Eliot's Epic Camp Chronicles

Here's a link to my lengthy writeup on the whole camp:

http://eliotdrake.blogspot.com/2008/02/epic-camp.html

Day 7--Cluster 'Clog' on the Donkey Trail and Day 8 'Just a Triathlon'

Day 7 Cluster Clog on the Donkey Trail

Today we started with a run up the mountain in Queenstown toward the Gondola. We were heading to the Ben Lomond saddle, around Arthur’s Point and were expecting about a 3 hour run. It quickly became a stair step up the side of this frickin mountain and consisted of very little running. As the group began to spread out I realized I would be running mostly alone for the next couple of hours into a wilderness mountain range, where there would be little or no help if anything came up. About an hour of heading up this non-run-able donkey trail, I decided it was time to make it an out and back. My plan was to run back on another trail that had Queenstown on it, and I ended up at the top of the gondola. After spotting Toby, who had already been lost for a 1 ¾ hours, I gave him my fuel belt, and pointed him in the right direction and told him good luck. He tried to talk me into going and I sensibly declined. I sat atop the top of the mountain with sweeping vistas of Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables, Crown Range, and every other mountain out there. It was spectacular in the early morning, and after a stroll around the Gondola lodge, I jumped on the gondola for a pleasurable ride DOWN!! It was certainly the ‘sensible’ thing to do, but this is Epic Camp so often times that is not what we are here to be. Nevertheless, I got some good ribbing, and I think some jealously that I took the gondola down, instead of thrashing myself on that crack-pot of a donkey trail back down. It certainly was a heck of lot more fun! Apparently, most everyone was lost at some point in the day, with Albert having to bush-whack his group through thorn infested maze of bushes.

After a little breakfast, off to the pool, where I cranked out my 3k in the pool. This is my only second pool swim all week, and after completing nearly 30k of swimming in Hawaii (all in Kahului Bay), and 5 open water swims in New Zealand, I felt pretty good in the pool. We had some lunch and then off to do our 60k ride, which was to be a scouting of the race course for tomorrow. At last minute it was announced to Molina’s dumbfounded shock that there would be a KOM on top of the Cornet Peak climb. We headed out of Q-town, and I soon found out we had only about 15 minutes of riding warm-up before we would be racing up this climb. So, I cranked the pace up a bit to string it along and we were instantly hit with a monster attack by Molina. Apparently, he was tired of being thrashed around by all the attacks all week on him, and it was a little retribution time to be paid back, mainly to me I suspect. I was unable to bridge back up, and Molina and Mr. Pump were quickly up the road. A few short minutes and some painful rollers later, we hit this nasty climb of Coronet Peak. It is certainly not my best type of climb and although I averaged 300 watts for the 58 minutes from start to finish of this climb, I was unable to do much damage in terms of the KOM chase. Although the chase has been officially over as long as Mr. Pump shows up, he wins, nevertheless, we drilled ourselves for virtually no reason, other than pride, and some bragging rights at the end of the day.
I followed Clive up and observed his technique that will suit me better for my next steep climb time trial or KOM….so watch out Molina ;-) !!

We had a nice leisurely ride back with a stop in Arrowtown for a meat-pie and chocolate milk, and then the ride back to Queenstown, same as yesterday, without the gale force winds and driving cold rain! It was quite pleasant with again beautiful views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Apparently the legend of the lake (something I learned on my gondola ride down earlier in the day), was that a giant had kidnapped the King’s daughter and after a rescue of the daughter, upon the warm summer nights, the giant would sleep, and a mission was sent to burn the giant, and all the fat from the giant created a big hole to which all the water from the glaciers, streams, rivers formed Lake Wakatipu…well as best as my Epic Camp fatigue induced- mind would remember from 8 hours ago. My last massage for the camp, a quick taper, and then prep for a 'Kiwi'-3 hour- triathlon race tomorrow…I am mentally prepared for 4! And then off the airport for the negative 8 hour flight home. I leave at 7 pm, but arrive the same morning at 11 am…I love it! Just in time to see the Patriots win the Super Bowl!!









Day 8 ‘JUST A TRIATHLON’

Today is the money day….final triathlon, final day of the camp. I have no reason to drill myself, yet…no reason not to since it is the last day of the camp.

