As some of you may know I am now the head
trainer for the Wildcats Swiss triathlon team. The process to get this position
was a long one and I have to say a huge thank you straight way to the Wildcats
for getting me a work visa so this Kiwi boy who lives in Germany could have a
job in Switzerland!
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Nice view from Hotel! |
So the main planning for this camp was
already done before I started and I felt like I was playing catch up a little
getting ready for the camp, mainly because I had so much other stuff happening
as well. Still I was so looking forward to heading to Italy and helping
athletes.
We had adults and the younger athletes with
us for this camp. I like this as it gives the young athletes a chance to meet
the adults and see how hard they train, and the adults get to meet and talk to
the future of the sport.
Day 1 – Saturday 28.3.
Well just about day 2 as some of the
athletes were at training on the Friday night. Where we ran and swam.
After an early start we set off from Basel
and headed to Kaltern in Süd-Tirol, Italy. Once we got there the sun was
shinning off the beautiful lake with a little castle on a hill. Yes I was
already thinking about running to the castle!
After quickly finding our rooms, sorting
out gear, we all headed out to run around the lake. It was a nice easy run and
a chance to chat and see what the athletes wanted from the week!
Day Total – 1 hour running
Day 2 – Sunday 29.3.
We headed out for a nice ride, in sun and
17 degrees, it just about felt like summer to me after 8 degrees in Germany.
After lunch it was time to head to the
Castle. Once we got there we found no one had brought a camera with them…. No
one…. 5 of us and no phone or camera…. I ask you what is the world coming too.
After a little look around we headed out along a wonderful trail to some rock
formations. We got great views down to the valley below.
Day total – 2.30 hours cycling and 2 hours
running
Day 3 – Monday 30.3.
First think we all loaded up in vans and
headed to the swimming pool. We had been told we would have 3 lanes all to
ourselves for an hour and a half and the athletes were really looking forward
to the first swim session. Once in the pool there was a problem. What we had be
told would be reserved, wasn’t infact all the lanes had old people doing breath
stroke or half drowning. After talking to the head life guard who didn’t know
anything about us coming did more some of the slow old people out the fast lane
so we could swim. It wasn’t a complete loss, but not perfect to say the least.
The days main training was originally
planned as a long ride day. But because the weather wasn’t looking super I
decided to have a shorter ride and run after. The plan was a nice 3 to 4
hours….. Joe and Em will understand this…. The map looked great! 6 hours later
we got back to the hotel and the long ride was done! Well done to Sven
Altermatt that still went and did the 2 km run off the bike!
We were joined by long time Wildcat,
Cybèle. I know that makes her sound old, but she is a great Junior athlete who
has the ability and drive to do very well in this demanding sport of triathlon.
She headed out with us for about an hour before heading back to base to recover
from a hard weekend at the national selections.
Day total – 6 to 6:30 hours cycling
Day 4 – Tuesday 31.3.
Very early we had swimming today. We had to
be on time and do a very fast transition from locker room to pool so we could
get a couple of lanes for use to use. And it worked!
Today after swimming we had interval day.
First of all running intervals and after lunch it was time for a little ride.
Sven, Tobi, Michael and Dominik (He is one of my great cycling coaches) headed
out for some tempo riding.
While Cybèle, Patrick and I headed for a
more civilized steady ride.
I had been building a 1st of
April joke, saying that tomorrow all the athletes would do a triathlon. It
would be a swim in the lake a ride around the hill and a run to the Castle…. It
is fair to say some people were very very worried. I did come clean telling
people it was a joke. It would have been a great and fun thing to do, if the
water wasn’t 12 degrees!
Days totals – 1:15 hours Running and 2:45
hours cycling
Day 5 – Wednesday 1.4.
The rest day… and man was it windy. The
only day of wind, and I felt hammered. Legs of stone, we headed out for an easy
leg spin and I stayed in the front just to keep everyone from attacking me. It
was nice and easy…. Still the head wind home sucked big time, and that is
saying something when you are from New Zealand and race in Belgium.
After lunch we all walked into a nice
village and had the best Italian ice cream that I have ever had! I just about
want to go back, just for the ice cream. Yes it was that good.
Day 6 – Thursday 2.4.
This is always were training camps get
interesting! You body starts saying no, and your mind says only a couple of
days to go…. I can do it.
First thing was swimming and once again it
was the fast transition, once we were in the pool it was all good till an old
Italian man started yelling at the ladies in his swimming lane, in fact he
yelled at everyone and throw is pool buoy across the room and then his
goggles…. After much hand waving and shouting he did carm down and swim again….. But talk about firery
Italian
We headed out on a nice ride, the group
stayed together for just under 2 hours then we split into two groups. One group
heading for a climb and the other heading home to recover before running.
Once everyone was back from riding we went
for a little hill run. I had been told by the boss of the hotel that the run up
was hard but down was good, and he runs it when he can and loves it. He also
said it is only about 10km and about an hour.
I think he hasn’t run it. Up was hard and
ok, but down was difficult if you were not used to offroad running and wearing
hard core road running shoes. It also became clear that it was going to be
longer then 1 hour! Cybèle and I slowed down a little on the descents to stay safe
and to protect our legs on the slippery stone. I am sure after about 2 minutes
she wanted to sprint past me as I told her stories about rocks, calling them
Turtles and Rats. Turtles being the rock you stand on and they stay still and
Rats being rocks that when you stand on them they move.
Now looking back I am surprised she didn’t
get a rat and hit me with it. Thanks for that Cybèle.
Day totals – 3:30 hours cycling and 1:30
hours running.
Day 7 – Friday 3.4.
Another big ride day, infact it was pass
day. The route I had planned included 2 passes, the first being the Gampen pass
and the second being the Mendola pass. It was a really beautiful day, the sun
was out, it was a little chilly but wow what views.
We did notice an interesting fact while we
were riding. Everyone was out on race wheels. Really they were! Amazing, how
much money was spinning out on the road, just for a training ride! I was truly
impressed.
Once we were back at the hotel I headed out
alone back upto the little Castle for some photos. I have to say my legs were
feeling the volume of training. It was nice running at my tempo and on the way
down I really opened up the legs and hammered down the hill! Man it was fun…
full speed, limited control and killer views.
Day total – 5:30 hours cycling and 1:15
running.
Day 8 – Saturday 4.4.
As we were heading home today we had to do
a short training, so we did transition training. Run, bike, run, bike, run,
bike. It was only a shortish run and bike but the fast transitions the athletes
were doing had me really impressed. Sven and Cybèle were amazing. They started
out nice and slow and then hit real speed by the end. The effort that was put
in was fantastic!
Then sadly it was time to head home. I
would have loved another week to really get my legs working, but work was
calling!
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Go Sven! |
I have to thank you to a few people,
firstly to the athletes they all worked really hard to make the most out of the
camp. The other trainers that were on the camp, Fabienne (Head of the young
athletes), Andrea, Andi and Dominik, a huge thank you for all your help. Katja
for all the fantastic support, help and organising so much behind the senses.
Thank you so much everyone and I am looking
forward to next year.
Cameron