Epic Camp Day 9 - Friday 26 June.
The Final Day ! It was an early start as we were doing a "handicap triathlon" . Or perhaps triathlon for the handicapped was more fitting given it was the last day.
After another night of subpar sleep in the tropics of the room, it was an early start for a quick brekky . day bags out and myself and a few of the others left to navigate the bike paths out of town for approximately 6 km until we got to the offical start of the 26km TT. The end point of the ride was at the top of the second climb around 9 km before Livigno....with around 1100m of ascent although it was pretty moderate 5/6% climb apart from a few steep pitches on the smaller second climb and very pleasant winding through a couple of small towns to reach the Passo di Foscana then a small descent and a climb back up again to the Passo di Eira which was the finish line . It looked suspiciously Swiss and rightly so as we were v close to the border.
I started 20 mins after the 0 starter and somehow was first to the end of the 26 km which was stoked with, the small descent was v wide and curvy so didn't lose too much time there, for once!
Once everyone arrived and obligatory photos snapped, we descended down to Livigno which sits at ~1840 m and is a popular altitude training spot. T2 was at the swimming pool ar park and next up was a 10 km run, since I was first , I was starter zero and whoever finished behind me started with that amount of time on the run. It was hot by now and when I started running my legs had this weird wobbly feeling plus deja vu with the hot/cold chills we had experienced up the Stelvio, which I can only put down to altitude in combination with all the other silly stuff. Wasn't running too bad pace wise so just tried to keep it consistent and not be too ambitious and risk explosion, plus Iain had 10 mins behind me so needed to ensure he wouldn't run 10 mins into me. Luckily had learned from mistake on day 1 and had a gel around 3 km in which did the trick and ran a 52 min 10 km and kept my lead.
A few salty crisps and a cup of coke later, it was time for the swim. This was a to be 1600m in a 50 m pool, again first person goes off first and the time differentials after the run is where you start behind The facility in Livigno was the most amazing pool I have ever seen, down to electronic wrist bands that let you in, opened doors, locked and unlocked your locker! We had 3 lanes booked so instructions were up the LHS of one, down the LHS of the next and the 3rd lane was 2 way then duck under ropes and start again. You can imagine what kind of melee that would be by the time everyone was in the pool.I was expecting to feel absolutely awful swimming, which I probably did to begin but the water was at the appropriate temp for swimming and not like a bath so eased in. Iain did catch up to although would have been a few lengths behind then over took me then I was on his feet and probably slapping his toes ( sorry ) as I think I sped up a bit which is usual for me swimming; takes an age to get this old duck warmed up in the water - and he possibly slowed down. The breathing was a bit laboured due to the altitude then I caught my watch on the lane rope and it pulled the strap out of the socket and the watch fell to the bottom! OMFG... big deep breath and down I went to get it, must have been blue in the face by the time I surfaced and kept swimming. Finished but was told I hadn't done enough, needed another 200m ( despite Garmin saying 1700m although I know it had added an extra 50 or 2 as I went under r the ropes) so duly swam another round and then finished but was still first and victorious ......I couldn't believe it . Shane our super mechanic managed to fix my watch ( RELIEF) then it was time for a quick lunch of peanut butter sandwich and the dread of having to climb back out of Livigno in the reverse of this morning's ride and get home.. It was a pretty steady climb and nothing too fierce...suppose that's all relative now after Tre Cime and the Stelvio ...we grabbed a Fanta at the top as a cold drink and more energy was needed and I made it through al the tunnels without incident and a then it was ~25 km of downhill to Bormio.
We fittingly ended the ride at the gelato shop and celebrated with a coconut gelato. YUM. Then back to the hotel to pack up bikes . organise luggage, shower and be down for drinks at 6.30 and a photo with our Epic kit on. I took home the red jersey for my triathlon win today, although felt a little undeserved given didn't do the mahoosive ride on day 2 but maybe that's also a bit of wisdom with age and experience and understanding my limits !! Who knows eh .
So that's it for another Epic camp and another reason to keep this blog going, I vowed this was my last one and that I would retire after this but of course that may be a lie.
For now tho I have 3 days left in Milan ( it's 36 degrees here.) and basking in an air conditioned room. Bliss. Then onto Singapore for a night and back to reality - but can't wait to see Bella and give her cuddles. I thought about my Barry every day while I was here and just asked him to look after me and he certainly did.
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