Tricamp 2010

Every year the Tricats of the University of Arizona put on a triathlon camp for the college triathletes of the west. The camp was without a doubt a smashing success in more ways than one. Not only did it kick off my training for 2010 but I had a barrel-full-of-monkey fun and made many new friends in the process. The days were filled with swimming biking and running. The swimming was a little challenging since I have swam twice since September but I enjoyed every minute of it, at least every minute of the warm up. The very first bike workout of the season was one of the most amazing rides I have ever done. And in actuality, now that I think about it, it was the most fantastic ride I have ever done. For that ride we biked up one of the most famous mountain climbs in North America. Erupting out of the Sonora Desert is Mt. Lemmon climbing over 4,000 feet in 23 miles. I was actually fairly surprised at how well I did. In spite of riding the whole thing I did however, run completely out of water and then proceed to bonk in the last 5 miles. At the top (fortunately) was a dinner plate sized cookie and a free coffee waiting for me. Thank you random lady behind the counter. I think she liked me. Ugg. Even Deanna thought it was suspicious.

Some other Tricamp activities included socializing. Lots of socializing. I have never really been much of a party guy and just feel horribly awkward at such events. Every night there was a ridiculous party, and every night I either chose not to partake or volunteered to be the designated driver. That was until the last night. I will not go into details but Alan, if you are reading this, I am sorry. I will sustain from such behavior in the future. And that is all I would like to say about that.

Tucson scores a perfect fantastic on my fantastic city score card. Coming from the Pacific Northwest where the daytime winter temperatures hover in the low 30's and the sun never pokes it's shiny little happy face out from behind the ugly gray clouds, Tucson is a dream come true. Winter in Tucson was not really winter at all according to me. I mean during the winter could you ride your bike in nothing more than bike shorts and a short sleeve bike jersey? Could you go for a run at night and take your shirt off because it is still so crazy unberably warm? I think not. But that's the way Tucson winters work. Day time highs were in the high 60's to low 70's with not so much as a puff of cloud anywhere to be seen. I will also have to mention that the sunsets were unbelievable. Silhouetted palms and saguaro cacti against a boiling lava hot sky with mixes of yellows and purples will blow your mind. They definitely blew my mind.

So this is it. Winter Break is drawing to a close. School is about to start and my triathlon training is finally underway. I think 2010 will be a good year. I have much to look foreword to and I am once again incredibly excited about life and the new places, things and yes, even excited about the people. Bring it on. I want it all.


This is not my picture, none of them are, but I just wanted to say that I saw a Boojum Tree. I have always wanted to see a Boojum Tree. They are a stubby short tree 20 or so feet high that have even shorter stubbier branches. The leaves are carried in clusters along the short branches as well as the trunk. They are really very bizarre plants. In times of drought the leaves will fall off.


This is the final destination on our last run up Sabino Canyon to 7-falls. It was a beautiful perfect place to cap off a great camp experience. And yes most of us went swimming.


At 7-falls near the top of Sabino Canyon.


The Tricamp group of 2010.