Epic Italy - overall camp report

Before camp I signed up to blog, somehow during the week there never seemed the time. Perhaps if there were points for blogging, more would be done. Now I'm back home, the training is done and it's all about recovery so I'll try and sum up my past week. Bear with me as this is quite long.

Day 1 was all about hanging onto the group as they pushed up the side of lake Gardia. The camp opened with a hard pace, something of a tradition I'm told. I managed to hold on in there, wondering how the rest of the week was going to go if this was what I had to expect. The ride finished with an uphill time trial, not my greatest effort, I'd been working hard just to get to the bottom of the hill and there wasn't too much left. Rolling into the Trento hotel there were still plenty of training hours to go in the day, but I stuck to my plan of completing the camp minimum (to get the bonus 20 points at the end of the week) and was too nervous about expending energy this early by tacking on.

Day 2 involved a long climb out from Trento, about 40k to the summit from the base of the climb. I pushed quite hard early on, but out on my own the mind wandered and the pace eased. Randy caught up with me probably about 10k from the top and we helped push each other along. By the time we hit the top things had turned a bit wet (a feature of my training trips this year) and a change of kit was needed. The descent to lunch was fantastic with some stunning views over a valley. After lunch the groupetto got through a long drag to the base of the final climb by forming a paceline. That final climb was a bit of a sting in the tail to the route, we slogged up it, helped by John Ellis providing coke near the top.

Day 3 transferred us over to Cortina with a couple of big climbs on route. Whilst the likes of Gordo and Steven had already shot off from the main group, I was feeling good and started to push on ahead. Lesson learnt when I got lost though and the bunch caught me back up - there's no points for heading off that early if you can't get up the mountains ahead of everyone! The bunch split shortly after a drinks stop and whilst I worked to keep up with the front of it, it didn't last. Definitely would have been smarter to have stuck in the group earlier. The first climb, the Passa de Fedaia was hard work, but it was the second climb up the Passa di Giau that was the real highlight. At least I can say that in retrospect, at the time it was a unrelenting and brutal slog up a steep mountain. Once done it was pretty much all down hill to the next hotel.

Day 4 was comparatively easy to the previous day a ride to the pool and a more enjoyable ride back home taking in the full range of road surfaces on the bike path. It provided a bit more of a test of my bike handling skills than the road, but it was a fun change. I opted not to climb Scott's surprise once again wanting to save energy for completing the week. That and the weather wasn't looking good so it was definitely time to push home. Generally the runs weren't the highlight of my day, but the bike trail behind the hotel gave some fantastic views over the mountains. Starting out on the uphill run with tired legs was a struggle, but I kept the fact it was all downhill from the halfway point in mind.

Day 5 was the recovery day which means still doing quite a bit of training, getting that 50 minute run in, that 3k swim and 60k of biking. I decided to go with John on his 45k loop for my ride. When I heard 45k loop I imagined a scenic cruise round smooth roads taking in mountain views. I hadn't imagined a 10k climb up a pass with signs indicating the road was at 12%. Nor did I imagine following that with a descent in torrential rain that would leave me freezing cold. I may not have been going for points by tacking on, but to get the minimum I still needed 15k on the bike. Cue running back into the hotel, changing into full winter kit and rushing back out into the rain to ride up and down the flattest section of road I could to meet 15k! That was definitely an exclusive Epic Camp moment, no chance I'd have done that back home.

Day 6 opened with rain, I'm sick of rain and was relieved when the original opening ride to the pool was dropped for a trip in the van. Admittedly in the spirit of Epic Camp when Jonathan jokingly told me there was double points for those who rode to the pool I did a mental calculation of my ability to tolerate the rain for some extra points. The original plan involved an Aquathon, but weather stopped play and after a standard 3k swim we had a short (thank you Ian) 10k race. I was surprised at the pace I managed after all the training so far. That said my attempt to chase down Steven in the last couple of kilometres didn't leave much in my legs for the climb of the day.

We'd been warned that the Passo Delle Erbe was the toughest climb of the week. My tired legs helped it meet that reputation. I spent most of the climb riding about 20m behind Jo. Clearly not having the best of days on the bike either we both helped each other over the pass. Me trying to chase Jo down and her trying to drop me. The reward for this climb was an amazing long descent from just short of 2000m to around 200m.

Day 7 and by now it's about survival, fatigue is setting in, but I'm determined to complete the camp. After doing a run tour of the city of Bolzano and a trip to the pool it was a long ride to the base of the Stelvio. I was not in the best of ways on the bike and spent a lot of time hanging on to the back of the group. I reached the bottom of the Stelvio just wanting the ride to be over and whilst the climb was stunning, my mood didn't do it justice. Still I got through it and enjoyed a hot dog at the top. It was too late for us to attempt the Gavia as well, I have to admit at the time I wasn't disappointed.

At this point it looked like the camp completion was in the bag. Just day 8 to complete and that was a hill run race, a final swim and a cruise home. Things very nearly went wrong as it turned out my watch had switched back to the UK time zone. I happened to look out the window and see everyone ready to run, then when I realised they were heading out for the race it was a mad dash to catch them back up and get the race in. Adrenaline helped me work my way past a few of the guys and I was relieved to have just made the final run.

The ride home was less of a cruise than I'd been hoping, the pace was high and you needed to keep yourself in the line. When things did break up I was grateful that John was there to pull Randy and I along. After the first drinks station things broke up and as on several days this week Randy and I found ourselves riding together. We tried to catch the main group, but couldn't quite bridge to them. Scott was glad we hadn't after he injured himself in a crash with the bunch. When the bike path seemed to run out and we were back on the road I just wanted to get home. So it was time to push hard and just get the job done, I kept the pace up as hard as I could afraid to take it easy in case I couldn't get my rhythm back. On the outskirts of Verona as we debated the route home, John came flying past and we rode the last few kilometres on his wheel. Back to the hotel and job done!

Overall it was an amazing week. I trained at a volume and level I hadn't tried before. The support throughout was excellent and it was great to not have to worry about anything but getting through the sessions. The Dolomites were a fantastic region to ride in with some of the best climbs I've ever done. The company was great too, even if nobody wanted to share a room with me because of my cough! Being surrounded by such a strong group of athletes only helped get a little bit more out of me.

I'm planning to come to Epic New Zealand next year, healthy next time and fitter. I've completed all the workouts in a camp, so next time I'll have to see how much more I can do.