Epic Italy - Day 8

Day 8

Run – 4.5km uphill race

Swim 3km incl 10x200 on 2:35 (wetsuit/long course)

Bike 170km

The committee felt we were a little shy on run points this camp so we opened up with an uphill running race. I was feeling pretty good and took a good 2^nd to Gordo. It was great to see everyone put in a big push on day 8 with plenty of heaving going on at the finish line. Performance of the day goes to Russell Cox whose watch was on UK time and he was looking out his bedroom window as we started. He bolted out of the hotel and made a big move through the field. Russell has been sick all week but has fought valiantly to keep hitting the programme.

I found out after the run that Jo and Mike P had run 1hr before the race, the madness continues on.

Off to the pool and the majority wore wetsuits this time around. I told Molina and Gordo I was going to try 10x200 on 2:35 for a bonus point. I had no idea if I could make this interval in such a fatigued state. Gordo said he would sit on my feet and see how he would go (he popped on the 2^nd rep). As it turned out I had a storming swim and was coming in on 2:22-2:25 each rep. This was the fastest I had swum on the camp and fastest I’ve swim in quite a while – all on day 8. I was stoked with this effort. The final ride turned out to be a bit of debacle for me. I was really looking forward to cracking a very high pace in the 2^nd half of the ride but due to some athletes dropping off I had to stop to check everything was OK. So plenty of personal time today.

Much of the ride was on bike paths that were in immaculate condition. Around the towns there was a bit of bike traffic but on the whole it was pretty good.

We had a great bunch of athletes on this camp. Plenty of repeat campers so everyone knew what they were getting in for. The ‘camp completion’, doing all the minimum sessions was the highest I can remember.

So that’s another epic under my belt. I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do which was to boost my fitness, particularly on the bike, and not come out of the camp smoked. Today is the day after and I feel pretty bloody good.

Special thanks to

• Ian & Julie from Pyrenees Multisport www.pyreneesmultisport.com – if any of you want to find out what ‘The Tour” rides go through and so some spectacular climbing give them a shout
• John Ellis from Muscles Inc in Christchurch for his massage and support
• And a man behind the scenes who helped me with bookings; Paolo Tommasini – we never met but your assistance was tremendous.

Now it’s time for me to reunite with my wife and 1 year old son in Paris. After 4 weeks away I can’t wait to see them both.

The next Epic instalment will be in New Zealand in January.