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.

Days 4 and 5 (Toby)

Day 4 - "Easy day"
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The day started with a lake swim race at Wanaka. It turned out to be around 4.4km long, and it was a 'sombiathon' for me - I wrapped up warm with neoprene cap and boots to make sure I didn't get cold, as I wasn't anticipating going hard enough to overheat. BdC paced well to drag me round the two laps. Then it was straight into a 10km running race. We had to predict our times and then run without watches - scoring points for overall position and for closeness to your estimate. I predicted a slow time, as my quads were feeling pretty shoddy, but warmed into it and ran somewhere around 39 minutes... not too bad for the volume of the previous few days.

As it was the 'easy day', we only had to ride 60km, but i was convinced to ride 90km by Clive and Tara. It was pedestrian, and involved an ice-cream stop before we headed home, hit the pool for a second 3km swim (with 20 x 100m on 1:30) and another 10km run along the waterfront of Lake Wanaka. Quote of the day was from Tara who proved that sugar lows can hit even on the easy rides ... "Where are my sunglasses??? Oh, they're on my face"

Day 4 Totals "EASY DAY"

Swim 7.4km
Bike 90km
Run 20km

Day 5 - Back in the Saddle
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Had a lazy start to the day catching a ride to the pool at 6:45. Some of the other guys had opted to run from 6am and catch the minibus as we went past them to get in an early 50 min run. This meant that they could go for 6 km in the pool. I wasn't feeling too good so I did the minimum swim of 3km and headed out for a 50min run before heading back to the lodge. We rode out at a ridiculous pace from Wanaka and by the time we made it to the bottom of the time-trial KoM (about 95 kms in) I was feeling spanked. But time trial we did, and 44 minutes later I was atop the Crown Range and heading back to Wanaka. A tack-on later we'd done 180kms and then went straight out for another 50min run. Just finished getting a massage - very much needed. I can play a tune on my ITBs they are so tight.


Things seem to be becoming a little more hazy round the group ... people are falling asleep at the side of the pool, question and answer sessions involve repeating the same simple information multiple times, and hysterical episodes are becoming more freequent....


Day 5 Totals

Swim 3km
Ride 180km (about 1400m climbing)
Run 20km

Day 5 Getting Through

Day 5 Getting Through

Last year on Day 5, we still had 7 days to go to complete the camp. This year, however, we only have 3. If there were 7 days to go, I would really be depressed, yet today; I am only slightly dragging, because I can comprehend only 3 to go.

We got up for early swims, some chose the pool, but I chose the lake. I love open water swimming, especially in a beautiful, clean lake surrounded by mountains. I chose to swim alone, and swam straight towards the middle of the lake. It was very pleasant, unlike yesterday, where I did not get to enjoy much chasing Gordo’s bubbles around the lake. Today, I swam some backstroke and looked up at the clouds, stopped in the middle of the lake to observe the quiet serenity…no lakes like this back in California. No boats, no people, just a few Epic Camp swimmers splashing about in the far distance. It was very nice.

I chose to skip the run, instead for a short nap before our long ride on the Crown Range (the highest paved road in New Zealand). It was the opposite of last year, and we have a time trial up the hill. I was feeling a little sick, despite my nap, and felt like I might be breaking down, so I sat in for the first hour and watched Clive maintain the nice and even pace at the front. Somewhere around an hour in, all the brown sugar and jam for breakfast, kicked in, and I found myself feeling pretty good. So, I went to the front and played ‘Chase the Clive’, as we traded off pulls, until I finally planted myself at the front and kept it motoring. I was drilling myself pretty good for so early on a long ride, but wanted to test the reaction that it would have on my body. I sat at the front for about 45 minutes rarely going under 300 watts, and the group got pretty splintered along the way. After Cromwell, we headed towards Queenstown through the Kuawara Gorge (home of bungee jumping), and we rode by where I made my first bungee jump last year. No time to stop today as Gordo, Molina, and I rolled along towards our last stop before the climb. I remember coming down last year, but have no recollection on how the climb will be from this side.

We started in 30 second intervals, and I could tell this was not going to be my kind of climb, and I just got through it, actually looking around to enjoy some spectacular scenery, trying to keep my legs moving. It was steep, and I was wishing for some more gearing than my 27 on the rear. A very short break for me, and we were off towards Wanaka. A very civil pace line back to Wanaka, and a stop at the local bakery for a meat pie and muffin. The yellow jersey race is really heating up with Albert trying to put it out of reach. A 6k swim, an extra 15 miles on the bike, and a run, and Albert is 6 points ahead. It could be game over for the yellow jersey. Albert is going to be awfully tough to beat running up the Coronet Peak triathlon on Sunday. An all uphill triathlon…






.

