Prologue Epic Camp FRANCE - Alpes 2.0

With Scott steeping aside after our last camp in Canada 2014 it’s time for me to uphold the Epic traditions this time round…….. I can’t wait. As you will see as each day unfolds the camp route is BRUTAL, especially the opening few days where just finding time to write a blog is going to be a challenge.

Why France and why now?

There’s lots of reasons to come back to France but the seed for this camp was that I’m turning 40 in a few days and I wanted to be doing something I enjoy on the big day (not that I don’t enjoy being at home with the family though!). I also enjoy having projects to work towards to ensure I get my butt moving most days. Whilst Kona 2014 was a debacle of a race the journey getting there was rewarding. Much like that build up I have spent a good 6 months specifically preparing for this camp. There are no races hanging over me to hold back for so this is a real chance to see how hard/fast I can push up these mountains.

From an organizational and financial point of view France camps are not a “hard sell”. I mean who does not want to come over here and see those amazing mountains we see every year in the Tour.

One challenge for all of us on this camp is not getting too carried away with the numbers. On our past European camps we haven’t really had power or strava to match ourselves against like we do these days. It has just been the crew going head to head largely running on instinct. So whilst power meters might help us with pacing it does take out some of the fun.

Hopefully many of the other campers are going to blog for bonus points and share what it is like on the inside of the camp. We’ve got a great mix of ages and abilities on this camp with more females than ever. That, I think, will have a positive impact on keeping some of the boys in line.

The red jersey will be hotly contested amongst a number of keen and able 50+ year olds sadly without Molina leading the way. The yellow will be interesting with some new young blood and experienced campaigners locking horns.

Our route will unravel as each blog comes out. We start in Aix en Provence on Monday with a swim race in the Mediterranean before racing up Mont Ventoux. To try to even things out on the climb we’ll have a power to weight ratio race on the climb to give the big boys a chance. After checking out the swim location and riding the riding the first 20km of the day 1 route this morning we are in for a good opening.

What do I want out of this camp?

I’m really looking forward to “competing” on the climbs I don’t think I will be at the front but hopefully not too far back. Most other camps like Canada and Italy I have used the camps to gain fitness. This time the camp is my main target for the year and I want to test myself pretty much to the limit.  I’m in “good” shape, not the same great shape I was before Kona but on the bike I’m not too far off. My swim is well under par and my run is always OK.

With the help of the awesome Ian & Julie from Pyrenees Multisport http://pyreneesmultisport.com I’m hopeful that I’ll have less to stress and think about each day.

It’s time to do and get my first glass of French wine for the camp. It was bloody hot today, garmin said 36c which might have been a stretch but I easily got through 2 bottles of water in 40km.

I’ll be reporting back once day one is done and dusted.