Season Opener: Wildflower Half Ironman

Season Opener: Wildflower Half Ironman

by Kim Loeffler - 1st US finisher and 8th overall at the 2005 Ford IronMan World Championships

I’ve just returned home from the Wildlfower Half Ironman where I had a solid season opener, finishing third, behind Sam McClone and Natasha Badman. Not bad company!

Wildflower is one of my favorite races. The race site is located at Lake San Antonio, a beautiful venue and despite the level of competition, a layed back atmosphere. The course is diverse, consisting of steep hills, long climbs and single track trails. As a former collegiate cross country runner, I was excited to tackle the course.

While I was excited to race after a long winter, I was also concerned with my fitness level. We had our typical cold Vermont winter with endless computrainer rides and movie marathons. February approached and I was excited to get away for my winter training camp. I had a great week of training, until day 10 when I fell running on a rocky trail and bruised my patella. With 6 weeks of no biking or running and plenty of free time, I decided to go through a swim focus. The swim is definitely not my strength. When I was an age grouper it wasn’t that hard to make up 5-10 minutes, but when your competitors are running 3-3:10 marathons, the task is grueling and oftentimes unattainable. My number one goal of the day was to make sure my hard work in the pool was rewarded.

The race was stacked with top 5 Hawaii finishers as well as short course superstars. The gun went off and I swam as hard as I could to stay with my pack. By the turn around, I was swimming with a Kate Major and Natasha. This was quite an accomplishment for me as I am usually 2-3 min. down on them coming into T1. I believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe my injury was a blessing in disguise! I think my coach Lance would have had a very hard time convincing me to do a swim focus in March! Unfortunately, I lost the draft at the half way point and swam the second half alone. All things considered, it was still a great swim for me.

On the bike, I felt really strong and comfortable. It was definitely a mental boost to start the bike with the top women so close. I ran out of T2 feeling much better than the year before. My breathing was controlled and my stride felt quick and smooth. Right form the start, I knew I would have a good run and real a few women in. Then it happened. There is a first time for everything. My hamstring cramped on the first steep hill out of transition. With the fear that if I tried to run on it, other muscles would follow, I hobbled off the trail and tried to massage it out. Eventually, the cramp released, and other than a few twinges here and there, it failed to return. My pace felt comfortable and I could see I was gaining on the 3rd place women; Joanna Lawn. At mile 10, I made the pass and moved up to 3rd place. Mile 11-12 was very hard. I tried to open as much of a gap as I could, knowing that the last mile is all downhill. I kept telling myself to slow down and cruise it in and minimize as much muscle damage as I could, but I was going full throttle. My body just wanted to finish. I held onto 3rd place, while Sam McClone went on to set a new course record winning the race.

I am very pleased with my finish and the improvements I’ve made in all 3 disciplines compared to last year. My recovery is slower than I would like it to be thanks to all the hills and the brutal mile long downhill finish, but I am looking forward to the next 5 weeks of training. Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years. I feel so fortunate to be involved in this sport and to have a support network of family, friends, sponsors(Master Amino Acid Pattern (MAP), Timex, PowerBar and 180s) and a coach who are so extraordinary.

Thanks to everyone! See you in CDA!

Kim Loeffler

Kim Loeffler is a Professional Triathlete, 2004 Ironman National Champion and member of the MAP and Timex Triathlon Team. She has been a MAP user since 2004. Additional sponsors include 180s and PowerBar.

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