You Won't Remember...
How Hard You Worked To Get Good
I was looking for a favorite picture of myself finishing Ironman Brazil and came across this training diary that Ben Travis wrote. Ben joined Clas Björling and me at the end of our trip across America.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to drop in to a big week training alongside a couple elites… this will give you a feel.
If you’re going to get good at long distance triathlon then you’ll need to demonstrate both a love for, and ability to tolerate, big training.
Clas and I removed everything from our lives for nine weeks and focused on swim-bike-run. Our trip remains my longest, and most effective, training camp.
After we finished this trip nothing could make us tired. We raced great for the rest of the year. One year later, we were both nuked. Clas shared his experience with overtraining in a three-part series I wrote.
Pictures are from Ben’s original diary.
Ben on the G-Raam
Nashville, TN – Savannah, GA
May 10th – May 21st
This is my journal of training with Gordo and Clas. When Gordo invited me to train with them and stay at my place during his early days of G-Raam, I couldn’t turn it down. Some tennis players would kill to live, practice, eat, and play with Andy Roddick. Some golfers would pay big bucks to do the same with Phil Mickelson. For me, I wanted to swim, bike, and run with Gordo. Some people’s idea of a vacation is lying on a beach, taking a cruise, or relaxing—not me. When I get back from a vacation, I like to feel like I need another one because I’m so exhausted. So, I’m taking a few days away from my business and family to train with two of my triathlon heroes. I have a feeling I’ll be talking about this trip for a long time.
Day One: Palm Springs, CA to Nashville, TN
I arrived in Nashville, where our host Rob picked me up. Clas was there too, making travel arrangements for Ironman Brazil in a couple of weeks. Rob’s girlfriend, Melissa, was getting in from a trip, so we waited a few extra minutes to meet her. Then we all crammed into Rob’s 4Runner—Clas and Melissa squeezed in the back with my double bike case and huge suitcase, sharing a space barely big enough for a small kid. “Nice to meet you!” I said. We headed to Rob’s house, a great spot outside Nashville, where Gordo laid out the plan for the next couple of days. Tomorrow’s agenda: an AM swim with one main set—50x100 @ 1:30 SCM—followed by a 10-mile run back to Rob’s, breakfast, and a 4-hour ride to our next stop in southern Tennessee. I didn’t want to hear much more, but one thing stuck: Thursday’s 20K track workout, which I’m a little nervous about. We ate dinner, I built up my bike, chatted with Rob and Melissa (an Xterra athlete), and hit the hay around 10 PM.
Day Two: Nashville, TN to Chappell Hill, TN
Up at 6 AM for strong coffee with Rob and Gordo. Rob dropped us off at his pool with VIP passes. On tap: 50x100 @ 1:30—a personal record for the most 100s I’ve ever done at once. It wasn’t bad with Gordo leading the way. Toward the last 10, a woman jumped in and circled with us; turns out she was a former National Swim Team member who could’ve crushed us anytime. Clas swam his own set and finished early. When he told her our workout, she said, “That’s a real grind-it-out set.” Gordo and I took it as a compliment. People kept asking where we’re from and what we’re doing. I struggle to explain this trip, and Gordo does too, usually just saying, “I’m riding across the states.” After the swim, we ran 10 miles back to Rob’s. Clas, in race-specific run training, was out of sight fast. Gordo stopped for a Coke; I kept going. Then I learned one of Gordo’s quirks: as he caught and passed me, I tucked in behind, and he surged harder. Just as I was about to drop, he pulled off and stopped running. I thought he needed a break, but later he said he doesn’t like anyone “sucking the chi out of me” by running directly behind him. We ate breakfast, packed up, and rode 55 miles south. It started hot and humid, then a thunderstorm hit with lightning bolts close to us on a narrow Tennessee highway. Clas’s race-specific pace meant Gordo rolled at 28-30 mph on flats, maintaining it up rollers. Clas stayed 30 meters back, so I didn’t draft either—it was tough. Gordo said that’s as hard as he ever goes in training (hopefully!). After getting briefly lost, we found our RV park campsite, where Wy was setting up. It’s a small place down a country road—hippies, dogs, rednecks, and white trash (real banjo country!). Gordo cooked diced potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and chicken. Now we’re all typing on our computers, planning tomorrow’s route.
