TAD Running Camp

This past weekend I went to Team Amazing Day running camp! I was finally able to meet my coach, Katie, for the first time in person. Camp was in Boulder which is the almighty go-to place for triathlon training. As in I was sad I couldn’t ride while there a well. WAS being the key word because it was cold. And I had a cold.

My husband was sick for about a week before I finally caught it despite my best efforts. I hoped it would go away before the trip but of course it didn’t and I know I’m partially to blame because I’m stubborn as hell and continue to train while sick. The only way I’m ok not training is when Katie yells at me and pulls training from my schedule which is exactly what she did. However, I still showed up to camp on Thursday sick. Because of that I was forced to walk during the first run that evening. Next day I was allowed to train despite being sick because it would really suck to go to training camp and not be allowed to train.

Camp was challenging for me. It wasn’t so much that the training was super tough. It was mostly because of the situation. I couldn’t breathe because I was congested and I kept coughing. On top of that the altitude difference was very noticeable to the point where my easy run pace was over a minute slower than it is at home and I still couldn’t keep my HR in check. It was also cold. During our long run it was in the single digits. Brrrrr. That involved more layering than I’ve ever had to before and still having numb hands, butt and legs. It was also a challenge drinking because my bottle was starting to freeze in my hand. Being sick, high altitude and the cold made everything very hard on my lungs. I was pretty much wheezing, coughing and dripping snot from my nose whenever I was training and then some more rest of the day. I was even surprised how difficult swimming became.

I think a lot of that got in my head during the long run. I was assigned with the fastest/furthest distance group which from the start I thought was a mistake. And when I heard the workout I immediately thought “I can’t do that”. I doubted myself before I even gave myself a chance. Katie was doing SAG during the run and I told her I wasn’t hitting the numbers and I had the others go ahead. She asked if it was because I was sick or because of my head. I admitted both. She told me how I was faster than those guys (not the kick ass girls who split off to run an extra few faster miles) and that I shouldn’t feel intimidated, to stick with them. After that I still didn’t hit the 2x2 mile pace but I stuck with them much better and I finished the run despite it being longer that I excepted. Not to mention it was the second furthest I’ve ever run and over 4 more miles than I’ve done in a long run over the last few months.

Besides the running and swimming, camp involved several seminars with guest speakers. They were awesome. Katie did a great job putting the camp together and lined up some fantastic people. I was very impressed with Charlie Merrill (whom I actually had an appointment with as well) and Erin Carson. I learned a ton from both them and the other speakers. I’ve been slowly adding to my notes of things I learned from camp. I’ve already started incorporating things I’ve learned for strength training, running, mobility and such from them. I’ve also started noticing things Katie told me to do while running and swimming and have been working on those. The hands on time with everyone was sooo valuable.

I went to camp looking not just to learn but for the challenge. Was it enjoyable? Not at times. At times it really sucked. But that’s good. I want to put myself in bad situations, in challenging situations. On race day you never know what’s going to happen and it’s good to have experienced a range of shitty situations so you can approach the day feeling you can handle whatever is thrown at you. That’s what makes you tougher and more prepared. Someone asked if I wish I hadn’t gone before I was sick the whole time. Hell no! I’m SO happy I went. It was a great, very valuable experience and I would very happily repeat it.

Unfortunately I am still sick. I think all of that made my cold into something worse. Went to the doctor, got some medicine and am feeling 90% better but I can’t shake off the wheezing cough. I was told to get a chest x-ray which I decided not to do but if I’m still coughing come Monday, I think it’s best I do. Being sick for two weeks is too long.