Game on…well you Campers know how the rest of that Bevy saying goes. It was not the same as Mr. Pump-Bevy (he had to leave yesterday) running around saying it so I had to say it for my own good. I know the course from the ride preview yesterday, and I know it is a doozie…I am not sure if that is good or bad, but before the race I was kind of wishing I did not know the course. We rolled over to Lake Hayes for our 8am start, and geared up at our makeshift transition.

The swim course was to swim across the lake and touch land and swim back. Nobody was real sure how long it was but I think it ended up about 2k. Monica showed up a special guest swimmer, and I knew that would jack up the pace a bit. A quick 5-4-3-2-1 start by Newsome (sans E), and we were off. I locked onto the tag team of Monica and Molina for as long as I could before I dropped back and got into a nice pace line behind Newsome (sans E), who was drafting behind Albert. Gordo was locked on my feet, and I felt like my swimming was finally kicking in. Just a few short days ago, I was unable to even keep Albert in sight. Now it felt actually pretty easy. Monica and Molina veered right at some point and I never saw them again, only until about 200m to go on the way back, and I realized that we were all within 10 seconds of each other upon exiting the water. The transition was a painful run, well walk for the most part up a steep gravel driveway. ITU Newsom (sans E), was out of transition the quickest, followed by Molina who quickly bridged up to Newsom for some friendly ‘working together’. Gordo and I eventually caught them on the rollers, and we all hit the Coronet Peak climb together. Immediately I knew I was feeling better on the climb than yesterday, as I was getting over the pedals pretty good. I hung with the threesome for a 1/3 of the way up before I dropped into my own pace, and kept them in site for most of the way up.

The run was up to the top of Coronet Peak, and although it was 30 plus years ago, I vaguely remember this place as a kid skiing here. Right Vinnie?? We had stayed in Queenstown, and skiied some in New Zealand, and I remember the road up to the resort and it vaguely felt familiar. The threesome was quickly up the trail, and I hit the road behind them. About a ½ mile into the run, I noticed a mountain bike track that headed straight up under the chair, and made the game time decision that the only way I could close the gap on anybody is if I gambled and got lucky. I figured the quickest way up the mountain was by heading straight up the mountain! So I did. I could see nobody behind me, so I knew I had 4rth locked up, but wanted to pick off Molina for bragging rights ;-) ! I popped over the first ridge to notice Molina a minute or so up the road, and it did help shave off some time! But the rest of the way up was pretty much the same pace as nobody was running at this point, just power walking up the climb. I was happy with my 4rth place finish behind a former ITU pro, former Ironman World Champion, and a 8:30 Ironman, uhhh, I mean 8:29, Gordo !!

We ran all the way up to the Coronet Peak lookout at 5000 feet, up from about 1000 feet where we started the swim, and were rewarded with calm, stunning 360 degree views in all directions. As Molina and I chuckled up at the top that there was NOBODY out there in those mountains, just nobody, I felt pretty small in this vast land, country, planet, vast universe. We enjoyed the views for some time, before it got a bit chilly, and headed down via chairlift, which was certainly a nice alternative, than banging the quads downhill 1500 feet.

Now as I sit on the plane flying directly over Coronet Peak, which just a few hours ago I stood atop, it does not appear that high and I feel pretty good about my day/week at Epic Camp. Epic Camp to me is about pushing the limits and every trip I make to this camp, I learn more about my training, endurance, and physical limits. It is a great way to make some great friends, and re-unite with old friends. We all ‘got er done’ here, in our own way, and will bring home lasting memories that will last a lifetime. My 8 short days in New Zealand were a whirl-wind, but those days sometimes were the longest days of my life. Time slows down at Epic Camp, and those long hours (over 50 hours of training at the camp) are stretched out into some great memories. A special thanks to all the other campers, organizers, and especially the support crew, because without ALL of you I would not have been able to do it. Until next time…

Tara's report on Day 7 and 8:

Epic Day 7: Alberts Point Run (3:50 when you get lost and do some serious bush-whacking), 3K swim, 60K bike up Coronet Peak

Woa, one day left!!!!!!! Right when I thought things couldn’t get any tougher, Day 7 happened. Only I suspect the toughest day will actually be tomorrow (yikes). Epic was taken to a whole new level today: The ‘long’ run up to Arthur’s Point was EPIC for sure! I was in the group that took some wrong turns and ended up running for 3 hours and bush whacking for 50mins. Seriously, we were out there for 3:50 and I have the cuts to prove it. But thanks to Albert (who went into backpacking mode from triathlon mode); he navigated us back to the path. I was just starting to think we may be spending the night in the bush, stranded for a LONG time.

