My Triathlon Holiday with Embrace Sports in the Pyrenees.
Day 1:
I arrived at the airport at midday and was
friendlily greeted by Eric, Neil and Ali from the Embrace team. I was then
introduced to the other 15 on the trip, we jumped in the car and drove for just over an hour to the farmhouse, chatting about our training
and forthcoming events on the way.
The farmhouse accommodation is lovely: very vintage, a big
kitchen, good sized rooms, a pool and a hot tub to soak our aching muscles in. We arrived in gorgeous weather, those that brought their bikes
built them and those renting were set up on our bikes. I was given a great
little bike a Planet X full carbon! We then set off on our first introductory ride, there
were some very quick and strong riders, but we naturally broke into two groups. The ride
was sunny and flat and with only very small hills to warm us up for the mountain the next day.
The 18 mile cycle was finished with 4.6k brick run where we all learnt the
route so we could do this on our own after each ride. A good afternoon to
break us in…
Day 2:
A big day!
We started with breakfast and a bike
101, which I very much needed! Teaching us bike maintenance, how to clean it
after sessions, which lubes to use depending on conditions and most importantly
how to change a puncture tyre.
We then set off to the lake for my
first open water swim session, after a briefing everyone shot off across the
lake to the rock and back (370m). I seemed to have a bit of a panic attack. I
just couldn’t control my breathing, Eric was very good coaching me
through it and I finally managed to get my stroke under control. My wetsuit
worked well I didn’t feel cold even though it was only 13 degrees c, it was
just the breathing in the cold water that I struggled to get my breathe under
control. The lake was beautifully clean though and I even spotted few
fish! My first open water swim experience was most interesting!
Next..The mountain climb – Col D’Aspin. Overall 44.6
miles /75km and 1490m climbed! The mountain climb was 12km at an average of
6.5% with a max of 10%, climbing 779m. It's strange you set out in the heat and
then at the top its freezing. We all waited and cheered each one of us up to
the top. I can’t
believe you churn up a hill for over an hour and it takes less than 20 minutes
to get back down!
We then finished the ride with our lap
of the brick run and a core class. Then a feast on a homemade bbq!
Day 3:
Bike 202! Over breakfast we learnt the
basics of riding in a group and tactics up and down hill.
We then set off to the lake again for
some more swimming. I think I was even
worse, it was colder and I was still struggling to breathe. Managed two laps in
a mix of front crawl and breast stroke, still finding it hard to put my head
under.
Next a woodland run – a lovely trail run of 6km laps, I aimed to do two but felt
so strong (could be to all the great food provided) I managed to complete 3
laps = 18k in a quick 1 hr 21 on trail.
Not bad and the longest I’d
run for a while.
We finished the day with some
transition practice and an easy 25km cycle. Dinner was at a local restaurant
Day 4 – Col D’Peyresourde 105km Bike Ride.
We left at 9am and the weather was gorgeous. The
ride was beautiful through mountains and valleys. We stopped at the famous Tour
de France town Luchon at 50km for some coffee. The climb was 15km and we
climbed to 1585m. It was hot and tough and took me just over an hour. I also
chatted to some French guys as we went up, as I
passed them in the last 2km they shouted “You machine, you machine!”, which gave me the encouragement to do a little sprint finish. Apparently, they climb
that mountain every other week. My cycling could get so strong if I had that
option! We then finished the ride by descending the other side of the mountain;
totaling 105km in the 26 degree heat. I found it a pretty tough but persevered as to
complete the 4.6km brick run. Everyone else was popping on their trainers so I
felt obliged! We returned to the
farmhouse about 4pm and chilled by the pool.
We were all pretty knackered by the end of this
day, dinner was a lovely feast of homemade thai green curry, vegetable curry,
peanut chicken and salad followed by ice cream. Amazing, I must get all their the
recipes!
Day 5:
Duathlon Day
A 5km trail run, 24km cycle, 5km trail
run. I really enjoyed this fun event, it gave me a chance to practise my
transitions and I achieved a negative
split on the run. The bike was a TT course and in the blistering heat it was
tough, but I felt my competitive side kick in and over took Sarah on the last
run to be the first lady home!
This was followed by a cooling lake
swim - with the weather much warmer I managed 4 laps of the lake. I was more
relaxed and quite enjoyed it!
