DAY 1 Sunday
Today I woke up had breakfast and took a shower. I made sure I hade everything and took it outside to be loaded up in the van. Around 9 to 915 Dan, Brian, Drew, and Vince started showing up. We got the stuff loaded up put the bikes on the rack and took pictures, especially of Vince’s newly shaved legs. We said our good byes and headed off. We started off the trip with a prayer and a quick devotion from Mr. Lark who also made sure we were hydrated. We then stopped at Fazolis getting a quick bite to eat before we head out again. When getting there we unloaded the bikes and luggage. We met the mechanic Eric and the camp manager Mark Fasczewski. We took a few pictures before saying good bye to Mr. Lark and my dad. We hung out for a little bit then went on an easy hour ride getting to know everyone like my new roommate David Goodman. We came back got dressed and had a great pasta dinner. After dinner we played some frisbee with some new friends. We had a meeting about the camp at 8pm and the 2 rules were always have a water bottle in your hand when not riding and always wear your name tag or you would do motivational exercises, such as 20 pushups. The meeting ended at 9, so we hung out and went to bed at 10.
DAY 2 Monday
Today I woke up around 645 got dressed and ready for breakfast at 730. It was a great breakfast with all the chocolate milk you could drink. We were ready to ride at 9 with our 5 coaches, John Kelly did not ride, Kimberly Flynn Fasczewski, David Hutton, Shannon Mathis, Steve Strain, and our mechanic Eric. We all left having a nice long ride and getting back at around 12.We took a shower and got ready to eat at 1230. We had great lunch of chips, sandwiches, and chocolate milk with some other sides. We then had a 1 hour to 45 min. to take a nap or do whatever. At 2 we worked on skills, like leaning against each other when riding and stuff like that. After we played a game called foot down, and me and Drew were the Red Zone champions. After taking a shower and getting all cleaned up it was finally dinner. We ate, hung out and had a meeting at 8 about core exercise and how important they are. After the meeting I was resting on the couches when a bat flew in the church. It then disappeared and the excitement was over so I went to bed. After being in bed for ten min. the bat flies in my room and is diving at my face I run out of my room and into the hall getting Dave. We finally trap it at the end of the hall and close the doors. Tired, I finally go to bed at 1030.
DAY 3 Tuesday
Today, I woke up had another great breakfast of pancakes and eggs with some bacon and chocolate milk. We all got ready after breakfast for one of our time trials today. Warming up for about an hour we started our time trial in the order of the numbers they gave us. They weighed us, then weighed us with our bikes. We finally all went. It was a very short time trail, from 5 to 8 min. We got back just as lunch was starting and so I showered off and ate. We had skills at 2 again, and this time it was on how to get your bottles from someone in the feed zone. We also worked on looking over our shoulder why going in a straight line. At the end of the skills we played the foot down game and I won the first round. I then got showered off after the skills and waited for dinner which was in about 40 min. After dinner we waited for out meeting we had every night and I spent mine by taking a nap. When we had our meeting it was about race day preparation, and what we should do to be prepared like the McShanes. After the meeting we all partied in Drew’s room and just talked. Then we all had to go to bed at ten.
DAY 4 Wednesday
Today as always we had breakfast and left to see our time trial course which was a 1 hour and 30 min. away. This time trial course was much longer than the first one it would take about 15 to 20 min. to climb. By the time we all finished it and got back it was 1245 and we still had to take showers. Since we were late, Coach Mark said that we didn’t have to do drills till 3 and we were all relieved. He also said that we would be leaving at 845 instead of 915 tomorrow so be dressed in you riding gear so that we could get our tt done and get back for lunch in time. At 3 when it was time for drills we split up in to groups the cat 1,2,3s went down the mountain and the 4,5s stayed on the top. We worked on pace lines and how you could have different ones. When getting back and showering up we had a nice chicken dinner and had a meeting at 8 about nutrition. After that we hung out and went to bed at 10.
DAY 5 Thursday
Today we all came to breakfast in are riding gear and left for our ride at 845. We got to the mountain and started doing what we had done before on the other time trial. We weighed our self and then with the bike. We all went in the order of our number and were sent off in 30 second intervals. By the time we were done we all went down the mountain filled up our bottles and went back to the church. When we got there it was 1230 and so we had to take a quick shower then eat lunch. When done I took a nap and got ready for skills which were at 215. We worked on a few skills then went for a ride. We rode to this really pretty HS campus and had ice cream. When we were all done we rode back and got cleaned up for dinner. Once we were done dinner we got ready for our meeting. They talked about racing in Belgium then they answered all the questions that we had written on note cards a few nights before. By the time we were done it was 1015 and so coach Mark let us stay up until 11. I then went to bed at 11.
DAY 6 Friday
Today we woke up had our last breakfast. There was an optional ride which I decided to stay back, pack up and rest. Once I was done I hung out with some people and rested. The Larks got to the church around 1230 and instead of eating lunch there we all wanted to go to Wendy’s. For the rest of the drive we slept in the car. When getting home I unpacked and got ready for Hyde Park which was the next day. It was a great experience and I hope to do it again next year.