Day 5 - A day of options (click title for pictures)

JANUARY 13, 2005 - EPIC CAMP NZ DAY 5

Easy day in Nelson: 3000 km swim, 60 km bike, 50 min run.

I believe yesterday was supposed to be an easy day, based upon the bike the distance – only 125 km. However, the full day of rain and those two passes we climbed really crushed most of us. I'm shelled today! So, instead of climbing the big mountain today, Johno et. al, decided to push it out until tomorrow and take today easier.

Today was a day of options... lots of options:
• Those who wanted to swim 6000 m, for extra points can catch a ride at 6:00 AM.
• Those who only want to swim 3000 m, the ride is at 7:00 AM.

• The group run today is in the Able Tasman park. Simple 50 min. out and back.

• For those who want to bike 0 km, that's an option today. If desired, one can catch a ride to the park and back.
• For those who want to bike 70 km today you can either: bike 70 km to the park, and then run, and ride back in the van; or ride in the van over, run in the park and bike back.
• For those who want to bike over, run and bike back, that's an option.
• The other option is the Gordo option: ride out 30 km, catch lunch, ride back. Then run at the college later.


Sleeping is becoming a priority so I had no intentions of getting up to catch a 6 AM ride. My ride to the pool left at 7:00 AM. I slept until 6:30, and nearly missed it. The dorms we are stay in are only 3/4 walled cubes – each person to a cube. But there are maybe 20 cubes to a hall. There was so much snoring last night that I had a really hard time going to sleep. Since, I've been here I've taken up the habit of listening to my audio books on my iPod while a fall asleep. But, last night the snoring was so bad I could hear it over my iPod and I couldn't fall asleep. So, last night I put in my ear plugs I brought. Perfect! I couldn't hear a single thing. Unfortunately, this also meant I didn't hear people getting up to swim, so I almost didn't make it.

The Epic Camp folks have arranged for exclusive access to a 50 meter outdoor pool. I passed on swimming last night, so this was my first trip to the pool. It's a really nice pool. I'm so impressed with the pools here. However, it was cold and drizzling for the swim. And the pool wasn't all that warm. I swam with KP today. Actually, I swam in KPs wake today. I could tell the far side of the pool was a tad warmer than the near side. We had swam 1500 m straight when KP decided this was too monotonous. So, he finished the second half with 450 free and 50 breast. This broke up the swim and made it a little easier to handle.

After completing the swimming it was a race to the showers to try and warm up. The showers at the pool were a little different. There were two shower stalls that faced each other. As you faced them there was a solid wall about 10 feet wide, with two small buttons in the middle of the wall. To the left and right of the wall were the entrances to the showers. The shower was from the ceiling and no water controls inside the stalls. You have to press one of the buttons outside the stall, on the wall, then walk around back inside the stall. I have to say the water was hot. But I only stayed in for one button cycle of the shower. I should have taken another cycle, because by the time I dried off and dressed my teeth were chattering. I climbed into the van and sat there can chattered for half the ride back.

I heard afterward that there was another extra bonus swim workout that could have been done today. Swim 3000 m IM and get an extra point. I never would have attempted it, but I never heard about it until afterwards back on the van.

We had breakfast in the Nelson College cafeteria. The college staff is preparing the meals while we are here, and we shocked them by the number of eggs we consume. I think we have been averaging 8 dozen eggs for the group every morning. Plus, toast, fruit, oatmeal and cereal. Boy can this group eat!

Nelson College is nestled in the foothills of Nelson.

There are stairs everywhere. Actually, there are stairs everywhere. We are staying in Fell Building, a three story structure. The main gathering room is on the main floor, our rooms are on the second floor, and showers and restrooms are on the third floor. Even the cafeteria, which is in another building is down several flights of stairs. There are a lot of stairs around here. Only making Epic Camp that much more fun!

Another interesting thing here in New Zealand are the drying rooms. I understand they are a New Zealand only kind of a thing. The laundry room consists of washing machines and a bunch of large deep sinks, then in another room is the drying room. It consists of lots or racks with hot air being blown throughout the room. It's also a great place to warmup after a cold bike or swim. :-)

I decided to do a modified Gordo ride today. I'd ride out with Scott Molina and the group heading to Able Tasman halfway, and then turn around and got back to the college. Get lunch and then run later from the college. There was nine of us in the group that rolled out around 10:30 AM. It drizzled a little bit on the ride but nothing significant. The clouds really hung low, preventing us from being able to see the mountains, but it was obvious the views here are spectacular.

Mitch and I turnaround at the top of a hill at 30 km and headed back. We had been taking the same roads back and forth from Stokes into Nelson. I wanted to try the road that went along the sound (ocean bay). That was a mistake. The road was especially rough and rocky, the sound was not pleasant to view and the traffic was bad. We spotted a bicycle underpass and "mountain biked" off the road down to the bike underpass. The made our way back up to the Waimea Road where we should have been and road back to Nelson College. Talk about a couple of tourists!

Mitch and I saw Clas the masseur, who was just getting back from a ride of his own. We planned to shower and Clas was going to drive us into town. But, Mitch decided a nap was a better option so Clas and went together. I bought postcards and a couple other treasures, Clas got his bike computer battery replaced, and we both got some coffee. We were directed to the other side of town for some items I was looking for and Clas decided to head back to make his 3:00 PM appointment. Got some lunch and then found the post office to mailed out postcards to my daughters Emily and Abby. While running back to a store I visited yesterday, found a computer store and bought DVD-R media and a new power converter, then I ran upon a Boise Store! Go figure, a Boise store in Nelson, NZ.

With a full load of shopping and ways from the College I looked around for a taxi. I had noticed them congregating around an intersection not an hour before. But, now that I wanted one, there wasn't a Taxis in sight. I waited 10 minutes and then I decided to just walk back. There is a church steeple that makes a fine landmark here. I started walking towards the church and after walking for about 5 minutes I decided if I was going to make this trip I'd make it count. So I started jogging back with all my bags. I jogged around the Church and on the back side I found a nice park called Fairfield park. It was a pretty hilly jog and my calves really suffered. It actually only took me 47 mins to jog back, but with the extra bags I'm counting it as my 50 min run.

After my calf wrenching jog, I laid in the foyer of the college with my legs up on a chair and called home. I'm learning this is acceptable behavior at this camp.

After spending some time updating my blog entries and made my way, down the stairs again, to the gathering room. I knew someone was going to be going to an internet cafe at some point and I wanted to tag along. Again, Mitch was up for organizing a group to head into town for dinner and internetting (sp?). We ended up at Lambretta's again. And again, the food as outstanding!