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The Fight to Bring Back an Iconic Race
The iconic Wildflower Triathlon returns, swimming mistakes slowing you down, and training by time

TOGETHER WITH WILDFLOWER EXPERIENCE
Good morning everyone,
No significant news to report today, but we do have part one of an interview with a race director who is doing her best to bring back an iconic event. For her, it’s more than just a race, and her love of the triathlon community and her passion for sport really shines through.
Learning about her unique journey in the sport was another reminder of just how wonderful the people who make up this sport are!
In today’s edition:
🌼 How Colleen Bousman is fighting to bring back the iconic Wildflower Triathlon!
🏊 Five swimming mistakes that are slowing you down.
⏱️ And why you should train by time, not distance!
Thanks for being here.
-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor
Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free.
TOGETHER WITH WILDFLOWER EXPERIENCE
It’s the “Woodstock of Triathlon” and You’re Invited!
After a five-year hiatus due to COVID and other factors, the iconic Wildflower Triathlon returns this May. First held in 1983 by Terry Davis, the event grew to cult status and became known as the “Woodstock of Triathlon.” Now, Terry’s daughter Colleen is fighting to restore the storied event to its former glory.
Read on to learn how Wildflower became the Woodstock of Triathlon, how Colleen is building a more resilient event, and her incredible story of working the race with a newborn!
Interested in your own Wildflower experience? Learn more here!
Colleen, how does it feel to bring back Wildflower given your family’s history with the event?
Wildflower has been something that has been a part of my life for 25+ years. The people I have met over the years have become extended family that I would look forward to seeing every year.
From Stu who was always one of the last racers to cross the line to Bill as one of the oldest competitors to Mary who was the sweetest lady.
We’ve also had incredible elite athletes join us, many unknown when they set foot at Wildflower. I can remember Chris McCormack showing up early to Wildflower and so he stayed on a fold out in a cabin with Terry for a few nights until space was available for him, as he sat with our staff for meals and trained in the park all week.
What I really look forward to is getting my Wildflower Staff back together. We have a unique team made up of Cal Poly graduates that started as volunteers at our event while in college. They loved the weekend so much they joined our student committee. When they graduated and moved on to careers, they continued working Wildflower as support staff, coming back year after year to help drop cones, set up bike racks, measure the swim course, and so much more!
As much as it may seem like just me bringing back the event, it’s really a village that I couldn’t do this without. Without faith, family, and friends all of this is not possible.
It’s been called the “Woodstock of Triathlon,” what do you think makes Wildflower so special?
Woodstock was a chance for those struggling in modern life to escape into music and community while spreading a message of unity and speech in the late 60’s.
Wildflower is much the same – it’s an event that’s focus is community and offers an escape from everyday life. I think it’s the massive crowds of young and old together for a weekend to celebrate accomplishments that mirrors a culture known in the US for diversity and peace. So years ago the term was coined Woodstock of Triathlon by the media!
We understood the significance of offering an event that created fun while celebrating accomplishments rather than accomplishments as the pinnacle of the day. It was a shared experience, and that is what we are today. Music, entertainment, community, collaboration!
Wildflower holds a special place in the hearts of many for the memories made around campfires. When you hang out with family and friends for a weekend, without the distractions of technology, you get that valuable time unmatched by many other events.
Plus. we have all the things people love like music, racing, yoga, local artisans, the latest endurance products/services, and the great outdoors all surrounded by those that are like-minded.
What’s your favorite memory of Wildflower?
That’s a hard one! I guess I would say that showing up to Wildflower when my firstborn was only 2 weeks old. Nobody thought I would be able to make it to the event, and I showed up to the opening staff meeting with a notepad in hand and a baby in a sling over my chest.
To my joy, they had it handled, as expected. The team all stepped up to make it happen showcasing how when you lead with letting others have ownership, they have an incredible opportunity to shine. Having 4 generations at Wildflower, my grandma, my dad, my daughter, and I was pretty memorable.
What are you doing differently with the race? What flavor is Colleen bringing to the new Wildflower?
Music Festivals are something I’ve enjoyed for years. They offer a unique and immersive experience with a vibrant atmosphere allowing people to create lasting memories and connections with others. Plus, I just love all styles of music!
The roots of Wildflower are like a bluegrass festival with artisans and I’d like to stay true to our beginning while always evolving to keep the weekend fresh and fun. I used to shock my staff every year with my crazy sponsor activation ideas (swimming pools, hot air balloons, semi-truck viewing decks, backcountry signage), but now I think they enjoy the challenge!
Stay tuned for part 2 of our interview in Friday’s edition!
