By the time I got to Woodstock...

I just got home from a three day Mike Fraysse training camp. It was excellent and a great way to find out where I stand and to get to know and share notes with my new teammates.

Friday started with meeting and a lecture and dinner and a Halloween walk of terror done by a professional group(I wasn't scared...really). It was a ton of fun.

Saturday was a washout for outdoor riding but we worked on some power testing(my numbers made me happy) and pro fit adjustments(mine was the only bike that needed no adjustment- fit by Rob at Pedal Sports). Then we got history, training, coaching and nutrition lectures as well as a bunch of stories that had our sides aching from laughter. After dinner we were treated to a real ghost tour of the 28 room mansion we were guests in that was built in 1907 for an heir of the Singer company.

Sunday, we had a perfect day for an all-out hard ride up to Woodstock at Bethel Woods, the site of the legendary event. The hills were just relentless. I made the mistake of eating a light breakfast before riding since it was the only meal to be available until the planned late lunch. Well, I got sick three times on the way out and once on the way back. It just proved again that I just don't tolerate solids if I'm going to put in any kind of effort. Though I still rode well, it really taxes your body to ride while your stomach is wretching and pieces of breakfast are stuck in your throat and you're climbing a hill and can't drink because the man who has coached many, many olympic medalists is lurking behind you watching your every move and you want to look as smooth and clean and accomplished as possible while willing your sorry ass up one mother of a climb. I did hope he realized that one of those times when I spit to the side it was really not spit and that I never missed a stroke while I puked over my shoulder.

So, in the final critiquing session, he went around the room pointing out the girl who didn't put her heels down, the guys whose knees pointed out when they were getting tired, the people who had poor form, boxy strokes etc.. I asked him what I needed to dial in and he said, "Other than what we talked about before(loose weight), nothing." Then, the guy who has coached multitudes of champion cyclists said he was 'absolutely impressed' with me. I'd like to think that he was impressed because he knew I had champion potential, but I know he was simply impressed that I didn't drop dead on my way back in.

Anyway, if you ever get the opportunity, go. The man is a gold mine of information, an amazingly skilled coach and a warm, inviting and good humored guy. I recommend him highly and can't wait for the chance to go again and prove him right.

http://mftrainingcamps.blogspot.com