Wildflower is not just a race, it’s a full weekend festival. From live music spanning bluegrass to rock, to gourmet food trucks, yoga, and wine tastings, this event celebrates local culture while drawing athletes and visitors from around the globe. At its heart are iconic endurance events, including four triathlons …
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Wildflower is not just a race, it’s a full weekend festival. From live music spanning bluegrass to rock, to gourmet food trucks, yoga, and wine tastings, this event celebrates local culture while drawing athletes and visitors from around the globe.
At its heart are iconic endurance events, including four triathlons from long distance to sprint distance, a gravel triathlon, a 20K trail run, 5K and 10K fun runs, and an open water swim. With family-friendly attractions, a kid’s race, and the stunning backdrop of Lake San Antonio, Wildflower is a can’t miss festival experience!
Wildflower is known all over the world for its festival like atmosphere, challenging courses and some of the most energetic collegiate volunteers. It has been named “The Woodstock for Triathlon,” “The Best of the Best,” “Triathlon Back to the Basic Roots,” “Elites Favorite Race,” and more. It’s the “One and Only” Wildflower as there is nothing else like it in the world.
See what people are talking about, what they’re looking forward to, and why you might want to shake up your schedule and add Wildflower Experience to your ‘Must Do’ events for this year. Think of Wildflower as one of the best triathlons on the circuit, with a twist that brings a culture and community you will want to be part of.
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Have you ever been experienced?!!!!
The race is like no other I've completed!! Beautiful medal, well coordinated, well staffed, the course is to die for!!! There are so many vendors! It's a festival!! Fun for … MORE
The race is like no other I’ve completed!! Beautiful medal, well coordinated, well staffed, the course is to die for!!! There are so many vendors! It’s a festival!! Fun for family also!!! Stay for the entire weekend!!! Best fucking 70.3 in California!!!
Lives up to the hype!
- Hills, heat, dust are no joke - Great community, friendly, fun environment - Helpful staff, great bike tech booth, great vendors - We did not camp this year, but … MORE
– Hills, heat, dust are no joke
– Great community, friendly, fun environment
– Helpful staff, great bike tech booth, great vendors
– We did not camp this year, but are planning to next year
– Highly recommend
First Tri and I'm hooked!
Definitely a challenge with the elevation, glad it was my first triathlon location because I've learned this course is fairly intense! Lake water was cool but not cold, wind wasn't … MORE
Definitely a challenge with the elevation, glad it was my first triathlon location because I’ve learned this course is fairly intense!
Lake water was cool but not cold, wind wasn’t ripping in the morning so the water acted nice.
I love climbing on the bike so the Olympic ride course was right up my alley. Then comes the run, the most difficult part of my race.
Looking forward to next year and training based off my weaker areas!
Welcome Back Wildflower!
There's so much to say about Wildflower but it can also be summed up easily as one of, if not the, most unique multi-sport event weekend. This year I chose … MORE
There’s so much to say about Wildflower but it can also be summed up easily as one of, if not the, most unique multi-sport event weekend. This year I chose to participate in Wildflower Squared – Long Course on Saturday AND the Olympic on Saturday, yes that’s a thing.
Weather
Saturday’s weather was very mild this year. Plenty of sunshine but the temps stayed mild for most of the day with some cloud cover on the bike course for most of the morning. Sunday was a few degrees cooler. Overall I couldn’t have asked for better weather this year.
Race Day and Course
Transition was setup as in years past and was well run with plenty of rack space. I was in late waves on both days, but the swim went according to plan. The lake was cool but not cold and the water quality was acceptable. The ride was as difficult as expected with the worst part starting at mile 42 with Nasty Grade. The road quality in the middle miles on the back side of the lake was crappy for about 7-10 miles on the Long Course. But the remainder of the roads were good which included the whole course for the Olympic. And the run, well it’s just hard with a couple of short but steep trail sections. Very fine dirt on the trails gets into your shoes. That led to a blister about mile 6 which significantly slowed down my run. And the there’s the pit at mile 9 and 10, a very tough spot.
Race Organization
Overall the race was well organized as usual. The new company that is newly involved in the event made a few errors – putting the massage and wellness area in the sun with no shade as an example – but nothing that seriously detracted form the weekend.
Camping
We camped in Redondo Vista in our usual spot. It was great as usual. The Bell Tents looked comfy, although they were setup in a field in the direct sunlight which reportedly made them really warm during the day. One set of friends did rent an RV offered by the event and they really enjoyed that.
Expanded Options
The newly expanded camping and amenities were welcome if not quite executed as well as they ideally could be. Coffee delivery to Redondo Vista was great despite the company being a little disorganized, but coffee was tasty and hot. The VIP option seemed a little under-powered and possibly not worth the cost. On the whole, the extra options help draw more people to the event which is a positive overall.
Looking forward to returning to Wildflower in 2019!!
