The Wildflower long course( half ironman distance) triathlon is probably one of my favorite triathlon. Unlike most other big triathlons, WF has a very low key feel. It is hosted about 30 min west of Paso Robbles at Lake San Antonio. The vast majority of the competitors camp the night before and I think that calms most of the field down before the race.
Other than the low key factor, the course is a great race course. The Swim is lake swim in questionable quality water but a pretty easy navigation. The bike is hilly at the beginning and end and rolling in the middle. The run is really hilly and partially on trails for the first 7 miles before flatting out a bit and then running you down a big hill and making you U-turn and go up it and then bombing down a steep hill to the finish. Basically, it’s a hard course and compounded by generally really hot. It’s my kinda course.
The 1.2 mile swim went OK. I got out to a descent start and after a little jostling everything went smoothly. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a set of feet to draft so I spent the entire time swimming by myself swerving in and out of slower swimmers from earlier waves. As I exited the water, I heard the announcer counting down the next wave so I knew I swam just under 30 min. Not bad but a little slower than I had hoped.
After a decent transition, I headed out on the 56 mile bike. The only bad part about the WF bike course is the road quality. If you have anything loose on your bike, it is going to bounce off and into the abyss. The first 20k goes over some big hills and is constantly rolling. I took my time and held back knowing I had a long day ahead. About 20 k into the bike, I found another competitor and we went back and forth through the rollers and helped to make the flat part fly by. You make a turn and start the gradual climb to the base of the big hill on the course nasty grade. Through here my pacing partner disappeared. Just before the crest of nasty grade, I caught one of training partners Chad and knew I was having a solid bike ride. Just before entering the park, about 5 miles to go, my pacing partner from early in the bike caught me and put a little bit of time of my heading into transition.
I didn’t get my bike split and it’s still not posted, but as I entered transition, I didn’t see too many bikes on the rack so I knew I was in the mix. While the weather was ideal for Wildflower standards, a good 15 degrees cooler than normal, it was starting to heat-up. As I exited transition, I caught my bike pacing partner. I told him good bike and promptly ran away from him. I stayed really calm and in control for the first 10k. It has steep hills that kill me if I push too hard. After surviving that part, the trail nears the park entrance and flattens out. This is where it’s time to run hard. I began pushing and every time I wanted to ease up I thought about California 70.3 where I had the second the second fastest amateur run, beat by 2 seconds. As I started the long downhill, I saw Tim Hola running up, first in my age-group, and started looking for others. I found one more just before the turn and hoped I could chase him down before the finish. I pushed super hard and caught him near the top of the hill at the 12 mile marker. FYI the mile markers at WF have little to do with the actual distances. The bad news was, I had to push like mad as I crested the top and ran the long steep hill to the finish. I ran for my life and held him off.
I finished in 4 hrs 32 min and change. I ran 1hr 23 min and 54 seconds. Thank fully, I was a minute faster than my girlfriend Emily who anchored the winning mixed relay team. I finished 2nd in my age-group and the 10th amateur. I have no complaints and think my race went well. My legs where completely shot so I knew I gave it everything I had. Fortunately, one of my training partners was at the Complex tent, so I let the computer fire my legs for a cool down as I relaxed in the shade. Definitely, the way to go.
I am still a long way away from Kona and my form seems to be coming around. Next stop is Auburn in a few weeks. Another epic course that I have been wanting to race for years.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The best award ceremony ever
In April, I completed Ironman California 70.3. After a battling a couple infections over the offseason, I went into the race knowing it wasn’t going to be my best race. My goal was to see where my fitness I was and grab an Ironman Canada slot. While my age-group had Kona slots, I knew I wasn’t going to be fast enough to get one.
The race went just as I had anticipated, I swam just under 30 min, rode around 2 hr and 30 min (slow but expected) and ran around 1 hr 20 min. The run was solid and only 2 seconds off the fastest amateur run of the day. My finishing time was just under 4hr 30 min and good enough to be on the first page of results and 6th in my age-group. I was 2 min off the podium but hey I am not fit so something I readily accept.