Epic Days 1-4

Tara's report on Epic Days 1-4

Epic Camp Start Dinner: Buffet dinner and a whole lot of intimidation! I felt I knew pretty much what I was in for coming to this camp, but admittedly, hearing the details and introduction at the dinner was shocking. Ok, so this is going to be insane!!! I was pretty aware that I was sitting in a room with 22+ boys but it sure had a good vibe. Like I said earlier, bring it on!

Epic Camp Day 1: 50min run, 3K swim with a 2K Time Trial, Christchurch to Akaroa and back = 180K (with 13km tack-on)

WOA, only 7 more to go! Amazingly, and to my complete surprise (because it certainly wasn’t part of my game plan); I tied that Molina coach of mine for first place in the points. Scott will be in the Yellow Jersey after breaking our tie by the KOM (King of the Mountain) points. I say: THANKS COACH! It may be all downhill from here on in, but making the boys scared even for one day has been fun :)

I am the only woman here and I am doing my best to “hold my own”!! All the guys at the camp are great, and certainly good for lots of laughs. Hanging out and busting my butt with 20 guys is all good. No complaints by me!!The day started with a 50min run to the pool with Scott, Toby, Clive, Douglas, and Charlsey. Then after a 1K warm-up, we did the 2K time trial. I felt good and finished it in 26:39. Back to the hotel and onto our bikes for a tough but beautiful 180K ride to Akaroa and back. I am still learning where to push and how to get into the right “pack” for me and moved from 11th in the first KOM to 5th place in KOM #2. On the way back there was a 2K time trial and I decided to treat it like and Ironman race. I kept my heart rate within that range although it dropped at the end as I faded into the wind. I certainly worked hard in that TT and the result: 3rd overall. Hoping I didn’t do myself in on Day 1!!

We were all dry and thanks to the store drink stop taken care of by Molina (where I had the best chocolate milk ever), we spun back to the hotel.

Epic Camp Day 2: 3K swim with a 400IM Time Trial, Christchurch to Tekapo = 245K by my SRM!!

WOA only 6 days to go!! Still amazingly, I am holding onto 2nd place…I am still sure that this won’t last (especially once those big boys start running for points) but I’ll do my best!

After a 2.6K w-up swim with a 1000m band only (for an extra point) we did the 400IM race. With that recurrent shoulder dislocation of mine, I was really hoping I could do 100m of fly straight. Well it might not have looked too pretty but I got the job done. Can’t remember where that put me – somewhere around 6th place.

Then it was time for the 240+K ride with EVEN MORE WIND than the TT the day before. Man, that was a long and crazy day and my butt was on fire by the end of the ride. It’s hard to imagine that I can keep sitting it on that bike seat-o-mine… The big KOM was toward the end of the ride and that Gordo dude was on my wheel for about 2K right until the last few meters before the top of the climb (granted he and Bevy and Paul pulled me for a long time before that). At the top, he made his move and I surprised myself and went for it….And GOT HIM :) Man, can you say “anaerobic”?? The last part of the ride after that seemed to take forever as we pushed INTO the wind and when I lost my “love train”, as Scott calls it, after dropping a bottle; I was much slower on my own. It’s a good thing that the view of Lake Tekapo was so beautiful because it served as a good distraction as I was blown into the middle of the road and was crawling along the flat in my 27!!

Massage #2 was muchly needed and John Ellis came through again. The support crew here (Michaela, Dave, Chris, Rob and John) is seriously the best! Every need is met (aside from my request for a new arse) and is PERFECT!!

Epic Day 3: 50min run, Tekapo to Wanaka = 210K, and an Aquathon (Kiwi 600m = 1200m real distance, 4K run with an additional 4K tack on after for an extra point)

WOA only 6 days to go!!! I am hanging in and still moving and am still able to type.
I think I am still in 2nd place but this is sure to end…It can’t possibly go on, but even if it’s all over, it’s been fun showing the boys I could hang with them even for a couple days!!Today started with a 50min run with Clive and Toby. After breakfast we got back on our bikes again for a 210K ride to Wanaka. There was gorgeous once again, but it sure was tough going after the last two days of intense riding. It’s hard to believe this is only Day 3! The KOM up Lindis was helped by Johnny Newsome pulling Scott and I up most of the way only for me to eventually drop back and finish something like 9th overall. The chip seal here makes the riding quite a bit more uncomfortable but I guess it helps me to really appreciate the flat roads when they come. Every time I hit the chip seal I am sure someone has let the air out of my tires.

