid for it. I just can't stand Gatorade, and by mile 7, I was way behind on calories and fluid, but managed to stagger through the last 6 miles, although it got plenty ugly. Second learning: always carry my own product for half iron-distance races.
I was thrilled to finish, and it was a nice surprise to get 2nd in my AG, which I really wasn't expecting.
I highly recommend Wildflower to everyone who doesn't hate camping. It is a really cool weekend, and it was really good to hang out with the PowerBar guys, and my old friend Tim Hola, who finished first amatuer overall. I'm just happy to have another 4 years befor our age groups overlap again.
Now I need 3 good weeks of training before Boise, then another good 2 weeks before IMCDA. I really do love the race season!!