Day Three: Chappell Hill, TN to Monteagle, TN
Slept well despite hippies partying with a live bongo band all night—earplugs and an eye shade saved me (Wy wasn’t so lucky). We packed the trailer and ran 10K out of town to meet Wy with the bikes. Clas was gone after 1K; Gordo caught me after 20 minutes and left me to run solo. Quick transition to bikes—Gordo and Clas slammed Vanilla Cokes, so I had one too; I need every edge against these guys. After 60K, our planned pool was closed, so we snacked and rode 40K to the next option. It rained hard; I sat on Gordo’s wheel, sucking tire spray rather than risk getting lost. A big climb followed—Gordo pushed harder than yesterday, but I hung on; Clas made it look easy. The next pool was closed too, so we kept riding, dropping down a steep, twisty 5K descent. At the bottom, Gordo called Wy, only to learn we’d taken a wrong turn—back up the climb we went! Twenty minutes later, we hit our RV park after 130K of riding. This place is better—clean showers, bathrooms, no hippies!
Day Four: Monteagle, TN to Chattanooga, TN
I started this journal to email friends and family about what I’m up to. Last night, Wy and Gordo said I should have Wy post it on the website, so now everyone can read my take on the G-Raam—hopefully it’s interesting.
Today was an “easy” day. Gordo was up at 5:30, making coffee and working on his computer. I could’ve slept more with my eye shade and earplugs but got up at 6 for coffee and training talk with G. Clas (aka The Baron) loves sleep for recovery and griped about Gordo’s lack of “trailer ninja” skills waking him. We rode first: 12 x 30-sec VO2 max intervals with 30-sec recovery. I wanted to see Gordo’s intervals up close, but he slowed, warned me about erratic riding, and pulled over to pee—message received, I rode steady to Chattanooga. At 58K, I thought I was lost in the middle of nowhere, nearly backtracked 10K, but a farmer mowing his yard confirmed the RV park was 2 miles ahead. Later, we swam in town—I set a personal record with a 200-yard butterfly (previous best: 50 fly). Gordo and I agreed the third 50 is the hardest. I almost stopped at 175, but Gordo watching pushed me through. Clas and I dropped Gordo off for a massage and went grocery shopping—20 items, but 3-4 of each, overflowing the cart with fruit, veggies, yogurt, turkey, drinks, and more. It’ll last 3-4 days! We got a Food Lion discount card, registered as “Mark Allen” at 6 Alii Drive, Kona, HI. I finalized my return plans: flying home Wednesday from Augusta due to my daughter’s swim meet (800 free and 50 relay) back home. Gordo said the last two days would be light anyway with Clas tapering for IM Brazil.
Day Five: Chattanooga, TN
I’m getting used to living, eating, and sleeping in a 23-foot trailer with two guys—tight quarters! Day one, Gordo made me condense my suitcase into a backpack for 10 days, stashing the rest in the truck. The Baron asked, “What more do you need than what you’re wearing?” So, I’ve worn the same outfit for four days—no one notices since it’s just us. Last night, Gordo snored (even through my earplugs), so I threw a shirt, then a towel, on his face to muffle it. He woke up confused; I couldn’t keep a straight face explaining it.
Today was the dreaded 20K track workout (cut to 16K by Molina’s advice). My longest prior was 10K. Clas did a 30K tempo run solo while Gordo and I biked 15K to the track. I ran 2 miles at Aet (HR 145, 6:55/7:02); Gordo did 6:13/6:26 at HR 140. Then 12 x 600 w/200 recovery for leg turnover—Gordo gave me running tips on my last repeat. Humid and done, I found a tick on my torso. Gordo freaked, checking himself for ticks. I rode to 7-11 for matches to burn it out, meeting them at the pool. Gordo burned the tick’s head out (one good burn on me!). We swam 4000 yards—my arms felt the 200 fly. At 2000, I cracked, shaky and hungry, raided Clas’s bag for an apple and 3 gels, then finished. Jacuzzi soak, then Clas and I got massages. Our therapist wasn’t used to athletes—Clas said, “I like it to hurt, like a workout.” Dinner and bed—ready for another day on the G-Train!
Day Six: Chattanooga, TN to Cumming, GA
Gordo called a 7 AM swim at a girls’ prep school pool. After coffee, Clas did sprint 25s; I chose Gordo’s set: 1000 warmup, 12 x 100 IM/150 Free continuous—another PB with that many IMs. Last night, Clas struggled with English, thumbing a Swedish-English dictionary for an email to his girlfriend. Gordo and I offered to help, suggesting phrases far from “I love you”—he caught on and stuck to his dictionary. We rode 190K to Cumming, GA, with big rollers in the last 60K and 2 x 40-min “steady” (Gordo’s IM pace). I drafted Gordo most of the day, rode “legal” (5-10m back) for 15 minutes, and bonked at 4.5 hours. Gordo gave me his Clif Shots—“These will buy you an hour”—and after 4 gels and cola, I felt 100 times better. Lessons from Gordo’s wheel: he’s strong and focused, unbothered by trucks, girls waving, or rednecks throwing cans—except when you draft on climbs (he rides erratic). Clas pushed a huge gear (56x13 at 25 RPM on a steep roller). We’re in a motel tonight for tomorrow’s surprise sprint triathlon—welcome to Gordo World!
