Home Page

Division Rank-120/218= 55%
Bib-604
NICK SEIDEL
M
M30-34
Swim-            00:33:41
Swim min/mi- 00:28:04
Swim DivR- 73
Swim OverallR- 527
T1-            00:06:26
Bike-            03:26:08
Bike Ave MPH- 16.30MPH
Bike DivR- 171
Bike OverallR- 1079
T2-            00:04:32
Run-            01:56:47
Run Min/Mi- 8:54
Run DivR- 71
Run OverallR- 384
Final-            06:07:35
Overall Rank- 698/1650finishers= 42%

The main reason I wanted to do Wildflower was because when I was on the Texas State Triathlon Club, I heard it was the unofficial college nationals for 15 years, also the Woodstock of Triathlon.

Overall I had a great experience traveling and racing in the Wildflower Triathlon. The scenery was awesome and the course challenging. The camping and atmosphere at the race was second to none. The things I think could have used improvement were the packet, pre and post race food.

On Friday before the race I left Emily and the boys in Monterey and headed South towards Lake San Antonio. I arrived just after noon and was soon we'll aware of the excitement in the air. There were people everywhere, sponsor banner tents, RVs, Triathletes everywhere. I checked in at the park ranger’s station and proceeded into one of the camping areas and found a nice shady spot under a big oak.

After finding my camping spot I wanted to get checked in ASAP, because I had a lot of preparation ahead of me. It was hard for me to determine were to go by reading the map so I asked and followed some guys DOWN...

From the camp area, the transition and event activities was at least a 500 ft elevation difference, so we descended. In the event area, there were two expo areas; in addition to vendors being in the finish area then there was the transition area. They had a huge tent for packets and it was amazing to see 8000 packets, I don't think it would be fun to stuff them. After the packet and getting my number, we were directed to the chip pick up were they scanned the bar code on your number, then scanned the chip so they would match (no sorting of chips).

After I checked in, I walked through the two expo areas briefly to retrieve the race cap I purchased and then climbed the HILL again to start prep for the race.

I first had to reassemble my bike (seat, derailleur, pedals, handle bars, and wheels). This took about an hour or so. I then organized all my race stuff so I would be ready in the morning. Finally I had to reorganize the car so I would have space to sleep in it.

After all that was done I decided it would be smart to take advantage of the courtesy bike check to make sure I assembled my bike correctly. I road my bike down the final mile of the bike and run course, which was a huge down hill, to the finish line area. It turned out many people were taking advantage of the courtesy bike check, and it would take "a couple of hours" to get to mine. So I opted out of leaving it there and to the minor disadvantage of some gear changing problems. So I rode back up the huge hill to return my bike to the car.

The pre race "pasta dinner" was scheduled, so after I returned my bike after some more tweaking, I decided to jog back down the HILL. Before the dinner though I decided to test the waters. Without the wetsuit the 65-degree water felt fairly fresh.

I headed up to the expo area to get my "pasta dinner". This dinner was somewhat disappointing with plain white pasta, bland tomato sauce, crusty bread, salad and no drink. Luckily I brought back up food, and soon found out not many people purchase the meal. Unfortunately I had purchased an additional $10 dinner for Emily and a kids $7 for River. They said I could redeem it later...

After eating, I walked back up the HILL- this made three round trips for the afternoon. I then retreated back to the Jeep for a snack and one beer. I relaxed and watched all the activity in the camp area. I tried the cell phone a couple of times but reception out there was nil. Finally I turn in at about 8:30. I had a pretty good night's sleep with a few interruptions from other campers.

Race morning wake up time, 5:30. After repacking my gear into anther bag, I headed down the hill. I think I was the third or fourth person in T, so had plenty of time to get pumped.

I was the sixth wave with about 100 other 30-34 men. I was very happy with the swim with the amount of training I had, 33:41, 1.2-mile swim. The wet suit Deon had lent me rubbed my neck raw a little but that is normal.

Time for the dreaded bike. My plan was to be conservative so I could manage the hills at the end and the run. The hills were hard and heavy from the beginning. By mile two we already had a steep grade that was about a mile long. With about a 65-degree air temp this was a strain on cold legs and lungs. The hills kept coming for the first 20 miles or so. My middle gears were skipping a little (due to my lack of expertise in bike wrenching), so I probably lost some time and energy there. After 20 miles the course flattened out compared to the first part with some rollers. This is the part where I could see the wind being a factor (two days prior the weatherman predicted 35mph gusts) luckily we only had 10-15mph winds. The big hill was 10 miles to the end and was about 5 miles long with a 1000-foot clime. Overall I think I handled the bike well, but of course could have used more miles under the belt. Before coming off the bike, I felt like my legs would not be there and even thought about bailing once or twice. But then thought about how far I had come but the main thing that kept me going was the thought of Emily and the boys. I thought I had to keep going to tell them I finished.

I took my time both times in T. Looking back at first glance this could have cost me to break 6 hours. But on second thought, if I would not have taken the time to be comfortable, I might have been slower during the bike or run; not having enough nutrition or getting blisters on the run.