After arriving in Wanaka (where we will be staying for three nights), we headed to the 6pm Aquathon race which consisted of a 1200 or so meter swim in the very wavy lake Wanaka and a 4K run. I exited with Mark and managed to hold him off and not catch Rob who has made a comeback after not feeling so good yesterday (or was that this morning!?). Johnny N was flying – I need to get me some of those wings! At the end of the race Gordo, Scott and I tacked on another 4K for the bonus point! I am just going to get whatever points I can get – safely (or at least I hope safely)!


Epic Day 4: “OPTIONAL” – yah right! The optional is only for the ride (which has to be at least 60K) and includes a 4.5K open water race, a 10K run race where you try to predict your time and can’t run with a watch, and whatever else you want. I have to get whatever points I can – especially when I get my butt kicked on the run so my optional day consisted of a 90K ride another 50min run and a 3K swim with a 20x100 on 1:30 and a 200 fly in addition to the open water race and 10K running race.

The open swim was tough but really the lake was calm and perfect. I pulled a wee group of three (Gordo, Mark and Rob) for the first loop and then snuck onto the back for a ride on the second loop only to loose them in the last few meters as my arms felt like lead. There was no finishing sprint in my body left! I exited in 7th place.

Home to re-fuel and head out for the 10K run race/time prediction. My legs were feeling pretty fried so I estimated a whoppin’ 45mins and then after jogging a few meters added 45s to my estimated time! I guess you could say I was pleasantly surprised with my 43-something time, but given how challenging it felt, I am starting to feel like all this insanity mileage is catching up with me. I ran the whole way with Eliot which made the whole painful experience go by a little faster.

Ok, so I really was able to sit back on my bike and pull out a really slow 90K ride. I knew heading into this ride that I needed some big-time points to still feel ‘in the game’. The ride started with Charlsey, Dave, Douglas, Clive, Toby and I and ended with Clive, Toby and I with a fantastic stop for a LATTE and ICECEAM in a WAFFLE CONE. Yummy! We went real slow as there were no KOMs, no TTs, no pressure. Only problem with going real slow is that I had to sit on that seat a little longer. Can you tell that my main issue is that saddle of mine?

Toby and I continued on (we tried to talk Clive into joining us, but he was quite happy to go back to bed): To the pool for a 3K swim with a 20x100 on 1:30 and a 200fly for a few extra points. Oh yeah, and then another 50min run. I noticed that coach-o-mine lay pretty low today so I surpassed him in points. Ok, so even if I beat Molina for ONE day, it’ll be my Epic claim to fame. J My quads were a little tight and I was a little delirious on the bike as I thought I left my sunglasses back at the bakery only to realize they were actually on my face, but Epic Camp continues…Albert had a killer day – he smoked on the run (as did Paul, Bevy in that super speedy Speedo, Johnny and Gordo) and did something like a 7 point swim so is clearly in the lead. Johnny Newsom is right behind with me now holding 3rd place. Scott has slipped slightly behind but I am sure that guy and Gordo have some big plans…It’s just a matter of time. Their experience of these camps is going to come in handy I am sure…I didn’t realize there was a big KOM and TT tomorrow so maybe all that extra training today was a bad idea. But hey, this is EPIC and epic it is...
I am loving this whole experience and have a feeling I will be heading into survival mode soon where my goal will be just to finish all the scheduled workouts. I have certainly had a few good laugh attacks in my completely depleted state (at the end of the day) but I am still somewhat coherent. I will try to post more frequently, rather than four days in one!

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

Day 3, Day of Redemption

Day 3, Day of Redemption

Yesterday was an interesting day. I blew and came back from the depths of physical failure. It was not a first time at Epic Camp where I had a bad patch, but it certainly was the biggest patch of destruction that I remember. In hindsight, I believe it was dehydration. I accepted the fact during my day yesterday, that it shall pass, and it did.Today, started off very friendly with some of the most spectacular riding I have seen in New Zealand. We cruised the first 50 miles along a waterway that was car-free. We had spectacular views of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps. After lunch we had our only KOM of the day. My goal was to get over the KOM and then test my recovery from yesterday on the latter half of the ride. That changed after Brandon went to the front and pushed the pace. The group splintered and I was feeling good. So, I went to the front a little earlier than I had planned, and pushed the pace a little more, and towed our group to the base of the climb where the KOM contenders went off for the top. Bevy, or as I like to affectionately call him, Mr. Pump, as he is the #1 fitness instructor in New Zealand, took the KOM sprint and retained his polka dot jersey. Gordo, and Reno (Elliot), and Roto Router Man (Paul), all motored to the top. We let Molina, fight his way back before we shut the door on him taking us over the top. A valiant effort by Mr. Molina, yet not quite enough to get us. As we crested, our threesome of Molina, Brandon and I worked our way back to the group of Gordo and boys. As we were riding steady to hard, we rode by and they jumped on. I hit it hard for the next 30 minutes into a steady wind, and pulled the boys along. I was feeling great, and nobody was coming by, and nobody was dropping off. I liked the kiwi-rollers but then we hit a Kiwi hill, and I knew it could be trouble. Gordo, who had sat for the last 30 minutes, jumped hard (cheeky but all fair game at Epic Camp), and I could not hold on…I was too close to my limit for too long. Over the top, I knew it was time to shut it down as we were close to 100 miles by this point and the aid station could not come soon enough. It was hot, and I was starting to feel the trauma my earlier efforts had done to my body. Brandon and I rolled in good and dehydrated. A short break, and Gordo, Molina, Brandon, and Mr. Pump and I were off for Wanaka. The ride was friendly although, none of us could muster up too much and the day ended at 128 miles which could have been enough of a training day.