We did get back in time to do the 3K swim (thank goodness because I was starting to worry that I had come all this way and may miss out on the bonus 10 points if I missed the pool time).

After the swim we rode up Coronet Peak and I seriously lost the ‘love train’ today – I couldn’t switch into my small ring on a wee climb out of town and everyone was GONE! I managed to catch a few and finished close to the yellow jersey for the KOM but I didn’t care about the KOM points! I have switched into survival mode!! These last few days I have spent more time on my own, but I will do everything in my power to finish this camp.Tomorrow is the “uphill” triathlon and we have to climb that same climb (up Coronet Peak) which is completely nutty and then run up the ski slopes to the summit after swimming in Lake Hayes.
Wowzers. Wish me luck!Have to run for my massage. More after camp completion tomorrow…

Epic Day 8: FINAL DAY: Uphill triathlon: Swim in Lake Hayes (to the other side and back), Ride from Lake Hayes past Arrowtown and up Coronet Peaks (again!) and then run to the top of the summit.

Woa, zero days left!!!!!!!! Today was the uphill triathlon. We swam across Lake Hayes and back and like the last few days, I missed the love train. I swam on my own but tried to enjoy the amazing lake despite my pure exhausted state. Onto the bike and up Coronet Peak again. That is some climb! Especially after hours of training in 7 days. But I just rode steady and made it to the top. The run up to the summit was pretty interesting as parts were so steep I was even having trouble walking. Talk about a whole new meaning to the Ironman shuffle!! The view at the top was worth all the pain. It was spectacular beyond words and being able to see the Crown Range where we rode, Lake Hayes where we swam, and Queenstown was incredible.
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did every workout and some, and I also met the greatest people, some of whom I am sure I will be friends with for a long time! I laughed A LOT (some of it in a state of delirium) and shared some amazing moments with amazing people. I am grateful to have been able to attend this camp, I am grateful that Scott Molina is my coach, and I am grateful that I was able to push myself to limits I have never achieved before now. Scott, Gordo, John and the support crew (John, Michaela, Chris, Rob and John) put on a PERFECT camp! I know I have gained a new fitness level and I have also gained new mental strength. Seriously, if you can do Epic, you can do anything!

I think my totals were:Swim: 42km
Bike: 1090kmRun: 125km

And TOTAL TRAINING TIME: 62hrs
My training log is now off the charts, like never before.

I worked hard, I dug deep, and I had the time of my life!!
Thanks for the “GOOD TIMES”!!
Tara

Days 6, 7 and 8 (Toby)

Day 6
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I was feeling a litte worse for wear so instead of going for the run to the pool at 6am, I slept in and got a ride to the pool for 7am. Slugged out 3km with 10 200s on 3:20 (the first was on 3:00 but there was slippage!). Shoulder turnover was sluggish and the final 1km to finish the 3km was long. Ran after the swim and my quads were feeling the days before. Then it was back to the lodge and on for the ride. The plan was to go back over the Crown Range and then past Queenstown and up to Glenorchy and back, but the weather had other ideas. We'd set out thinking believing the forecast for showers clearing, a light southerly and 21 degrees. By the bottom of the climb (I had already been dropped by the pack as i was having a bit of a personal moment where my maximum output was nothing near what was required!) the weather had started to deteriorate. By deteriorate i mean the skies had opened and the temperature dropped rapidly. While this was OK on the way up when I'm sure I was steaming slightly, on the way down hypothermia was seriously imminent.

By the bottom (which took me even longer than usual) a few people had bailed and the ride had been cut short to a direct route to the accommodation in Queenstown. Most of us changed in the van into dry clothes which meant at least hitting the road again was bearable for the first couple of kilometers. That last part of the ride was hilarious... gusting crosswinds, rain coming in so hard that it was difficult to keep your eyes open, and then obstacles like the Shotover Bridge where traffic, crosswinds and rain conspired to give a hair-raising experience. Once in, a very long shower was the reward and I didn't even consider anything extra.

