I have been reading a lot lately about the benefits of attending an early season triathlon training camp. An out of town training camp is not in my triathlon budget for this year, so I decided to organize my own self-supported camp based out of my apartment. It was a great experience and I would like to share it to hopefully inspire others who want to reap the benefits of a training camp but lack the time or money to attend one.

Taking advantage of the Easter long weekend, my goal was to ride 400 kilometers in 4 days. I would alternate short "recovery" days with longer "stretch" days. Due to factors out of my control, I fell short of my goal (only 308 km's). Read on to find out why.

Because the Easter weekend is always full of family events, I set a daily training cut-off time of 12:00 noon, committing to being available for family time each day by 1:00pm. Once you start doing the math...400 kilometers divided by 4 days divided by average speed of 25 km/hr...it all adds up to some very early mornings! The main problem with training at this time of day, during this time of the year is 6:00am - 12:00 noon is pretty much the coldest part of the 24 hour day. This created major problems for me throughout the weekend.

THE RIDES
Day 1: Thursday, April 9 - 87 km
Negotiated an arrangement with my boss for me to come into work early and leave early. Bike commuted to/from work, dropped off my stuff at the apartment, then did 2.5 loops of Colonel By for a total of 87 km for the day. Had the pleasure of letting a few bike commuters draft off my wheel on their way home while on Colonel By. Very nice weather for a ride.

Day 2: Friday, April 10 - 107 km
"Stretch" day. Two separate rides with a 30 min rest stop in the apartment to refuel (and thaw out as it turned out). First ride was out to Richardson Side Road and back into town. Nice route, nice and sunny, but VERY cold hands and feet by the end. Second ride up Flewellyn half way out to Carleton Place & back. By the time I finished the second ride my feet were 100% numb. It was weird walking around my apartment afterwards not being able to feel what I was walking on. Other early spring cyclists can relate I'm sure.

Day 3: Saturday, April 11 - 79 km
"Recovery" day. Only one ride, up to the Gamelin parking lot, western parkway, Hunt Club and Cedarview. Hands/feet again frozen at the end of this ride.

Day 4: Sunday, April 12 - 35 km
"Stretch" day. Hoping to finish the weekend with a huge day of 127 km of riding. Checked the weather that morning... -8 C windchill. -8 C was definitely outside my cycling "comfort zone". I add an extra layer onto my hands and feet. It doesn't help. I ride south into the Barrhaven area. After 17.5 km of riding [with a tailwind] I realize my hands and feet are extremely cold already. I am imagining what it would feel like riding 30+ kilometers back into a -8C headwind and decide that I would be borderline unsafe. I didn't want to ruin my Easter Sunday by needing to pay a visit to the ER with frozen hands, frozen feet and frostbite. At 17.5km, I swallow my pride, abort the 400 km mission, turn things around and head home. I arrive back at the apartment, happy to be warm again, treat myself to a big hot breakfast and then head out for a 15km run for good measure. I laugh as a 15km run now feels "easy" after all that riding in the early morning freezing cold weather.

WHAT I DID WELL
-route planning
-bike mechanics [lots of preventative maintenance = no mechanical issues]
-nutrition [everything bottled/mixed the night before, no digestion issues]
-post workout recovery [took advantage of a post w/o smoothie and naps whenever possible]

WHAT I NEED TO IMPROVE
-cold weather cycling gear: need better stuff! these rides would have been way more enjoyable if i had the right stuff. i thought i had the right stuff, but the clothing you need for a 45 min commute ride is MUCH different than the clothing you need for 4 hrs + of riding
-time of day: if i'm going to do an early spring cycling weekend like this again, I'm going to structure things so that I'm riding during the warmest parts of the day, not the coldest.

ACHES, PAINS AND RECOVERY
-i was amazed by how easily by body recovered day after day from such a steep increase in cycling volume
-cycling truly is a non-impact sport. keep yourself properly dressed, fueled and hydrated and you can seemingly ride forever with almost no risk of overuse injury.

THANK YOUS
-thank you to alana, my wife, for supporting/tolerating me throughout this crazy adventure. i wouldn't have been able to do this without her help.

WOULD I DO THIS AGAIN?
-ABSOLUTELY! i find myself already planning another epic weekend of training in may. hopefully i won't need to worry about frostbite next time :)

WHAT'S NEXT
-Early Bird Long Duathlon next month. hoping this big weekend of riding gives my cycling fitness a big boost. see you out there on the roads!

Thanks for reading.