Wildflower Race Report

- getting to the campsite is an accomplishment itself: I worked tue-fri since 6am (I usually get to work at 9am-10am), I got sick, I was sitting in traffic on the 101, and more importantly, I missed Chick Fil A (I thought it was in SLO... but Chick Fil A was in Oxnard!)

- After I got out of the swim I finished my first bottle in less than 1/2 hr. That wasn't a good sign

- I hit a pothole going down hill and dropped two of my rear water bottles. I am glad I didn't crash!!!

- My cage on the frame broke in half at the second water station. What the hell? The cage was hitting my left leg... I need to stop and remove the cage.

- During WTFW I got to the top of Nasty Grade at 2:30. It was 2:30 and I was half an hour away from Nasty Grade. I did too many races and I am paying for it

- My leg almost cramp up on that hill going back to the park entrance. I pushed thru it. I told myself I either push thru it or get tipped over like a cow.

- I got to T2. By then I figured I'll just finish the course so I pick up my camera (no camera on bike because I was planning to PR) and head out. May as well make myself useful! Cramp on both leg at ~ mi 2.5 (the small hill before we enter the trail). Today isn't my day... started walking and really continue to monitor my condition.

- I took pictures of other TNT people because I think we are all part of the family. I hate it when I see people from another chapter and they look at you like you are from another planet.

- I saw my friend Godfather Sean at mi 7. He is one of the key people to get me into the world of triathlon.

- Definitely ran up that small hill leading to TNT camp site... don't want the walk of shame!

- I have two thoughts during the run.
a) I wanted to sing like Scott but the only song that I can come up with is 'Killing me Softly'. I didn't think it will go well with other runners so I didn't sing it.
b) I want clean hands... my hands were sticky... sport drinks, sunscreen, bio-relief, sweat, salt, hand oil.

- I saw my friend Pai and I told him I didn't know he was doing the race. He said he broke his pedal and rode 10 mi with one leg. I told him he was stupid. He laughed, walk for a while and I kept going.

- I saw Sara Tung running in pain! But she kept on moving! Determination to keep moving!!!

- I saw Gordie in front of me and I told him... 'And you said you don't know if you can do it? You are faster than me!'

- After I got down to Lynn hill there was a woman vomiting and crying on the side of the road. I could of finish my silly 'sub 3' LOL but I was like whatever. I'll run her in... maybe she'll join TNT next year. She walk, vomit, walk, vomit, walk, vomit... and we are finally off. Then both of my legs decided to cramp up and I fell on the ground in pain. I was thinking... it will be funny if she took off without me. Of course she didn't... anyway this woman somehow pull me up and we continue to run. I told her it's funny how things just turned around. We crossed the finish line together holding our hands up high. By the way I knew she ate half an orange......

- My heart sunk when I saw people that got cut off. I know we are all capable but they got cut off by the silly rule of triathlon. Men have an extra hr to complete the race! I asked Jen Shaw what's her first marathon time is... she said she was slow... ~5:45. I told her mine was 6:30 (LA Marathon 2008). I had knee pain and ended up walking 1/2 of it. I told myself I'll just do another one.

Bad day? Sure. Was it a meaningful day? Definitely. You don't have a good day unless you learn from the bad! Like one of my coaches told me. Learn and move forward. Don't keep thinking about your bad day, let it go.

Louis