Blogging from the Training Camp - Updated 3rd 17:11pm
Keep up with whats happening at the BigCow Riccione Training Camp 2008.
26.04.2008 - 1pm - Andy
After much packing and unpacking, repacking, swearing '@:;[ Ryan Air stupid weight/size limits';:@# and finally unpacking again amd chucking half the stuff I was going to take and repacking for the last time I'm ready.
The bikes have arrived in Riccione, the first set of intrepid athletes are already on their way and the rest will be departing soon.
No promises here as I might be to knackered or the laptop might not work, go missing or blowup etc.. but hopefully I will get some time to post some pictures and news from the training camp as the week progresses.
Keep checking back to see what we are up to!
27.04.2008 - 1pm - Andy
All here in Riiccione one swim and one ride under the belt... breakfast, roll, banana and lunch as well and a few with icecream and fruit smoothies as well!
Here's a few pictures...
Boothy in control...
Fish like drowning...
Preperation for the ride...
oh! these are the real preperations...
Andy
28.04.2008 - 18:40 - Andy
Back in the hotel and knackered. Long ride of 4 1/2 hours, only 62 miles but half of that straight up.
Corrine manages to fall off (but is ok). Boothy cant get any sleep because we have a new contender for loadest snorer (Mark Boxall) and Graham Mackie and Glen MacMenamin compete for best dressed rider (sorry no picture yet).
Here's a profile of the group 3 ride today.
and here are a couple of shots of some of the scenary. The square where we had lunch and a typical view from the hills.
Andy
30.04.2008 - 5:30 pm - Andy
Sorry to keep you all waiting (if anyone is actually reading this). Yesterday (Tuesday) was the first day with an open water swim. 7:30 am in the sea. A bit nippy but soon got used to the cold but not sure I'd ever get used to the taste of seawater bleaghhh!!!
We practiced drafting and sighting and and a couple of the group practiced boxing with a bloddy nose being the result. Good training for a mass start but not on the program for the day! Sighting was fine but the drafting was a bit hit and miss with Graham supposedly following me with me trying to loose him by changing directly. After a minute or two I stopped to see where he was and he was off following a little train of swimmers and ignoring me completly.
Next up for the day was either track sessions with Liz and Martin Yelling or a long run for those of us more interested in getting the miles in. I went for the long run and managed 15 miles actually at my intended Ironman pace of 9 minute miles instead of my usual too fast for my own good. A nice run and all enjoyed it. Only event on the run was Trevor loosing his breakfast half way round which was apparently more due to his antics the night before than the breakfast itself.
After cleaning up a few of us went out with Boothy for a cafe run which turned out to actually be a bike shop run. I tell you despite it being a very nice bike shop with lots of new bling and antique bling its no substitute for a bit of cake and coffee if thats what you where expecting. Never mind... it was a nice bike shop.
And on to the main event of the day... the trip to Hops for meal out. We had booked for about 90 people and there were some concerns about whether they could cope. While it took a while for all the main courses to be served the coped very well and I think everyone enjoyed it. Lovely mixture of starters and a big juicy steak. Yum!
Today was back to the pool. Well it was if you were still up to it. I decided I wasnt and had a lay in (I'm such a light weight). After breakfast it was to be another long ride. Various splinter groups emerged and set off at 9 to do 100 mile rides of varying speeds. When 10 came it was groups 1 and 2 heading off to tackle the 'Chippo' while 3 and 4 were doing the Urbino. I'm was in 3 and we had a nice ride with a reasonable climb and some good descents and a far bit of through and off on the way home acheiving some impressive speeds.
Once home it was a quick run off the bike. I skipped this coz of a sore foot and got tortured by Simon instead (massage). Tonight Boothy attempts to put himself out of business by giving a talk on injury prevention and then its dinner in the hotel.
Andy
03.05.2008 - 5:11 PM - Andy
Last update from the training camp from me as I'm on my way home. Boo.
Thursday was an easy day with just an open water swim, an easy spin on the bikes out to a cafe stop and a 30 minute run and some drills taught to us by Liz Yelling.
The idea was to swim from the hotel down to the pier and back. The wind was up and what with the waves and the swell it just confirmed what I learned on Tuesday. Swimming in the sea sucks. Didnt really enjoy it. I got to the pier bouy and decided enough was enough and walked back! Fail!
The cafe run was a easy pace ride out to Gradara. This is a very pretty castle town up on a hill (not to far up though).
A quick run on our return and Liz then put us through our paces trying to improve our posture and giving us drills that will help us with running.
Another evening out saw a large group head to the nearest pizzaria.
Friday was a day with lots going on. On Wednesday groups 1 and 2 had gone off to do the 'Chippo'. Many of us lesser cyclists really wanted a go but knew we wouldnt have kept up with 1 and 2. The plan for Friday was for a track session and a Parlauf followed by an easy spin and the beach games but Mark and BigCow pulled out all the stops and arranged for some bike guides so that those that wanted another long bike run could be accomodated.
So those of us 'Cippo' bound set off with Church and Kev Farmer guiding us. We went straight out avoiding any major climbs so we would be as fresh as possible. We got to the cafe near the base of the main climb in a couple of hours and then the challenge began. The Cippo is steep. Very steep. To be honest it seemed to have ledgendary status in the bar and while it certainaly a tough climb its not as bad as I (and many others) thought. The first 500 metres or so is a real shock with you out of the saddle wishing you brought your MTB but after that it settles into just plain tough. I had to stand out of the saddle for most of the climb as I just couldnt push enough to get up the 20% gradiant but by taking it steady and keeping my heartrate down to about 155 the K's were ground away. After about 45 minutes the track flattened and I thought 'Oh good a rest' and then realised that was it! I owned the Cippo. Ha!
Most of the group that went managed it and after the roll back down to the cafe some of us headed for home while some headed for a bit more riding and San Marino.
Churchy led a small group of us back and as its down hill most of the way we flew! 30 mph registered at several points and a one time we over took a women on a moped much to her surprise!
The evening was a traditional quiz format hosted by Mark and Claire Kleanthous. Plenty of cheating and incorrect answers being allowed and correct ones being disallowed. Normal pub quiz really. Great fun.
Today started with the Aquathlon. This was a mass start 600m sea swim and a 3-4k run. Lots of entries and some good performances. I'll get the results up as soon as they are available. I had a good swim apparently out in the top 10 and then did my usual wetsuit dance followed by dizzyness and a little sit down being required. Once recovered I went well on the run fending off Trevor at the finish line but not able to catch Kirsty (start of a theme).
(Toni just told me to mention she was second in the Parlouf. 'Fanfare'. Happy now!)
Next up was the hill climb. I guess about 30 off us lined up to do a short hill climb from the bottom of the hill that leads up to the cafe we first went to earlier in the week. I was third off a minute behind Kirsty and despite nearly exploding my heart I couldnt catch her (again). As with the Aquathlon I'll post results when I have them.
So thats it for the 7 dayers. Soon we'll be of on the bus and back to the airport.
Many thanks to Mark and all the BigCow crew, Ernesto and the Hotel staff and everyone else who has been here. Its really been a great week and I think we all feel the same way. Thanks again and see you next year.
This is Gradara - destination for the cafe run...
This is what the Cippo does (to some people)...
While others look suprisingly good....
IronMate mark instructs on the 'Praying to the sea gods' drill.
No more fannying around time to get in.. woohoo...
Line up for the start of the hill climb..
It hurts, it hurts....
Andy
