Training Camp
PTC members traveled up to Lake San Antonio to participate in the 2012 Wildflower Training Camp over the weekend of March 24th. Without some background you might have thought that the campers were in training for a few different things beyond Wildflower Triathlon, points were certainly earned as Iron Chef and Winetasters of the World – but, revelry aside, by the time Sunday rolled around, everyone finished with a better understanding of the course and/or a healthy respect for the races coming up in May!
Friday
Campers departed early to make their way up to the Lake, starting with high-octane fuel before a loooooong drive.
WF Participants – it takes a while to get there, especially once you get into the hills around Paso Robles and Lake San Antonio – so allow time for the drive.
….and In-and-Out stops . . . and messing around in parking lots with aero helmets . . .
Arriving mid-day on Friday, we set out on a gorgeous afternoon ride on the Olympic course to stretch our legs and get to know the area. The course is beautiful with rolling green hills . . . rolling hills that include some “noticeable inclines”, so by our return after the ride (and after a long week of work / family / life) most campers were pretty worn out and hungry. Thus begun Potluck #1. Discussion focused on important questions like: “how much food and wine do you need to feed a group of triathletes?” And “how many bananas can you pack for a weekend?” One cabin counted 32 among their pooled resources. Needless to say, no one was going to starve out in the wilderness.
Saturday
It’s COLD in the morning! Not that the neighbors seemed to mind, the deer and quail were up way before any campers, foraging for breakfast before the first cup of coffee.
The usual Saturday Ride Clip-in at 0-dark-100 was set aside for a more moderate time, allowing the sun to rise and warm the air a bit. Coach Brandon Heflin gave a great overview on the course – noting that strategy is key on this course – any rider can blow themselves up with an all-out charge from T1, setting up an early demise on the few miles out of the park, well before reaching the fabled “nasty grade” which so sweetly arrives at mile 42-ish.
After Coach Brandon’s talk and tips, riders segmented into multiple ride groups: the full course at pace, the full course with Coach B through a strategic ride, a modified ride, and modified + wine. Plenty of company out on the course due to practice weekends from Team in Training and the San Francisco Tri Club, and we saw race organizers already marking the course in preparation for the May races.
By the time campers regrouped it was early afternoon and time for a lake swim – causing some campers to flee for a “nap” before being roused for a dip in the balmy 60-ish degree waters of Lake San Antonio.
Participant note – there are currents and waves in this big lake, so plan your defensive swim measures now (double caps, ear plugs, etc).
Then it was back to the cabins and time for Potluck #2, more wine and some incredible food: veggies, brie/gouda and crackers, and antipasti to start, followed by an overwhelming choice of steak, mushroom risotto, marinated flank steak, grilled veggies, green salad, grain salads, pies, poached pears, and much, much more. Toasts were offered, marshmallows were toasted, and the evening was festive.
Sunday
Following a rainy evening, morning came early but bright, and campers were out for a run – some on trails, some on the Olympic course or a modified course of their choosing. Campers had a chance to get acquainted with the terrain – the Olympic is mostly paved with some trail run, Long has quite a bit of trail with some very technical terrain. Remember that “noticeable incline”? Well predictions say that we will start seeing more training runs for “hill repeats” in the near future . . . and by mid-morning all were back at cabins, packing up and heading home!
Next Up?
30th Anniversary of Wildflower Triathlon May 5th. PTC goes WILDflower!