Day Seven: Winder, GA
Up at 5:30 for a sprint tri 5 miles from the hotel. Gordo’s full wetsuit was too small, so I swapped for his sleeveless, promising to tow him out of the swim. We went 1-2-3 out of the water (Clas’s swim weakness didn’t show). Clas and I hammered the bike, Gordo slightly back—I felt good despite yesterday. On the 5K, my untied shoes slowed me briefly, but I held off Gordo for a Team Gordo 1-2-3. Our Athens host, Kirk Smith, a stud, finished 3 minutes behind. We rode back, showered, returned for awards, then drove to Kirk’s. After a 40-min nap, Clas and I swam 45 minutes easy at the University of Georgia’s awesome pool—best I’ve ever seen. Dinner, early bed—Gordo and Clas got massages; Clas sweated through his, calling it “a workout.” I’m at 29 hours of training/racing this “recovery” week—welcome to Gordo World.
Day Eight: Cumming, GA to Athens, GA
Plan: drive to Cumming, ride 100K to Athens. Gordo set a 7 AM departure, but at 7:45, we found him asleep in the trailer—no eye shade, out cold. We left by 8:05. Kirk rode with us, starting at Starbucks in Cumming. After a bathroom break 40 minutes in, we rode smooth and steady—me “legal,” no drafting. Back at Kirk’s, he and I ran easy trails by a river. Hungry, I asked about Mexican food—perfect, across the street. I devoured a “Heavy D” burrito and 2 tacos; the guy doubted me, but I finished, thinking, “Welcome to Gordo World.”
Day Nine: Athens, GA to Elijah State Park, GA
Slept until 7:30, swam 5000m (broken 800s) at UGA pool. Gordo vanished after warmup—tired from Friday-Saturday, he sat it out. I ate big post-swim: oatmeal, 3 English muffins with PB, chicken, 3 OJ glasses—Clas approved. Rode 105K to a state park on the GA-SC border. Gordo rode solo; I stayed with Clas for his 30-min tempo (HR 155-160, legal). Averaged 27 mph over rollers and wind. Ran 40 min off the bike to the SC state line. Starving after: 20 oz water, strawberry soda, Sprite, V8, 2 oranges, then 2 more oranges, 3 chicken breasts, 30 oz water, and a huge fruit salad—still hungry!
Day Ten: Elijah State Park to Aiken, SC
Slept until 9 AM—needed it. Gordo planned an aquathlon: swim across a lake to SC with shoes in plastic bags as pull buoys (Clas taped his to his back). My buoy sank; I stuffed shoes in my shorts, chasing them. A fisherman asked, “Flotation device on your ass?” “Yep, need every edge!” We ran 10K to McCormick, SC, met Wy, and biked to Aiken. Tired, I drafted after an hour “legal.” No showers at the RV park—took a “Swedish shower” (hose in swimsuit). Last night in the trailer—fun, but I won’t miss it. Tomorrow: 20K track workout.
Day Eleven: Aiken, SC to Palm Springs, CA
Up at 7 AM, brewed strong coffee for the 20K track: 10K warmup, 8 x 800 w/200 recovery, 2K cooldown. Clas did a 1:18:40 half-marathon test (HR 146) on concrete—beast mode. Hot and humid, I couldn’t hit Gordo’s HR target on 800s—he said focus on form. After Gatorades and a sandwich, a mix-up meant no shower before my Atlanta flight. I cleaned up with a sink and towel—20K track, 2-hour drive, 4-hour flight, no shower. Welcome to Gordo World.
Trip Summary
At Atlanta airport, reflecting: Goals—have fun, see how pros train, get solid training—met! I hung in despite their fitness (post-45-hour weeks). Clas’s IM Brazil prep added intensity. Trailer life took adjusting but got comfy. Gordo’s organization amazed me—everything planned a week out, inspiring me for life and work. Talk of a G-Euro next year (Portugal to Italy? Sweden to Rome?)—if invited, I’m there! Thanks, Gordo, Clas, and Wy!
New Personal Bests
200 Butterfly (prev: 50 fly)
50x100 meters on 1:30 (prev: 20)
32.5 hours training/week (prev: 28)
20K track session (prev: 12K)
8 days without Mexican food (prev: 36 hours)
Gold
I remember following G-RAAM; nice to read another perspective.