The 28th Wildflower long course saw a record time established by Julie Dibens, a second best ever finishing time by Michael Raelert, the usual passionate bright May wildflowers and 30,000 campers enjoying themselves.



The weather was perfect and the winning performances by Julie Dibens and Michael Raelert were nearly so at the 28th Wildflower long course May 1 at Lake San Antonio in inland Monterey County.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

The pro men dive into Lake San Antonio.

Serious SPF sunscreen makes for a surreal mask

Age group men embark on another Wildflower adventure.

Rasmus Henning emerges first from the water but ended up 5th.

Linsey Corbin rides up Beach Hill and winds up 7th.

Julie Dibens set the pace on the bike (2:30:57) and set a new race record (4:27:53)

Desiree Ficker rode a 4th-best 2:38:18 but her race-best 1:24:47 run vaulted her to 2nd place.

Michael Raelert points out something he saw on the way to a race-best 2:14:47 ride.

Conrad Stoltz set the second best bike at 2:15:24 but faded to 10th on the run.

Eager aid station volunteer

Conrad Stoltz charges up Nasty Grade

Philip Graves rode 3rd best 2:16:33 but his 10th-best 1:20:47 run brought him home in 4th overall.

Riding above Lake Nascimiento at Mile 44.

Eneko Llanos ran 1:17:23 and finished 3rd..

Desiree Ficker unleashed the women's best run of 1:24:47 to advance from 5th to 2nd.

Defending champion Virginia Berasategui fought off lingering injuries from a bike crash in March to finish 3rd.

Eneko Llanos passed Philip Graves at Mile 10 of the run to take over 3rd place.

Joe Gambles seemed stressed out in the final miles of the run because he feared a niggling Achilles tendon might let go.

Michael Raelert flew the final mile down Lynch Hill to victory.

Raelert shares the joy of the win with exuberant Wildflower fans.