Oliver :: Mini Training Camp

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Nathan

I have always enjoyed the city of Penticton but I’m getting increasingly frustrated with trying to book weekends and events there. Once again I try to come into town and get a good solid weekend in and get let down by not one but all the campsites in the city. I was leaving right after work on Friday and was going to arrive just a touch after 10. I called ahead to see if there were any sites that didn’t have an issue with this, after calling three sites, I got told no. Two close at 10 and another at 8. I got so upset with this that I just blew off Penticton completely and headed to one of my favorite spots in Oliver, where I stayed for my half ironman. Once again Lakeside Resort pulls through for me with no issues at all, and in the end works out to be a great place for a training camp. Maybe that’s why there is a half iron race there…

Oliver is a mere 20 minutes outside of Ok Falls or Osoyoos, depending on which way you go. Both cities have the Ironman Canada bike course going right through and OK falls is were the run turn around is. So I loaded up the creeper and headed to Oliver.

Got in just before ten, had a shower and got ready for my 165km bike starting from Oliver. (shortened the ride, took the rip through Penticton out…) Got up around 8 and finished up my ride around 2, threw on my runners and did one loop of the half iron course to finish my Saturday. Sunday was a quick dip in Tuc-el-Nuit Lake were the swim of the Oliver race took place, with a quick drive to OK Falls for a long run. A reverse route of the Ironman run route. I started at the turn around and then came back once I hit Penticton for a out back of 25kms. Once the run was done, I jumped in the lake to get the salt off and cool the legs down for a 4 hour drive home. All around solid weekend with about 10 hours of training in two days.

After moving my whole training to Oliver, I actually feel that Oliver is probably the best option for a quick training weekend. Laid back, less restrictions on all the bullshit and its tough to beat the setting of the Lakeside resort. 35 bux a night, with nice bathrooms and showers, lake front fire pits, store close by, and a nice quite setting. Here is there facebook page for more info.

Getting ready for two races this weekend quick open water swim on Friday in Port Moody with another half ironman in Vancouver on Sunday…

some shots from the Saturday night after training.

just up from the campsite

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Lake for the Oilver halfiron, campsite just to the right.

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IMC Photos

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Nathan

Some IMC photos just came in from Calgary . I played around with them a bit but the credit doesn’t go out to me. Thanks Julie. Officially got over 3,000 dollars today online @ ironmanfund.com. Boooom!

I can't get enough of start line photos. So much energy! The only time you see everyone together.

Dano hammering it down on the bike.

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IMC ink work.

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Nathan

Some shots from this afternoon, Dan and I didn’t endure enough pain so we took a trip down to i-candy. We didn’t go for the generic symbol that you probably have seen on a lot of legs if you where down watching the Ironman on the August 29th. Spent quite a few hours trying to figure out how to draw it out, pleased with how it looks on Dan’s bicep. I ended up getting the IMC on my forearm, with the three characters, swim, bike, run, on my rip cage.

Jay tackling Dan's arm

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Bridal Falls and a bit of Harrison

Posted on July 18, 2010 by Nathan

Another busy weekend with the big days getting longer and a bit tougher after a 20 hours this week… I’ve been trying to come up with new and fresh training routes to keep me motivated and interested. After last weekends trip to Penticton I needed a bit more then an Abbotsford training session. Ended up spending a lot of time up around Harrison and Bridal Falls.

Bike route below. Started in Abbotsford met up with my folks for Breakfeast in Bridal Falls and then rode home. Ended up hitting 125km. Little windy on the way home but all around solid ride.

Here is the map of my Run Sunday morning. Roughly 24km with a interesting bridge crossing…no side walk. Then did a quick swim in Harrison to round off the weekend. Amazing weather made this weekend a great and enjoyable training session and already looking forward to the next few weeks ahead.

Future plans, include a ride up Mount Baker, a training camp in Deception Pass in Washington, and then a 5km open water race on the 8th. Feeling good and kinda enjoying the beating.

guy on twitter had this bad boy up…old lance is in the white shirt.

Weekend Wrap-up.

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Nathan

Took off friday night with the camper in tow, and headed for the Walmart in Penticton. Got in @ 11 and crashed there for the night, even though they have signs everywhere with by-law crap on it. Other then a few groups of drunken kids walking through, we had a good sleep, and hit the road.

We took off @ about 8am with the sun and course ready for us. Goal is to ride the whole 180km ironman course, and still have some energy for a run on the Sunday. Slugged it out and finished up at about 2, and was so happy to get off my bike. Felt really good til about 120km and then had to fight it from the Bear fruit stand back to Penny. In the short time that I have been cycling, I am really starting enjoy it, the distances and scenery you cover is awesome.

Two solid weeks of training before Oliver half Iron, looking forward to another race. It will be a great learning and test for me.

Here is a great write up on the course.