Wildflower Long Course Triathlon
Lake Nacimiento, CA
Official Website : http://www.tricalifornia.com
Race Type : Triathlon and Multisport
Race Distance : 1.2m Swim, 56m Bike, 13.1m Run
Race Description: The AVIA Wildflower Long Course Triathlon is one of the premier triathlons nationally and internationally. The 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run is one of the most challenging courses anywhere. Beach Hill, Nasty Grade, Polar Heart Rate Hill and the back country trail run will test the skills of the elite, age group triathlete and the first time long course competitor.
5 Reviews for Wildflower Long Course Triathlon
Just finished an amazing Triathlon at Lake San Antonio. Avia Wildflower lived up to all of the expectations. With absolutely no triathlon experience I ended up completing the long course in 6 hours and 42 minutes. The support received by the competitors and spectators was great! Even though I was razzed for riding a mountain bike during the bike portion. LOL! The run through the camping site was epic. You end up running your fastest 2 miles of the course because of all of the cheering.
Lessons I learned during the event.
#1 Go for the practice swim along with all of the competitors before your wave hits the swim. I was dominated the first tenth of the course because I was still warming up.
#2 Take 30 seconds breaks and drink water/gatorade during certain strategic places in the course. (aide stations)
#3 Make sure your bike has a water bottle holder!
#4 Have a good time and soak in the environment/Don't take yourself too seriously!
I'll be back! What a great experience!
WF is one of those races everyone should do at least one time. Although the venue is logistically difficult there are several options.We opted to stay in cabins over at Nacamiento so we were only in the crowds when we chose to be. The event is well organized, the volunteers from Cal Poly are simply amazing and with the roads closed into the park, the crowds are great all day long.
The best and worst of triathlons. On the one hand, there is nothing like the atmosphere and comraderie of Wildflower. It is a huge event. On the other hand, compared to other LD triathlons it is expensive and a logistical nightmare. The worst is no post-race food - you have to buy it at the expo after the event - and the long trudge up the hill to your campsite after the event. And $60/night camping is a rip-off. But the course is beautiful, love the one lap, and it is pretty well organized and staffed. You must do Wildflower once.
The Wildflower Triathlon is a weekend event with a half ironman triathlon also known as "the long course" on Saturday and the Olympic distance or "the short course" on Sunday. These courses are hilly and get really tough as the day heats up and the wind picks up. The support at the aide stations is fantastic and so are the spectators.
Extremely challenging. Always kicks my a** know matter how hard I train. But the real benefit is the experience (pre-registration, expo, post race announcer, etc.). Like an IronMan but for 10% of the price (can't beat cheap camping).