Desert Training Camp Coaching Week #2
DAY 1 - Saturday Night Arrival
Arrival at Newark - via Phoenix, AR - on Saturday, March 5th.
Desert Camp is run by Lon Haldeman and Susan Nortelangelo. I knew them from stories Pat Carter (NYC rider and PAC Tour Hall of Fame) had told me and then was able to meet them personally on the Quad Centuries (BMB) and Paris-Brest-Paris. Susan, through phone calls, helped answer some organizing questions I had for the NJ brevet series. She’s got the greatest personality and full of knowledge. Lon and Susan have amazing personalities and after this Desert Camp, I see why they are so successful. They know and love what they are doing. They were especially successful on the bike – as we all know watching Race Across America and reading the history. Lon and Susan are the BEST!
How did I decide to go to camp? Richie Kondzielaski (Ski) (NJ Randonneur and RAAM finisher) kept nagging me to sign up for this camp. It took him one month and I finally decided to do it. I had checked the roster and saw John Hughes and Steve Born’s names. Here was my chance to meet Steve in person after talking to him for four years. Mary Crawley’s name was listed and the thought of riding with a New Jersey randonneur excited me. Mary is strong – rides tandem with Paul Shapiro. They completed the entire series last year. What worried me most about the camp was the first and last day – riding from Tuscon to Sierra Vista 87 miles. Although I’d ridden with Crista and Chuck (DC Randonneurs) on January 1st, I’d never been in Arizona and hoped the terrain wasn’t like Hill Country of Texas. I tried Hell Week twice but had problems of sore knees, chilly mornings with hot afternoons, fatigue and bronchitis. I even left the ride early one year, Knowing I would have at least 1200 miles in my legs from commuting, I signed up.
I booked a flight out of Newark. Unfortunately, I didn’t send the bike via FedEX. It costs $30 (four day ground) each way opposed to $80 each way on the airline – dragging the bike not included. My connection was Phoenix where a man approached me asking “are you Diane Goodwin?” He was Daniel Aaron, randonneur on our first Princeton 200K. With him, Greg. Both were from Long Island. Of course, the first questions were related to how much training we had done. Daniel had the least miles – mostly indoor training. We caught the FREE hotel shuttle from Tuscon to the hotel ($3 tip per person suggested). County Inn and Suites is where we stayed – nice and close. Ski offered to pick me up but I declined because Greg and Daniel had helped me with my luggage.
At camp, you are assigned a roommate unless you pay extra for a single room. My roommate was Cat Berge (http://www.catharinaberge.com/). She emailed me before the trip. We came from opposite ends of the world in cycling – she finished Furnace Creek 508 2nd overall in 2001 and has the fastest rookie time ever. Now she’s signed up as solo woman 2005 RAAM. Did I mention she’s younger than I am? Her plan was to use this camp for training. Here was an unfocused Easterner who has developed this attraction to riding behind cyclists during events rooming with a Swedish ultra-cyclist. She’s also very smart with a Phd and is a veteranarian. Upon my arrival, she was out cycling Mt. Lemmon, of course! Lon developed this route for those arriving early enough Saturday – a good climb. She was really friendly in the emails – even offering one of her bikes if mine didn’t make the connection flight. The first night we went to sleep at 8 o’clock. This continued throughout most of the week. I usually sleep at midnight but figured “well, what else is there to do, maybe this is a good thing.”
When you arrive at camp, you go to a room and pick-up your packet of goodies which include cue sheets, name plate, name badge, helmet sticker names, long-distance cycling books, clothing, etc…. you were greeted by the crew, Lon and Zoe. Zoe is the daugher of a crew couple who is three years old. I learned fast that she likes to wear pink and have her photo taken. The name/license plate is great because you always know who is riding in front of you. I was surprised how much stuff you get. I dropped off the bike parts here for the African cyclists (Lon and Susan send care packages). Oh, they were inspected by airport security. Kryptonite locks are allowed in carry on as well as handle bars and bottom brackets. I kept the pedal wrench in the bike case.
Ski helped assemble my bike. He later went to a BB King concert in Tuscon which riders thought it strange. He invited me but I had to decline knowing I needed all the strength for an 86 mile ride. John Hughes, Michelle Grainger, Karl (VT), Mary Crawley, Dan, Greg and I all went to dinner the first night. I decided I’d skip alcohol every night during the camp. I ate some pasta dish. It was a fun meal.
That was Day 1.