Slightly Overrated (times have changed?)
Overall, the event was well executed and I had very positive experiences with the event staff. I did enjoy that the vast majority of participants camped out at the venue, … MORE
Overall, the event was well executed and I had very positive experiences with the event staff. I did enjoy that the vast majority of participants camped out at the venue, which does give the event as a whole a better atmosphere. I think my expectations may have been a little too high from what I had heard and read about the race in the past. I didn’t realize that the main stage/expo area was at the bottom of a long hill that was probably a 20 minute walk (at least) from our campsite. When my objective is to rest my legs before the race this limits my motivation to participate in more of the events there. Alternatively, after the race the last thing my legs wanted to do was go back and forth a few times after I brought my gear back to the campsite. In the end, it didn’t feel too different from other races I have done (though the competition was a lot more intense). Also, I was a little upset at how little was included with the race entry. Standard t-shirt and finisher medal was about it and I wasn’t stoked about the pictures I would need to pay for if I wanted a hi-res memory of the event. Still a great race but maybe not all it is cracked up to be.
Super fun
Nice vibe, fun camping. Course was pretty hard. Loved the live music and the beer garden. Was a bit of a walk down from the group camping to the race … MORE
Nice vibe, fun camping. Course was pretty hard. Loved the live music and the beer garden. Was a bit of a walk down from the group camping to the race area. Good weekend!
Challenging race in a stunning setting
Beautiful location, tough course, well-supported and organized event. This year was my 10th time doing the half ironman distance, it doesn't get any easier but I keep coming back! MORE
Beautiful location, tough course, well-supported and organized event. This year was my 10th time doing the half ironman distance, it doesn’t get any easier but I keep coming back!
Best experience, idk how to top it.
Scenic, mind blowing, and just tough enough that you feel the sense of accomplishment when finished. It's tough, but as my first 70.3 now I know I can do any … MORE
Scenic, mind blowing, and just tough enough that you feel the sense of accomplishment when finished. It’s tough, but as my first 70.3 now I know I can do any other one.
The experience was a mix of scout camp and my favorite summer camps as a youth. I didn’t think I could re-experience those emotions outside of teen years.
Great! So glad they kept it alive
Picked Wildflower 70.3 to break the triathlon sabbatical. I am always incredibly inspired and humbled by the athletes at these events. Hard course & record heat made it a hard … MORE
Picked Wildflower 70.3 to break the triathlon sabbatical. I am always incredibly inspired and humbled by the athletes at these events. Hard course & record heat made it a hard one to start back on but reaching the finish line felt that much more rewarding. (A few regrets on those missed workouts 😜.) No PRs on this one.
As they call it “the Woodstock of Triathlons” … with a few options of events to participate in… this event keeps it fun and focused on the real purpose… do something awesome, try something hard, cheer on others, and see what you’re capable of… but have fun along the way.
So much more than a race!
Wildflower was the triathlon that is keeping me in this sport! I want to keep competing so that I can continue to participate in this event. It was inspiring to … MORE
Wildflower was the triathlon that is keeping me in this sport! I want to keep competing so that I can continue to participate in this event. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many athletes across all different skill levels. And the energy of the weekend was felt from the moment we drove through the entrance. The volunteers were truly champions in moving everything forward so smoothly, and the overall production was top notch. I’ll be back next year!
First Triathalon - Now Addicted
What a fun weekend! 5,000 racers meet in the middle of nowhere to race, socialize, and party. Live music all day and night. Delicious local food trucks, Batch Ice Cream … MORE
What a fun weekend! 5,000 racers meet in the middle of nowhere to race, socialize, and party. Live music all day and night. Delicious local food trucks, Batch Ice Cream was well deserved after the race. Fun sponsored parties, like the CLIF bar 80s themed dance party. Friendly racers and race organizers. Plenty of camping space to park my mini-RV.
The race itself was very challenging with a lot of hills on the bike and the run. The racers themselves were very encouraging when they passed me on the run 🙂 This was my first triathlon and I can not wait to compete again next year.
Support your local race!
When I first started racing triathlon back in 2012, all I heard about was Wildflower...the heat...the hills...the trails...the strawberries at the finish line. This race lived up to every rumor, … MORE
When I first started racing triathlon back in 2012, all I heard about was Wildflower…the heat…the hills…the trails…the strawberries at the finish line. This race lived up to every rumor, race report and Instagram photo that ever caught my eye. We come down to Lake San Antonio twice a year as a club for training weekends because of the scenery and the terrain. This race is exceptional. Terry Davis does a fantastic job with all of the races and the festival over the few days. Support your local race. Not every race needs to be fast and flat. Challenge yourself. Challenge yourself with Wildflower.
