Santa Fe Training Camp
I spent last week in Santa Fe, NM to enjoy a mid winter altitude training camp. It was really my wife’s vacation and we wanted to get a little change of scenery as well as see her parents new house. So it was a last minute trip, for just a week, but it was great!
For those of you who don’t know Santa Fe is located 7,000 feet above sea level…let me tell you that is high…in fact 2,000-1,500 feet higher than Denver and Boulder, CO. I could barely do a flip turn without gasping for breath! J Although I did feel flat for most of my workouts there was one great ride I have to share.
The Santa Fe ski basin is at 10,000 feet and there is a single 15 mile winding access road that snakes it’s way from downtown to the summit. I decided that I needed to make this trip on my bike, just to say that I did. I began in the late afternoon when the sun was strongest and the temperatures were warmest. However, as I began the ascent the clouds quickly hide my heat sources. I had prepared for the descent, so I put on a few extra layers sooner than anticipated.
About 30minutes into my climb I began a 30min tempo work set up the hill holding about 80% of my FTP, this helped me warm up quite a bit, even though I was barely going 8mph! J As I got closer to the top the sun began to rapidly sink in the sky, the snow banks began to increase in size and the water on the roads soon turned to slush. I considered turning around, but I had made it this far I had to continue.
I reach the summit at about 5pm, significantly later than I had hoped, but just as the sun was setting and it was beautiful. I snapped a few photos on my phone and prepared for a cold ride back down to town. It took me 1:35min to climb the hill and less than 45min to get back down! It would have been a lot more fun if I didn’t have to slow down for the ice and I didn’t need to stop a few times and breath on my hands and into my gloves to keep my fingers from going numb! By the time I got home it was pitch dark and I was FREEZING!! When I got home I took a steaming hot shower and a huge vat of my new favorite 53×11 coffee! It was not the best planned adventure, but it was great fun!
