IronCamp Day Five / Wrap Up Post: Marathon Day

The fifth and final day of IronCamp East Coast 2007 was dominated by the Lake Placid Half Marathon. It's hard to believe that folks wanted to run 13.1 miles after four solid days of work, but they did. It must be some chemical thing driven by a wave of endorphins that overwhelms the common sense mechanism. Or something.

Regardless, over ten IronCampers were lucky enough to start - and finish - the Half Marathon. The run course covered part of the IM course...after a lap around Mirror Lake. The group had a great day for racing, with plenty of sun, cool temps, and minimal wind. No one was really racing, but everyone had a great time.

The rest of the campers - including super-tired me - did our own long runs. I managed to get in 1:45 before the wheels came off. I couldn't imagine going another step. I managed to get back home in time to shower, make myself more coffee and start the clean up process. There was a great deal of food and dirty dishes to take care of. And then there was the task of putting all the furniture back and making sure no one left anything behind. Despite our best efforts, I am pretty sure there was some gear left in Placid...but maybe the next group of athletes will be able to put it to good use.

Hard to believe that five days could pass so quickly...but i guess if you are spending 6-8 hours a day exercising, 8 hours sleeping, 2 hours eating, well, there isn't a lot of spare time to get bored. :)

We'll definitely be holding another IronCamp East Coast in 2008. Full details will be posted in the Fall. As usual, all of the slots willl be opened to PTS + CF athletes first, then the general public. Also know that we already have 25% of the slots set aside for returning campers who have expressed interest. If you want to come, be ready to pull the trigger so you get your spot!

The next IronCamp is a race-specific event for Ironman Wisconsin, held in early July. Visit www.ironcamp.com for full details.

IronCamp Day Four: The Last Big Day

After the debacle of yesterday's heat, I think most folks woke up with more than a little fear of what Saturday would bring. Thankfully, a system rolled through on Friday night and the resulting drop in temperature meant Saturday was going to be low-70s and sunny...in other words, PERFECT conditions for a final long effort.

Most folks headed out for a long ride today. The three-day campers returned to the IMUSA course for more punishment/revenge. The five day campers mixed things up by riding a modified course or other routes. My group of four headed out on a great route that took us out the in of the bike course and had us touring a lot of the area surrounding Placid before we returned to the course. It was a great diversion and a great way to finish up the big week. There was a short run - no real swimming - on the calendar today.


The night called for a big dinner. We had another killer cook out, with more food than people could ever want. Another big bowl of Shauna's killer pasta salad and this time, Rex didn't burn the chicken. :) Lots of beer and an Ironman Execution Talk by Rich and I were the final order of the evening.

Most folks retired early as they were either racing in the Lake Placid Half Marathon, doing a long run, and/or driving home on Sunday. A big day no matter who you were!

Today's ride put me at 400 miles in 4 days, a new personal best. I was not alone in raising my endurance benchmark, as there were many folks who were also pushing their previously established personal limits. There is nothing like seeing someone push themselves so far (not hard!), watching them bonk, figure stuff out, then come back stronger than before.

Stay tuned for the Day Five update...

IronCamp East Coast Day Three in Detail

Friday turned out to be killer hot...hotter than hot. Hot as in 97-degrees Fahrenheit hot. There were a variety of groups today, but most everyone either took it light on purpose or had to in the end. On the equivalence scale, I think one loop was equal to two today.

The day started out ordinarily enough, cool and slightly overcast. But you didn't need a weather forecaster to know things were going to turn ugly - it was humid at 6:30. Ouch. The Lake Placid area is subject to a great deal of weather fluctuation, and it was clear that the order of the day was going to be HEAT.

Unfortunately for the newly minted three-day campers, this meant that their first day was going to be a tough one. Five-day folks strongly argued that Wednesday, with it's sub-40s temp and damp conditions, was harder...but having done both I have to say Friday was worse. I think it takes several hot days to adapt...and this was the first of the year for many. The photo above shows me pulling people at 91 miles from the bike course...both were shattered and in desperate need of food and fluids. I had to make the executive call so they would be okay to ride tomorrow...they just laughed and said: what other coach would (1) drive out on the course (2) stop us from riding (3) and take us to get soda and a fried chicken meal??? I guess that might not be standard operating procedure. :)

After two days of two loops, I opted for the single loop ride. Rich and I ended up riding together. Well, Rich and Co actually dropped me heading out of town, but he was gentlemanly enough to wait after the descent for me. We rode the rest of the loop talking strategy, execution, and Pro Power Screens. Rich is planning an assault on IMUSA for his 40th b-day...look out doodes.

Friday night was dinner out, with most of us heading over to Nicola's over Main Street for dinner and beer. It was just what the doctor ordered. The stronger peeps (read: not me!) rolled over to the Lake Placid Brewery for beer and to find the EpicMan folks who had done the swim, two loops of the bike and one loop of the run all in one day (not for me, thanks!).

It was off to bed with thoughts alternating between dreaming of day four, and dreading it...

IronCamp East Coast Day Three
Here are some brief notes from Day three...I am too tired to type more!!

Group Swim Time!

IronCamp Goes Shopping

Campers were pulled from their second loops
in favor of chicken fingers and french fries.


It's popsicle time!

Stay tuned for Day Four updates as folks go for 400+ miles...

IronCamp East Coast 2007: Day Two

Today was a crap shoot, as the master plan Rich and I set up was trashed by the group in favor of everyone doing their own thing. We had two different groups doing the following:

• 112 mile ride (2 loops) and a 4 mile run: some folks did this for the first time, others did a repeat of yesterday for a total of 224 in 2 days (ouch).
• 56 mile ride, 4 mile run, and swim: a bunch of folks did this today, but in their own order. The freight train rolled the course at 24mph, with stragglers finding their way in through out the day.

Everyone was self supported, and the weather cooperated, so it was a great day all around. We ended up having a cook out at the main house...burgers and beer were the main course and people ate like it was the last food on earth. Nothing like seeing petite women who spent the day crushing the bike course just eat like champs. I think they even went out for Ben and Jerry's!!!


Tomorrow looks like an early swim and then multiple rides...looks like we are going to have sun and 83-degrees!!!! Can't wait!

Happy Training,

Coach P

ps: full camp photos are here: http://flickr.com/photos/coachp/sets/72157600328256701/

IronCamp East Coast 2007: Day One

Today was the first day of our 2007 IronCamp East Coast. This is our biggest camp to date, with more than 20 athletes coming to train for 3- to 5-days on the Ironman USA Course. Exciting to have such a big camp, but also pretty crazy at the same time. We have 21 athletes with the furthest coming in from Ecuador for a week of great hill riding. Coach Rich Strauss of Crucible Fitness fame is here, fresh off a camp in Louisville. It's quite an awesome crew.

The day started out cold and wet, and dropping out of Placid for a 112 mile day (with a 4-mile run) is not a fun exercise. We were bundled to the hilt...after a short tour of Placid itself, we were out on the open road. Right away some folks realized that not having booties was a VERY BIG mistake. Their solution -- make your own! With some newspaper and cellophane tape from the post office, they made their own booties...check out the pic below. This, folks, is being resourceful!!!


Thankfully, the day brightened up and folks were able to enjoy the full day without just being cold and wet. The big group splintered quite a bit, but everyone enjoyed the day...look at all that greenery!!!

Stay tuned for Day Two, where some folks do 112 for the first time, others will Run / Bike 1 loop / Swim and others (Coach P, etc.) will do another 112 just for good measure. It doesn't get any better than this!

Happy Training!

Team IronCamp