When I finally got to running, it turned out my good ole legs were there. I felt very strong the first half of the run and passed back many who passed me on the bike. As in the bike there were lots of hills, but I only walked one long steep dirt one. At 7,6,5 miles to go, I was still confident I could break 6 hours. With 4 to go though, the hills kept coming and my legs began to strain and cramp a little. So, I backed off, grinded out the last three hills and one huge down hill to finish with a sub 2 hrs half marathon and a 6:07.35 overall

Coming into the finish line felt great! I did not feel overexerted, but that was my goal. I new with the amount of training I did (8 mile for longest run and 35 miles for longest bike prior the race) if I pushed it too hard the risk of me not finishing was high. So I feel my effort was perfect for the circumstances and for the experience. When I come back though, my goal will to challenge the course.

Following the finish I returned to the expo area to get some of the new Power Bar recovery drink and smoothie from another vendor. I was then ready for a "real" meal. When I went to the food tent though was welcomed with some disappointment, the same bland pasta meal as the night before. I saw on the menu a chicken sandwich plate and asked if they would honor the $17 credit I had and give me some real food. I was pretty upset when they did not so ate the crappy pasta and worked my way back to transition. After retrieving my gear and bike, more disappointment. The shuttles up the hill I climbed three times the afternoon before and twice during the race was not running yet. So I ended up carrying my bike up the hill after doing a long course triathlon.

Well I survived the weekend. All of Saturday assigning racks. All of Sunday checking in bikes. And waking up to rain at 3AM Monday Morning started a very busy day. I don't know what Brad and RunTex will pull out of their sleeve to salvage the event. It was an experience though.

For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, the largest race in TX got cancelled yesterday. It was the best decision from a safety stand point, but a very hard one to make. I figure the race has at least $50,000 in fixed cost and do not see how they can reschedule. I hope they don't because I can only stand a weekend like that once a year. I say that now, but have ideas floating in the noggin.

Went to a CAPTXTRI committee meeting with Shawn, his first. Doug(my irondad) was there, both strong recruits that I brought to the playing field.

It always amazes me how detailed this business can get. At this point I just worry about what it takes to put the race on and to give YOU the athletes a good experience the best I can. Going the extra step like IM and other major races is like exploring outer space, it takes SO MUCH $, but is it actually worth it FOR THE RACE? I ask YOU?

Corpus was fun! Emily, River and I went to Port A on
Saturday and played in the waves. That night we stayed
with our friends Candy and Ed Cheatham; Candy is the
Regional President and Ed was former head Ref, maybe we
can get them to be our guests at a TRITXNB meeting some time..

Anyway, the race; on the swim I struggled with my new
Aqua Spear Goggles (they kept leaking, anyone else use
them?). I also was worried about my chip falling off
because it was like a credit card on my leg.
Ironically I use the same guys for timing, so I was
relived when he told me he is going to invest in tri
specific chips. The bay had 3-4 foot chop so I
finished the 1000m swim in 23.19.

I know going into this that I was not going to be
strong on the bike, I did not ride a lick in three
months. At the start of the race I noticed a little
kid about 14-15, just before the turn around on the
bike I saw him in front of me. Just after the turn a
granny pasted me. So at this point I was saying "I am
going to be beat by a kid and a granny". The granny
did have very nice muscular legs though.

On the out of the bike I did in 37 min and came back
with the wind in 26 min. I averaged 17.8. I forgot to
mention I had a 57 sec transition 1.

So I get back for the run and pass back about 90% of
the folks that passed me on the bike and finished with
a 21:07 5K, 7th in age and 44/109 overall. Yes I
passed back the granny, but not the kid. I found out
later that the kid is going to youth nationals. Does
this stuff depress me? Heck no, I got to do a
TRIATHLON!

Nick

The kids' tri was yesterday, which I did not direct for the second year. I am glad it is still going on, but I would have taken it in another direction. We now have over 30 members in the New Braunfels Triathlon Club, and none of us were invited to volunteer. Last year when I asked to volunteer, to just be part of the race still, they told me they were "full with volunteers". I also sent a release to the local paper, letting them know about our three Iron Men who went to AZ, thinking it might be a good supplemental to the kids' tri story. Also, I was hoping we, the Club, could provide a good outlet for local parents and kids after the race to continue in a great sport...

Braunfit, the organizers now, are supposed to be this force against obesity in NB, but their web site has not changed in two years. They are also the first fitness organization I know of that segregates fitness (central and west NB)...

Well, as my friend and co-worker Ray says, "This is
not a job it is an adventure"

This is very true for a race director, on the other
side of tri. We try to control as many elements as
possible of a race, but there will always be the
uncontrollable- weather, construction, venue
ownership.. among others.

Anyway, the Texas State Triathlon Club has taken
control of the venue of the Aquarena Sprint Tri and
thus any event that takes place resembling a
multi-sport event.

At this point my options are; to fight and fuss and
not make any positive progress with any of the other
entities involved, I could to nothing which is NOT ME,
or I could support the students. I have chosen the
later, to give the opportunity that I was given when I
was a student of the great University of Texas
State/SWT.

This will be an interesting transition for the the
race, but is not unusual for the evolving existence of
triathlon races...