Wildflower - 3rd May 2008 - Long Course

"If I didn't want to live then why did I fight so hard?!" - Team In Training Honoree message, Friday 2nd May 2008.


I recently began to suspect that my fixation on this year's Wildflower was bordering on unhealthy obsession. That might seem a dramatic statement so it demands a little explanation - I think part of the reason I enjoy triathlons is because they amount to a (relatively) short time period with clear goals and well-defined rules. The final decision to make the attempt, ultimate responsibility for the endeavour, and power to complete it, lie in the hands of a single person. It's a clarity and simplicity of purpose that daily life rarely affords.

In 2006 I missed the event after a metatarsal stress fracture on April 2nd. In 2007 I was half-way through the bike-leg and feeling great when a broken spoke effectively ended my race (even though I eventually finished). I arguably spent the better part of two years preparing for the 2008 race...Perhaps my focus was understandable or maybe I'm crazy. Either way I was looking forward to a problem-free race and crossing the finish line...


After training weekend I took care of all to-do items except for a new saddle purchase, including having my bike's rear gear cassette, gear cables and tires replaced. Some work travel to Korea and Japan disrupted my schedule a little but the hotels had small pools to help keep my swimming in order (and to be honest laziness/motivation were my biggest issues after training weekend, even when I was home...).

My trip to Coachella didn't completely break my body and the folks at Chiro Medical Group helped me back into shape on April 29th. I didn't mention my Junkie XL-inspired stomach-muscle strain but it held up okay during short attempts to swim, bike and run on April 30th. Catching up on sleep was made difficult by the release of GTA IV on April 29th...

During the preceding week weather forecasts for race-day varied wildly...Temperatures were predicted to be anywhere from about 65-79°F and wind speed estimates varied from about 2-16 mph...not very helpful but more promising than past records of 100+°F. All was finally revealed on race day - highs just short of 80°F and winds around 10mph.

Swim: I positioned myself near the front on left/outside (again) for the clockwise swim. I had to jostle a little at the start and around the halfway point but managed to avoid any major mishaps. Lake San Antonio was calm and nearly 30 minutes later (four minutes faster than in windy, choppy 2007) I exited.

T1: I struggled a little to get my wetsuit off - I thought the velcro neck-strap was open...it was not...My split was respectable but not great.

Bike: I was very pleased to see that the road that serves the opening miles of both the bike and run courses had been resurfaced. My plan for the bike was to try to get as close as possible to three hours. I chased a group of riders that included Kyle Visin (his 420 bib number made him a celebrity to Cal Poly student volunteers :P ) until about 18 miles in - probably at too fast a pace. I managed to stay ahead of one of my old teammates, Kit Colbert, until he passed me with a yell and a grin at the top of Lynch Hill (about a mile from the finish). After the race I discovered my rear tire was flat and the wheel was a little out of true. I don't know if this was a slow leak or if it blew under pressure in the afternoon heat while I was running...I do know I'm lucky it didn't affect my descent of Lynch!

T2: In spite of re-applying factor 50 sunscreen, my left shoulder burned to blistering.

Run: Long before I got off my bike I calculated that I had room to spare to beat my six hour target. However during the opening miles of the run two things occurred to me; #1 I wasn't enjoying myself, #2 I didn't want to do this [race distance] again. Thoughts like this are not uncommon during any endurance event, and amazing support from TNT teammates helped alleviate the first, but the second hit me pretty hard and still persists...Having said that, coming down the Wildflower finish chute and seeing your target time beaten are both special experiences - together they're unforgettable.

Heartfelt thanks to all who helped with this one - you know who you are!! ;-)



My bib number was 388.

Results.






Photos:
Event official.
swim: take it off!
run: inspiration * 2 + support == grin + smile.


This brings my tally to 10 triathlons:
2 Big Kahuna Half Ironman +
2 Escape from The Rock +
2 Treasure Island Olympic +
2 Wildflower Long Course +
1 Escape From Alcatraz +
1 Folsom.

It also finishes my fifth TNT season.

If I return to Lake San Antonio, I think I might try the Olympic distance...

PS After a chat to the folks at the Profile Design booth, it seems the Tri-Stryke Elite™ might be a good replacement for my current saddle (which is worn so badly, raw plastic is showing).

PPS I'm resolved to sign up to the Bone Marrow donor program after hearing Trevor Austin Kott's story related by his mother to the TNT dinner group on Saturday evening.