But not at Epic Camp. Today’s event for the day was an Aquathon (swim-run) down at the lake. This was an organized weekly local event, and we were down at the race start at 6 pm. The advertised course was 600m swim/4k run. The lake was rough, and the Epic crew was tired. It usually did not mean much as once a race starts, people find a little extra. The swim started off hard, as Molina, Albert, and Newsome went to the lead. I could not handle if for long and dropped back to swim with Gordo and Rob from Oklahoma. About 400m, I felt the affects of my early effort and my body revolted with some hyperventilating. I dropped back and relaxed on Gordo’s feet, who pulled us along at a good pace. With about 400m to go, which ended up being about a 1500m swim (as Newsome said an ‘honest’ swim), the water was shallow, and I followed Rob with a dolphin dive. Immediately my hamstring seized into a nasty cramp to the point of me stopping. I relaxed and cruised in the remainder of the way, hoping that my hamstring cramped up again so I could skip the run. No such luck. I leisurely ran the first 2k and picked up the second lap to hold off Toby, and felt my day catching up to me. Albert (Albernator) and Newome battled it out for the win, with Newsome just edging out the Albernator. Of course the day was not complete until getting in the 50 minute run, so Toby and I ran our last 4k at a very leisurely pace.

Another 8.5 hour day and we are only 3 days in, with the last 2 days being 280 miles on the bike, and 3 days in with a total of about 25 hours of training. And we still have 5 days to go. Luckily tomorrow, is a bit of a recovery day, although, we will still get in about 5 hours of training. Gotta Love Epic!

Molina, proudly pulled out his “I am not Dead yet” t-shirt, from a gift last year from the Monty Python show. I think I will need to go get me one of those next time I am in New York City.

Posted by Mark Pietrofesa

Well got to Wanaka on day three after lots of kms on the bike every one is different degrees of tiredness some like Toby, and Bevan jumping around beyond fatigue others are simply crashed out on the floor.
Today was fun with a fast ride out of the hotel thanks to Elliot and a droped bottle the first split happened after 5k that was preety much the pattern to a regroup at the break over looking MT Cook, then a sensible ride nearly to lunch afer which BDC decided to play and split the group before the KOM. Then a long ride accross the valley to break before another slog througth the winds before we got to Wanaka. Then a aquathon with a true kiwi 600m swim before a 4k run not preety. Any way need to sleep.

Days 1, 2 and 3 (Toby)

Go hard and blow early - Day One
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Man, what a day. I knew my prep over the last 3 weeks had been far from ideal, but I guess I was hoping that some of the form I had from before the lay-off would see me through. Guess again...

The morning went without hitch. I opted for the pre-breakfast run to the pool to get the 50minute run out of the way. Scott led and kept the pace easy. The swim was a 1 km warm up then a 2 km time trial. I had little intention of smcking this and managed to sit on Brandon's feet the entire way.

The scheduled ride was out to Akaroa and back (from Christchurch) - largely flat with some hills at the end where we would have some 'king of the mountains' points up for grabs. I blew on the first 'King of the Mountains' points climb about 4 km into it and suffered up the last 3km. I clearly wanted to believe that I was in much better condition than I actually am. Thinking that it was homeward bound after that I hadn't reckoned on then repeating the climb from the ther side ... which was longer and by this point a bit of a slog. It was all I could do to stay upright at the end! After the second KoM we had a time trial which hadn't been measured but was estimated at between 25 and 40 km. 43km later, going as hard as my tired legs could take me (which wasn't very hard) we stopped and everything cramped up. By everything I mean my glutes - OUCH. We finished the ride back into Christchurch and tagged on to make it up to 180 km for an extra point.

