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February 5,
2007:
Monaco
 I
am back from a 12 day trip to Monaco. I have
one word - AMAZING! I had a great trip. No, I
should say the best trip.
Last Fall I got a call from an Austrian buddy of
mine, Georg. Georg is one of the rock star's
behind the amazing Ironman Austria and now
Ironman France, Ironman South Africa and Ironman
70.3 Monaco. Georg called to see if I would be
interested in helping coach at a triathlon
training camp in Monaco. It didn't take too
long to say yes to that gig. I enjoy being in
Europe and my record of working with Georg has
been a great one.
The concept of the camp was to help launch
Transitions lens in Oakley's for Europe.
Opticians and people in the industry had the
chance to apply for the training with the goal
of racing Ironman 70/3 Monaco in September. The
first camp was an introduction to swim and run
training with some performance tests to see
where there fitness level was at. Eight people
were accepted and my task is to help get them
ready for the big race. There will be four
training camps including the one I just
completed with them.
 There
was some constant moving around of the dates of
the camp so I decided that I would simply get to
Monaco early and leave late. The camp would
hopefully take place within the time I had
booked my ticket to Europe. It did. I had
three days before the camp and three days after
the camp to play. I had made a smart choice to
get there early and leave late. In fact, if it
wasn't for my amazing girlfriend at home and
tons of snow on Whistler I would have stayed in
Monaco.
I was absolutely blown away with the riding and
the weather. I found out while in Monaco that I
need to take 2 months off of running due to a
bloody frustrating run injury that won't go
away. I have been battling it for a year and I
am pretty sure I now know why it won't go away -
it is a stress fracture. Luckily I don't feel a
thing when I ride. So, bike racing it is for me
this year. Oh ya, all you people that think I
am doing Ironman in October - forget about it.
I can't even if I wanted to. Maybe next year...
This year the goal is to get my Senior 1 race
license (I am currently a Senior 2) and to learn
how to really mountain bike especially the
downhill stuff.
The highlights of my trip were discovering some
incredible roads with the help of Saul Raisin,
former triathlon superstar Yves Cordier, Georg,
and Axel Merckx. I enjoyed some great coffee
during the coffee breaks on the long rides with
some great people. I am now stuck on Saul's web
site checking for his updates on his return to
the European peloton from a near death crash
last year. Saul's story is amazing one. He now
has a new fan.
I know most of my friends are going to be
grilling me on how it was like to ride with Axel
and his training partner Lorenzo Bernucci.
Let's just say it is the primary reason I could
have stayed in Monaco all year. Axel is by far
the classiest guy in the peloton. A true class
act. Make sure to cheer for him this year - I
know I will.
Well, I have to get on my rollers. The new
training focus has begun - except for powder
days on Whistler.
Yours in sport,
Pete
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