This is the fifth year I've put on this CT camp. Each year has been a great experience. We (my staff and I) discuss how to improve the camp each year - not to rest on our laurels. After talking with Big Rocks, Baker, and Ken yesterday, we all came away tired and feeling that this was the best camp yet.

Wednedsday night, everyone arrived, and most were quite nervous, in anticipation of what was to come, and maybe wondering if they got in over their heads. Sean G. drove up from Virginia and was anxious to shake out the legs. We did an easy 45 min run around the lake, had a nice dinner then had a meeting to discuss "the rules".

I don't pass out the whole camp agenda because I want the athletes to focus on one day at a time and not get overwhelmed. Focus on the task at hand.

We met Thursday at 6;15am to head over to the beautiful new Hotchkiss pool to do some testing, drills, training, and videotaping. At 8am, we finished and headed back to have a good breakfast. Then we got on our bikes, and put a backpack of running gear in the sag wagon. We rode 1 hr 45 min out into a killer head wind to Bash Bish Falls. After a quick change into running clothes and a 15 min easy warm-up, it was time for some hill repeats. The last 4 we did to check some heart rate info, so they ran quite hard! Lunch followed at the waterfall. Although it was windy, it was beautiful weather. We then remounted the bikes and started climbing! Up over Mt. Everett and from New York into Mass. The big, long climb was followed by a big, long downhill. Then we rode back, taking approx. 2 hrs. I sent the 3 athletes doing CDA (Ann, Scott, and Bruce) out for another hour. It was now 4pm, and we went down to the lake to do assisted stretching, core work and yoga. Dinner at 6:30 and there were some hungry campers!

Fri, we headed out at 6:30am for a trail run. It was a bright sunny morning, and I found some great trails that included a great stretch along this secluded lake, which went over a bridge that had 10 or so water falls trickling down one side and a beautiful lake view on the other. We ended up in Baker Field (the track at Hotchkiss) to do some drills and video. The athletes were blown away by how challenging some of the drills were. We then went to breakfast at 8am, and then off to the pool again at 9:30. We did a good session ending with some fun relays at 11am. Lunch was next, and then bike testing. I was really impressed with the efforts put forth in the bike testing. We also did bike fitting, tune ups, and there was also a representitive from Emergen-C there, passing out samples. This took us until 5:30pm. We showered, and headed for a nice dinner.

Saturday, I did some juggling, because the forecast called for afternoon showers. We ate breakfast, then headed oout for a long ride of 4.5 hrs for most, 5.5 hrs for others. The course was the best one I've put together yet. Nice long steady climbs. There was just over 5100 ft. of climbing in the first 4 hrs. There were some screaming downhills. We even did some pace line work. Almost everyone ended up back at the Interlaken within 5 min of each other. We all headed out quickly for a 45 min brick run in the trails. The weather held off just fine. In fact, the sun came out. We soaked our legs in the lake and then I sat down with each camper individually and reviewed there swim, bike and run video, and discussed some goals, training, ... The others stretched and received massages. We had a great dinner followed by Baker's infamous video, which gets better and more funny each year. It was a late night!

We headed out at 7am on Sunday for a very scenic long run consisting of roads and trails. Then we grabbed our gear and practiced transistions for awhile, followed by brunch and heading home.

The athletes all took to heart what I discussed with them on Wednesday evening. They all put forth huge efforts. They also were all a lot of fun. One of my rules was to not take yourself so serious, and they adapted this well. I know that this group will stay in close contact with each other. After a few days, they bonded as if they had known each other for a long time.

Thanks everyone who attended - very well done. I'm looking forward to next year already!

Cheers,

EH