My Toughest Ride,,,,,, ever!!!

Kona Pier

Lavacamp, day three, getting ready before a big surprise,,,,, which was the ride!!

On the Queen K heading south from Waikoloa.

Is that Bree wondering why we are not keeping up !!!

Last chance for fuel and water,,, better top up.

A group photo before heading up the steepest hill I have ever attempted.

http://www.brentpoulsen112882.blogspot.com/ & http://breeweehawaii.blogspot.com/ were soon out of sight. On the ride down Brent was talking to me and making sure that I would pace myself on the way up as it is a long way (+10km) and steepest at the top. It would take me around 75 minutes or so after I get to the start of the main hill. The warm up hill took me 28 minutes and had only one spot that had a downhill section. By this time, more of the riders were so far ahead of me I could not see them!!

I see the street sign, Kaloko and turn right and go into my 25t gear on the rear. The hill started and I knew I was going to try and stay seated as much as possible and was told that my cadence would likely go as low as 30. 45 was my lowest before while training last year on Mt Washington. Coach Paul would drive past with Monica and offer words of encouragement, and Coach D'arcey was cheering and taking photos as we rode past. It was so nice to see people and having them hollering for us.

I kept looking at my legs and watched the sweat running down them like a small stream. I was taking salt tabs, gels and drinking water to keep my body fueled. For the ride up, I think I only got into 3rd gear once, and the rest was spent in 1st gear, there was nothing I remember that was flat, so anything close, just gave a chance to spin and get cadence up.

I knew Brent was going to the top, and coming back down part way, and then going up again. Not only did he get to the top, ride down past me, start heading up again, he beat me to the top!!! Amazing!!! The last stretch I could see one rider ahead of me zig zagging near the top. I had to do the same, going from side to side of the road, cadence only at 27 as I was checking out the shoulder for areas to fall over incase my legs gave out. There was a great group of people at the top to cheer us the last few meters/yards as we conquered the climb.

A quick photo at the top of "the climb" before we descend. It took me 1:27 to climb, :13 to descend, reaching 83.2kph!!! That is the reward :)

The ride is not over yet, once we reach the bottom, we still have ~35km to ride back. My legs are already fried and I attempt to keep up to Bree, Brent and the faster riders. I hang in the draft for awhile but opt for the next group coming up. The wind is getting worse and I am barely holding on. I can see how Coach Dan qualified for IM in Hawaii last year, he was pulling and I could not keep up. I appreciate that he held up a bit and that Sabrina and him pulled me back to Waikoloa.

I forgot my HRM back home but from what I can remember, that ride was harder than IMC last year for me.

Thanks to all the Lifesport Coaches, Pros and participants for a great camp!!! Good luck to everyone and have a great year :)

Less than 5 hours later I was on plane back to Canada, and now a week later I am accepting reality!! From what I learned in Lavacamp, I better get to the pool with my tempo trainer, go for a ride with my cadence @90, and then a run,,, hmmm,, elbows up or down???