We then finished the day with a Q and
A on triathlon and a core class with Kat which was a great end to a fab
day. Dinner was then a delicious homemade French beef stew, salad and potatoes (a
healthy version of the dolpinaise potatoes
with crème fresh, asparagus, spices and carrots). Yum!
Day 6:
Aquathon Day
Not my favourite day, we started with
a sunny 15k ride down to the lake and pulled our partners out a hat. I was glad
to be paired with Millie a strong swimmer and runner, the event was a tag
style, person 1 swims 400m and then changes out their wetsuit as quick as
possible, puts on their running shoes and runs a mile lap before tagging their
partner. This is then repeated so we both go twice. I opted to go first thinking its best to get
it done! For some reason
in the rush and swim, I just completely lost my breathe couldn’t breathe and
thought I was going to drown! As the others speed off I panicked, I just
couldn’t get my breathe. Luckily one of the coaches spotted me waving in panic
and charged into the lake (no wetsuit!) and calmed me down. I pulled it
together and managed to swim the rest of the lap. I then pulled the wetsuit off
as quick as possible and charged off onto the run which felt strange in my
swimsuit! I managed to catch a few and tagged Millie who caught the rest of the
group! Second round went was much better, I was slow but didn’t stop, progress!
We then cycled the next 15km back to the
farm house for some well needed R and R and a trip to the chocolatier. We
cycled their without our lycra! The chocolates were amazing and it was very
interesting to see how they were made. Buying a few treats, we then headed back
for some sun, reading and writing by the pool as well as getting our bikes
ready for a mammoth ride tomorrow!
Day 7:
Two mountains 1200ft elevation, 125km covered
and a 4.7km brick run after….
This was an epic last day, we set off bright and
early in the hope that the weather wouldn’t be too hot when we climbed Tourmalet. The ride
planned consisted of the epic Col du Touramlet famous in the Tour de France, a
17.5km climb with an average gradient of 9.9% eek! With an added climb up the
other side of Col d’Aspin and a valley ride home.
The first 30k of the ride wasn’t the flattest going over a couple of 2-3km climbs, then 10km with a 1%
up hill gradient to the bottom of Tourmalet. From what I remember the climb
itself was tough but with beautiful views and scenery. I followed a very hairy wild donkey for
a while at the start which distracted me! We cycled through the French ski
resort La Mongie without a stop before the last 5km to the top. The group had
opened out and it was just you grinding up the hill against the mountain at a
depressingly slow average pace of 6mph. The climb took me 1:47 minutes and its
funny how you completely zone out and think about random things like old jokes,
the words of a song and I tried to calculate random sums concerning speeds and
the minutes left I would be climbing in my head! As you climb higher, you start to see snow
at the side of the roads which is surreal considering your body heat is so hot,
I was tempted to rock off the side of my bike and fly in the snow piles, I had
to take a gel half way through the climb my legs were drained, it made such a
difference and I felt quite strong up the last km, reading all the names of the
famous cyclists in the road is pretty cool, someone had written “shut up legs” in
the last km which made me chuckle! Upon reaching the top the views were
astounding and it was such a great feeling of accomplishment. You then suddenly
feel rather cold and after a few quick photos, I layered up and started the challenge of the steep
and long descent!
The rest of the ride consisted of another hard
climb up Col’d Aspin, our legs were really feeling it now but the coaches were so
encouraging. We also stopped at some shops to refuel, I grabbed a bounty bar
and some Haribo, nom nom…
It’s crazy how much
you need to eat on these rides! The
valley ride home was flat and the coaches were great letting us draft during
the tough head winds. Once returning we all went for the routine brick run and
collapsed back at the farm house. Time for a quick shower, some well-earned
bubbly and a slide show to laugh at a collection of photos the guys had taken
during the week.
Dinner was a elegant 3 course meal and wine at a
restaurant down the road. It was sad, we were all saying our goodbyes, yet celebrating our amazing
achievement of the day. Everyone in the group got on so well and we all had
good banter between us. I absolutely loved the holiday and encourage anyone,
whatever training level to go. As well as great training, it was relaxing and
fun. As soon as I can I will be booking next years with Embrace sports and
cannot wait for the season to start….
