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We’re watching a videotape of a guy swimming laps in a pool. First we see him from the side,
then from the front, then underwater. He’s a really lousy swimmer. The guy is me.
“Look how high your head is out of the water,” says multisport coach Paul Huddle. “We
oughta call you Periscope Head.”
I earned this dubious title at triathlon camp. My wife Janet and I spent an unforgettable five
days there—getting personal coaching from top pros, eating fantastic healthy food, working out
in gorgeous spots, and generally having more fun than I’d had since my folks packed me off
to Camp Runamucka some 25 summers ago.
Pro fantasy
Sports camps make great vacations for active travelers, whether you’re into
triathlon, cycling, running, swimming... They’re part jock fantasy, part summer camp, part
stress-free getaway. For a few days, you can pretend you’re a pro athlete.
The stellar staff includes Huddle, a former pro triathlete who’s been running a
personal-coaching business, called Mining Iron, since 1994; and Roch Frey, also a former pro who now
works as a personal trainer and a swim coach for the University of California at San Diego’s
Masters swimming and triathlon programs. Also on staff: eight-time Hawaii Ironman winner Paula
Newby-Fraser and 1997 Hawaii victor Heather Fuhr, along with several of their friends, many of
whom happen to be among the best multisport athletes in the world.
Shortcut to wisdom
About 25 campers, from as far away as the East Coast and Japan, have paid about $800 each to spend
five days sponging up these experts’ knowledge. A few campers are accomplished triathletes, here
for a refresher course and a chance to schmooze with the stars while logging some warm-weather
training. But many, including me, are multisport rookies, here to have fun and learn in a
few days what otherwise would take years of trial-and-error. Our group is about 60 percent men. Ages
range from mid-20s to late-50s.
The schedule is packed: bike-fit session, swim videotaping; running-form analysis;
bike-handling clinic, anaerobic-threshold test; lectures on weight training, nutrition, mental
preparation, stretching; and lots of mellow group swims, rides and runs with the pros. One day I
ride with Ironman stud Jurgen Zack. Another day I run with Paula and Heather. Still another day I
swim with the camp’s other U-boat commanders in the slow lane.
A sub no more
After a few days, though, I’m no longer sinking like a torpedoed sub. Thanks to poolside
coaching, video analysis and plenty of practice, I’m markedly faster and more efficient. Ditto
for cycling and running. By week’s end, my head is bursting with great triathlon
information—either that, or my goggles were too tight.
We’ve had a blast, too. Nice motel, good training locale, delicious food, lots of laughs
with friendly people, plenty of attention from the coaches and pros. Nothing to do each day but eat,
sleep, work out, kick back, and learn. Even the non-athletic spouses and kids who’ve tagged
along seem to be enjoying themselves, sightseeing or hitting the seashore during the day and joining
the group for dinner and evening socializing.
It’s been a great getaway. Thing is, I get bored on vacations where you sizzle all day on the
beach and spend every evening slurping drinks from a coconut shell. Sports camp is perfect for
active types who want to have fun and improve. Take it from Periscope
Head.
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