Here's to a few days of pain and riding myself into fitness again!

Day 1 totals
Swim 3km
Run 10km
Ride 180km

Day 2
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We started the day with a 6am swim. The twist was that it would finish with a 400m individual medley. This is invariably highly entertaining - several of the guys here can swim IM, but most of us can't. The butterfly is a killer if you've never done it. Luckily we were in a 25m pool so there was well needed resting taken at the end of each length. My breaststroke's pretty ropey too so I didn't fair so well. I had done 1 km with bands to earn an extra point in the warm up to make up for it though.

Post swim, Bev, Mark P, Clive and I headed out for a run pre-breakfast. A good move as I knew I wouldn't feel like it later. The ride was looking like it was going to be long. The first 150km was deadpan flat and there was a good tail wind. We could have taken it easy, but Clive dragged out the pace... we were sitting around 40kph for a lot of it, then Brandon decided to kick off between 100-150km and the group splintered. This was, I'd like to point out, effort for the sake of effort - the ride to lunch was not for points. After lunch we rolled out to do 90 km of undulating terrain with 2 KoMs. I looked at my odometer at 180km and wondered why I was time trialling out to the bottom of another climb. After the first climb, the wind became a nightmare headwind and the pace plummeted to dead slow. I was absolutely spanked by this point but the last 40km were done with Johnny and Scott. We took turns into the wind which meant that at least I didn't think about bailing. At least it wasn't raining!

Looks like Tara Norton (our only female on the camp and pro) might be in for a chance at the yellow jersey. She nailed Gordo on the second climb, and has been putting in stirling performances in the pool and KoMs. Bev's been taking all the KoMs so far, but Paul (a Brit living in Rotorua) has been giving him a run for his money.

Day 2 totals
Swim 3km (1 with bands)
Run 10km
Ride 240km

Day 3
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Early run with Clive and Tara at Lake Takapu as the sun came up was a beautiful start to the day. The ride set out early and the pre-lunch 90km went by on the flats and pretty mild. I was feeling good... but this all changed after lunch where I fell to pieces heading up to the KoM, which actually more like 30km flat out to the bottom of the pass where I got dropped and crawled over the top. It was about 70 km to the next aid station after lunch, and by then I was well out of water and feeling pretty bad. The last 50km was easier, mainly thanks to Clive, Albert, Tara and a LOT of coke. By the time we hit Wanaka there was about an hour to chill and eat before heading into town to do the local aquathon. A '600m' OW swim took the quickest 20minutes to finish, so we think it was more like 1200m+, into a 4km run. It was quite a painful experience - the arms didn't want to turn over, legs were unresponsive. It was great fun. Johnny took out the overall win, probably ticking off a couple of local guys who had assumed it was in the bag. Tacked on another few kms to make up the run distance minimum after the race to get my double run points.

I'm a little sore. Tomorrow's an easier day - last year I used that to fit in a 2:30 run but I'm thinking I'll give it a miss this time! Still waiting for the conditioning to come back... I might be waiting a while.

Day 3 totals
Swim 1200m open water (or more)
Run 18km
Ride 210km

Day #1 and Day #2

January 27th, Epic Camp Day #1, Where is the self control?

My plan for Epic is too work into the camp, and take a day or two to see where the body is. It never fails at Epic, somehow I swear that I will take it easy for a few days and the shit is out the window after a couple hours.

Today I arrived in New Zealand by losing a day over the International Date Line. I arrived in Christchurch at 9am with all my bags and bike. After a 1k run from the International to Domestic terminal in Auckland, which was my run for the day, I was completely worked and sweating like a pig. My heart rate had to be at 170…good start right off the 9 hour plane flight. I arrived at the hotel to see the Epic Crew heading out. After a quick bike assemble and gearing up, I jumped in the sag wagon (not exactly what I want to do before I even start), but we had to catch the group for the first aid stop. This was the easy part of the ride, since it is all flat with a tailwind. I missed the easy part!! Cool! Who wants easy at Epic!

So, we stopped at the first aid stop and the group rolled up within a few minutes. I did not want to race up the first climb since this was a KOM, King of the Mountain, sprint at the top, so I elected to roll out easy with Brandon and get to Akoroa on my own. I had about a 3 mile warm-up before the climb started and it immediately went steep. It was a good 5-6 mile climb and I think it took about 40 minutes. I did not get caught so I kept rolling, nice downhill, and then a series of 3 more (smaller) climbs, all the way to Akoroa for lunch. We had a nice lunch and then it was KOM points for the way back. Gordo talked me into to sticking around, instead of rolling out easy, so I did ignoring my plan to take it easy. I felt pretty good, and a small group immediately went up the road. I caught on with Johnno and Tara (the only gal in the group), and we rolled up steady-to hard. I dropped off at the end, but I think I was about 5th or 6th over the top. Nice descent before our re-group for the Time Trial.

