Aspen Spring Epic Camp
We're three days into the camp. Saturday, Steph Stevens, Carrie Larsen and I started things off with a 50 mi/3400' day up Snowmass and Capitol Creeks. That night, Mark Stahlkopf, Jeremy Behler, and Scott Dinhofer showed up for another 50/3400' trek on Sunday up Castle Creek, including lunch @ the Red Onion in Aspen. While we were out, John Withrow arrived, ready to roll. He did 90 in the PM, with Jeremy tagging along for another 30. Meanwhile, Teri Cashmore, Trish Marshall, Anna and Rich Stanbaugh, Attila Matyas, and Danielle Santucci showed up to fill up all the beds (and more...Carrie ended up on the floor, with Danielle occupying the upstairs couch.)
After morning oatmeal and coffee, 13 of us set off for the Frying Pan, with 100 miles as the goal. Withrow, the overachiever, tacked on another 10 to make up for yesterday. Dani and Carrie settled for 80, while Trish, Anna, Atilla and I were satisfied with 70 and lunch in Basalt. Elevation gains ranged from 3600-7200.
Oh, most of us are also running in prep for the Ragnar trail relay we'll do Friday night.
Everyone seems to be recovering well thanks to copious pizza and two pair of Normatecs. Check out the EN leaderboard on Strava for the massive workloads being put up, all amidst the most gorgeous scenery imaginable, at elevations ranging from 6900-9700' (so far.)
Details, hopefully, to follow over the course of the week.
After morning oatmeal and coffee, 13 of us set off for the Frying Pan, with 100 miles as the goal. Withrow, the overachiever, tacked on another 10 to make up for yesterday. Dani and Carrie settled for 80, while Trish, Anna, Atilla and I were satisfied with 70 and lunch in Basalt. Elevation gains ranged from 3600-7200.
Oh, most of us are also running in prep for the Ragnar trail relay we'll do Friday night.
Everyone seems to be recovering well thanks to copious pizza and two pair of Normatecs. Check out the EN leaderboard on Strava for the massive workloads being put up, all amidst the most gorgeous scenery imaginable, at elevations ranging from 6900-9700' (so far.)
Details, hopefully, to follow over the course of the week.
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Al,
It's great to read about the adventures of the team at your training camp. It's become so popular that overflow on to the couch and floor are necessary. The generosity you show in hosting goes above and beyond.
We now have the top nine spots on this week;s EN Strava board (would be ten, but Terii hasn't posted her wkos) Led by Withrow and Behler, who spent 10.5 hours riding to Vail and back - 207 miles. Shaping up to be a true Epic Camp. Tomorrow is the official Aspen Camp Time Trial up Maroon Creek Road - 7.6 miles from 8000-9600'. Current record at just about 40 min, but should be smashed tomorrow.
Today included a ride up the Official Aspen Epic Camp TT route - Maroon Creek Rd, from 8000'to 9600' in 7.6 miles, amidst the absolute most awesome scenery for any time trial in the world (sorry, TdF, Giro, and Vail). Here's a link to the club leaderboard:
https://www.strava.com/segments/12250342?filter=overall
Other activities included another ride up Castle Creek Rd for those who missed it Sunday (and some who wanted to do it again); a 4.2 mi trail run in preparation for Saturday's Ragnar trail relay, and a morning swim for two intrepid campers (Danielle and Scott). This evening, a group is heading down valley for a night of frolic at the world-famous Glenwood Hot Springs - pool longer than a football field!
We now possess the top ten spots on the EN Strava leaderboard, and intend to do all we can to keep those, with a 40-70 mile ride up Independence Pass tomorrow (7300-12,100') into the snow at the side of the road. It will be a sunny day in the 70's in the valley, maybe 50 at the top.
The two sets Normatec boots brought by campers are getting heavy use.
Danielle and Mark led the way today. Everyone got up and down Independence Pass, for 60 miles, but Dani & Mark wanted 100+ So they hammered downvalley to Carbondale and back. Coming in they were smiling.
"So you must have had a good time?"
"NO! We're just happy to be done." 7000' of gain in their 107 mile journey.
The first two days, first time campers complained of the grueling climbs which finish off each and every ride. My house sits 700'/5 miles above the valley floor, with 10-12% grades at the very end. I reminded them, "This is where the training happens." Which has become the camp motto.
