Ambassador Highlight: Reed Thayer

For many, Wildflower isn’t just a race—it’s a homecoming. It’s where friendships are forged, where the triathlon community comes together, and where athletes find something bigger than themselves. Few understand this better than Reed Thayer, whose journey back to Wildflower is a story of perseverance, rediscovery, and the power of community. While many had a defined start to their triathlon career, Reed’s was different. “It was 2004 and I was in middle school,” he recalls. “I wasn’t particularly fast, and I wasn’t good at sports in general. But I saw a flyer about a Tri Cal kids team and triathlon camp, and for some reason, I decided I wanted to do an Ironman one day.” That decision set him on a path that would take him from local triathlon camps to collegiate athletics. When he first attended Wildflower in eighth grade, he was hooked. “I saw the collegiate teams camping and racing together, and I knew that’s what I wanted—to be part of a team, to belong to something like that.” However, Reed took a different path at first joining the varsity rowing team at Stanford. “I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything, but after four years, I knew I had to get back to triathlon.” When he started his master’s at UC Davis, he finally got his chance to race Wildflower as a collegiate athlete. “Some of my closest friends came from that team, and several of them will be racing at Wildflower this year.”

What Reed didn’t expect was how hard it would be to find that same sense of community after college. “For the first time in a long time, I couldn’t look down at my chest and see my team’s logo to draw inspiration during a dark moment in a race,” he says. “I was training alone, trying to stay motivated, but it wasn’t the same.” The transition out of collegiate sports was tough. He signed up for races like the Big Sur Marathon and Vineman to stay on track, but something was missing. “I missed the camaraderie, the shared suffering, the inside jokes, and the post-race celebrations.” Then, everything changed when he discovered the Sacramento Triathlon Club. “I showed up for a ride in Folsom, and it just clicked. I realized that community doesn’t end after college—you just have to go out and find it.” Since then, Reed has become an integral part of the club, even serving as its Membership Director. “I encourage everyone interested in the sport to join a club. It makes all the difference. You train together, race together, and most importantly, support each other. It feels like home.”

For Reed, Wildflower represents everything he loves about the sport. “Wildflower is one of a kind. When I first raced in 2005, the slogan was ‘Share the Legend.’ I still have that poster up in my house. It truly is a legend.” But for him, the legend isn’t just about the course—it’s about the people. “It’s a complete experience. You don’t just show up, race, and go home. You camp out, catch up with old friends, make new ones, race, cheer each other on, listen to music, and just soak it all in. It’s this beautiful, crazy, sweaty, unforgettable weekend.” This year, it’s extra special. “It falls right around my birthday, so I’m excited to celebrate my birthday the proper way for the first time since 2018.” But more than that, he’s just excited to be back. “I’ve really missed the race. I’ve convinced friends and teammates to race. My parents, who used to haul me all over the Central Coast in a minivan to triathlons, are coming to watch. And I can’t wait to see the collegiate athletes reclaim their race. I hope this becomes an annual tradition again.”

For those coming to Wildflower for the first time, Reed recommends focusing on the experience as a whole rather than just the race. “This race is different. You probably won’t PR, but you will love it. Come ready to take in the whole experience, and know that you’re becoming part of something bigger than just a race—you’re becoming part of the legend. It’s the most fun you’ll have at a race.” For Reed, Wildflower isn’t just a race—it’s a reunion, a celebration, and a reminder that triathlon isn’t just about individual achievement. It’s about community, and that’s what keeps bringing him back. “I’m just excited to show people the legend that is Wildflower and no longer speak of it in the past tense.” And as long as athletes like Reed keep returning, the legend of Wildflower will live on.