Finally...

I am trying to catch up. So many things to do, so little time but I did blog several days in a row, which is a record. Camp was so awesome, I miss the mountains, I miss the hills. I went for a run today it is so flat around here. Makes you appreciate it even more.

Any way the Saturday/Sunday of camp was great. On Saturday I rode over a 100 miles of the course with Jennifer Collister and Paula Kertes. We rolled out at 6:00 AM it was a cool but beautiful day. Trephina and Gary rolled out with us too but were going a little shorter due to there race schedules. There were so many athletes in town and on the course. After being on the bike over 7 hours- my longest ride of the year, we headed out for a brick run. Checked out Jennifer's house where she is staying, a sweet place. Later that afternoon Hods took us down to the river and we dipped our aching legs in, it felt so good. Great way to end a training day. Another great dinner, plenty of comedy to go around. I had no trouble falling asleep.

Sunday morning back up for 6:30 AM two hour trail run. Beautiful trails, very challenging but in a good way. Everyone was tired but did great. Headed back to hotel and packed up. Everyone from Ohio had a 8+ hour drive home so we were motivated to get going.

One of my favorite things about the sport of triathlon is going to camp. It is a Meatballs kind of thing, and I love being a CIT. When I first decided to do my 1st triathlon a 11 years ago, I headed to Colorado to learn from the Man himself, Dave Scott. It was a great experience and I have been camping every since. I met Scott at a camp called "hell week" best thing about that camp was meeting Scott. In January 2001 I switched coaches to Hodska and did not meet him face to face till Scott and I showed up in CT for camp, and we have been together every since. It is an incredible opportunity to get away and concentrate on one thing. I can't wait till the next one. I am trying to figure out how to get to CT in September.

Special thanks to Eric , for all his hard work, his positive energy, great motivation and for always remembering to have fun.

To my athletes Jen, Paula, Trephina, and Chris. You all were unbelievable. I promise this camp will take you to the next level and then some. I can't wait to see you all have great days. You have all worked so hard and you have certainly earned it.

To Eric athletes what a great group, it was great training with some of you again and meeting others for the first time. I always love meeting Eric's athletes, it is always a class act.

Looking forward to watching everyone have great days.

Gotta get so more sleep back on my bike tomorrow.

I am Back!!!!

We made it home. Tired and sore but in a good way. I will write tomorrow of the last 2 days of the LP camp. It was awesome and everyone did so well. I had a blast. Hodska once again put together a great camp. I am just blessed to get to be a part of it. I am excited to be home and to see my little guy. More tomorrow.

Rest well campers!!
Angela

Whiteface...

Climb, Climb and then we climbed some more. I love doing things I have never done before and today was one of those days. I have never climbed up hill steady for 45 min!!!!

Gary, Trephina, Jennifer and Paula met in the parking lot at 5:40 AM so that we could start our climb up to Whiteface Mountain. We did a 10 min warm up an then we began our climb. It was raining and cold when we left and the best thing about climbing was that it kept us warm. Eric had told me to be careful and make the call at the toll booth as to whether or not to keep climbing. It was incredible you just keep going we climbed for the 4 miles to the toll booth. That may not sound like alot but until you do it, you just can't appreciate it. It took about 45 min or so all uphill. I have never climbed continually for that long. Jennifer and I approached the toll booth and looked at what was ahead and with the conditions , it was our vote to go back down. Paula, Gary and Trephina agreed.

So back down we went, it was a little hairy. Very wet and very cold. My triceps were screaming and my hands sore by the time we got to the bottom of the descent. We saw the rest of the crew with Eric going up and they went all the way to the summitt, the whole 8 miles, and saw temperatures in the 30's.

We regrouped at the C-store had the best hot chocalate, we were so cold. I was worried about getting everyone back on the rode, due to the conditions. We tried to help Shawn, he had flatted and went thru several CO2, not to mention he had to be freezing too standing out in the freezing rain, changing tires. I gave him the keys to the truck and we set out on the out and back section of the course. Those 14 miles were pretty good, warmed us up a little, we got back to CStore to find Hods & Juergens freeezing and sitting in the truck drinking hot cocca too. We made decision it was in the best interest of everyone to head back to the hotel and get out of the rain. It rained the whole way back but after riding Whiteface the cherries and the bears did not seem so bad.

We all got back took quick showers to warm up and headed out for a run on the course. We got in an hour and ten minutes that started out rough for me but then got better. Jennifer, Paula and I kept each other company. They have done amazing.

All my athletes have done so well here, really enjoying the atomsphere that is hard to beat here in LP.. They are so prepared and ready to race here. Chris, Paula and Jennifer will all be here next month to race and they are all going to rip it up. Chris rode all the to the top of Whiteface, and Paula, Jen, and Trephina have just been busting it! It has been awesome to train with each of them.

After the run we went to lunch at one of my favorite LP spots - The Cottage, excellent lunch. Trephina and I shopped our way back to the hotel. We all met at the Mirror Lake for a swim around the course. The water was much warmer than the air.

The conditions today were extremely tough but everyone made the best of it and had great days.

We all had another great dinner at the Adirondack Steak Seafood.

Tomorrow is a big day, we will be riding the course in it entirety, followed by a brick run and another swim. Suppose to be beuatiiful.

Looking forward to it. Check back tomorrow for more.

One day at a time....

Take it as it comes, and it is amazing what you can do. This is a great mind set for camp. It is such an incredible opportunity to be here and to get to do this type of training in this place with these people. Camp is one of my favorite types of vacations, it is how I met Scott, it is how I became a better athlete, it has helped be a better coach and so much more.

