Wildflower Triathlon is as iconic as any race on the circuit, and with it’s exit a few years back because of low water levels at the lake, everyone is excited to see it back and thriving.

This year was not the first year that I raced Wildflower - I have raced this iconic race three times before and it consistently delivers a great experience. Each time I’m harshly reminded of the punishing difficulty of this course, but the most memorable are the good times with friends around the campground fire sharing stories of our day afterwards.

Wildflower is a festival of fun and racing that lasts all weekend and has a lot to offer for the short distance athlete to the off road triathlete to the long course crazies.

This year was special as I had two of my Race Relentless athletes join me, Jen Walrath and Audra Kammerer. There are a lot of logistics that go into racing at wildflower if you are planning on staying at the lake and camping, so be prepared with plenty of food, wood, TP, ice and drinks. In past years the venue has not had vendors with food or drinks to serve you, however this year new owners of this race have added a festival like experience with food vendors and a stage for bands! It’s great.

Top Ten Tips ;

1. Plan early if you want to camp in a tent, don’t do the glamour bell tent camping (not worth the money!), or you can bring an RV into the park.

2. Invite lots of friends, this is definitely a good group event.

3. Do off road run training, the run course is mainly in the dirt and is very hilly.

4. Lower the PSI in your tires on race day. I went with 95, I weigh 130lbs (bumpy roads)

5. Do some heat training, IT IS HOT (really hot).

6. Ride on some roads that are wood chip sealed, these roads are not in the best condition but they are pretty desolate.

7. Bring a change of clothes for the finish, it might be a hike back to your campsite and you’ll want to hang around the festival at the finish. Oh and stash cash for the ice cream truck and beer garden!

8. Hill training for the run and the bike! Everyone talks about Nasty Grade hill at mile 42 of the bike course - that hill is tough but nothing compared to the climb out of transition on the bike or the hills on the run course. (oh, and stairs)

9. You’ll be very exposed to sun on the run course, put extra screen on in T2!

10. The aid stations ROCK and you’ll have plenty of water, but no ice (unless you ask like I did) Most aid stations are remote and they can’t keep ice.

Swim -

Wildflower is a straightforward age group swim start. You’ll have 3 minutes to get into the water and warm,up prior to wave start, right after the wave in front of you goes off. Plenty of time!

There’s no current (it’s a lake), so when you are doing your practice swim the day before be sure to practice sighting. The swim exit is a giant arch that you can’t miss. Aim for that, not the last buoy. Choose a goggle that has some tint as the sun will be in your eyes at some point no matter your swim start time.

Line up inside right and aim for the inside of the first turn buoy. You’ll get a straighter shot to it bc you’ll have less folks to get around. Some people place an extra pair of shoes to run up the boat ramp in, I have found this unnecessary and a waste of time. The ramp will be covered with a indoor/outdoor carpet, you’ll be just fine.

Bike -

Choose an easier gear out of transition and spin all the way to the big hill, you’ll be weaving through the lower campgrounds and other riders so don’t expect to go balls out on the first few miles. You’ll serve yourself and others well if you chill your tits and get your legs under you, sit up and stay alert. When you get to the hill out of transition you’ll be in your easiest gear grinding it up, it’s steep and semi long. I have seen several people over the years on the side of that hill with pinch flats (from riding through the service (paved) road in the camp). Once you are out of the park and onto the highway the course is rolling with a few flat and down fast sections until mile 42 when Nasty Grade hits you. Don’t think when Nasty Grade is over that you are done climbing... nope it’s a net uphill all the way back to transition with a really long FAST downhill. Practice your descending skills PLEASE, I have seen some near crashes on that long descent! The road is in good condition there but there are a few tight curves and just long downs that allow you to pick up a lot of speed!

Run -

It’s hard. It’s the hardest half run course that I’ve ever done in 18 years of racing over 100 half distance races. I think that’s all I need to say. So train for a brutal run in the heat and dirt that goes up and down, and then up up up. It’s totally worth the fight to the finish and you’ll love every second once you have finished.

You’ll head out of T2 up some stairs and then onto the same road that you biked out on. The course is up and down from the get go but will feel more like all up hill. There are flat sections on this course and they are all exposed to full sun so be prepared. The course goes out into the woods and through the campgrounds - you’ll have lonely parts and sections that you’ll have a crowd to cheer you on. Enjoy the energy from the spectators and don’t get sucked into the death march that you’ll find out on the trail. Be agile! There’s lots of big rocks along the trail.

This course is not easy, as you can tell,but it’s not supposed to be easy now is it!?!? The vibe of the weekend is so worth the dirt on your legs and the hangover on Sunday morning. Have fun and be prepared to have your ass handed to you with a side of grassroots loving.