Camper vs Coaching

 I had 2 amazing weeks!!

Week 1 I was a camper at Triathlon Camp run by my coach Marilyn Chayota, in Tucson. I worked hard to finish all my athlete plans so the week would be lighter work-wise. I packed up, fueled up, and drove to Tucson for 6 terrific days.  

Triathlon camp is my favorite activity, well, 2nd to racing.   I get to do what I love every day and be an athlete. No planning, no thinking, just show up and crush me. On a few days, I found myself the weakest rider in my group and embraced that. I stopped looking at watts and focused on staying in the group. Times I felt strong and capable, and other times, I was hearing noises escape from me that sounded like a wounded animal. Every SAG stop, I ate and drank more, pounded the caffeine, and got back into the group.

The Swims, my happy place, were challenging, and I had a draft 👍, someone to chase!  

The Runs were humbling as always. The 5K TT was solid for me, but wow, there were some FAF men and women there, waaaay ahead of me. This is when I focus on myself and how am I running compared to ME and not anyone else.   

The week was fantastic! New friends from all over, all the ware stories, new friendships, and new people to cheer on at races.   Camping outside of your home is key! I could focus on me, not the dogs, my husband, the dishwasher, or the laundry. I could train, eat, sleep, eat, repeat!   I know from camp that eating and fueling are critical to a successful outcome! 

I drove home Sunday with a filthy bike, a car full of laundry, a readiness score of 54, and a mom in the hospital with 8 staples in her head and 7 broken ribs.

I slept like a champ, caught up on work, got ahead, and shifted to our camp! The first of many,  NYX Endurance Camps!   

NYX Camp San Diego fucking rocked!   I could drop the mic and walk away here!

5 days,  19 athletes, 3 coaches, 3 SAG peeps, and hours of fun! We laughed, cheered, pushed, dug deep, ate fantastic food, enjoyed the stunning San Diego Coast, and deepened friendships.   The coaches stayed in houses with our athletes, and that was amazing. The chatter in the house around mixing bottles and sitting in Normatcs's is impossible to replicate in any other way. There is something about making coffee together and eating breakfast that is a level up.  

The camp is about logistics and more logistics as a coach, but that is all in the planning. Once it kicks off, it is about watching people, pushing when they need it, encouraging when they need it, chatting to get up a climb, or swearing a lot so they know that is helpful. At NYX, it's never been, MY athlete. It's OUR athletes, and camp allowed us to coach, encourage, swear with everyone.   I appreciated getting to know so many new faces and deepening relationships that were merely acquaintances.

I left camp with a full heart! 
Excited for the next camp!

Sad it was over!

Tired AF, readiness score 47, an all-time low. 

What's next..... Oceanside and Ironman St George. I took a deep dive into the start list of both races. COVID is OVER, and racing is back. Deep AG Fields at both races. #bringiton