Wildflower is a race unlike any race I have competed in before. I had a great time and know that someday in the near future I will have a breakthrough race there. However this year those dreams of stading up on the podium did not come true, which leaves me as an athlete even more hungry to go back and find where I can improve do achieve my dreams. The race: For some reason I did not feel mentally there, it was as if on race day I was just going through the motions, which in big races like this one needs to be operating on all cylinders and I was not. Getting ready in transition I was trying to get mentally prepared to do what I knew physically I am capable of. I had a descent warm up riding to transiton, and running a bit pre race, then it was time to head down to the swim, I hopped in the water and managed about 15 min of good swimming with some fast sprints in there. Knowing that the gun would be going off in a few minutes I got out of the water and visualized my plan of attack for the swim. Gun goes off and what a chaos it was, swimming with hundreds of others trying to get out to the first buoy as quickly as possible. Normally in the swim I try to tag onto the draft of someone in front of me however, on this day I just missed the opportunity and was hung between two groups. Out of the water in 23minutes, a bit off my time but up near the front of the pack, into T2 I passed a few people. Now onto the bike and within seconds the infamous Lynch Hill climb. Legs were not happy that right off the bat were being asked to hammer up a hill steeper than steep. Nonetheless we made it to the top passing a couple more dudes. Out onto the main section of the bike course I was finding my legs and trying to gain as much time as I could. Some friends yelled out I was in 13th at about mile 20 on the bike. Passed one more dude and then I was passed by another dude who seemed to be shot out of a rocket. Still in 13th heading off the bike and onto the run. This is where I shine and put a lot of hurt into my legs. The first 3k of the 10k run seemed to fly past and I was running just where I wanted to be right around 10.5 minutes for the first 3k. From about 4k to 7k there is a pretty good climb, this is where I was hoping to really hammer out a fast tempo to gain back some time from those ahead of me. However when I tried to go my legs had other plans and really wanted to just keep a steady pace. Usually I find that I can work the hills, however on this day they really worked me. Finally, my form came back during the last 3k of the race, unfortunately for me it was too late to gain a whole lot of time. Running the last 1k of the race is something I will not soon forget how the crowds seem to carry you into the finish. 1000's of people yelling and encouraging you to run fast keeps the mind positive no matter what the race outcome is. I am happy with my finish, and have been an athlete long enough to know that somedays we have it and somedays we dont. I believe that my greatest race is in the future, until then keep on keepin. Thanks for all who showed there support throughout this race and thanks as well for reading. Here is a link to check out some more of the Woodstock of Triathlon, Wildflower. http://www.tricalifornia.com/. Until next time, Neil.
