Early Season Training Camps
A routine for training away from home.
You can access my previous writing on Training Camps.
Tucson has a lot of benefits from Colorado:
North-South Travel (1, or 0, time zones crossed)
Under 2-hour flight (not draining travel, cheap, access at short notice)
Dry & Predicable Climate (just like home, spring winds are legit)
With my minimum recovery schedule (see Dynamic Loading in Chapter 10), the longest block I train is five days. Having an alternative location I can access in a few hours is attractive.
The idea is to create a weekly schedule at the destination. The schedule should be easily repeated.
Sample Template
Travel Day (Friday) - easy run, easy swim, off to the airport, at the accommodation by mid-afternoon - build bike, big food shop.
Do-Everything Day - all three sports, main goal is to check the bike. Flatted on my first ride… gave me a chance to get reacquainted with the bike store (Fair Wheel Bikes, closed Sundays, they rent bikes).
Track & Strength Day - down at sea level, so take advantage with some fast running (arrive in Tucson fresh knowing this session is coming). Visit the U of A Rec Center and get set up (open to public, just bring a government ID). Pool (SCY) & gym available at the rec center, $60 for 10 punch pass. Tracks are available at the middle & high schools, outside of school hours. Plan arrival day so track session falls on the weekend.
Long Run & Swim Day - use density-based run training and back up the prior day by running moderately-long on the Cactus Forest Trail. Swim up at Oro Valley - lap lanes need to be reserved in advance, if you book a whole lane then two buddies can join during your rental time.
Mt Lemmon Day - the classic Tucson climb (Strava Segment). To shorten and avoid riding across town, drive to the Safeway at Tanque Verde and Catalina Highway.
Easy Day - Lap swim up at Oro Valley.
Kitt Peak Day - another classic climb (Strava Segment). To shorten, drive to Robles Junction. Run early, or later.
Travel Day - easy swim and strength before the flight. Head on home.
Tips
When dealing with heat:
Even on a “heat camp,” I am heat-avoidant.
Wake-up an hour before dawn.
Get the most important (run or bike) session done as early as possible.
Swim is less impacted by heat - can be scheduled anytime.
When scheduling camp load:
The idea is to return home as seamlessly as possible. The training camp effect is faster adaptation. This is counterintuitive to many, who think the idea is massive overload. Loading mistakes are somewhat inevitable - when you over-do-it write yourself a note so you can adjust next time.
If you want to try higher loading then shorten the camp duration. A long weekend camp can be used to overload in a way that doesn’t tip you over the edge.
Taper in & out of camp. Experiment with an easy day each side of your flights. Assume you’ll need at least one trip to the bike store on arrival.
As you figure out the routine, and fitness climbs, the work done at camp will rise naturally. Just like home.
Focus the key sessions on an area that’s tough to get done at home. For example, early spring camps can focus on bike volume, as that’s toughest for many to achieve at home (in winter).
Camps are like any other session. As we gain experience, our bodies learn how to better tolerate the load.