Totals
Swim 3km, Ride 90km, Run 10km

Day 7
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Today was supposed to be a bit easier ahead of the triathlon we're doing tomorrow for the end of camp finale. A longish group run was planned involving going up Ben Lomond... A mere 1400m climbing. Unfortunately Ron and I had a toilet stop at the turnoff and then immediately turned up the wrong track. Oops. Continuing on, I ended up going up the wrong side of the valley and doing a lot of unnecessary climbing (noted as I had to descend a long wasy when I finally started to find some real paths). By the time I made it to the Gondola, I'd been out nearly 2 hours... seeing Mark P and grabbing his Fuelbelt before he got on the gondola going down! By the time I made the top (and met Andrew who went back up to the top with me) it was rather later than expected and we made our way back down the correct way... total time about 3:45... probably 30km+ covered.

Quick swim, 3km steady, then the ride to Coronet Peak was enough to finish me off for the day (another KoM).

Totals
Swim 3km, Ride 60km, Run 30km (ish) (est 2200m climbing)

Day 8
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2.5km lake swim, 25km ride with 8km climb and 4km run (400m vertical) up a ski field to finish. Johnny Newsom took it out... Coronet Peak is the perfect place to have a triathlon race! Must admit to running very little of the hill climb to the top... my legs were sore!

Very pleased to have finished the camp having done all the sessions. Lessons learnt? That substantial time out of training is not an ideal was to prepare; that everyone at Epic deserves massive respect; never be rude to Michaela - she's in charge of the food!; that volume training s great fun.

Epic Camp 2008: Coming To A Close

Epic Camp has been a memorable experience. It is everything that I thought it would be. I came into it less fit than I would like to have been but I feel that my fitness has improved since I came here. Misery loves company and I have made some friends here that I’m sure I will continue to keep in touch with after we have all gone our separate ways.

Before going any further I would like to make a disclaimer. To really enjoy this camp I believe you need some solid 15 to 20 hour bike training weeks. This would include intensity and climbing. One to two hour trainer rides watching videos a few times a week just doesn’t cut it. I was fried by day 2. I would also recommend bringing a road bike with clip ons. There is so much pack riding and climbing it would be so much more comfortable. My back is in spasm from the low position on my tri bike. I wanted to just get off and throw it so many times. So if you are considering doing Epic. I would highly recommend it. Just be prepared ; )

So today, I’m not going to write about what we did or how I felt. I’m sure that has been covered by someone else. I think most folks would like to know about the personality of a person who does something like this. I guess I could classify myself as an elite age grouper. I finished top ten in my age group at Hawaii last year. It was performance that I think, now, after training with these guys and gal was an overachievement. So imagine what it would be like throwing together a group of 20 or so guys like me in with some elite pros and a former Ironman World Champion to train all day long to complete exhaustion over the toughest terrain New Zealand. Just to make it more interesting, throw in a race or so a day, some points, and a yellow jersey as a motivator. Nobody wants to finish last. Everybody wants to win. This group is so competitive. It gets pretty dicey.

After the days events are completed, Gordo is always seems to be bright and chipper and, being a numbers guy, he is on his laptop taking a tally of all the points and putting them in a spreadsheet. Later in the evening, at dinner, the places are dealt out. Molina, on the there hand, is crashed on the floor with Sinatra like music blasting in his ears. After day one the points went out the window for me.

I came to Epic Camp just to see if I had what it took to hang with these guys and also to learn what it takes to take my Ironman performance to the next level. I suppose I got what I paid for. A few weeks back I wrote a piece on motivation and digging deep. I have never met a group of athletes, like those that are here,those who can reach the limits of fatigue then just flick a switch and push themselves through it. It is truly amazing to watch. I am unwilling to go there in this camp. I can do it a few times a year and that’s it. I suppose if I flicked that switch a bit more often it might take me to the next level. I just can’t.

