Ironman Camp Day 1 and 2

Well here I am back at Ironman camp again.

This camp is different than the one I went to in May. My coach (www.tricoachjill.com) hosted this camp and she is involved in my training on a daily basis so the camp is personal and tailored specifically to my needs. We arrived after a long and hot drive Wednesday evening. We are staying at a hotel right on Lakeshore drive right across from the lake and in the center of all the ice cream shops and restaurants. The kids are in heaven!

Thursday morning we woke up and met at the lake with our wetsuits in hand. Swam for about 40 min. and got the bikes ready to ride the entire course. We stayed together in a pack so we could discuss the course as we progressed. 40 miles in we arrived at the base of Richter pass, stocked up on water and calories and headed up the mountain for a nice steady climb. Until this point the weather had been holding steady in the low 80's and we had clouds but just a sprinkling of rain. As we descended off of the back side of Richter the wind picked up quite a bit and the rain started to pour. The thunder and lightning that were off in the far distance all the sudden seemed to be right on top of us as we climbed and descended the 7 rollers on the course. Visibility was getting next to impossible and the winds were blowing us all over the roads. At one point lightning hit the hillside on our left and started a small fire...yikes! There was nothing to do but keep going as there was no shelter nearby. We pushed on slowly until about mile 65 where we found a fruit stand where we could get under a shelter. Our aid cars didn't have enough room for most of us but they ferried a few bikes and athletes back into town about 30 miles away, unloaded and came back for the rest. The temperature at this point had dropped to 58 degrees and none of us ha warm or dry clothes so the hour plus wait was awful. Zot finally came to get me with the heat blasting in the van and it was wonderful!

I had a hot bath and got into dry clothes and spent the rest of the evening trying to unclench my fists. I think I left permanent marks on my handlebars from gripping them so tight. I have never been outside in a storm that severe, let alone biking in it.

Day 2

Today we woke up to a sunnier day. Swam long in the lake and coach ran us through all the things we would need to know for the swim and transitions on race day. After a quick breakfast we carpooled out to Skaha lake for a run out to the marathon turn around and back to the marina. The weather was perfect. 80 degrees and a good wind with no rain in sight. This was my first chance to get a look at the hills close to the turn around and they were challenging for sure. Ran back to the marina and stood up to the hips in the cold lake to cool our legs and aid recovery. Coach's husband, Mike arrived with many pizzas and we ate a bunch and headed back to town.

Zot and the kids and I rented a 6 person bicycle trolley and road all over the waterfront in the afternoon which was so much fun albeit not aerodynamic!

Had dinner with the team tonight and I have just finished gearing up for tomorrow.

The plan is a one hour swim, quick transition on shore followed by biking the entire run course at our own paces. We will return to town to throw the bikes in the room and the transition quickly for a 1 mile run. Should be a goo race simulation. We will have aid stations set up so we have bike course support just like in the race.

This is a great way for us to practice our race day nutrition and pacing. I am still trying to iron everything out.

Can't wait!