Quick Update

I will have a more detailed post later on days 6 and 7, probably on Tuesday after I'm back home in North Carolina. Suffice it to say the Stelvio was a good as advertised today. About a 90 km role to the start into the wind gaining over 2000 feet. Then 25 km to the top of the Stelvio climbing about 900 meters elevation to over 2700 meters (9000 feet). Temp was 2 centigrade with flurries in the air. Didn't get cold except for my hands which were numb and prevented me from zipping up my jersey for a proper photo as I reached the top of the climb. Had a machiato in the bar and warmed up. Then we all feasted on warm saugsage with sauerkraut and mustard from a roadside vendor and the top complemented by a nice wheat beer out of Munich. The view from up there was incredible. Still lots of snow and a few folks were skiing. The picture on the Epic site doesn't do it full justice. That's just the last portion of the 48 switchbacks it takes you to get to the top. When you're at the bottom of that section it looks like a vertical wall and you really can't imagine how you're going to ride up it. By the time we all got up there it was after 5 pm and it wasn't sensible (even by Epic standards) to take on the Gavia. That will give me a reason to come back. Gordo off course led the charge, with Steven Lorde next then Newsome, Molina and then me a few minutes back. I kept expecting Jo to pop up on my wheel over the last 10 km and was looking down the mountain at every switchback to see if she was coming up. She wasn't far behind and if she hadn't run probably 3-4x as many miles as I have this camp I'm sure she would have handed it to me. She was 5th in her age group in Kona last year and I wouldn't want to have here in my age group at IM Wisconsin in September where she, Steven and possibly I will be representing Epic Camp. I've pretty good legs the past couple of days. I managed to hold Molina off over the Passo Erbe yesterday. He popped into view a couple km from the top and forced me to hit my highest heart rate ever in an Epic Camp to stay ahead of him. At dinner last night Gordo had promised a special prize to the first "normal" camper to make it to the top of the Stelvio. Normal being defined as anyone except (Gordo, Newsome, Molina or Steven who has wrapped up the Pink jersey as points leader). I gave it all I had and was surprised that I was able to keep my heart rate about 5 bpm over my normal ironman bike average for the whole climb. The prize ended up being the polka dot jersey Gordo has wrapped up by being first over every KOM this camp. I feel a bit bad accepting it but he says he already has another. To be honest, it means a lot more to me than another ironman finishers medal ever would. Off too bed now. 5 km uphill running race tomorrow am (that might be more like a hike for me :), breakfast, bike to the pool for 3km swim (beautiful cold pool so I'll use the wetsuit) then hopping on the Gman freight train for a fast 150km down to Verona, pack the bags for my 6:30 am flight and hit the town with boys and girls to celebrate.