Jesse Thomas, the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Wildflower Long Course Triathlon champion. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
Download the app.
An extreme drought left Lake San Antonio, the site of the swim, completely dry, so the organizers moved the swim down to another lake. Athletes ran two miles from the swim to the bike, and those two miles were trimmed from the run, maintaining the total distance.
Heather Jackson, the two-time defending champ, entered this race as the heavy favorite. Photo: Aaron Hersh
James Hadley, Leon Griffin, Liz Lyles and the rest of the pros suiting up for the swim. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Athletes left running shoes on a long, steep ramp up from the beach. Photo: Aaron Hersh
The women taking off for 70.3 miles. Photo: Aaron Hersh
The men started the swim knowing that the run after the swim would benefit the stronger runners. Photo: Aaron Hersh
It’s a race, but it’s still fun. Photo: Aaron Hersh
This is the former location of Lake San Antonio. It’s completely dry and vegetation is starting to cover the ground. The run from the swim went through a trail cut in the brush. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Leon Griffin streaking through the dry lake bed. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Run-bike specialists such as Matt Russell benefited from the run from the swim to the bikes. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jackson was first on the bike. After the race she confirmed this was the first time she started the ride in the lead, leaving all the other athletes in a tough situation. Catching her on the bike or run is a tall order. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Liz Lyles made it to the second of three transitions shortly behind Jackson. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Laurel Wassner off in pursuit of Jackson. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Caroline Gregory sprinting out on the bike. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Look at Starykowicz’s ankle angle. His seatpost slipped after hitting a pothole in the first mile, dropping his saddle height. He searched for a tool to raise the post until finally finding one around mile 40. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Starykowicz says he has one card to play in a race, so he kept driving despite his seatpost problem. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jesse Thomas held himself in a strong position following the bizarre 2 mile run. After a poor swim, Thomas benefited from the run. Photo: Aaron Hersh
The Ironman bike course record holder goes to work. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Despite his mechanical issue, Starykowicz still held a lead on the ride. After the race, he accepted fault for the post slipping. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Callum Millward and Leon Griffin joined Jesse Thomas in the chase group. Early in the ride, Starykowicz had a substantial lead, but his seatpost problems would hamstring his ability to drop the chasers. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Thomas found himself in a good position on the bike, but the biggest question was the health of his foot. Photo: Aaron Hersh
The largest group on the course was the second chase group, a few minutes behind the Thomas group. All the riders were making an obvious effort to ride legally. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Matt Lieto in the second chase group. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jackson was already in a great place early into the ride. This was her race to lose. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Lieto directing the second chase group through the back end of the course. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Chris Bagg crosses the bridge, struggling to hang on to the second chase group. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Thomas and Millward climbed the course’s biggest hill, Nasty Grade, just 2:15 behind Starykowicz. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Millward earned a podium spot at this year’s Wildflower Long Course Triathlon. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Miles earlier, this photographer saw the battery powering Griffin’s Di2 drivetrain dangling from the wire. The bolts had rattled loose. He Lost ground but eventually found a wrench to reaffix the battery on the Nasty Grade climb. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Griffin found a tool and stopped to reattach the battery. Photo: Aaron Hersh
The hills of the Wildflower course are relentless and gorgeous. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Liz Lyles descending the back side of Nasty Grade. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Riding back toward Lake San Antonio, Jackson had a robust 5-minute cushion to her chasers. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jackson had a massive lead late in the bike. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Lyles trailed less than a minute behind Wassner at mile 54 of the ride. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Carrie Lester came into T2 in fourth place and finished fourth. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Thomas moved past Starykowicz, lurking in the distance, with more than five miles to go. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jesse Thomas on his way to his fourth Wildflower title. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Starykowicz needed a bigger lead off the bike to have a legitimate shot at winning this race. Photo: Aaron Hersh
With concerns about his foot behind him, at least for today, Thomas pulled away from the pack with four miles to go to the finish. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Thomas extended his lead before reaching the demanding descent down Lynch Hill and earned a comfortable victory in his first race in a year. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jesse Thomas, the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Wildflower Long Course Triathlon champion. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Thomas was emotional at the end of the race because of the uncertainty he’s experienced in the past year. The four-time Wildflower champ said after the race that he was worried his career could be over due to the foot injury. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Matt Russell earned third with a great run and bike. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Starykowicz crossed fourth, frustrated but with a smile on his face. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jackson earned her third consecutive Wildflower Long Course Triathlon title. Her first was a breakthrough–this one felt inevitable. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Jackson was untouchable, easily distancing every other woman in the pro field. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Wassner came across one minute after Liz Lyles to earn third. Photo: Aaron Hersh
Video: 4X World Champion Mirinda Carfrae Makes Her Picks for 70.3 Chattanooga
Carfrae and former pro Patrick Mckeon break down the iconic course in Chattanooga, who looks good for the pro women's race, and their predictions for how the day will play out.
