Lessons from Wildflower (in lieu of long race report)
Aubrey Spath

• It's not about the bike after all. It's about the run. The difficulty of the run course can not be overrepresented. Picking your way over that trail is not just a physical challenge, but a mental one. It's not all smooth - lots of rocks and divots to trip on, it is sometimes sloped on the fallaway, and there are snakes! :) Plus, when you think you're headed for home, there is an awfully challenging hill from miles 9-12. You get to run (or walk) up it and see athletes who are running down the hill toward home. You think "Oh, I'm just running to the top of the hill and that's it." But no - you are running over and down that hill - way, way down. And on your way down to the turnaround, you get to look at a long parade of athletes who are almost all walking. The ones who aren't walking, who try to run the hills (and this is true of the whole course) are the ones you pass at the very end.
  
• The camping is fun and not as difficult on the body as you might think. But the campground is far from the race area. A good 30-minute walk up another very steep hill. Really fun after the half ironman distance. Best advice - whatever day you get there, don't bother going down until Friday. Register, do any swim workout you want to do, hang out and shop at the expo - but do not plan multiple trips up and down this hill. You will fatigue your legs, I promise.
  
• Bring extra toilet paper (a good idea for any triathlon).
  
• Bring sandals for the shower.
  
• The enforcement of the closure of transition area is not particulary strict.
  
• Plan to get a massage from the people there. $1 a minute is totally worth it. They are awesome and really caring!!!
  
• There is very little food right at race finish. There were oranges and bananas, gatorade and water. Also Protein Plus Power Bars but I hate those. You can get more food up at the Expo area behind the race finish but they charge you for it.
  
• If you plan to spectate bring tons of sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. You will be fried otherwise.
  
• Don't bother with the Oly race from what I hear. It is super-crowded (kind of like Accenture I guess).
• Bring at least one friend.
  
• Try to get there before Friday midday or have someone else get there. It gets very crowded after that.
  
• Watch out for caterpillars.
  
• Get to this race once in your lifetime -- it is not to be missed.