After another early wake up, this time around 2.30 am despite my Garmin telling me I am slowly acclimated to the new time zone ( only 1.5 hrs ahead as opposed to 3 , the day before) it was eventually time to load bags and bikes in the vans then coffee and attack the hearty breakfast buffet before departure for Cortina d"Ampezzo via Lago di S. Croce.
We arrived at the lake around 75 mins later, after an uncomfortable trip squashed into the back of the small rental where the windows don't open and the aircon don't reach!! Emerged with cramp and a drouth before had even set foot in the lake !!
It was a stunning location though, water temp was perfectly fresh and pleasant given it was quite toasty and a quick wriggle into wetsuits, a warm up swim then John gave us the race briefing - 5 laps of 300m with an Aussie exit each lap. Then a 7km trail run after. It was a blind handicap with mass start, Blind and handicapped is literally how I feel at swim starts so it was an apt description of a race.
I have to say I enjoyed the swim , apart from the Aussie exits - transition was very relaxed as am way out of practice with these type of activities , also remembered the zip on my trisuit isn't fully functional anymore so had to roll it down to my waist, fortunately Epic camp doesn't adhere to Ironman rules so I wasn't disqualified. Had a pretty good run but could feel myself running low on fuel and it was getting hot hot hot ...! No sign of the forecast 10.5mm rain ( yet)
After such an auspicious start to the camp, was looking forward to our afternoon ride. After a van ride to Cortina, sorting of bikes and lunch we set off at 1.45 through town and were soon climbing. First climb of the day was the Passo di Giau.. It felt a lot harder than it looked, possibly due to the heat and the lunch regurgitating in my tummy. I had a mild panic attack about the fact that I haven't changed any of the gearing on my bike for this trip ( smallest I have is a 36-28) as this felt really hard, harder than I thought it should. Then found myself questioning why am I not bumbling round museums with a Lonely Planet guide and admiring fine Italian architecture - or even enjoying the hiking trails which were visible as we climbed- like normal people do?!! FFS. Why? Why?
I threw back a gel at this point, which turned the frown upside down and got rid of the nihilistic thoughts plus it was getting a little cooler as we neared the top.
Descent down was dry and not fraught with too much anxiety - the next part of the ride was very pleasant then we started the next ascent of the Falzarego which was enjoyable although I could feel aches and pains in places, as you do and mild annoyance at the noise of the motorbikes....plus the gang of middle aged men in Porsches ( about 10 cars came whizzing past us at breakneck speed ).
Ominous dark cloud were visible in the distance and I was a bit worried we would get caught in a thunder storm, the lower half of the road was quite wet but luckily we missed the rain as the faster guys got a soaking apparently. Benefits to being in the grupetto !!
We rolled in after 4h14 mins at 6.30 pm and ready for dinner, dehydrated and def low in calories.I was so tired after that big day even eating dinner was a struggle but the excitement of salmon and veggies for dinner overrode the desire to lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling for the evening!
Fingers crossed for a longer zzz tonight, better throw back some pharmaceuticals I think.
Big day on tap for day 2 so we will see what it brings, one thing for sure - it won't be bringing me the Zoncolan. Done it on Rouvy anyway, pfffffftt.
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