tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204458762010-02-15T15:05:40.198+13:00The Epic Camp Teamnoreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-72296274012476137312010-02-15T15:05:00.001+13:002010-02-15T15:05:40.279+13:00

Our coach, Chris Hauth hosted a great Tucson training camp over the President's Day weekend. Killer training grounds down here and no shortage of border patrol!Tucson AIMPThursday:4000y swim @ Oro Valley Aquatic Center62mi ride, Oracle Out and Back around the Globe Business Loop2.75mi tempo transition run, Rudasill, up 1st to Orange Grove and backFriday:4000y swim @ Oro70mi ride, Kitt's Peak

Blancohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12390597639389193518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-74395144823695965592010-01-23T15:58:00.002+13:002010-01-23T16:28:21.177+13:00

All good things take time...Its now 5 days since epic camp finished and I am finally writing my epilogue. Not to be confused as slack, just that real life has hit me with a bang since getting home. New jobs for me and Ingrid, starting Zac in daycare - and picking him up mid morning when he has lost the plot, filling out oodles of paperwork, setting up home office, r-discovering the 24hr/day

legendontourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405339768835390154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-15530840478719422042010-01-22T09:24:00.003+13:002010-01-22T09:32:01.326+13:00

I've been back in the UK for a few days now - totally shelled from jetlag and have come down with the inevitable head cold. My head however is still buzzing from 15 days of amazing adventure, ups, downs and every type of emotion in between.It was a real pleasure to share it with ~35 amazing people in such a beautiful country. An experience that will stay with me for a long time (lets hope the

Rob Quantrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18191443861058207823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-45155578380881841802010-01-20T23:52:00.004+13:002010-01-21T01:53:35.594+13:00

When asked by Johnny pre-camp who wanted to blog throughout the Length of NZ adventure I said yeah, great. Now two days post-camp I finally have the energy and motivation to start typing! So only a summary follows but hopefully I can convey a bit of the emotion of what was one of the most memorable exploits of my lengthy time on this planet. Dot point format to stop me waffling too much . . .

Hillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16639629211930965304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-70731471484570047922010-01-20T14:09:00.002+13:002010-01-20T17:34:47.129+13:00

EpilogueI am now back home in Toronto and am pretty wiped! Not only did I cycle the length of New Zealand (like that isn't enough), and bike and run some, but I have also just had 30 hours of travel, an 18 hour time change to deal with and a full day of massage clients my first day back! Phew!It is hard to believe it is all over. It is strange to go from such huge intensity to recovery but

Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300657112964478063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-72610640062068659832010-01-19T12:08:00.001+13:002010-01-19T16:01:27.371+13:00

Tour of NZ 2010 Epic Epilogue:The start of this trip seemed like ages ago. I often have thought that life at Epic Camp comes to a standstill….slowwww….motion! Things that you did just that morning seem like a lifetime ago. Things that were a week ago, you can hardly remember. Some lasting memories I will have of this trip are the following:Pre-Camp: Auckland. Hanging with the Ripster. Staying up

Mark Pietrofesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458021281669024638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-40544334568617119572010-01-19T11:51:00.000+13:002010-01-19T11:52:50.404+13:00

January 17, 2010 Day 15, Heading to Bluff—Last Day of Living the DreamToday was no different than any other, other than I have the routine down pat now! Finally after 15 days of packing, gearing up, eating breakfast, sun-screening up, filling bottles, pockets with food, and being ready to roll out ON TIME or be left behind, it was routine. A routine which now seems normal and I savored it

Mark Pietrofesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458021281669024638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-7935135248457411122010-01-19T11:34:00.000+13:002010-01-19T11:35:01.241+13:00

Saturday, January 16, 2010 Day 14 Oamarua to Balcultha, Truth be toldThis camp was the hardest thing I have ever done hands down. It was not the day-to-day training but competing for the red jersey day in and day out, that made this absolutely the hardest thing ever for me. Thanks to David Craig to pushing me to my absolute limit, he is an impressive strong human being. I wanted to fold every day

