Olaf Sabatschus Winter Camp, Canaries, Final Days
Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream….you are not dying
-Lennon
The ride to LaOlivia
This is my favorite ride on the island, even better then the views at Bentacuria. The headwinds of 25-35 mph directly in our face for the trek out continued the entire 38 miles to LaOlivia. The total ride is 81 with a longer route of climbing on the way back. We again began with group 2, of which the higher numbers of riders could help with some drafing.
Heading out with bike group 2
Heading out with Uwe and Andreas as we pass Ann
We continued this for about 10 miles, then Uwe, Andreas and I pulled away to share pulls for 2 minutes each. This didn’t last long, maybe 2 rotations each before each rider thought they’d be nice and pull a bit longer. So after about 2 miles at 13 mph, the pulls ended up being 5 minutes or longer each. At one point as I was pulling, we circled a round-about through a small town and an 18 foot truck passed in front of me going about 15 mph out of town. I stood and sprinted in the headwind with some quickly noted burn in the legs, and just barely caught his draft as he accelerated out onto the open road. I tucked in tight, about 2 feet from his rear bumper as he picked up. I quickly glance down…35 mph…and zero wind. The driver glanced at me through his side mirror and I quickly smiled and waved, in which he smiled back. He then continued at 35 mph for another mile, holding his speed so I could stay on him. Well, I could have ridden quite awhile I’m sure but after about 2 minutes I glanced behind and Uwe/Adnreas were nowhere to be seen in the distance. So I waved at the driver and pulled off. I was immediately smacked in the face by 30 mph headwind as I pulled off the side of the road to take a quick stop, at which I was able to set some kind of record with my pissing in the tail wind, the stream of which traveled at least 30 feet.
We regrouped and headed out. Entering LaOlivia took us 2:45…38 miles. This was tough. A quick 2 min stop to get water and we were on our way out of town for the 43 mile trek home, in the hills.
I remember this last year, traveling out of town with a near perfect cinder-cone in the foreground, prior to an 800 foot climb up the base of the cone before we drop into a stunning valley. Simply beautiful is the only way to describe this as we winded through and climbed in the tail wind for about 8 miles.
Leaving LaOlivia with "The Dudes" Andres and Uwe
Breathing in landscapes like this on a bike, no comparison
Winding through this valley, passsing a winery and through a tiny village, we climbed up and over the crest of a ridge over-looking the ocean. Everything about this area of the island…the wind, the sea, mountains, and even the light….just as I remember last year.
Descending to the tiny road below, then the tail-wind
We rode out 38 miles in 2:45, and arrived at 4:32, with the final 43 miles in 1:47. This ride was in the books and the final bigger ride of the camp. The ride was preceded with the final long run in which we did a short ride with a TT to loosen up the legs, then headed out. Uwe, Ann and I started about 12 minutes behind the group. It’s 8 miles up to the 1000 foot ascent lighthouse and David Christian and I were feeling good as far as our legs were so decided to run up to the top with everyone else. Ann and I ran with Uwe and Uwe eventually took off at mile 3, the base of the climb. Playing it wise on my soleus, I layed back and ran 9-10 min pace up to the top. Olaf and Rob were there waiting with energy drinks and water. Then the turn-around back to town, then another 6 mile out and back to the next town along a painted run trail. I was suprised to trot at 7:30 pace for the remainder of the run for my first real long run of the year.
Uwe on the initial ascent to the lighthouse, way off in the background
Ironheads teammate David Christian rounds a corner running up to the lighthouse
The final ride of the camp was a 42 mile easy trek to the opposite side of the island, straight across to a small town. We road out in group 2 and part of group 3, again with moderate headwinds but nothing like LaOlivia ride
Rob Wilkinson leading a group riding out on our final day
For the first and only time of the camp, we stopped on the ride for about an hour and enjoyed one…or three coffee’s. Sitting in the warm sun, right on the beach, then a tail-wind all the way back.
Some of the riders opted to head to another cafe where pastries had a reputation, but we simply enjoyed our coffee.
Sitting at a cafe, the ocean directly behind me, enjoying coffee with the group
I can’t exclude my favorite thing each and every morning for breakfast. Big bowel of about 2 cups of yogurt with either dried bananas and walnuts with honey, or berries. I would eat this every day prior to my 3-4 eggs with tomato slices. Of course, nearly every breakfast was followed with a slice or two of whole grain toast with nutella on one slice, and strawberry preserves on the other…and a big cup of coffee. People thought I was crazy bringing my own huge Oregon ceramic mug with pine trees carved in it…but if you saw the size of the “shot glasses” they served coffee in…you’d know why I brought the big mug this year.
This is about the best camp I can imagine for winter training. The trek there is long, but it’s only a day and once you’re there, staying 10 days or a bit more is recommended. I rode just over 540 miles, and ran 75 miles in nearly two weeks, so the mileage is there. I took a much needed break for a few days after, keeping everyting low key. Olaf Sabatschus keeps things extremely organized and it’s very nice to have a 50 meter pool on the premises, with dirt roads and trails to accent the roads to run on. The riding is just excellent, especially our day on Lanzarote. We were happy to see most of our German Friends again. The assistant coaches, know their stuff and hold back constantly to properly lead their groups. I have a few gifts from my new friends and it’s nice to have some monetary memory of the place. Hopefully Uwe and Andreas can make it out to IM CdA here next year or the year after, or IM Canada. Love to show them our corner of the world here in Portland.
Why Lennon?
Several of us are racing California 70.3 in a couple of weeks. For me this is a practice run before ironman Texas in May, of which is a practice run to Ultraman Canada in July. For others, not the season key race either.
These things aren’t and shouldn’t evoke stress in an individual. We are not striving for an Olympic Medal here. There isn’t money at stake. This race will not break or make anyone. Take things in stride and don’t place the wrong things on an elusive pedistal. Try not to fight upsteam all the time. Instead, try floating downstream, relax, and enjoy some life.