I was completely twisted when we stopped and I think the jet lag hit me at that point! The next part is going to be anywhere from 25-40k time trial. I started 15th, and before I knew it I was rolling by folks. I was holding about 300 watts, and it felt ok, until I starting hitting the headwinds. I was expecting to be done at 30k, but the TT started to seem a little long and I had passed everybody, so I was sure I had missed the turn. Finally, I saw Dave, and I rolled into a 43k TT in about 1:09 averaging about 290 watts for the duration. I ended up winning the TT by about 2 minutes, and was pleasantly surprised on how I rebounded. It was a bit more than I was planning, but of course, my lack of self-control, got me!! But I usually get stronger over these camps, so I am not too worried. In fact, I feel pretty good, considering, last year, I completely detonated on day 1 bike TT. Or was it day 2? I hope not? Because tomorrow is our biggest day. About 250k or 150 miles.

We are swimming at 6 and will be timing a 400 IM, and then rolling at 9 am, so it will be a full day. Might not get around to posting anything.

Day 2. Cashing checks the Body can not cover!

Today started with a 6 am swim. Since it is going to be such a long day we have to be on the road by 9am. We cruised a 2600m swim, and then got out for our timed 400 IM. I wasted no time and went off in the first heat with Clive who was right next to me. Clive and I were right together, and I was feeling good until about 50m into the breast. I thought it was going to be tough, but I was hoping I might be able to slide through without taxing myself too much. On the free stroke, I pulled away pounding at the water to finish. I swam a 6:06 SCM and was feeling it when I got out. A couple of us headed out early and decided to get our run in so we went a on a nice run through Christchurch and were back with about 30 minutes to rollout, which is not a lot of time to pack, eat and get gear together. I missed breakfast but got in enough calories, I think, to get me to lunch.

The first 95 miles flew by because it was flat and we had a nice tailwind, and we pulled into lunch in about 4.5 hours. With about 10 miles to go, I instigated a little fun, as Brandon and I went off the front. We worked together for the next 30 minutes, but got caught at a one-way bridge by Gordo, Molina, and Bevy, who were unable to catch us until the roadblock, and we all kept drilling all the way to town. This is going to definitely cause me some suffering later.

We had about 55 miles to go after lunch and 2 KOM challenges, and lots of climbing. I was feeling good until the climbs, when I proceeded to detonate. As Molina says, I blew so big I left a crater in the road. It was not pretty, but for about 25 miles I was just in survival mode. It might have been the hard ride yesterday and TT off the plane, jet lag, the hammerfest before lunch, most likely a combination of all of them!!

Unfortunately after the hills went away, the wind really picked up. In fact, the winds were dead on and relentless. This turned the day into one of the hardest rides EVER!! I caught Brandon and Elliott which was nice as we could work together and it gave a mental boost. I am glad I detonated, as it reinforce to me to keep moving, and I eventually came back pretty strong. It took 90 minutes of serious suffering, and a coke, but it came around. It was not a good week to go on my coke holiday. I think it is necessary on rides like today when things get ugly. As Bevy says no coke in real life, but Epic Camp is not real life so coke it is. The ride ended up being 150 miles and 8 hours of riding, after a swim and run before. I never have swum and ran before such a big day. So, another first, and that is what Epic is all about. Accomplishing things that you would never do on your own, or in ‘real’ life. These first few days of Epic our turning into the real thing. Nothing easy and it is just going to keep coming. Packing a lot into our 8 days of training it appears. Let’s see what tomorrow brings…

Posted By Mark Pietrofesa to Petro-World

Epic Day 1

While I will be blogging about my epic experience, I suspect I will only have the energy to do it in one place. For those that care, the link below is to my personal blog.

http://www.ntperformancecoaching.com/blog/index.html

Ron Tribendis

LONG Pre Epic Camp Prologue (by Tara "poor soul" - because she is the only woman camper this year :))

I finally arrived in New Zealand after some very long travels! I left Toronto Monday morning at 7am (4:30am from my house) and arrived in Christchurch two days later, with the time change. I flew from Toronto to San Francisco and had a nine hour layover before my first of two flights to New Zealand. I didn’t realize that I had such a long layover until I was checking in for my flight in Toronto, so I decided to take advantage of the time and take the train into the city.

