(Not Really) Mega Miles Training Camp

EG had been planning for a week-long Mega Mile training camp at Rondeau Provincial Park for a while. As much as I enjoy skating, I knew that it would simply be painful for me to match him mile by mile. Instead, I came to the training camp with a rather lighthearted attitude...in fact, I was more excited about the camping part than the skating part of the trip!

After an easy three hour drive, KN and I arrived at the campground on Sunday morning in good spirits. We immediately threw on our skates and the four of us skated a lap on the very smooth and quiet road in the park. I love how the road goes right between the marshes and the trees! The guys kept me in the pack for the first lap but the speed inevitably picked up in lap two. I dropped out of the pack and skated back to the campsite and it wasn't long before everyone came back anyway. After a leisurely lunch, we explored a bit in the park. I particularly liked the beach which stretched on and on in the distance.

One of my favourite pictures from this trip: The TISC Kung Fu Masters

KN enjoyed a quiet moment at the beach.

Monday was a rather uneventful day as EG and I woke up to the sound of falling rain on the tent. It kept on raining and raining until early afternoon. Luckily, EG planned for a recovery day anyway. When the sun finally came out, we went out for an easy skate which turned out to be a useful one-on-one coaching session for me. I worked on correcting my problem with weaving and EG asked me to setdown along a straight line. Upon the setdown, head/sternum/knee/foot should align vertically. In addition, I should drive my knee forward as if I was kicking a soccer ball. This additional forward thrust should allow me to add more power without doing more work. I still have problem with coordinating between delaying my setdown to avoid two-footing and minimize weaving. It was almost as if I could only do one but not both at the same time. Hmmm...

Tuesday was EG's big day of 10hr skate. I had no intention to skate with him for the entire duration anyway so I slept in a bit and had a good breakfast. By the time I was ready to skate, he had already skated three laps. It was a little windy but tagging along behind EG made it easy for me. Somewhere along the way, it occurred to me that I only learned to stay in the draft since last August's Support Your World Team Clinic. And it was really since the beginning of this outdoor season that I am finally comfortable to skate close enough to feel the benefit of the draft. I skated with EG on alternating laps so by the time he completed his 10 hours of skating, I skated 75km. I think this is the most distance I've ever skated in a single day.