Afterwards, I talked to a few friends who managed to place well enough to get Kona slots. I was happy for them just about everyone I knew had a good race or one that represented there fitness level.
The good/bad news about California 70.3 is they have spots for other ironman races. All you have to do is finish, wait for the awards to end and then get you place or maybe fight for it with your time if too many people want in. I was planning on getting one for Canada and traveling up there with several friends. Because I had a couple friends on the podium, I made it to the award ceremony early to show my support for their great performances.
The magic started in the women 25-29 where a friend got a roll-down spot for Kona. She was coming back from an accident so it was great to see. It continued in the women 30-34 where my friend Charisa got here stop. She was planning on Canada as well but It was great to see he get a spot. In the men 30-34 Patrick finished 2nd and earned another trip to the big island.
Now it was the 35-39. It had 2 spots and the first two guys passed. There were two competitors remaining on the podium and with 2 spots I didn’t think about getting one. The third place finisher took the spot, a friend from my days in CO Tim Hola. The announcer looked at the final guy on the podium and asked if he wanted the place, he shook his head no. I glanced over at Patrick and the look on his face was priceless. I had the spot. As the announcer went to find my name on the sheet, my friends exploded in applause before my name was called off. I grabbed my wallet and moved my way through the crowd to claim my spot.
I was in shock. I never dreamed I would have a Kona slot. I thought maybe before the season started but after all the problems in the offseason, I knew I wouldn’t place high enough. It turns out the roll-down gods where good to me. I was on my way to Kona. I think the smile on my face was permanent. The best part was seeing the genuine happiness of my friends for me. While I didn’t win anything, I have never felt so great after any award. I was on my way back to Kona and several of my friends would be there as well. I can’t wait..
The race went just as I had anticipated, I swam just under 30 min, rode around 2 hr and 30 min (slow but expected) and ran around 1 hr 20 min. The run was solid and only 2 seconds off the fastest amateur run of the day. My finishing time was just under 4hr 30 min and good enough to be on the first page of results and 6th in my age-group. I was 2 min off the podium but hey I am not fit so something I readily accept.
Afterwards, I talked to a few friends who managed to place well enough to get Kona slots. I was happy for them just about everyone I knew had a good race or one that represented there fitness level.
The good/bad news about California 70.3 is they have spots for other ironman races. All you have to do is finish, wait for the awards to end and then get you place or maybe fight for it with your time if too many people want in. I was planning on getting one for Canada and traveling up there with several friends. Because I had a couple friends on the podium, I made it to the award ceremony early to show my support for their great performances.
The magic started in the women 25-29 where a friend got a roll-down spot for Kona. She was coming back from an accident so it was great to see. It continued in the women 30-34 where my friend Charisa got here stop. She was planning on Canada as well but It was great to see he get a spot. In the men 30-34 Patrick finished 2nd and earned another trip to the big island.
Now it was the 35-39. It had 2 spots and the first two guys passed. There were two competitors remaining on the podium and with 2 spots I didn’t think about getting one. The third place finisher took the spot, a friend from my days in CO Tim Hola. The announcer looked at the final guy on the podium and asked if he wanted the place, he shook his head no. I glanced over at Patrick and the look on his face was priceless. I had the spot. As the announcer went to find my name on the sheet, my friends exploded in applause before my name was called off. I grabbed my wallet and moved my way through the crowd to claim my spot.
I was in shock. I never dreamed I would have a Kona slot. I thought maybe before the season started but after all the problems in the offseason, I knew I wouldn’t place high enough. It turns out the roll-down gods where good to me. I was on my way to Kona. I think the smile on my face was permanent. The best part was seeing the genuine happiness of my friends for me. While I didn’t win anything, I have never felt so great after any award. I was on my way back to Kona and several of my friends would be there as well. I can’t wait..
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