It’s still open!! After last years record of selling out quickly, i’m surprised it’s still available. It will definitely sell out soon but how soon? any long time participants out there changed races this year??
I’m doing CaliMan and WF doesn’t fit well into the schedule, so I’m out. I also hate camping and the big hassle of the whole packing everything in.
I did WF Long course the last 4 years and each year it has become more and more of a “production”. It is a great race and I will go back in the future, but I am going to do the Calif IM half instead this year. Far less stress and I get to sleep in my bed 30 minutes from the start line.
I have done it several times and with the exception of last year’s weather issues have always had a great time…but going to try and qualify this year at the new Florida half IM at Disneyworld.
I believe much of the luster is covered in caked on mud from last year’s race. There is only so much camping in the rain in the middle of nowhere that someone can take. Add that to the jacked up camping fees, the clogged toilets, the unofficial “reserved” campsites (tri clubs that pitched tents in public areas on Tuesday, then left and came back on Friday while people who got there Wednesday or Thursday had to live without a table or water…) and the billions and billions of caterpillars nesting in your tent, on your clothes and in your sleeping bag.
I’m not planning on going back any time soon. World’s Toughest Half is taking it’s place in my schedule.
I was thinking the same thing about Wildflower. Based on an informal survey of my tri buddies, many usual entrants are passing this year. Although last year’s weather was a factor, the race seems to be getting too big, too much hassle and way too expensive (rediculous camping & entry fees). I think many folks feel like Terry Davis is going a bit overboard (next will be official Wildflower toilet paper that costs extra at the overflowing porta-johns). Having said all that, I signed up…guess I am kinda schizo.
Mike
interesting…to recap, i’m not bashing the race. i think it is one of the best courses around but the competition(other races) seems to be having a small effect on the participation. also, i agree it’s a big hassel to just race.
Back when I started racing, there were three 1/2 IM races…Wildflower, Mike and Rob’s, and Vineman. Wildflower was the official start to the tri season. It hosted the collegiate national champs. It was centrally located right in the middle of California, it had a pro field and the first IM qualiflier slots to be had in California. If you wanted to put your name on the map, wildflower was the place to do it.
I did the race 3 or 4 times. I endured the heat, the camping, and all that was to be had. I never had a good race there, probably because I was so worn out and tired from all the crud I had to go through to sleep, eat, pee, and do anything else that puts you in good shape to race a 1/2 IM.
The course is great, the atomosphere electric. So many fit people in one place is amazing to see. But it has lost a lot of the mystique and the qualifying spots it used to have. I have considered going back, but would never camp again. There are much more reasonable races to be had these days.
Wildflower will never die, it’s too much ingrained in the fabric of california triathlon, but there needs to be some changes for it to be the jewel it used to be.
Craig
Ditto what others have said. I did WF last year for the first time, and despite the weather I had a blast. That said, logistically it’s probably the biggest pain in the ass race I’ve ever done. I’m planning to do the CaliMan 1/2 this year instead. I’ve already got my room reserved at the Lake Natoma Inn! That sure beats camping or driving an hour from Paso Robles, especially with a 2 year old and another on the way in Feb.
I did the Wildflower Olympic two years ago, and the half this past year. I’m not going back in 2004 because: I don’t like to camp, I rented an RV both times this past year I got up there late Tuesday afternoon and got one of the last full hook up sites still available. Not because the place was full of RV’s, but because so many spots were reserved, so much for no spots being reserved. I don’t own an RV, so this turns into an expensive proposition renting an RV for a week. the weather sucked on race day this year, but that was not normal the whole experience is just too expensive for what it is. I think if you live anywhere near, you have to experience it at least once, but it loses it’s appeal after a couple of times.
I was just wondering the same thing.
I’m doing IM New Zealand in March, and WF is about a month after we return from NZ. I could do it, but I know I’ll be better off if I don’t. I’ll probably be back in '05, though.
My club will go down for a training weekend, and I’ll probably go and do the whole course with them. It’s almost more fun than the race itself, just a nice mellow weekend at the lake with friends.
… unfortunately, it seems the hassle factor has exceeded the fun factor. Until they are willing to improve and expand the facilities to meet the demand, it will be one race I will pass on. There are many races that have better facilities and have a “waaaay” lower hassle factor.
Still… It’s a well run and at least still a one time “been there, done that” sorta’ race.
Joe Moya
BTW, I think it took 6 days for last year’s 1/2IM to close. As for Escape from Alcatraz… they seemed to have turn the entry of that race into a Turkey shoot. Should give room for more competition.
Wildflower and TriCalifornia in general has lost a lot of credibility in the eyes of me and some of my tri friends. We want a race were the competition is good, the race is well run, and the entry fee is not sticker shock high. Therefore, the Tricalifornia series of races do not fit anywhere in my schedule. Add to the fact that to suffer through the crazy campsites, the crowded yuppies, and the Team in Training takeover, well the race just isn’t the same. It will always be cool to check out the pros and watch the Age Groupers working hard, but I can do that at other less hectic races.
Jimmy
I doing the LC again and my 15 yr old son is doing the MTB race. Camping out & doing the races is something hopefully we’ll both always remember. It’s definitely worth the hassle to me. Just remember to bring your own TP and an air mattress an you’ll be fine. It still has luster to me.
There is a lot of choice now - the Caliman 1/2, World’s Toughest 1/2, and you’ve also got Ralph’s. I think that might be why it will take a few more days to sell out. BTW, Caliman 1/2 is $175, Ralph’s is $180, and World’s Toughest 1/2 is $185, and none of them will sell out anytime soon. Don’t get me wrong - I will probably do one of these also and hope they all are successful.
I’m in agreement with the overall feelings expressed in this thread. I have done Wildflower 8 times and the past few years have been really bad. I do tri’s for fun so the entertainment value has to be there. I don’t mind paying $150 in race fees, but I do want something for my money. Like easy access to the venue. I don’t expect to have to work harder getting to and from the start than I do during the race. I was also cheesed off by seeing a certain tri club’s car going up & down the hill with a VIP pass while I was schleping by gear back to the campsite. The field size has grown so completely out of control that drafting & hostility on the bike are unavoidable. The course is awesome, but the race has lost it’s shine for me. I’m doing World’s Toughest this year.
Gary
This was my first year to do Wildflower and I had a great time but it was expensive once you added everything up - I travelled from the UK to do the race and drove down from SF in an RV. It was fun and I would recommend it. The weather wasn’t bad - you should have seen Half-Ironman UK when it was in Wales!
I was planning to do Escape from Alcatraz in 2004 but now that it requires qualifying and the promised international qualifier has quietly disappeared, I’ve changed my race season. I don’t have time/money to travel to the US twice for races in 2004.
Plenty of other good races on worldwide so I don’t have a hole in my schedule but disappointed to not get a chance to do Escape.
dt.