alpinerabbit
05-27-2007, 08:22 AM
I'm back from my girlie tri camp in spain!!:D
This was a week-long women only (beginner) training camp coached by a lady who had won IM Switzerland (before it was an Mdot race) and for swimming a former top male triathlete.
We were only 4 women, plus 1 who sort of joined but was way beyond us with an IM done and in training for inferno triathlon (http://www.inferno.ch/frontpage/fr_frontpage_d.html). None of the 4 had ever done a tri, one was a former marathoner and one used to be a junior ski racer. #4 was arguably insane, but that’s a different story.
We had swim lessons with video analysis (I hope to procure mine), 4 bike tours (up to 75km for me*), a running drill session that I believe killed me for the rest of the week, and were encouraged to do a brick. Plus by request a wetsuit test swim that was a lot of fun…
We also did a mini triathlon (0.3/7/2km) with the swim in the pool.
We got excellent instruction on setting up transition.
The swim was over in a flash – I did breast stroke a couple times to catch some air. I survived the rest well, including the bike-run transition where I rapidly managed to get my HR and breathing down to something comfortable. Of course legs were heavy from all the exercise the previous days. Bike average was mediocre - probably around 25 kph ;)
I got first place (with a water belt - something I have been wanting to buy for ages - as the prize) but would probably have been 4th out of 5 given that
the IM athlete crashed
the marathoner assisted her so lost one lap on the bike
the former skier DNFed because she was nauseous on the run
the last lady could not freestyle at all
So, knowing that my sprint in a month will be a bit tougher, I am nevertheless in good spirits.
Now to recover from the 15 hour bus ride (could have taken the plane or train but the bus lets you take your own bike for free).
Pictures are only available week after next so I will update. We had a lot of fun during off-time because there were about 30 other cyclists (including husbands) enjoying an excellent hotel&cycling area.
*I expected to be up to more, but the mountains were not to be underestimated – sad but true
This was a week-long women only (beginner) training camp coached by a lady who had won IM Switzerland (before it was an Mdot race) and for swimming a former top male triathlete.
We were only 4 women, plus 1 who sort of joined but was way beyond us with an IM done and in training for inferno triathlon (http://www.inferno.ch/frontpage/fr_frontpage_d.html). None of the 4 had ever done a tri, one was a former marathoner and one used to be a junior ski racer. #4 was arguably insane, but that’s a different story.
We had swim lessons with video analysis (I hope to procure mine), 4 bike tours (up to 75km for me*), a running drill session that I believe killed me for the rest of the week, and were encouraged to do a brick. Plus by request a wetsuit test swim that was a lot of fun…
We also did a mini triathlon (0.3/7/2km) with the swim in the pool.
We got excellent instruction on setting up transition.
The swim was over in a flash – I did breast stroke a couple times to catch some air. I survived the rest well, including the bike-run transition where I rapidly managed to get my HR and breathing down to something comfortable. Of course legs were heavy from all the exercise the previous days. Bike average was mediocre - probably around 25 kph ;)
I got first place (with a water belt - something I have been wanting to buy for ages - as the prize) but would probably have been 4th out of 5 given that
the IM athlete crashed
the marathoner assisted her so lost one lap on the bike
the former skier DNFed because she was nauseous on the run
the last lady could not freestyle at all
So, knowing that my sprint in a month will be a bit tougher, I am nevertheless in good spirits.
Now to recover from the 15 hour bus ride (could have taken the plane or train but the bus lets you take your own bike for free).
Pictures are only available week after next so I will update. We had a lot of fun during off-time because there were about 30 other cyclists (including husbands) enjoying an excellent hotel&cycling area.
*I expected to be up to more, but the mountains were not to be underestimated – sad but true