Race 14: 2010 Wildflower

Date: May 1, 2010
Distance: .25 Mile Swim, 9.7 Mile Mountain Bike, 2 Mile Run

2010 would begin with the same setting and race of my first triathlon ever. The One and Only Wildflower Triathlon. I was really looking forward to really pushing hard this year and recovering from my previous years mistake when I fell off my bike during a fast downhill decent. The race almost didn't happen though due to a late night with what I think was food poisoning. It struck me while I was camping the night before, and if I hadn't been camping and about 5 hours away from home, I may have just slept in that next morning and avoided the race all together. I was up at 6 am that next morning though (not like I ever fell asleep), and feeling slightly better, so I figured "hey, I'm here, so might as well just give it a try". After racking my bike and getting ready for the swim, I hung out in a porta potty, emptying what was left of the food poisoning while keeping an eye on my watch to make sure I didn't miss my 9 am start time. I was literately zipping up my wetsuit and jogging down the boat ramp when the air horn signaled the start of my race, and I jumped in the water in the back of the pack of racers. My only main thought at this point was "please don't shit your self while wearing a wetsuit..."

Within minutes starting the race I began to feel better. It's fair to say I was not at the top of my game, but I was surprised at how well I was able to race considering what had happened the night before... and in the porta potty a few minutes prior. Both the swim and the bike seemed to go by quite smoothly. I was easily used to the distances, and having raced the bike course 2 times already I knew what to expect (and what corner to slow down at). The run was going smoothly, but the sun and heat made sure I could feel the dehydration starting to catch up with me. I stopped for about a minute to walk before I was encouraged by a fellow racer to push on, and I did. I hit up the one and only aid station for everything they were offering at the turn around point, and made a strong effort to run the remaining mile back to the finish line.

My finish time was 1 hour, 12 minutes and 23 seconds. Almost 10 minutes faster than the previous year. Although I didn't finish in the top 10 like I wanted, I still considered this race a huge accomplishment, and proof that I can handle what ever life puts in my way, including some bad food the night before a triathlon.

Links:

Website: http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/WildFlower2013-main.htm
Official Results: http://raceresults.eternaltiming.com/index.cfm/20100501_AVIA_Wildflower_Triathlons_and_Festival.htm?Fuseaction=Results&Class=Mountain+Bike+Individual~M25-29