EC 2007 days 1 & 2 (Dave C's blog)

I bet there’s a bunch of you out there just like me. Reasonable triathletes, but by no means fast. Done a few IM, caught the bug, want to go faster. Kona aspirations, but may never make it. Read a few Epic Camp blogs over the years and thought “no way” (but that’s what you said when you first heard about IM). But always wondered how you’d get on. Could I handle a 50 hour training week? Would I end up riding solo for 1,500km?

Well, I decided bugger it, I’ll find out. So here I am. A lab rat for everyone who’s ever thought they were, at best, right at the edge of EC eligibility. I’ll let the rock stars compete for their jerseys, put my head down and see what happens over the next 2 weeks. I’ll try to update this blog every day or two as I go along, so those of you with sadistic tendencies can feast off our communal suffering (or at least mine). If I don’t post a blog, I’m either too shelled or we’re laid up in deepest, darkest West Coast without internet access.

Quick profile of me – a Kiwi (a rarity on this camp), 39 years old, lawyer, 6’2”, 81kg. Latecomer to tri.s – midlife crisis, no S/B/R background, but decided I wanted to do an IM. Classic A-type stuff. Done 3 IM (NZ twice, Lanzarote once). Goals for ’07 are IMNZ and IM Brazil. I’m probably in 5:30 biking shape right now. Biggest training week ever was 30 hours (in 2005).

Day one

Two time trials on first day! 60 minute run, followed by 60 swim, including 2k TT. I had the misfortune to be in the same lane as Molina. He lapped me so many times I got dizzy.

Then on the bike and headed north for 110km until Cheviot. The rock stars were sorting each other out in front and I was looking down at the SRM at the back of the pack seeing numbers that were bordering suicidal for me - 280-300w, h/r high 160s. Gordo's advice that "if you choose to take your heart rate over 150 during this camp, you better have a good reason for it" had to be put aside for now. Thankfully, sense prevailed ultimately and things settled down. Then 2nd TT for the day - 70km to Kaikoura. Described as "undulating" by John. Someone needs to get that boy a new dictionary. 2:27 for me - a relatively leisurely pace after the morning. Bevan cleaned up the TT in about 2:00 flat.

I think I ate my bodyweight in gels, bananas and Em's powercookies today (the cookies, by the way, rock).

Day two

Started with a swim at the Kaikoura pool. Got a rush of early morning blood to the head and decided to do 6km (for an extra point) - my longest swim ever by 2km. Not too bad actually, although I was slightly humbled by the fact that, in a wetsuit, I wasn't appreciably faster than Mike M sans wetsuit and with a band. But two points is two points.

Rolled out after b/fast on more "undulating terrain". I must have dropped my chain at least 5 times and had to light a lot of matches to catch up to the main group. Some stirling work was done on the front by Gordo, Bevan, John & Mike. Got to Hanmer and headed out for a 10km run with Scott M, Gordo and Toby. We lost Gordo en route (something about a nature appreciation stop), but Scott led us through a great trail run.

The nutters, of course, didn't stop there. Mike M is king of the nutters at the moment (and yellow jersey holder). Capped off his 6km swim & 140km bike with a 2:30 run. Nice.

There's a fair bit of apprehension about tomorrow's ride. 230km over Lewis Pass to Moana. Gordo is leading the early group (us slower guys) at 7:30am. Others leave at 9. Could be facing 9 hours on the bike. Where is a 12/27 cassette when you want one? Weather forecast not too flash either. Bring it on!

Probably no internet access at Moana, so will post again after that.