I love San Francisco (I visited it once before a number of years ago) and I walked all around the city. I walked from the Bart Powell Station up and down Lombard Street (the twisty-est street with 8 switchbacks due to its steepness) and all around Fisherman’s Warf. Clam chowder was a must and was very welcome and yummy after getting soaking wet on my walking tour. It was quite fitting to be wet in San Francisco and I just enjoyed myself. My calves were feeling all the hills but I figured with would be good pre-Epic Camp prep, especially for that uphill triathlon race run on the last day! I stopped for a tea and checked my email at Melt! Café and back to the airport I went.

My next flight was over 13.5 hours. I was so tired after my late night packing for Epic and Geelong 70.3 race the night before, and add in all the walking in San Fran, that I ended up sleeping for seven hours! This is completely unheard of for me as I rarely sleep on planes but it was perfect because everything didn’t feel so long. Air New Zealand is great and I even ate the food! One last flight from Auckland to Christchurch and amazingly my bike and luggage arrived with me across the world.

Scott picked me up at the airport. I have been working with Scott for over two years but had only met him once in person in Kona. Scott has been the most amazing coach for me and so I was excited to be able to spend some pre Epic Camp training time with him. He is so knowledgeable and also very funny. I learn so much from him and love that he makes me laugh in the process. There were 4 pre Epic Camp training days to be had, and this is how they went:
I immediately assembled my bike and off we went on a 2 hr ride in the hills. We did the Short Bays ride with an ad-on to the top of Worsley Spur. This country, and more specifically Christchurch, is amazing for training. I absolutely love the climbing on the bike and the views are spectacular – especially coming from cold Toronto! It has been a little cooler temperature than what I expected, but really perfect for training. And certainly not COLD! After our ride, we went to the pool and gym where Scott went over some weight exercises with me and jumped in the pool for a quick 40min swim with lots of IM…Guess Scott is getting me ready for that 400IM race on Day 2 of Epic!? But the day wouldn’t be complete without a run so we ran 40mins on the trails. The mountain bike and running trails are incredible here, although you wouldn’t catch me riding them as I would be sure to kill myself! By the end of my first day here, I was pooped but felt great and Scott’s plan to exhaust me so I would sleep the whole night worked: I went to bed after a wee dinner with Scott and Erin and slept right through the night, for well over 10 hours. Right on track for the new time change!

I stayed across the street from Scott and Erin, with Mary Baker, who is very sweet and it was really fun getting to know her. Once again, I feel so lucky to meet so many amazing people all over the world.

Day two I ran the trails again and up Summit Road for 65mins. It was fun running on the dirt trails and I definitely got in some good hill climbing – it was 5mins faster on the way back down. Scott, Albert (another Epic Camper Veteran) and I did another awesome hilly ride (the Summit Road loop) that lasted just over an hour and a half. Again, I was happy doing my kind of climbing and checking out the views including some hardcore rock climbers. After a lovely dinner with Mary, I went to the pool and swam another 2800m before falling into bed.

Day three started out with a swim with the swim “squad” here in Christchurch. The swimming facility is incredible and the group workout by ‘Rolly’ was perfect – basically 6km on a 1:30/100m pace time, although most of the group were holding 1:20’s! They are fast. Albert and I then rode together for just over 2 hours on the flat – North up Highway 1 through Marshland to Kaipoi. It’s a good thing I was just following Albert as I had no idea where we were going! Scott did give us a couple maps in case we got lost, but Albert pulled through! Later in the day, Scott and I ran about 40mins and did some speed pick ups on a grassy field near by. Scott told me some legend stories of some amazing athletes who used to train on that same field and of other amazing New Zealand-living ultra athletes. Needless to say, I was feeling inspired! One more dinner with Scott and family in his amazing backyard patio/BBQ set-up before I set off for my last sleep pre Epic.

Day four started with a bike ride over Evans Pass to Lyttelton and on to Corsair Bay with Scott, Gordo, Albert, BDC, and Hillary Biscay (who is here after racing in New Zealand a couple weeks ago). We did a great open water swim (aside from the chaffing I got: I must remember to take off my necklace BEFORE that first wetsuit swim of the season!) and an easy 30min run before heading back over Evans Pass back to Sumner.

It’s now time to pack up my stuff to head to the first Epic lodging and get a pre-camp massage with John Ellis as I know my body needs all the help it can get to withstand the abuse it will take over the next 8 days!

So I have trained a total of 13.5 hours nice an easy in prep for Epic Camp which starts tomorrow. I am sure that these past four days will seem like a breeze as no doubt, we will be almost doing that amount of training in one day!

Hey, I feel great and I am excited. I am ready to test my limits with some amazing athletes along side of me…Bring it on!!