Scott Molina and Albert Boyce were cast from the same mold. Both guys are the nicest guys that you will ever meet. I can see how fatigued they are and they continue to fight and scrape for those few points in the races and then tack on for bonuses. They are like pit bulls fighting to the death. Scott has a great T shirt. “I’m not dead yet” Perfect. Oh yeah, I can’t forget Tara Norton. She is a female version of that mold.

A few months ago I was surfing “slow twitch” and came upon a thread. “Why is Albert Boyce So Fast” Well, I’ll tell you my friends why he’s fast. For one, he isn’t sitting on the computer talking about triathlon. He’s out there hitting it and hitting it hard. He pushes himself beyond exhaustion. This is a place neither most slowtwichers nor I will ever see. You have to see it to believe it. It opened my eyes. He has a work ethic next to none. You’ve got to respect a guy like that. He runs two businesses and maintains a family life on top of all of it. Oh, and by the way he’s winning this camp.

I, on the other hand, have wanted to give up on several occasions. Once, I was at the bottom of the Crown Range time trial and we had already ridden 3 or 4 hours. I looked up and saw the climb. “Someone have a Crown Royal? I‘ll drink a bottle of that instead. I’m taking a ride in the van. I’m done“. Gordo and the gang surrounded me like a school kid on the playground and made me do it. After I slogged through the rest of the long ride he came by me on the long climb back to the condo and flashed me his wry smile and the glint in his eye seemed to tell me “See bud, you did it. Don’t talk yourself out of s**t like that”.

So that’s epic. We’re almost done and things have toned down a bit. Things are getting a bit more relaxed. Would I do it again? Sure. But next time I would be a lot younger and I would be very fit on my bike.

Tara's report of Epic Day 6: Wanaka-Queenstown

Ok, so the day started out relatively normally for Epic Camp (although I did notice that it was particularly windy). We (Scott, Clive, Albert, John and I) started with a 50min run towards the pool. We saw Charlsey along the way and we were then picked up by the van heading to the pool. On to a 6K swim. I did the 20x100 again with Scott just to make some of the time go by more quickly but all my swim sets have been completed so no extra points for this - I was just tagging along for the ride.
Todays ride was supposed to beWanaka - Queestown and then after lunch a Queenstown-Glenorchy out and back but after experiencing the conditions that we did, the out and back section was cancelled. For safety reasons. Because if there wasn't a safety issue, I can tell you this would have happened as there is no mercy at Epic.
I would just like to say that today was totally insane...The pace line riding was ok until the breakaways happened. I did my darndess to bridge that dreaded gap and definitely missed the love train today. I rode on my own for most of the way to and up the climb and my quads were blown up from trying to hang on...Oh, and also, my quads were already blown up from 5 days of insanity.
Up the KOM only to be passed by Alfred in the Yellow jersey towards the top part of the climb, as well as by Douglas and John. I was hurting. But little did I know that the hardest part of the ride was yet to come.
It was raining but I didn't notice how cold it was as I was climbing. All my warm clothing accessible in my day bag did me little good as I started the cold, wet, and frightening descent. Full brakes on and not being able to completely stop. Switch back after switch back and shivering and shaking went on forever until I finally managed not to wipe out over the last cattle guard and make it into the van with the heat blasting. I layered up with every piece of clothing in my day bag and gave Gordo my Zoot bathing cap for him to wear under his helmet. I headed back that last 20K to the hotel with Albert and BDC and not only did we almost get blown off our bikes, we felt like we were being belted with hail as we rode on a complete sideways angle, we saw a massive branch come flying down, but we also saw a bird literally be blown out of the sky (I swear!) We finally made it back to the hotel and I think I may have taken the longest hot shower on record.
THAT was Epic, for sure.
Albert actually did a 2hr run today and it kicking in the points. I am now in 4th...still hangin' on. I think the survival starts now: Tomorrow is a big day with a HUGE run up the mountain that apparently will take the fast guys a minimum of 2:30...Then we swim...Then we ride...
A great dinner was devoured tonight and coffee, ice cream, and beers and pizza were had in Queestown to end an incredible day!

Epic Camp Day 6--WOW!!

Day 6 WOW!

I always come up with my day’s title somewhere along the ride it seems, and today’s description is no exception.