So much fun
It has a crap ton of climbing. The run is brutal. Stay focused because you could easily twist an ankle on the trail run. College student volunteers bring a energy … MORE
It has a crap ton of climbing. The run is brutal. Stay focused because you could easily twist an ankle on the trail run. College student volunteers bring a energy that I have never seen in a race.
Hardest 1/2IM lived up to reputation
Don't do this race if you want a nice easy day out but definitely do it for great atmosphere and a good challenge! This was my second time doing Wildflower … MORE
Don’t do this race if you want a nice easy day out but definitely do it for great atmosphere and a good challenge!
This was my second time doing Wildflower Long distance. My first time I panicked during the swim, barely finished the bike and got to the end as one of the last finishers. This year was going to be completely different.
The swim is great. Not too cold considering the time of year and an easy course to navigate. The age group waves meant that faster swimmers do overtake slower ones, but it wasn’t too aggressive.
The bike is really hard. You start with rolling hills, which in any other race would be tough hills. Then at around mile 41/42 is Nasty Grade. It is a long, steep, never-ending hill. Every time you think you can see the top, you go round a corner to be greeted with more hill. But that isn’t the worst of it. After Nasty Grade there are still 2 more big hills to climb plus a few rollers in case you were getting bored!
Then you get onto the run. Somehow it managed to feel all uphill apart from the very steep downhill at the end. But the camaraderie on the run was amazing. I met some really interesting people, the aid stations were joyful and welcoming and there were plenty of porta-potties.
Camping was also really great. Everyone seemed in a good mood, the festival was fun without being overwhelming and the food trucks were varied and extremely tasty.
A great event! I’m not sure I’m brave enough to tackle the long distance again (ok, I probably will once I’ve forgotten quite how hard it was) but I’ll definitely be back to do the Olympic distance and enjoy the atmosphere.
Great time with the Family
Such a unique experience! A must do race for all ironmen! I will be back next year for sure. Grab your friends and family this is a great event... MORE
Such a unique experience! A must do race for all ironmen! I will be back next year for sure. Grab your friends and family this is a great event…
Great Race
Great race. Glad they brought it back. Had a fantastic weekend camping with my teammates. For such a big event they had everything running pretty smoothly. I really appreciated that … MORE
Great race. Glad they brought it back. Had a fantastic weekend camping with my teammates. For such a big event they had everything running pretty smoothly. I really appreciated that there was water stations everywhere along the finish/expo/shuttle area. Very nice touch. Will be back next year for sure. Maybe Long Course??
First timer and hooked
I loved this race. It definitely has its challenge of hills but the friendly volunteers encouraging around the course made the challenge much easier. Loved it! MORE
I loved this race. It definitely has its challenge of hills but the friendly volunteers encouraging around the course made the challenge much easier. Loved it!
My first Wildflower did not disappoint
Growing up, I heard the word "triathlon" but know as much about it as people who ask "how long is your Marathon?" Wildflower was the first race I heard about … MORE
Growing up, I heard the word “triathlon” but know as much about it as people who ask “how long is your Marathon?” Wildflower was the first race I heard about in 2002 that made me think “I want to do that someday”. Finally, someday arrived and I raced my 12th tri but 1st Wildflower in 2018. It totally lived up to 16 years of built up expectations. The race itself was seamless from start to finish. But what is special about Wildflower is the whole experience – the live music, the beer and wine tasting, the traditions, and the camping. Every triathlete needs to do this race at least once. I can’t wait to do it again!
Challengingly awesome!!!
Whole experience of camping with friends was wonderful, expect maybe the hike down the dirt path to and from the event/expo. The area is beautiful. The lake a murky but … MORE
Whole experience of camping with friends was wonderful, expect maybe the hike down the dirt path to and from the event/expo. The area is beautiful. The lake a murky but warm enough to swim. The ride was all hills, no flats but I had a blast (though a bit more training would have helped!). The run was beautiful, on trails and road, even with the hills and high temps. It was great as all I wanted to do was finish unbroken. Course support was excellent. Race directions prior to the gun going off were a little haphazard but it all went smoothly on race day. Definitely thinking of going back next year for the Long Course, if only so I can join in the party on Sat night!!
This race lived up to its reputation!
The Wildflower Experience was a long time coming for me. I've heard great things about it for so many years and I'm so glad that I finally was able to … MORE
The Wildflower Experience was a long time coming for me. I’ve heard great things about it for so many years and I’m so glad that I finally was able to sign up and participate. The swim was DELIGHTFUL and I NEVER say that about a swim. Warm, clear water and easy sighting of buoys were very helpful. The bike course while super hilly was very fun – the downhills are awesome and some of the uphills aren’t as bad as you’d expect. That run – next time I’ll be more focused in my training in order to have a better run time. I knew what to expect on the course and it was better then I expected but it’s one heck of a hilly run! That downhill though into the chute is the BEST!!! Very well run race indeed. Wildflower, thank you for a great time, I will be back!