Well, I was feeling pretty good and fit then I got the camp schedule and now I have a bit of the nerves.  LOL.  I'll probably need eat an entire batch of cookies when I get back.

Monday: Madera Canyon ride. 150K route Southeast of Tucson. The first (and last) 60K is generally flat before a gradual climb of 8 miles followed by 3 miles of a steeper grade (return is a descent; route is an out-and-back). Quicker riders will be swimming before the ride and rolling out at 9:00. Base riders will roll out at 8:00 with a loosen swim to follow in the afternoon.

Tuesday: Mt Lemmon Day (On your left). Be ready with your cycling, running, and swimming gear to depart Hotel Arizona at 7:15 a.m. for Udall Park. We will roll out as a group from Udall Park at 8:00 am. We will regroup at the base of the climb (approximately 30-45 minutes into the ride) and everyone can ascend at their own pace. The climb is 21 miles long with over 6000 feet of vertical gain. The turnaround will be just past the village of Palisade. After reaching Palisade you will descend for one kilometer where you will see the sag vehicle on your left just shy of the 8000 ft elevation sign. After descending, athletes will have the option of running off the bike in Udall Park.

We will provide lunch in Udall Park following your transition run. After lunch, we will travel to the pool for a loosening and/or base swim workout.

Wednesday: The 40 mile or 40K day. Today will kick off with a swim at Archer Pool (depart hotel at 5:45 a.m.; seriously :). Following the swim we will have breakfast at the hotel. There will be two group rides today with a 40 mile or 40K option. The primary focus of today is to allow a bit recovery after two challenging days. Run options will be ad hoc. Afternoon is off with massages occurring from 2-6 p.m. Laundry Day!

Thursday: Oro Valley Day (Big Swim Day). Today we will cross town to the beautiful Oro Valley Pool of the North side of Tucson. The day will begin with group runs in the a.m. prior to swimming (determined the night before). Following breakfast; at 8:45 a.m. have all your cycling and swim gear ready for a 9:00 a.m. departure (by Van) to the Oro Valley Pool. After swimming (and lunch in Oro valley) we will ride 90K back to the hotel via Sandoria Road and Gates Pass.

Friday: Long run in Saguaro East Park. Athletes will depart from the hotel at 6:00 a.m. (or earlier TBD) for a long run in S. E. Park. All run routes will be done on an out-and-back course. Swim will follow at 11:30 a.m after your morning breakfast. Today will be a day off the bike with a free afternoon to lounge and recover. Massages from 2-6 p.m. today. Laundry Day!

Saturday: Kitt Peak (on the right). What we have all been waiting for!!! This is a 170K (106 miles) route that includes a summit of Kitt Peak (12 mile climb to 6000+ feet in elevation). The first and last 40 miles are generally flat and can prove to be challenging (or really fast!) if the wind kicks up. The middle section of the ride is a 12 mile climb with a consistent grade (8%) that kicks up slightly in the final 2 miles. It is best to save something for the final 40 miles in case the wind is not in a favorable direction. An optional swim will be available to athletes at 2:30 p.m. 

Fly home on Sunday with my legs in the suitcase! 

Craig Nicholson

Two Words for today.  Hot, humid, and super windy.  Okay I overshot my goal, but the wind is pretty wicked on the beach.   Lots of wind gusts today.  The beach was double red flagged.  No swimming with those wicked waves you can see in the picture above.

Roch Frey and Jimmy Riccitello (former Shreveport-Bossier) are here from last year, and are still fun to be around.  They always share lots of stories at the dinner table. 

We rode to the pool today to swim 4000 meters.  We got lots of sunshine, and a nice and cool salt water 50 meter pool.  There are only 12 people in this camp, and I was pushed to the fast lane of the pool.  I pretty much held 1:50/100 on all my sets.  Big thanks to Butch and Southside and the 50 meter pool.  I feel the 50 meter pool just makes me a better swimmer overall.

The shoulders are a bit red from 2 hours of swimming under the Florida sun.  I’ll be coming back to Shreveport with a deeper darker tan!

Nothing like having a patch work of multi-colored skin to go along with the multisport lifestyle.  After a ride back to the Hotel, I ran 20 minutes off the bike.  More heat, more wind.

It was a pretty easy day.  Tomorrow we will ride the course, at least most of it and run 45min off the bike.

Maybe an open water swim.  But I doubt the wind and waves are going to subside by tomorrow evening.

Peace Out. Craig

If you miss getting an entry to a race check out Multisports they have what you need... Race Entry, Training Plan and the Training Camp.  Super easy, and access to a ton of training knowledge.

The wildly popular Southside swims with Dustin will sadly come to end a week from today. The original plan was to offer these swims as a benefit to those training for DeGray. Seeing that Arakadelphia is NEXT WEEKEND (yikes!) the time to end is near.

Butch may be willing to workout an "open swim" arrangement if pool time is available. He does not return from vacation until next week so look for more information to follow later.

Martha