True Easy Day
Falzarego - Valparola - Campolongo - Pordoi
Despite what my metrics said, I was a zombie yesterday. Passed the stair test this morning but it was an hour after my run. Before, I wasn’t feeling all that sharp.
Got a good nights sleep (it rained all night and room was cold). Soreness is up, and heart rate metrics are down. Fortunately, I should be able to manage intensity all day. Don’t think we have any 12% (or higher) grades in store.
Most the camp headed out early for a two-hour mountain. The rest of us enjoyed 10k easy on a rail trail the starts behind the hotel. By the end of my run, I was feeling better.
Eddy’s Breakfast
Yesterday, Albert’s good mood continued into dinner. It’s great to see. Whenever somebody is in a great mood at camp we say they must have had Eddy’s breakfast. Eddy being Eddy Merckx.
Story goes: there was a young cyclist, who was new to Eddy’s team. They were at a grand tour and the youngster was first to breakfast. The soigneirs had laid out the breakfast so he sat down and started eating. When the soigneurs came back they freaked out because he’d eaten Eddy’s breakfast. That day, the young rider was on fire for the stage, one of the best rides in his life. He never found out what was in Eddy’s breakfast. So, when you have a good day at epic, we say you must have eaten Eddy’s breakfast.
Gordo Would Go
Molina coined this in the early days after Eddie Aikau, a Hawaiian big-wave surfer and lifeguard on the North Shore. One day, well into camp, the guys were sitting around exhausted and wondering if they should head out for another session. Scott looked across the table and told the lads… Gordo Would Go.
Makes me smile to think back. These days, I’m trying to put the pieces back together from the first two days of camp. Hopefully I’ll be back in form for the Selle Ronda loop, tomorrow; first/last climbs are hors categorie (HC).
We Know More Now
Related to Gordo would go is another thing Molina would say. We’d be totally wrecked and he’d tell us not to worry because “we know more now.” He’d then chuckle to himself.
I take that two ways. First, we are always at the beginning of our knowledge and don’t know as much as we think. Second, it all boils down to who can absorb the most work (so relax about the knowledge/science piece).
I have a third idea, that when I look back I can see clear mistakes we were making. This hindsight knowledge makes me wonder what big mistakes we’re making now. I have ideas on that that I’ll pull together for a future article on Endurance Essentials.
Just realized that I am enjoying writing (it’s before the Day 4 ride). That’s a good sign for my recovery. OK, off to second breakfast and I’ll be back after the ride.
Finally An Easy Ride
Ride went great. Just what I needed. Albert and I rolled out the back early, ended up on a different route, and had solo adventures.
One weird thing is my soreness increased all day. For the Epic Vets: I started at Pam-3 and climbed to Pam-4 by the climb up the Pordoi. Oli gave me a massage and I hope that helps.
What Gears We Use
People asked about my gearing after I was reduced to walking the Zoncolan. I had a 35/36 ratio (0.972).
Albert 31/34 (0.912)
John 36/33 (1.091)
Scott 36/34 (1.059)
Joel - lowest ratio in the A-group / TBA
I’d like to do Zoncolan with my son in the future. If I go back then I’d start at 9am (not noon) and think that would be enough if I hold my FTP (~300w) and weight (78 kg). I think the issue for Albert/John/me was heat, not fitness or gearing. I’d also trim the 180km we added around the main climb.
Video is oompah band at the Passo Campolongo. Europe has all sorts of neat things that you just come across.
Tomorrow, we retrace the last half of today’s ride (my version of it, at least) when we do the famous Sella Ronda loop, which kicks off straight out of the hotel — 11km at 7%. Stunning climb on mostly new pavement. Should be a great day.
Sodium
My toes were looking chubby from all the sodium in the sports drink. In this heat, I’m effectively on a high-sodium diet because it helps with fluid uptake and I need so many liquid calories when I ride tempo, or long.
I reduced electrolyte intake today and my feet are back to normal. However, I noticed a lot more thirst at the end of the ride, and was riding easy. Part of that was not wearing my hot weather setup. I’ll tell you about heat management tomorrow.
Love reading your posts, Gordo. You are as good of a storyteller as an athlete and coach.
Fascinating to read about these epic camps. It’s a dream of mine to participate in one day. Sure need to build some capacity to be ready for it.
Molina may have been more right than suspected. "Now you know." Yes, and now you are sharing it with us and to whatever degree we are able we'll be able to learn from it. Thank you!