Are you racing an independant triathlon this year?Tell us which one! |
FAVORITES
🏊 Five swimming mistakes: Would most triathletes say swimming is their favorite discipline? Probably not! So if you’re making any of these five swimming mistakes, you might be leaving performance, and enjoyment, on the table. [Phil Mosely/YouTube]
📈 Get your swimming edge: Do you want in-depth data and unique insights for your swim stroke? The MySwimEdge sensor has delivered Olympic gold in Paris, and it’s ready to help you nail your next big race! Enjoy personalized stroke recommendations, and big savings when you preorder using promo code “TEMPO". [MySwimEdge]*
⏱️ Train by time: Training by distance is often the typical prescription for athletes. But by switching it up and training by time you could be saving yourself unnecessary stress, and avoid frustrating injuries! [TrainingPeaks]
👔 Wetsuit fit: Finding the right fitting wetsuit isn’t always easy. Should it feel “tight”? And if it does will it stretch out? This article explains what to look for in fitting your wetsuit, and how to know if you’ve got it right! [220 Triathlon]
💎 Old but gold: We all have that old piece of training gear that year after year never lets us down. It might not look new, but it performs just as well as ever! This fun forum has plenty of other vintage gear that have and continue to stand the test of time. Are one of your pieces in there? [Slowtwitch]
*Sponsored post
REEL TIME
Was my back always this sore?…all the time? 🤔🤣
QUICK NEWS
Football to finish line: A former Chelsea and German football star will be swapping the pitch for pedals this summer as he looks to “empty the tank” at the iconic Challenge Roth Triathlon! [TRI247]
A growing club: 12 years ago the Saint-Villes-Croix-de-Vie triathlon club only had 15 members. Now, the have almost 200! And 2025 looks to be a massive year. [Ouest France]
Funding secured: The Busselton Triathlon Festival has secured the support of the Western Australian Government through 2028. [Mirage News]
Kids tri success: It was a huge success for the first night of the “try the tri” series as over 630 youth athletes turned out. [The Post]
YOU SAID
Are Tempo readers interested in racing at the T100 Grand Final in Qatar? Here’s what you said!

Reader: Triathlon is expensive enough without T100 aiming for exotic locations with sky high prices for flights and accommodation.
Reader: The very best triathletes are racing the T100. Let’s be honest, Ironman & Challenge provide outstanding events, but there is plenty of room for more racing. The distances are perfect for fast racing!
Reader: Only if it’s difficult to qualify and if it feels like a world championship with only the good athletes as if it’s like Ironman and they give a world slot to anybody that can walk and charge double for entry fees, I will boycott T100 as well for that world championship opportunity.
Reader: You always seem very negative around T100.. Is it a US vs Europe thing?
Tempo: We’ve been critical of the T100, but have also made an effort to highlight their recent athlete signing wins and improved coverage through 2024. It’s been frustrating to watch them throw so much money to athletes who clearly aren’t invested in their success. And even if it always isn’t positive, having the attention of a great audience is still quite valuable!
Reader: Presumably Qatar is what the Grand Final was supposed to be last year, and they just couldn't get a deal done in time. Which, it's business...understandable. That being said, T100's schedule and contract "capitulating" to Nice/Kona/Marbella says they know exactly where their brand stands in competition with IRONMAN. And while it's great that they were able to get Lucy Charles-Barclay as the "last one in", LCB is clearly going for Kona this year; T100 will be basically a training circuit for her, and I'd guess a Kona win is worth more in sponsor bonuses than her entire T100 season earnings, even if she takes the series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the T100 broadcasts and will be following the series (and I may even do the age group race again in Lake Las Vegas, if they improve the bike course), but they've got years - if ever - before they are competitive with IRONMAN in the eyes of current, would-be and future athletes. And most importantly...sponsor dollars. When I see a T100 tattoo on someone's calf, I'll know they've made it. But I don't think that's anytime soon.
Reader: I guess I am still old school. The T100 distance has not interested me, and maybe many others feel the same. I am still hooked onto Sprint, Olympic, 70.3 and IM distances. I do agree though that the World Long Distance Championship distances are not appealing. When I did the race in 2014 our distances were 2.4 mile swim, 72 mile bike and 20k run.
Reader: Qatar? No thanks. And people say Ironman 'sells out' to big money and forsakes athletes? This is nothing but a sellout. What AGers are going to be able to finance that kind of trip around the holidays? This is about T100 pure and simple and not about the athletes they keep paying lip service to supposedly being motivated to serve.
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What did you think of today's newsletter? |
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