We officially started the 1st Hodska/ Forster Tri camp today in Lake Placid. What a day, it was awesome! We started early with an incredible trail run for 90+ min, where we ran to a waterfall, and then climbed, and I do mean climbed to another lake to dip our legs and eat bagels. The weather was great and the scencry was incredible.

Came back regrouped and then headed out for a 3+ hour ride and preview of the course, stopping along the way to review the course. The little rain shower did not dampen any spirirts. Came back had a nutritional discussion and then a great swim in Mirror Lake.

My athletes Chris, Jennifer, Paula, and Trephina are having a blast and performing very well. It has been great to meet some of Eric's athletes and visit with so many I already knew. We have a great group, great energy and lots of fun.

I can't wait till tomorrow we go to conquer Whiteface Mountain!!! I am so tired got to get some sleep, so glad to have my husband now with me too.

Train safe , tune in tomorrow for more

Angela

LP Love affair

I have a love affair with the city of Lake Placid. It is awesome to be back and I am so glad we decided to move the Hodska & Forster camp to LP . LP is one of my favorite places, I had the opportunity to leave Cleveland a little earlier, so after shedding several tears, this is first time I have left Wesley for an extended period of time. He is doing fine much harder on his father and I.

I had a pretty good drive, lots of traffic, lots of construction, lots and lots of rain. I keep telling myself that this is how long it takes Scott to do Ironman. It took me 9:45 min. I rolled in at 10:45 PM, unloaded the car, and tried to sleep but it did not work my Red Bull at 7:30 PM was not going to all ow me. I watched tv, I was bored but no sleep. I know I will tonite.

So I headed to Starbucks at 6:00 AM the town was just waking up. So quiet, so peaceful an so beautiful.

Hooked up with Hods and Baker at Starbucks, we went over all the details of camp. We have a great group coming!!!
The city really embraces us, the Mountain View Inn is great and perfect location.

We made plans to head out on a trail run that Eric had already scouted out. We drove out the run /bike and course and picked up some trails. It was a great run, the trail was great challenging but fun. We headed to a special place, more on that tomorrow. Came back had some breakfast, went to the grocery, then the bike store, we always need something.

Then went out for ride. Chris Nook got into camp early so we headed out for ardie , did course in reverse, to the out and back and thenm back up Mama,Papa & Baby bear. Chris did great, riding strong and we got to go over several things in detail.

Back to hotel, little bit of shopping for me and then Group Run. Everyone arrived and we headed out for quick run and nice dineer at the boathouase followed by Ben & Jerrys- I am so tired that I will have to finish up tomorrow.

Thanks for reading wish you were all here.

Train Safe
Angela

Racing hard, fast and for a great cause....

Awesome racing for a great cause. This past weekend at the Racing for Recovery Half Ironman in Michigan AFT athletes cleaned up! It is not very often that I get to see that many of my athletes race. It was a great day for everyone and I enjoyed and learned so by watching.

The course was fast but the conditions in my opinion were not good. The bike course, the set up of the course were extremely rough and very unsafe. It was no surprise this was not sanctioned USAT race. Anyway is spite of all the difficulties of the day like the interesting swim course with two many turns, and no one telling you where to go on the run, and not enough aid stations on the run, all of my athletes rose to occasion.

I will start with the Hardware Ladies:
(Pictured above left to right- Trephina, Jennifer,& Debbie)*** Add Eric Gibb with the ladies

Jennifer Collister had a strong day, she is in the thick of her IM training, she will be doing LP, so this was a training day for her. Strong swim, followed by an even stronger bike, those hills work! and a solid run for a personal best by 20+ min.
Jennifer took 3rd place in Women's 35-39
Awesome job Jen! Look out LP.

Trephina Gall0way had a great 1st 1/2 IM. The decision to race was made late, with no taper, and little experience with going long, she was strong, steady and stuck to her race plan and nutrition plans.
Trephina took 3rd place in the Women's 30-34 division.
Ironman Florida in November will be another first.

Debbie Sidol is in the process of training for Double Ironman, so this was actually an easier day for Debbie. Debbie was consistent and mentally strong all day. I believe this is also a PR.
Debbie 3rd in the Women's 45-49 division.

On the Men's side of it....

Eric Gibb had an incredible day! So exciting and fun to watch. This was an "A" race Eric and he made it an awesome one. From start to finish things went well. Eric is always so prepared, the hard work really paid off. This was also a personal best by 25+ minutes.
Eric took 2nd in the Mens 40-44 - more hardware!!!
Check out his blog for more details of the race.

Doug Bell had a very strong day, this was also a training day for Doug as he prepares for his 1st Ironman in Florida.

Chris Nook had a strong day, especially for coming off a Multisport Tri Camp. Chris did this race in preparation for his 1st in Lake Placid. This was Chris second 1/2 IM and a personal best.

Bob Murphy had a good day too, as he prepares for IM Wisconsin. Steady and solid all day.

The only down point of the whole day was Kyle Amsdell mechanical, his rim on his front wheel was totally bent during the bike portion to the point that the tire would not move. This was a tough break for Kyle but he will be back and stronger than ever.

On side note my husband(who I am smart enough not to coach) had a great day. It has been a long time coming and it brought back so many wonderful memories to see him racing again.

I am hoping to be a better blogger in the future I like writing about others instead of myself . I am really looking for forward to my Lake Placid training camp.

I promise to keep you posted on what were doing, look out Whiteface Mountain!

Train Safe
Angela