Rob Eakin Triathlete

Maui Camp – Day #8

Haleakala climb day. There were some whisperings of not going from sea level but we decided if we were going to down in flames, we may as well make them as big as possible. It was a surprisingly subdued and quiet breakfast mostly due to everyone being a little nervous about what we were about to try.

Stage one involved us riding down 3,000 ft for half an hour just to get back to sea level before turning around and starting our accent.

That's the volcano in the background. The first part of the climb was brutal, not because of the hill but the heat as we were on an open highway, with no wind and the sun directly in our faces. I don't think I've sweat so much in my life (Alan and Martina are sure of it) and thought there was no way I was going to make it if it stayed like that.

Luckily at about 2,000 ft we turned off the main highway and headed into a more forested area. After a break to refill water at 3,500 ft we started up the portion of the climb we did on Tuesday. We all had our own pace so at this point, each of us was pretty much on our own. The views were amazing but, again, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it the entire way.

Just before the 7,000 ft mark, I caught up with Martina and it was a good thing (I think for both of us) that I did. I'm not sure if the road flattened out a little bit or if it was just having some company but I started feeling much better. There wasn't a lot of conversation (although I did get tested on some calculus, damn you Martina) but we took our turns leading into the headwind and drafting off each other.

Alan (done over a half hour before us), came down to encourage us the last kilometre or so and I gave it everything I had up the final (and steepest) part of the climb. And what a feeling to get to the top. Almost as good were the looks we got from everyone else at the summit. Not sure if they were amazed or just thought we were insane.

I think Alan put it best when he asked me when we got back, if a year ago before I started training if I would ever have imagined doing a ride that that. The answer would be a very simple: No.

The final stats:

• 7 hours
• 150 km
• 10,000 ft of vertical
• 4 Clif Bars/4 Power Bars
• 6 Gels
• 6 L of liquids (~5 L of Cytomax)
• 1 Amazing View

This is only after the turn around and my altitude function wasn't working completely so it only kicks in part way up.

Naturally we spent the rest of the night (what was left of it since we didn't get back until 4 pm after leaving just before 9 am) laying around wondering how we were going to feel in the morning.

Maui Camp – Day #7

Today was a recovery day to get ready for the big Haleakala climb tomorrow. That means an easy bike ride and an easy swim. Our bike ride took us from the aquarium in Maalaea south into Kihea for half an hour and then back. It was nice to finally find a nice flat stretch of road to ride.We then went to the outdoor pool in Kihea (by the way, pools here are awesome, they are big, free and not used much). It was just another technique swim and felt alright except for the fact that I couldn't kick well.

The afternoon was going to be spent at the beach but the weather did not cooperate. We ran into Jamie, Kelly, and Chloe leaving the beach as it was just starting to rain but we tried to wait it out.

The rain didn't let up (in fact, we got to watch a little lightning storm just off the coast) so we eventually made our way home to relax and get ready for the big ride tomorrow.

Maui Camp – Day #5

Our morning workout today was the first combo workout of the year. It was an eight minute climb up Polipoli Road on bike and then a one minute sprint run repeated three times. Took the first one easy, but then surprised Kris by picking it up on the second and then leaving Martina in the dust on the final one. I then decided to opt out of the one hour optional ride afterwards to make sure I had a chance to fully recover after yesterday's debacle.

We then decided to move our afternoon swim to Thursday and take the afternoon off at the beach where I got a chance to try body surfing for the first time. While the weather wasn't great (I know I shouldn't complain about slightly overcast skies and 20 degrees Celsius) the waves were breaking just enough to surf on but not get tossed (most of the time) on the beach.

We ended the evening with some more cryotherapy and an awesome steak dinner on the BBQ. Feeling like tomorrow is going to be a good day.

Maui Camp – Day #4

Haleakala test ride day. We rode from our place (3500 ft elevation) to just over 6000 ft (roughly two thirds to the top). It was cloudy and rainy and it got a little too windy to go much further so we turned back. The plan is go from sea level to the top (10,000 ft) on Saturday. It took us about two hours and it wasn't as bad as I imagined as it wasn't as steep as I thought it would be. As well, the decent was awesome as the road was perfect (although a little wet).To make up for cutting the Haleakala climb short, we decided head along the same route as yesterday (but a little further) after lunch. The beginning downhill went fine (although I did get stuck behind a truck which slowed me down) but as soon as it flattened out and started rolling, I knew I was in trouble. By the time we hit the turn around point I was completely done. No amount of gels or power bars were going to bring me back.

Alan hung back to chat with me as we started our way back and I told him that the ride home was going to be ugly. He asked if in that state I would rather have company or slog it out alone and I figured it would be better for everyone if I just pushed through it by myself. So I hung behind everyone else, occasionally losing sight of them around a corner and just hammered on. It's amazing the things that go through your mind in that state. Every negative thought you can imagine comes bubbling up and seem to take over.

But I did make it home eventually (with the help of a stop for popsicles orchestrated by Alan along the way). And after some food and relaxation I felt much better.

We also got our first taste of cryotherapy which was actually a welcome experience considering how my legs felt.

Maui Camp – Day #3

5:30 am swim. Felt like four days away from the pool helped. Felt good and smooth and even managed to get through a kick set without a huge struggle (very good considering a couple of months ago, 25 m of kicking would have done me in and we rode 100 km yesterday). Had a small breakthrough in my flip turns as well as I finally got my body position off the wall improved so I'm not submarining to the bottom of the pool when I push off the wall. Was then rewarded with a trip to Starbucks (aka my happy place)Home for breakfast and then off for an easy 40 minute run around the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, our place is at the top of a hill so the first half was a nice downhill but coming back was a nasty uphill.

Then after lunch and a nap we went out for an easy 2 hour bike ride southwest from our place down through Ulupalakula. Again downhill there and all uphill back. It was a beautiful ride, looking down on the ocean, Wailea and the lava fields.