![\"1](\"http:\/\/o2fitness.net\/o2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/1-Packing-Light.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nProof there\u2019s no such thing as packing light!<\/p>\n
We rented a team house in the Loomis area, which made it possible to ride to most of the training venues.\u00a0 The location gave us the perfect place to settle in and have a great base of operations (possibly complete with poltergeist).<\/p>\n
Day One \u2013 Sprints<\/h2>\n
Day one started with a sprint workout in the English Colony area.\u00a0 Julie\u2019s intimate knowledge of the roads meant we had a nice circuit for training with some gentle rollers for a bit of extra challenge \u2013 not just your flat loop around Air Center!\u00a0 Each loop included two sprints, which challenged our ability to recover from hard efforts in bigger gears.<\/p>\n
A group chalk talk about sprinting and apexing turns.<\/p>\n The two-and-a-half hour session included solo sprints, as well as double and three-person team lead outs.\u00a0 Several riders hadn\u2019t raced before, so they were able to pick up new skills, like drafting and how helpful it can be under any circumstances.\u00a0 Riders also learned about apexing turns and the benefit of riding intervals at higher intensity levels.\u00a0 We finished up with some rolling climbs up toward Auburn and back to the group house.<\/p>\n In the afternoon, we did a one hour active recovery ride as the sun was setting.\u00a0 Despite already being tired from the morning workout, everyone enjoyed the spin and its positive effect on our tired legs. \u00a0We all felt sluggish at the start, but quickly realized how that quick spin helps the body recover.<\/p>\n Post-ride, we enjoyed the ability to eat an awesome potluck dinner for complete refueling.\u00a0 Cyclists are often great cooks (or we can shop well!) and this group was no exception.<\/p>\n We needed Saturday night\u2019s dinner and Sunday morning\u2019s breakfast as fuel for Sunday\u2019s hill repeats.\u00a0 Baxter Grade, just north of Auburn, is a local classic.\u00a0 It works well for approximately 10-minute intervals with a variety of power outputs easy\/hard, easy\/hard).\u00a0 The legs and lungs have to adapt to the changes in pitch in the road.\u00a0 Five times up and down made for jelly legs, but having people around to offer encouragement was the kicker that got us all to the top of that fifth repeat.<\/p>\n The first hill repeat on Baxter Grade, when we were full of energy!<\/p>\n Several of us skipped some major Sunday sporting event for an hour of active recovery later in the day, including a tour of Itchy Acres (my new favorite name for a rural\/suburban housing tract!).\u00a0 Another great sunset was on tap, along with more incredible, green scenery.\u00a0 It\u2019s amazing how beautiful that color feels when you live in a desert.<\/p>\n It\u2019s amazing what a weekend camp can do for your riding.\u00a0 Personally, I needed a reminder about why I love cycling so much.\u00a0 I got that reminder from riding with great people in an amazing location that has world class terrain for cycling.\u00a0 I also got that lift from feeling my body riding and recovering better than I thought it would.\u00a0 There have been days over the winter that I couldn\u2019t train as much or as hard as I wanted to, so feeling reasonably good after two days of pummeling myself was a nice surprise.<\/p>\n Riders also learned about more than just the physical benefits of doing intervals.\u00a0 We definitely discussed their cardio and strength aspects.\u00a0 But, Julie\u2019s coaching includes so much more, like focusing on pedal stroke efficiency.\u00a0 She makes it clear that you can\u2019t just mash the pedals or \u201cphone in\u201d the workout and expect to gain much benefit.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nDay Two \u2013 Hill Repeats<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nKey Takeaways<\/h2>\n