Tara's report on Epic Day 5: 50min run, 6K swim with 10x200 on 3:00 and 12x100IM/150free, Wanaka-Cromwell-Crown Range-Wanaka with add on for 180K, 2nd 50min run

WOA, only 3 days to go!!!!! We are more than half way there!
Ok, I have obviously just numbed my nerve endings in my butt – today was much less painful! The saddle soreness has taken a turn for the better.
Now I need new shoulders and as I type, my fingers are literally threatening to cramp up!
Today as I headed out on my second 50min run, I felt certifiably insane. This camp is completely nutso and completely awesome!!
This morning Scott, Clive and I headed out on a 50min run towards the pool where we were picked up by the van along the way. I was feeling surprisingly good considering all the mileage thus far.

I managed to swim a 6K swim with two bonus point sets (thanks to Scott pushing me to do the IM set) = a 7 point swim!! Then it was time to get back on the bike AGAIN. I was in so much pain the last couple days that I was anticipating the worst pain yet only it wasn’t so bad…The pain came with the massive TT climb. That was the first time this camp where I had to have the conversation with myself that goes like this: “Yes, you CAN do it, just keep moving the pedals around; keep moving forward”… But I finished the climb in something like 8th place overall. Ouch, that was painful. Bevy, Scott, Gordo, Paul and Johnny were flying, as was that wee Douglas…Man-o-man, I was just trying to make it to the top without falling over.

Before the TT climb, there was some serious pace-line speed riding going on. I just sat on and did the surge-coast-surge-coast for a LONG time! 300 Watts-0 Watts-300 Watts–0 Watts… After a wee aid station stop we rode along the most beautiful gorge. I caught the Gordo ‘love train’ for a while, and then the Bevy ‘love train’ to the bottom of the TT climb. Spectacular!!

Toby and I pace lined it all the way home into another insane headwind and managed to stay on our bikes for 180K. We then headed out on 50min run #2 and amazingly started to feel better as the run went on. Who knew that could happen at the end of such a tough day, and after such insanity mileage!?

Total Mileage thus far (from 5 days):
Swim: 21.7K, 5.7hrs
Bike: 905K, 33.25hrs
Run: 80K, 6.4hrs

I am done blogging ‘cause I need to get massage #3 with John – this is muchly needed.