Here Goes EPIC

Just about to get on the plane and head down to Christchurch for the start of Epic so time for a quick Blog...
As an Epic Newbie the main reason for doing this camp is really just to get out there and share this awesome sport and county with others. I find it's often the case with endurance sport and especially Ironman that people do too much of their training alone and end up leading a bit of a lonely life, things are so much better when you experience them with others... to get all philosophical on you: a coconut falling on a desert Island doesn't make any noise unless there is a human being there to listen to it.
In the same way you can do all your training and racing alone but no-one will really care or want to be bored with your stories or endless slideshows etc just getting out there and being part of the whole triathlon family is just wicked and that's whats cool about this sport!

So see you out there... just wondering whether I can wear all my clothes on the plane to cut down on excess luggage, they should make an allowance for us skinny underweight triathletes... wearing my wetsuit might be pushing it, better go pack!

PS Big up ya to all you Rotorua Massive, keep training, having fun and keep the lakes warm (but not with wee!)

Paul Westwood

Pre-Epic Travel Day-Night-Weekend

“Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.” Paul Tillich

I can not take credit for this quote, nor do I have a clue who he is, but I like the message. We all make decisions in our lives that enable or disable us in being free. There is no one in control of our lives besides us; or a higher power (that perhaps helps direct our lives). But we can make a decision or series of decisions’ that takes courage, and helps us free ourselves.

The decision to attend Epic Camp takes courage. Pushing our bodies and minds to the limit, which will be about 50 hours in the first week is always a little scary. I find myself less anxious than years past, as I had done this twice before, yet I am still a bit on edge about the camp. I know if I can get past days 1 and 2, things will become easier. Perhaps it is the acceptance that you gain after a few days of the camp. That acceptance allows your mind to be free, and your body to take over… I think.

I am not sure what I am aiming to gain at this camp, but to help push my limits of physical endurance just a little bit farther. I have enjoyed 3 nice relaxing days (well, not really) on the big Island after 6 hard days of training here. Here is what I have done in prep for Epic Camp (www.petro-world.blogspot.com), so I am NOT going in exactly 'fresh', as many sugestions are made to do. But I am ready for the next adventure and Epic!! Time to get game on…

I am leaving tonight at 9 pm out of Honolulu, and will arrive in Christchurch at 9:05 am on Sunday morning. The Epic group will have already done a swim and will be hitting the road on their bikes at 9:45am. I am TBD on exactly what I am doing, but hope to do as much as I can on Monday. Should be exciting… Aloha Hawaii and Hello NZ…

Epic Camp 2008 "Living the Dream"

Well I finally made it to New Zealand. The trip took 24 hours total. This is the longest I have ever traveled by plane so it was an epic way to start an “Epic Camp”. John Newsome was there to greet me. He was a familiar face and a definitely a familiar voice as I listen to the pod casts he and Bevan do, “Ironman Talk”, every week. I felt at home when I arrived.


So why am I here? My wife, Dana, asks me this often. “You aren’t even doing an Ironman this year” she says. I guess it’s not about the training, for me it is more about the adventure, the journey, the life experience. I want to explore my limits. Can I make it? What is my body capable of doing?


You see when I was eighteen my Dad died of a massive myocardial infarction. He was a workaholic. He never had any fun. On his days off we would work doing maintenance for all the rental properties he owned. My brother and I dreaded those his days off. He called them “work camp”. He had one goal that kept him going. Sailing was his thing. “Once I get you boys off the college I’m going to get a boat and sail the Caribbean“. He never made it. At 52, not much older than I am now, he passed away pulling up the main sail while on a sailing vacation with my brother at a local lake. Not quite the Caribbean. He took his dreams to his death. I thought about this as I parked my bike below the picture of the sailboats.



This event changed my life. One day I was drinking beers with my buddies all night and the next, I became a runner and endurance athlete who ate a low fat strict diet and stayed away from alcohol and hit the books instead.


In my line of work I see death all the time. Gunshot wounds, major trauma, cancer, you look into their eyes and you see the fear. Life is so fragile and it can be taken away from us in an instant. I am constantly reminded of this. The time we have here is precious and you have to take opportunities to live and take adventures like this when they come. “Live the Dream”.


I am still pretty fit right now coming off a few years of Ironman training, but who knows what kind of shape I will be in next year and beyond. I’m not getting any younger either. I feel really guilty for leaving my wife and kids for ten days. It’s pretty selfish actually. I still have my watch set at Tulsa time and I think “what are they doing now”. But this is something that I have been compelled to try since I first came upon it while searching the internet. Ask me again in a week or so if it was worth it ;)