Today started with another swim down at Lake Wanaka. I headed for Mt Aspiring again, with some strong chop and wind in my face. It was no Columbia Gorge conditions, Cherry, yet it was a good effort heading out with a steady wind and chop. In fact, Gordo pulled up with a panic attack after a swallow or two of water. I thought he stopped to relieve himself and left him to panic on his own. I headed dead center for 25 minutes chasing a rainbow that was forming in the middle of the lake. Unlike yesterday’s serene swim, this had a nice solid thrashing about it. I liked it. And I liked the return trip even more as I had the swells pushing me along at a nice clip, surfing the swells, with the spray from the swells and my arm recovery blowing water by. A full rainbow formed in seemed from Mt Aspiring to Wanaka, for a good part of the swim, and it was spectacular!

A quick transition, and Shortstop (Ron from Texas), and I headed out for our 50 minute run. Shortstop Ron, played minor league baseball as a shortstop and now is a very solid Ironman triathlete…just goes to show you almost any background can adapt to be successful in this sport if the time and training is put in. We ran over to the bakery for a meat pie and chocolate muffin before we headed home. A quick breakfast and packing of gear as this is our last day in the lodge at Wanaka. We our off to Queenstown.

The ride out of Wanaka was up over the Crowns Range from the other direction of the time trial from yesterday. We rode this last year on day 10, and it was my best day of riding and I knew the course. The pace was relaxed for about 40 minutes, as we started a gradual uphill, which would last 7-10 miles before the steep pitch hit. My only hope for some KOM points was to spread the group out early on the rollers leading to the climb. So after a good hard pull at the front and some attempted breaks the game was on…Paul and Bevy snuck away (who are 1-2 in the KOM standings) and were off the front, and the rest of the group splintered behind us. Newsom (sans E), Gordo, Molina, and I were in a group all taking short pulls to try and bridge back up…well not Gordo, as he would pass on his turn and stay at the back. I called a Rope-A-Dope move, yet he insisted he could not pull through or he would get dropped.

Somewhere along the way we lost Newsom (sans E), and it was Gordo, Molina, and I. After Molina took a long pull, Gordo jumped on him and we dropped Molina. Gordo soft pedaled a bit, and I motored on, until the climb got steep I was in 3rd. When things ramped up steeper, Gordo and Newsom (sans E) went by and I crested in 5th. Molina says he wants to do that climb out of Wanaka over the Crowns Range every Epic Camp until beats me…but for now he is 0-2  !! I think I figured out the secret, soften his legs up with relentless attacks and gap him on the rollers before it gets steep and then just hang on! Maybe next year Molina ;-)!


It was raining hard by now, but the climb kept me warm, but the descent was steep and wet, and by the time we got to the bottom, we had Dr. Rob going hypothermic on us, and we all were pretty wet and miserable. A full throw on all my extra gear I had, that I have been lugging around for 2 weeks, I now finally get to use!! It was raining harder as we started the 20k towards Queenstown, and the winds really picked up. It was as windy as I have ridden in, and raining got so hard it was needle-like on the face. We went down a bridge where the wind was blowing so hard, as I went across first; I thought that I was going to get blown across the road into on-coming traffic. In windsurfing you always wait for the wind dummy to head out to see the conditions, and all I could think of as I hammered as hard as I could across the bridge that I was the wind dummy and could not stop chuckling to myself.

I made it across and we were following Molina as he knew the where-abouts of the Lodge, yet, he flatted with 2k to go. I did not even break pedal stroke as I went by, as this is Epic Camp (no mercy) and it is raining buckets, cold as hell, and I just wanted to some warm tomato soup. As I entered town, I followed one of our support vehicles straight to the hotel, got a hot shower, and some warm tomato soup and I was good as gold. The Glenochy extension (billed as the slowest 90k in New Zealand), we had for the after lunch ride has been cancelled; do to a certain fatality if we attempted it in these conditions, so the day is done. Tomorrow weather should be back to normal and I would like to ride to Glenorchy and back, with only one day of rain, it was a doozie! A hard 60 miles to say the least, but I am happy I am off the wet soaked roads and in dry warm sweats for the afternoon. Feels like a rest day, with ‘just’ a swim-run and 60 mile ride. I have ridden over 550 miles in 6 days and roughly 40 hours of training….and with 2 days to go in the camp, with ‘JUST a triathlon’ race on day 8!!