This race came at the end of a long training block.  The week leading up to the race was filled with long rides, fast and tempo runs time trial swim efforts and a quick trip to Lysanne of Equinox Health to get some needed taping.  The race was one last push for fitness before my next race (July 9, Eagleman 70.3).   My one other competitor, Janet Nielson, past U23 National Team member and awesome athlete, had a different plan.  She was going to push me to earn my win.  I am so glad she did.  

The day was not warm.  My Garmin Edge 810 told me it was 8.5C and it was raining.  I don't think it ever did warm up and the rain only stopped for brief moments.   To stay warm I decided upon a polyethylene space blanket under my race kit and a rain jacket.  I was perfectly warm although hardly aerodynamic.  My toes on the other hand became ice-blocks. 

It was a wetsuit swim and the water was actually perfect temperature.  After the initial 200m push I settled into a nice rhythm with one other athlete who continued to help me push the pace.   We swam side by side for almost the two whole laps.  I ended up coming out of the water first with her just behind me. I ended up getting the course record of 24:55.  A great start to the day.   

The bike takes you around Lake Shawnigan four times.  The first time around I played it safe getting to know the roads and possibly slippery sections and turns.  The second time around Clint Lien (Coach, Mercury Rising) was able to give me a bike split letting me know where Janet was in the race.  I had hoped to gain time on her so I could take it easier on the run.   Three minutes.   The third lap the rain actually stopped briefly and I purposely ran over some rough sections of road to wake up my frozen feet (did not work).   Still only three minutes ahead.   By this time I was thinking- really? Why is she not getting tired!  I decided to pick up the pace to try to get some more time into her.   It worked and by the time I had run through transition and out the other side I had about 5 minutes lead.  I relaxed.  

I started out easy and found a comfortable rhythm.  I wanted to minimize the hurt factor so I could continue with training into the next week.  When I turned around at 8km though I saw that Janet had gained on me and was only 4 minutes behind.  Darn.  I had to pick up the pace.  And so I did.  I brought my pace from a 4:30ish average to a 4:20ish average.  Enough to keep the distance.   I have this brilliant mental strategy going on too which helps.  I constantly think I am going downhill.  Maybe it is because I finally have learnt to lean forward in my position. On the out and back course when I turned around I was ready to hurt but then it was downhill again. It is like a super boost of energy!   

Overall it was a great race, beautiful terrain and super well organized.  The volunteers were brilliant and had the best attitudes on what ended up being not the most glorious days in May.   I had to work much harder than I wanted thanks to Janet but am sure that I am better for it.   I am back to work today and finishing off a few days of training before I really start to back off.   Looking forward to seeing what I can do when my body is rested!  

“Wildflower” is not the image that the name implies. The race is in the foothills around Lake San Antonio. There are yellow and light green hues set against the blue lake. The earth is dry and rocky but with the lack of rain has become sandy. It is far enough from the city that at night you can see the stars. It is beautiful. 

This is my third time to the race yet only second time racing. That first evening as the sun was setting I went for a swim. Last year when I was injured, exhausted, broke and not able to race, I wondered how it was I could carry on “living the dream”. It was there while screaming to the fish in the deep water that I found courage to believe in myself, that there was so much more ahead for me in the sport and that I was not done. Learning about the tragic death of the Tri-California race director Terry Davis' son made the privilege of racing and being so fully alive all that more appreciated. I was not alone this past weekend to feel this way. 

I was very relaxed in the non-wetsuit swim and actually spend 99% of it sitting on Kristin Peterson's feet. She deserves credit for pacing and working the long swim (1.32 miles/2.1km according to my trusted Garmin 910xt). I was sneaky and in the final 50m pulled just slightly ahead and took the swim prime. 

The day was very hot. I knew that for me staying hydrated and pacing myself was critical. Starting out onto the bike Kristin and Laurel Wassner took off. The first 4 miles are pretty much straight up and I was not prepared to put myself in a hole that early in the race.  For wheels I used my Zipp 404 front and 808 rear.  I only had them at 115 PSI because of the VERY bumpy county roads and the heat.  Because of this the bike went smoothly for the most part and while I was entirely on my own for the whole 90km I pushed a pretty steady wattage. On a course like Wildflower I can not say enough about having smooth gearing that can enable steady cadence as you demand your body to go up and down hills efficiently (Thank-you SRAM for making stellar components!).  Hydration was good and I was so thankful for the integrated hydration system in the Shiv. One straw to increase drinking is good but two is even better! It was overall a really slow day though. Perhaps the wind, the heat, not sure but I was slower than two years ago and pushed about 10 watts more. I eventually passed Laurel and Kristin again but had been passed by Kat Baker and Heather Jackson who took first and second. 

The run was hard and I gave it everything I could. The course is 40% trails, goes up (a lot) and is actually somewhat technical. Even though there were water stations every mile there were times when my mouth felt like the sandy dirt we were running on. I counted to four on every hill and thought about pulling a rope to get myself up. What I learned in this race is that I need to re-work on going downhill. My turnover was too slow causing me to brake and not allow gravity to bring me down. I tried to bring it up but it is a little late to train your body to do that while in the middle of a race. It was on the downhills that I was passed - twice. When Jennifer Tetrick passed me in the last 200 meters of the descent I willed my legs to go. I did not give up trying to regain ground until she actually went across the finish line. Sadly it was ahead of me. 

Wildflower is not just another long distance triathlon. It is the essence of what is good in the sport of triathlon. It is the community of pros, recreational athletes, volunteers, sponsors and incredible race organizers coming together to have an incredible experience of athletic excellence, inspiration and fun. The race was for Nick, Terry's son, who lost his life but whose spirit was present for all of us. Each day we have is precious and cannot be taken for granted. I gave the race everything I had. I executed it to the absolute best I could and so I am happy.

The Nitty Gritty:
Scody Kit: 2-piece suit
Swim: Nineteen Swim Skin
Bike: S-Works Shiv TT, SRAM Red Components, Zipp 404 & 808 -Tires @ 115 PSI, SRM powermeter
Other: Rudy Project Noyz Sunglasses, Garmin 810 Edge, Garmin 910xt
Nutrition: GU! Went with an assortment of 5 caffeine free and 2xcaffeine gels on the bike, 3 on the run and GU Brew. Never cramped despite it being 30+C – yahoo!
Recovery:  Compressport Socks and a few beer!

Race Results: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20130504_Wildflower_Triathlons.htm?Fuseaction=Results&+Elite~Professional+Female