This weekend we went out to Scottsdale, AZ for a training camp with
Advitam Sports.
So, this is way more than just a training camp, more of a experience not to be missed. No wonder they named it Advitam, it means 'for life'. Seriously.
Thursday we drove 6.5 hours to The Boulders Resort, where we met our fellow campers for a quick meet n greet, then dinner. I knew when we walked into the main lobby, to the restaurant, that we were in for something out of this world. The decor was so beautiful, and oh wow the food. oh gosh. that was so delish. yum. Jason Weisberg and Torbjorn Sindballe filled us in on what was planned throughout the weekend, getting all of us excited about the coming events.
Friday morning we woke up bright and early (I normally wake at 7:45am...not a morning person!), and headed over for swim technique lesson with Torbjorn and Tripp (super awesome swim coach from SC). WOW! Learned so much! Drills, drills, drills....we were filled in on the 'why' we do the drills we do! (I thought i knew...apparently not.....)
Then comes the video action...boy, am i embarrassed! I drop my elbows under water, swing too wide still on the right side, and really need to use my hips! Jeez. What a mess.
After breakfast, we went for a nice long ride. (Thank goodness coachie had one on schedule, so i don't feel too guilty...)
Got to ride thru Tonto National park, down to a really pretty lake. Worked on descending and cornering skills, much needed since i'm a complete chicken, Torbjorn kept telling me to 'take control, and own it.'
Well shoot, that buck up attitude works!
It was so amazing all the way down to this lake that at the bottom I start thinking, 'Oh Crap. We have to go back up.' 13 miles up actually. Oopsy.
So the cool part about all this work i'm putting in....my pissed off hammy is not pissed anymore. I kept thinking....'Here we go...anytime now, I'll be getting in the car...shoot!'
We got back to the resort, and i even did a 10 minute t-run! woo hoo! How exciting right?
A little lunch, and some relaxation yoga (never did this before--more on this later...), a quickie shower, and then we wrapped up friday with a insanely good cooking class at the spa.
Nutrition is so very key to performance, its amazing at how inter-linked they are.....but it is the 'gas' you put in your tank to fuel.
Saturday bright and early we woke to rain. Rain. Rain! Yuck!
We zoomed over to yoga in the gorgeous spa, and my eyes were opened at how great yoga can be for ya! so wierd! we mastered downward dog, childs pose, tree, etc. She lost me when she tried to get us to put my knees on my elbows. Yeah. No.
However the experience was soothing, stretched out our muscles for the day and got me ready to go!
Quickie breakfast from the delish more casual super healthy restaurant, the off to spin with Torbjorn, since it was still raining and 40* outside! My ears went numb on our way over to the spa area!!!!! Yeesh!
The spin went soooo fast, 1:15 to get our legs movin, and he's incredible with visualization and his sets are challenging but do-able! So fun!
A super slow 20 minute tready run gets my training hopes very high. Super stoked about that, I've been incredibly diligent on following
Dr, and
Coachie's regime to heal, and I can't sing enough praise to them. Torbjorn did say one thing about injuries that I hadn't thought of before, and its soooo true. 'Injuries are like a Iceberg, you only feel a very small portion of the actual injury, the rest lies below the surface waiting...' Brilliant.
Grabbed a shower, headed over to Advitam house to hang out, have lunch, enjoy everyone, and OOPSY Kev and i passed out! The incriminating photos are on their FB page...hee hee...
Our afternoon swim was more perfecting what we had learned the day prior, with much success. I have (mostly) stopped dropping my elbows upon entry, and Kev had the biggest breakthru with his swimming!!! They worked miracles with him. I am so happy for him at how well he picked up, absorbed, and applied everything!
That night was full of recapping laughs, Maggianos in Scottsdale filled us full of sauce, pasta, meat, and cheese. A little country dancing fun was had at Harold's, Kev tried learning to two-step...ummm, so we need a dancing camp next? *hint, hint*
This morning was a bit rough starting out. I couldn't make my body move. No, not pain, like i know you're thinking. Just SOOOOOO tired! I oopsied and missed morning yoga class, and we barely made it out to the 'mini-tri'. I decided to be 'safe' and not race (dang recurring ear infection on top of everything else.) So it was down to Kev, Jay (Lava Magazine), and NY Carl. So fun watching Kev chase Jay down. But i the end Jay saw K-fed speeding up, and he just plain hit the gas. Two runners duking it out for fun. Love it.
Now we are almost home, and thinking about all the good times, and new friendships that we have created. Truly a priceless experience, that I value with my whole heart. Thank you to the people that make me so grateful for not missing a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Sorry not too many picture this go-round, I was way too busy! Check out
Lava Magazine, Jay's doing a cool article on the Retreat, and he was taking some incredible pictures all weekend.