John Withrow left today with 509 miles in his five days; many others will go over 400, and Jeremy is pushing 600. Not counting the running we'll do Friday night and Saturday at the Ragnar Relay.
Ragnar Trail Relay - and Epic close to the Epic Camp. Check out the news on our Facebook Group page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1515073828791868/
In three full training days bookended by two "travel" days: 509 miles, 30,000'+ of climbing, avg elevation for all of those miles was close to 8,000' with a max training elevation of 12,095'.
Thank you Al, thank you, thank you, thank you...
Curious...did you guys ever get the wine we sent out as an unofficial sponsor? I got a phone call from the Vineyard in Australia last night, but no word from CO.
I assume you are all recovering...or maybe it doesn't count as there's no wine widget on Strava?
Coach - the camp was a peak experience in more ways than one. Massive bike miles climbing the Rockies, followed by a 24 hour trail relay run. Great group of folks, worked well together. Already talk about how to improve for next go around.
The wine arrived on the next to last day. We couldn't drink much of it, as that evening was the start of the relay. But we did break into my sister's stash of wine (I share the house with her), and replaced that with the bottles from Down Under, so we got good value for your generous contribution.
First and foremost your generosity and hospitality were over the top. To bring 12+ people into your home for a week isn't something for the faint of heart.
Second- there is something to be said for totally immersing yourself for a week. From the riding to the running to the camaraderie with others who love to geek out on bikes it made me feel like a kid again!
And finally....the training. Wow. Just wow. 7 days. 6 days riding. 595 miles biking with about 35k ft climbing 23 miles running including an amazingly cool and transcendental 7 mile Ragnar Trail leg at 2 am in the crisp mountain air with the most amazing stars above.
Consider me in for any future weeks you are generous enough to host again.
Great training. Great times. Great people.
And the camp turned out to be more expensive than anticipated since I had to get a pair of 'party pants' upon arrival home!
Jeremy (and others) - Campers have already heard from me that I got as much or more out of hosting as you got from being there. But for anyone who sees a future open invitation to join me in training in Aspen (coming soon, once I nail down dates for this fall, and again next spring), and worries it's only for the serious hard-core athlete...while it's true we had 4 Kona athletes, it's also true that we had a spread of ambition and speed within the group. The mutual encouragement and examples put up all along the spectrum was a powerful motivator for all of us. The key is, everyone stretched themselves from where they began, and we all came out better for it. To say nothing of just hanging out, watching the Norma-tecs (i.e., party pants) inflate, and observing the unceasing scenery.
I can only hope the next group has a good an experience. And I've got high expectations for those who have a big race coming up in July, or in the fall.
And, Jeremy, don't forget the sunscreen...
@ AL - as always, Enjoying what is quickly becoming my 2nd home state and as always your friendship & Camaraderie.
The week was incredibly epic. Everyone liked each other (I think) and a camp like this is incredible from a learning experience. Whether you are pulling big miles and climbs, or are watching others do it, you learn by being a part of it. On the technical side, the conversations on the side or evenings about performance charts, metrics, equipment & racing in general are the best you find anywhere. And the scenery was just outstanding.For me, (and I did minimal miles) the training has shown up as a lifetime high FTP that keeps climbing higher. My impromptu FTP test on the Wednesday after got me a 10 watt bump. I also felt it would be hard to hold that as my overly oxygenated altitude acclimation would soon disappear. A week later, another test, another 4 watt bump. Then, this weekend, I went out and did an OLY where i rode the bike at an NP of .94. I am thinking that isn't right, which means my FTP is actually HIGHER.
All of this said, THE best part of the camp is the deepening of existing friendships & forging of new ones. There are people i met at my first Al T training camp 5 years ago that have become some of my best friends, Looking forward to more adventures with these friends new & old.
If you want to see the fun & banter - and some amazing pics, check out the facebook group - Aspen EN Camp 2016- Make sure to click on photos & visit the dropbox album there.
Beginning the ride back down Independence Pass (12,100')
The view of Snowmass ski area from Al's driveway (who's up for a ski week this february?)
The most photogenic spot (and people) In CO - Maroon Bells (we did a Time trial to this point that is over 9000' of elevation
Al, I did send you a thank you note to the Snowmass address but it came back to me. But it basically echoed all the gratitude (plus a little more for all your care of me post crash!) and excitement to have been one of the party. Next year, I"m in and gonna skip that whole ambulance ride!