Wildflower Pre-Race Report

Wow... it's about that time.

First off I signed up for this race through Team in Training which supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society via fundraising. I am close to my goal.  If you have enjoyed my antics and miserable fails through the past few years, please go ahead and click HERE to donate like $5 or something.  Make a difference in someone else's life!

Alright, now that the groveling is out of the way... onto what everyone wants to know. My predictions.

So far, it's pretty simple really.  This is my overall plan:

Yup, BEASTMODE!

If you get Triathlete Magazine they did a write up on Wildflower last month.  It's pretty dang hilly.  So this complicates my predictions A LOT!

So let's give this a go shall we?

Swim: 45 min

Drink a Core Power 15 min before my wave start.

Now I have never been to Wildflower but judging by what people have told me there is a decent jog up a concrete boat ramp that is pretty steep out of the water to T1. I will have the wobbly legs of just getting out of the water and might have an issue running up the ribbed concrete (ribbed for her pleasure). I have been told to walk up this for fear of bruising the arches of your feet.

T1: 3:30

We all know by now I set up a cot and take a freaking nap in transition.  Let's not ruin a bad thing right? Ultimately, socks, shoes, sun tan lotion, blah blah blah. I take my time in T1 and collect myself, in my opinion T1 is when the race actually starts... the swim is just a warm up for the day.

I will be drinking a Core Power in T1 (pretty much ensure on crack).

Bike: BEASTMODE!!!

I have no clue here. NONE! This should make things fun. I have no fear going down hills and plan on reaching a new top speed (currently like 47mph or something) at this race. The scary thing is that I have not ridden my bike w/ the new gear and this is a more technical course than any other I have raced.

So what can go wrong? Hopefully hitting 50mph on my bike and not 100% sure on the handling :) I wouldn't do it if it weren't going to make for a great story ... right?

I am actually hoping that my real sponsorship shines through on the bike "Meathead Triathletes, Inc.".  It's not hard to get sponsored here... just go out and throw your race plan in the trash and try to burn out as quickly as you can!

I don't plan on holding back on any hills. It's balls to the wall on everyone of them.

So, 3hrs? 3.5hrs? Not sure.

T2: 3:30

Again, gotta get a nap in right?

With the hills I know 2 things will happen. IT Bands will flare up (have been having issues again on the hill workouts) and my achilles will flare up (have been dealing with this quite a bit lately as well).  I haven't brought up the injuries too much because I have been much better about doing damage control after my workouts. But I will be putting on my CEP compression socks (full sock). Since this helps my achilles a ton and I will be putting Bio Freeze on my IT Bands... and reapplying sun screen.

Note to self... wipe biofreeze off of hands prior to sun screen application!!!

Run: 2-2.5hrs

Again, not sure the toll that the hills on the bike will take on me. But I think I can maintain a 9 min pace. The wild card is how steep the hills actually are and how hot it is out there.

My goal is to run up every hill.  As of right now I still have 2 hills unclaimed on the run... so if you donate $70.30 or more I will be thinking of you as I run up one of the last two hills!!! (how much do you want me to suffer?).

After running up the hills, I plan on easing off a lot to go down the hills. I have had issues w/ my back on the down hill, too much jarring. Also, my stomach gets very sick from the sloshing as I go down hill.  Walk brakes will be used going down hill and at aid stations most likely.

Overall Goal: 6-6.5hrs.

So how will the no-plan plan fare? No clue. I don't have a race plan except to go with how I feel on race day and if I get swept up in the adrenaline of the race, I plan on going w/ it 100%. If there is one thing I can do, it is put my body in such a sufferfest for 6hrs that I won't be able to walk for a week ;)

Game on!

BEASTMODE!