Mark Pietrofesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00458021281669024638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-78003185960529318172010-01-18T22:14:00.007+13:002010-01-18T23:09:12.281+13:00

I have to admit I am sitting in my lounge room writing this final day's blog and wrap up as I was unable to borrow a computer yesterday and it seemed that I may have been speaking another language from the blank look on the face of the hotel receptionist when I asked for directions to the local Ivercargill 'Internet cafe'. Although I was that tired I was probably slurring my words so I think we

Dave Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455806668316574436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-35128451746794808532010-01-18T22:03:00.002+13:002010-01-18T22:05:44.336+13:00

I am at home now. Absolutely shattered. My head cold has got a little worse and I am wanting for my bed. But I am still smiling when I think of the whole camp riding around the last corner at Bluff and reaching the end of the road at the bottom of New Zealand and Lordy cracking the champage, it was a perfect last day.The day started on the cool side but as we cycled into the Catlins the sun came

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05500570044185512284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-16104729945040700532010-01-18T18:23:00.003+13:002010-01-18T18:28:13.992+13:00

with 190kkm of riding remaining to the south tip of the island, the day plan was ride 'as you feel' until lunch, where we would regroup and ride together into Bluff. a chilly start and a few of us began the ride hard just in order to get warm - myself, dave an douglas soon up the road out of town. when steven blasted past, david upped his pace too - that left douglas and i. something/someone had

joannacarritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07813350631001579786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-90631598001462030632010-01-18T17:17:00.003+13:002010-01-18T17:31:15.429+13:00

It's over. All Epic Camps have been amazing but this was something special. Everyone rode the length of the country and it's great to be part of a group where everyone feels success. Going point to point is a massive logistical task and I am in awe of John Newsom and Big Dave for co-ordinating such an enormous task so seamlessly. There may have been alsorts of headaches in the background but as a

lord_lordyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852902510841236342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-25836101312894119612010-01-18T12:16:00.002+13:002010-01-18T16:09:12.593+13:00

Despite the collective view at camp that I might not make it to Bluff, I rode the last 185km yesterday and was able to say that I have pedalled the length of a country! Holy cow! A not so short country at that... To the left is a picture of Team Blanco at the lookout point at Land's End in Bluff, NZ. I can't tell you how happy I was to get off my bike and know that I had covered the length of NZ.

jchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03708362428781073614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-64525008273959038112010-01-18T08:45:00.004+13:002010-01-18T08:59:42.216+13:00

We made it!!A cold and cloudy morning greeted us in Balclutha as we took to the roads for the final time. The support crew had really laid it on for breakfast and we were treated to pancakes as well as the normal superb buffet we always get. I am going to miss the big breakfasts, but there is no way I could eat like this if I was not exercising for 6+ hrs a day.The ride profile suggested there

legendontourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405339768835390154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-46895548593438004902010-01-18T08:43:00.002+13:002010-01-18T10:01:11.656+13:00

The last day ...Jordan and I rose with the support crew to get a head start on the long rolling scenic southern highway. Suzi set the day straight when she emerged from the kitchen with an enormous stack of hotcakes. Awesome ... I mean jaw dropping, I could ride back up to Cape Reinga awesome.The roads were cold and quiet leaving Balclutha, but gradually warmed to the NZ soundtrack of sheep

Blancohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12390597639389193518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-27042497449921439682010-01-18T08:28:00.003+13:002010-01-18T09:40:22.850+13:00

Today really couldn't have gone better, even if we had scripted it ourselves.The tone was set right from the outset, where breakfast reached new heights of excellence. I managed to find room for pancakes with bananas and maple syrup, bacon and scrambled eggs, toasted fruit bread and peanut butter, and muesli with yoghurt. I should add that I preceded breakfast with a 10km run, leaving me with

Dave Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788255406592641444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-58932435737226357702010-01-18T07:13:00.000+13:002010-01-18T07:15:07.260+13:00

The final day, just 190km to ride to Bluff and the job is done. It was a weird sensation to be that close to the finish. We all went through the morning routine knowing it'd be the last time. Up early, bags packed and out by the vans, breakfast and then get the bikes ready. I wanted to get out on the road as early as possible so I could cruise through the day. Rob Q, Lee and I set off as a group

Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134781805051982401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-17493092711090802232010-01-18T00:12:00.003+13:002010-01-18T00:59:33.956+13:00

Day 15: Balclutha to BluffFINAL DAY!Totals:Bike: 183kRun: 7k up Bluff Hill with 1000 feet of ascent to finish Epic Camp in EPIC STYLE!OMG Epic Camp NZ 2010 is DONE. Wow wow wow wow wow!Camp Totals:100 hours and 40 minutes of training in 15 days.Swim: 40kBike: 2295kRun: 138kThis was EPIC for sure and a huge accomplishment! Woo hoo!It is hard to believe it is over...We just cycled from the tip of

Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04300657112964478063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-32387532901077739762010-01-16T21:23:00.000+13:002010-01-16T21:24:25.418+13:00

We're nearing the end and it's just getting better and better. Todays scenery was superb ... pity the water must be so cold.I'd not felt well in the night and was slightly concerned. I held back early and perked up enough to cover all of Gordo's early attacks on the KOM. He gave John and Clas a warning as I started to accelerate for what was sure to be the decisive move (;0)) but they covered.

lord_lordyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12852902510841236342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-40384516615441822802010-01-16T20:59:00.003+13:002010-01-16T22:00:07.338+13:00

The highs and the lowsThe thing I have noticed about epic camp, and been told by others, is that some days you are on fire and others you feel like your cycling with one leg. Today was one of the low points. I slept poorly last night and my legs ached. When woke this am (at 0500 - and hr before I needed to, I was already dreading the day).It was a cool, chilly morning in Wainakarua when we

legendontourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14405339768835390154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-2512103114072640902010-01-16T20:46:00.000+13:002010-01-16T20:47:34.914+13:00

I woke up feeling a bit under par. The camp cold had been threatening for a day or two and my throat was a little sore. Once I got moving and took some drugs and more importantly had a bowl Latte I was feeling pretty good about life and the fact we only had two days for camp completion. The Mill House that we stayed in was very impressive. The original old stone building renovated into

Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05500570044185512284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-55682242165974043442010-01-16T20:40:00.000+13:002010-01-16T20:42:39.635+13:00

Having been awarded the Green jersey yesterday, I got to wear it today during our most spectacular ride yet in this country. Blanco and I left 25mins ahead of the main group but then never saw them all day long. I'll designate this ride, the *Cyclo-touring* ride since for me, today was all about enjoying the scenic views, the Kiwi ambience and spending a day with my best friend. We paused to

jchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03708362428781073614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-77631216527869402732010-01-16T20:31:00.001+13:002010-01-16T20:32:37.595+13:00

southy-south part of the island proving to be just as pretty as expected some fab coastal veiws as we coasted via Duneton down to Bathclatha, with the additional benefit of nice tailwind to take the sting out of the ever deepening rollers. great view of Russell's arse - the life of a roaming full-time triathlete is hard on the cycling kit, jagged - take note. that was one of the less subtle

joannacarritthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07813350631001579786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-62587080614907974692010-01-16T20:28:00.000+13:002010-01-16T20:29:30.216+13:00

The views were once again spectacular and the terrain a little more lumpy. Climbing is really starting to take a little more out of me now. There was a KOM planned at a nasty little spike just before Dunedin. I've come to accept that I can't do much in the KOM competition now so don't worry about it. Despite that the lure of a little competition makes me push harder even if it's for the final

Russhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00134781805051982401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20445876.post-19689382220381735982010-01-16T19:45:00.000+13:002010-01-16T19:54:34.921+13:00

Hills, Hills, Hills and then just for good measure some more hills. Today has been some of the toughest riding of the camp luckily I had some decent legs so I could at least enjoy the scenery and that fact that it was the second last day and I was still able to function at a reasonable level. Must be all the pills, natural of course! It feels weird to be in Balclutha. It was freezing to start

Dave Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455806668316574436noreply@blogger.com