Thank You!


With your help we surpassed my target of raising $2800 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I completed the Olympic Distance Wildflower Triathlon, and we have drawn a step closer to the cure!


Team-in Training was an amazing experience.  I met some great people, had top-notch coaches, and accomplished goals that seemed unreachable just 3 short months ago.  I will continue to stay involved with TNT and I hope you will too.  To find out more about Team-in Training please visit the website at: http://www.teamintraining.com


The Pictures


Race Start
swim Swim
Bike Bike
Run Run

Finish


The Stats

Wildflower Triathlons Festival

My Performance:

Total Time: 3:22:55

Rank for Men 25-29: 162 / 210

Rank Overall: 1480 / 2273


Swim

Transition 1

Bike

Transition 2

Run

24:41 

4:17

1:45:06

2:52

1:05:59

 

Best Stat: Swim Rank 368 / 2273


The War Story


After camping for two days and watching the half-Ironman competition the day before, I was a bit nervous about the upcoming race.  I had been having knee problems related to running throughout the season and my legs were acting up Friday and Saturday, so I made an effort to stretch all weekend long. 


It was finally here, the day of the race! – Am I ready?


We hike down the hill to the transition area where I find my stall labeled as 666 (they drop the first number) – easy to remember, I guess.  We set up our bikes, shoes, socks, food and throw on our wetsuits.   We get in line for the “wave start” – they send off groups of people at a time instead of trying to start thousands all at once.  I’m in the TNT Men’s wave (yes, we were so big they gave us our own wave), denoted by a lilac colored cap, so there are many familiar faces in the crowd.  The starter does the countdown and we’re off! 


(For a more detailed description of the course visit: http://www.tricalifornia.com/wildflower/2002/olycours.htm )


I’m swimming along; still in shock that this is the real deal.  After passing the first buoy I start to see Green colored caps from the wave that started 5 minutes before us.  I begin to work my way through other swimmers, now my mind is in the race.  By the time I get back to shore I’ve passed people in both Yellow and White caps.  I run out of the water and make my way into the transition area to change into my biking gear.  When I get to my station it hits me - that was tiring!  I’m out of my wetsuit and have exchanged that outfit for a helmet, socks and bike shoes - time to roll.


I head out on the ride and start drinking water and eating GU – a gel like substance full of carbohydrates.  The first part of the Olympic bike course is a trip directly up "Lynch Hill" (a very steep climb.) Now it’s revenge time, many of the swimmers I just passed are now zooming past me.  I’m thankful we don’t have colored helmets for the bike leg.  The bike leg is an "out and back," meaning you turn around halfway and come back the way you just came.  After the turnaround, I’m feeling good – I have some energy and I’m beginning to pass people.  Unfortunately this was short lived, as my chain decided to jump off the gears on one of the hills.   I had to pull the bike over and try to un-jamb the chain which proved to be quite an effort. As soon as I would get it off of the top then the bottom would get stuck…  Eventually I grab the chain with both hands and get the bike ready to go again.  Quite a few people passed me while I was fixing the chain and now I have grease all over everything I touch.  When I zoom back down Lynch Hill, I’m relieved to be a step closer to being finished, the temperature has reached the 80s and the sun is beating down on us.


I rack my bike and exchange my bike shoes for running shoes.  I take a little while to stretch and I’m off.  The run in on dirt trails, so it’s easier on the legs than the pavement and track running we did for training.  About a mile into the run, my hamstring starts to lock up.  I try to stretch it out for the rest of the run, but the uphill sections go slowly. I have mixed emotions with the run, I’m relieved my knees are holding up and that I won't be in real pain, but I’m disappointed that I can’t run full speed.  There were water stops every mile where you could grab some water and get hosed down by current students from my alma mater, Cal Poly, that volunteer through their clubs to facilitate the race – I did this back in college and now have a better appreciation for the students’ role in the race.  After what seems like an eternity, I finally finish the last climb and begin the decent down Lynch Hill.  At this point I’m feeling great, I know that the end is near and supporters are cheering us on all the way down.   After the last turn, you can see it – the finish line with a ticking clock, stands, and tons of spectators lining the sides of the chute.  After a few high five's and a nice short sprint, I hear the announcer say my name.  I’m greeted with a Medal around my neck, followed by a sopping wet towel.


It’s done.  I feel a rush of emotions – accomplishment, relief, celebration, and a little bummed that this was the end of the experience.   I also felt resolve to do another one of these, to better my time and keep training with the new friends I’ve made.


Once again, THANK YOU for making this experience possible!


Sincerely,

      J. T. Gilkeson  

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