Day 4 RECOVERY DAY AT EPIC—Yeah Right!

Day 4 RECOVERY DAY AT EPIC—Yeah Right!

Today we were rolling down to the lake at 7am. The events of the day were two-fold. The first part started with an open water swim race. It was to be two loops of about 2-2.5k loops. The swim started off pretty good with Albert taking the lead. I jumped on Albert’s feet, which lasted all of about 200m before I started looking for another more palatable draft.

Molina, Newsome,and Albert were gone before long. Gordo, Rob and Tara were just right behind me, and we quickly settled into a nice pace behind Tara, with Gordo, and I tucked in a nice position at 3rd. She pulled us along for the first lap, and just swam a little wide on our run around the dock swim exit, back into the water for our next lap. Gordo took over and I settled into a good relaxed rhythm which felt a little harder than the first lap. It always takes a little getting used to following somebody’s draft and I felt much more relaxed this lap. Gordo picked it up just slightly or I was fatiguing just a little, not really sure, but I had to do a little self-talk to stay on at this point. The final length started with our run back into the water as a walk, and then a lot of jockeying to see who would take the lead. Gordo suggested me since he expected my late surge swim to take him at the finish. I declined and he continued on at a very nice pace initially. At about 500m out he started to pick it up, and with about 100m out was really thrashing in front, as I did all I could to hang on. He thought he went a little early and I thought he went a little early for me as well, and there was no going around him at the finish. We swam about 4500m, I suspect, in just less than 60 minutes. It hurt!!

As that was not enough events for the day, we then had a 10k run. The run was based on finish result and time (but the hitch was you could not run with a watch), and you had to guesstimate your time. I just got through it and was happy to do so without drilling myself. We then headed back to the lodge, and out for the 60k minimum ride for the day. It was out towards Treble Cone, with some spectacular scenery along Lake Wanaka, with views of Mt Aspiring, and the peaks in around Wanaka. A beautiful part of the country with the most expensive real estate in New Zealand. Apparently the average price of home around Wanaka is about 400k (and that is NZ dollars)…gotta love New Zealand!!

On our return, Brandon, Mr. Pump-Beven, and I all stopped for a cheeseburger and fries, a couple cokes, and just some good gossip. Good times!!

The rest of the day is recovery for tomorrow’s uphill time-trial, and I am not sure what much else. The Camp is in full swing. Some folks are beginning to really feel the effects, yet we all continue on swimming, biking, running every day. ½ way done with the camp, and we have some good challenges yet to come!! The yellow jersey fight is on and it is between Newsome, Molina, Gordo and the Albernator. Albert is making his move now with ANOTHER 6k swim for the day and some more bonus points….Good stuff. Albert!! Bring home the yellow jersey to USA!! It might come down to the final day uphill triathlon event!

Posted By Mark Pietrofesa to Petro-World