OTC Camp

Alright, I know, this is way late (3 or 4 weeks, to be more specific) and I've since had a race in Kelowna. However, in the interest of keeping this chronological, I will post about the OTC today, and Kelowna tomorrow.

Dude, did you get fired or something? Why do you have all this time now?
Well, its not so much that I didn't have the time before, I just tend to over-think these posts... shut up and write, right?

The Olympic Torch

For those of you who don't know, I got into triathlon largely because I was a collegiate swimmer at the University of Wyoming. I didn't know what to do with my early successes in triathlon until I got in contact with Barb Lindquist at Collegiate Recruitment. This program recruits Division 1 swimmers and runners and helps us become ITU racers with the hope that some of us will represent our country in the Olympics in the future.

One of many souvenirs from the camp, my Team USA mug always gets me going in the morning!

I was never technically a bona-fide member of the program since I couldn't make the 3k run split until I'd already had a pro license and a coach... 10:12, pretty pathetic right? ...Then again, you runners' swim requirements are marginally faster than my warmup pace, so I don't feel too bad when you blow by me on the last lap of a continental cup!

Bona-fide or not, I got invited to a pretty exclusive CRP camp at the Olympic Training Center. 10 days of drills, lectures, ice cream, and workouts... and ice cream. Did I mention the OTC has ice cream at every meal? The fat kid inside of me peed his pants in delight.

Everyone taking pictures... except B-Mac, who is in fact, posing for pictures

Working with the Olympic Track Cycling coach, the OTC resident swim coach, and run specialist Bobby McGee were some of the greatest learning experiences I have had in this sport. I learned how to handle my bike. I saw how complacent I had become on my swim. I learned all about run mechanics and how I need to change my body to improve my run. I learned how to approach workouts and races from a mental standpoint, and how to cope when my thoughts start to break down. All of this has changed me as an athlete, and I now know what I need to do to get to that next level. This really re-affirmed my dream of becoming an olympian, no matter how far off that dream may be.

Awesome morning ride in the aptly-named Garden of the Gods park

This was all good and fine, but probably the most important thing I took from this camp was a huge group of new friends! Turns out, most of us CRP recruits have the same foul sense of humor, desire for camaraderie, and balls-to-the-walls aggression on the race course. I miss all you guys and can't wait to see you on the circuit!

The "Bike Room" ...needless to say, it got a bit crowded, but the boys got it sorted out!

Transition practice in the grass... although the safety of the cushy fall didn't save everyone!

Gettin' my stretch on with Z-Dogg

Highlights of the camp are definitely the brick workouts where we did different race simulations (both swim/bike and bike/run) and practiced some of the team aspects of racing. Also I loved climbing the incline at Manitou Springs (nearly 3000 ft. of climbing in just under a mile), but mostly I enjoyed the time with the guys in the cafeteria, on our late night runs (which were obviously filled with bullshitting) or in our Trigger Point massage parties. I didn't realize how much I had missed the team aspect of college swimming, so it was nice to get a taste of that again! 

BRICK TIME!!

BALLER OF THE YEAR!

So in conclusion, I learned a ton, had a blast, and met some really cool people. This is the future of triathlon from the States. Watch out ITU world, we are coming.... and damn right, we will be Bolt-ing all the way! FOLLOW THE PACE RABBIT!!!