Grasky Flagstaff High Altitude Training Camp May 18, 2008

Day 1:

I had flown in to Phoenix the day previous and today was to meet Bill Daniell at 0530 at my hotel to head over to the Tempe International Triathlon Race. Jill Grasky had made the arrangements for me to contact Bill which was much appreciated on my first visit to Arizona. Things started off without a hitch and we headed out to the race. I participated in the Sprint Tri as I wanted to conserve some energy for the upcoming camp. I placed third in my age group which was a nice surprise.

We headed up to Flagstaff with Bill, Matt and Lisa – I did not see much of the scenery on the way up as I was entertained by Matt and his technical descriptions about rims, tubulars vs. clinchers and how Tri Sports runs its demo wheel program. I had wished I planned ahead and placed an online order – next time!

When we arrived at the cabins in Flagstaff we were greeted by the rest of the group anxiously waiting to join us for a run. Lisa and I were still quite hot from our 104 degree race so we opted for a walk on trails while the others ran. A great filling dinner was had out - $16 – wow much more economical than in Canada, eh?

I felt very comfortable with the group and was pleased to see that varying levels were being accommodated and there was a good mix of male/female. Everyone was super nice, encouraging and the wealth of knowledge amongst the team was tremendous. Most campers were gearing up for Coeur D’Alene Ironman, Angie is doing Germany and I Canada.

The Grand Canyon trip will be my most memorable bike ride for a long time – it was spectacular and thanks to Greg, I learned a new way to repair a flat. I repect Patty for taking the lead on the bike maintenance in her household and for giving up her bike when Greg said, “no more.”

Brian’s style was much appreciated throughout the camp and I can’t say enough about Jill’s meals! Oley has sold me on Trifest next March and Lisa has offered me a place to lay my head while attending – I can’t wait to join up again!

--Joy Hollingdale

Thoughts of racing again

Today my good friend Spring called me up to go mountain biking. Spring and I used to ride and train together a bit last fall in preparation for the AZ Mountain Bike Series. Since my knee has been injured and our schedules not matching, we haven't been able to get together lately. Today she called right when I had no motivation to ride (which is pretty common these days). I was stoked, so I went!

We chatted the whole time about racing and finally the motivation started to return again. It's so difficult after taking time off. You're always feeling yucky and out of shape. I think the first month back is probably the hardest, and for me, it's mentally challenging too because I'm still having knee pain and don't even know how much I should start training.

It makes me think of how much a person's mind has to do with racing. If I go into a race somewhat fit, but am very focused and agressive and competitive, then I can pull off a good race. However, if I go into a race super fit, but have no desire to be there or I have my mind on other things, then I'll always finish poorly. Funny how the mind has so much over the physical.

I'm still not totally motivated, but that really helped, so thanks Spring!

Wildflower

Driving into the 35mph headwind pulling our toybox (truck bed) and foldable base camp (camper), we watched the gas gauge move from F to E. We were on our way to Wildflower to help FCA Endurance, a triathlon ministry we’re involved with. Not only is it the greatest of all causes, but it’s comprised of great people, too.

The plan is to get there and work in the FCA booth inviting others to think about why they race. This was a deep question I had to answer over the past few years, but more so in the last year. It would have been easier to write off my accident as a failure and a waste of time, but I know God had and has a plan—this isn’t a cheesy saying I repeat to make myself feel better in times of trials. I know this is true, and in that I can find comfort knowing that what I go through is for good eventually—maybe not my good, but the good of the Kingdom. I see my world through a straw. I only see a small view of what’s going on (although I think I know more), but I know He who can see all does see all and is in charge of all. God does give us free will, but he doesn’t just spin the world up like a top and then let it go, He has His hand in everything.

While at Wildflower we raced in a relay with Chris Anderson, the head of FCA-E. Since I can’t run more than 15 minutes yet and the non-running and non-swimming Jill was on the team, it was pretty clear who was doing what. Having me as the swimmer sets us up to fail, but we will do our best.

…If we can only get there. Day 1 on the road was 3 hours longer than planned. Wind, missed exits, Jill screaming the wrong words to ‘80’s hair bands on the radio, and the desire not to spend our entire savings on Chevron led to a slower than desired pace. We stayed the night at Edwards AFB, home of the Test Pilot. This is always a cool place to visit. We only had time to get our room, sleep, shower, and hit the road again, but it’s still a cool place to go through.

Day 2 got us to Lake San Antonio, CA, and Wildflower. We set up camp and jumped in for a swim. Oh, the water was great! We held the IronPrayer service in the finish line bleachers on Friday afternoon. IronPrayer is a prayer and encouragement service held before any and all races we can get one set up for. It started with Iron man, but now involves a lot of 70.3s and of course, Wildflower. Kona qualifier Robin Soares heads it up, and it routinely brings in speakers like Heather Gollnick and Barb Linquist.

I rode the long course bike ride on Saturday morning with XTERRA rival and friend and fellow coach Trevor Glavin. Trevor’s a great guy and we had a great ride. I really didn’t know Trevor that well before this ride, but I’m very glad now to know him as a good friend. Trevor is also a great XTERRA athlete, with a few XTERRA titles under his belt.

We spent the afternoon talking with pro XTERRA Champion, and now Cancer sufferer Jamie Whitmore. Jamie went from being the winningest XTERRA athlete in history and the USAT non-ITU Athlete of the Year to lying bedridden unable to move in a few short weeks. She just went through a series of surgeries to remove a tumor in her pelvic region. She has an outstanding attitude, even in the face of never having use of her foot again, re-learning now to walk, and now facing radiation therapy. She’s a rock when it comes to dealing with setback that has sent others to suicide. She’s still focused on getting back to racing! Read more about her plight, send her your well-wishes, and help her financially here.

Our relay went well on Sunday. My swim was actually average for me, and given my last year, I’ll take it! (By the way, Zoot's Zenith wetsuit and TYR's new Nest goggle are the goo!) Jill rocked the bike, especially the first hill, and had the fastest women’s bike split (for teams), and Chris had a phenomenal run! We finished 4th out of 48; We were hoping for better, but we had fun and were excited to just get out there and be among the racers.

And now we’re on our way home again, with toys and house in tow. I’m in the passenger seat catching up on emails and phone calls, and Jill’s screaming the wrong words to more ‘80’s hair bands again as we limp on fumes to get to the cheap gas in AZ.