Just as I predicted last week, I am in no shape to write a play-by-play blog post about the past five days at Biscay Coaching Winter Triathlon Training Camp. I am just too tired. If you are curious about the camp experience, sign up for the next one, and/or dig through the archives on my blog because I have written about my six previous camps under Hillary’s gaze and guidance in vivid detail over the years. However, this time I am going for a short, raw approach, and simply want to share that from just after 2:45P Thursday afternoon, all the way through to 12P on Monday, I felt an unwavering faith and calm that I was exactly where I needed to be.
Obviously, there is a lot more to share, and I may write more about it, then again, I may just keep the emotions and memories from this camp all to myself. TBD… In the meantime, following are a handful of amazing moments that at least lend a taste of another life-changing Biscay Coaching training camp.
Day One: Social Shake out run. From left, Vanessa Hensler, Maik Twelsiek, and Amy Hite.
This first run of camp is always light and breezy, as our nerves are poppin' for the "real" work that lies ahead.
Day Two: Top of second climb. From left, Kelly O'Mara, Amy Hite, Dave Lundberg, Kara Turner, Jen Matro, Maik Twelsiek, Alex Watt.
I had to capture this moment, because I was so proud of all of us because we had just completed two GIGANTIC climbs and were still smiling and laughing. What an inspiring CREW!
Day Two: End of Mt. Palomar ride, from left, Maik Twelsiek, Kara Turner, yours truly, Amy Hite, Jen Matro, Dave Lundberg, Alex Watt, Kelly O'Mara, Jan Lohman. Photo credit, Hillary Biscay.
Our first BIG day delivered with a heap of climbing including Mt. Palomar, and a second (new) climb, Cold Grade, (I think that is what is called?) and wow, it was possibly one of my favorite days on two wheels. Tough, humbling, encouraging, invigorating, and awesome.
Day 3: Tsunami Swim/Run Saturday. Photo credit: Amy Hite.
Moments after our phones were blaring with Tsunami warnings to not go near the coast, we kept on walking toward the water... Don't worry, the course was in and around the lagoon, not in the ocean this time, so we were not in harm's way.
Day 3: Mid-Swim/Run fun partnered with my teammate, Dave Lundberg. Photo credit: Hillary Biscay.
We were partnered up for this two-lap Swim/Run adventure day, and the mighty Dave Lundberg was my fantastic teammate as we swam, clawed, ran, and scrambled all over the course for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, I had a bloody run in with some sharp rocks trying to avert a fast current, and then had to switch out my paddles after a finger strap broke during our second lap, but I still had a BLAST compared to my first Swim/Run experience at camp two years ago, so I consider it a success!.
I even opted to wear a legit Roka Swim/Run wetsuit which was super comfy, but next time I am fastening up a pull-buoy strap because my legs were dragging in the lagoon.
Day 3: Afternoon easy spin with a *special* appearance on the bike by head coach, Hillary Biscay.
It was a real treat for Hillary to join us on this ride. She usually follows us as SAG and/or photographer, so to have her in the mix for this super chill spin up the coast made this ride extra special.
Day 3: Group dinner at the Biscay-Twelsiek house before our looong ride on Sunday.
Post Chipotle feast fireside Q and A about the big ride on deck the following Sunday morning. Many of us had ridden the course before, but some had not, regardless it was daunting for all of us, so this mellow conversation eased many nerves.
Day 4: "Ladies of Laguna" AKA, the first stop on our 120-mile/insane amount of elevation ride. Photo credit: Dave Lundberg.
The next twenty or so miles after we left this stop have been my least favorite stretch of the route over the three previous times I've ridden it, so I was a little weary behind my smile, but the weather was perfect, my legs were pumped, and the company was stellar, so I quite enjoyed it this time.
Day 4: Starting our climb up Mt. Laguna. Photo credit: Hillary Biscay.
This was just over three hours into our eight-plus hour day, we had already pedaled up thousands up feet, but the jewel climb of the day, Mt. Laguna, mountain was still ahead.
Day 5: Post Long Run (18 miles for me).
Yep, those Irish eyes are smiling because I felt like a billion bucks at the end of this run! I ran the first fourteen miles on the trail/wood chips with Alex, Evan, Dave, and Kelly, and then the last four on the road as I wanted to mimic my upcoming marathon race conditions (road) and empty the tank for the last mile and end this camp with a !!
My athlete, Kara Turner, and I after a quick "Camp Debrief" conversation delving into what she gained from the weekend, and planning our next steps with her training and path toward reaching her triathlon goals.
It was a different, yet meaningful experience wearing both "Athlete" and "Coach" hats at this camp. I was honored and nervous to take on more responsibility (typically I just focus on survival), but on this occasion I needed to be aware of, and help guide Kara, as well as keep the morale up for the other *new* campers during the rides, and throughout the weekend. Thankfully, we all survived, so I am calling it a success!
Well, it looks like I wrote more than I thought I would; endurance, it shows up everywhere in life.
The song and video choice this week is a cool tune from a great band that hails from our camp location, north county San Diego. Enjoy.:)