In Butlers coffee, terminal two in Dublin airport, we slowly assembled around a small table. Initially just me and Karen, it wasn’t long before we were surrounded by a group of eager and tired looking triathletes. The mix of those that were heading on their first triathlon training camp and those that had travelled last year gave the trip a familiar yet fresh feel. The feeling of familiar but different would continue throughout the day, as we checked into our accommodation and headed out across gravely trails, down to the promenade and stopping at the sea-swim spot, during our shake out run.
The first sign of “different” came on the Sunday morning cycle. In 2023 the first cycle had taken us up Tabayesco, completely unaware of what the climb would entail. In 2024 Tabyesco was sidelined for a longer spin to Orzola and then climbing to Mirador Del Rio. As with 2023, the large group of 24 athletes quickly separated leaving the hotel. On the climb to Mirador Del Rio, the lead group spread out as each rider climbed at their own pace. I settled into a steady rhythm but the frequently changing gradients made it difficult to remain composed. At hairpin bends the gradients would rise to 14%, while a middle section remained flat for 500 metres. Entering the car park at the top required a final effort as gradients again went into double figures. As I rolled to a stop I was greeted by those who had summited before me and was relieved to have completed the first big climb of the trip. Just after our group reassembled at the top and our breathing returned to a normal volume, we turned to see the first few riders from the second group reach the top and right amongst them was Karen.
Monday morning brought with it a new cycle route and a new challenge. As with all cycling in Lanzarote we started by going uphill. Our group, hoping for an easier day, headed off towards San Bartolome, passing the giant wind turbines as we climbed. With only 55 kilometres planned, everyone was in good spirits as we reached the small village of Tiagua before turning back towards Arrecife. Just after turning, the normally butter smooth road surface changed. Our bikes began rattling as we made our way across a road that quickly went from tar to gravel to hell. We cycled on hoping this was just a short connecting section. It wasn’t. We bounced and bumped as our saddles dealt low-blows with every pothole. For five kilometres we suffered. Every inch of our bodies vibrating. Expletives echoed through the valley until finally a t-junction, a new road and a rest. The road home was downhill, along the coast and smooth. It was a tough day and even as we joked about it later that night, my arms still vibrated ever so slightly and my ears were still ringing with the sounds of “f**k! s**t! my h**e!”.
Tuesday returned to the familiar, with a brick session on the same route as last year. That evening we returned to the same all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant and left with the same ‘I have eaten too much’ feeling. Wednesday was the notorious long cycle and thankfully it was on a new route. We set off in the same direction as Monday but instead of turning on to Lanzarote’s answer to Paris-Roubaix, we continued straight towards ‘Parque Natural de Los Volcanes’. The national park, with is black volcanic rocks, dark sand and camels was a joy to cycle through. The roads were smooth and free of traffic. The wind was strong enough to temper the hot sun and gentle enough not to impede our progress. After a long descent out of the park, we stopped at the town of Yaiza for the first ‘nature-break’ of the spin. After two hours of riding everyone was in high spirits. This enthusiasm contributed to the odd decision to cycle to El Golfo. An out and back detour that added an hour to our spin and little else. Back on the main route, we picked up the pace and hurtled towards Playa Blanca at 40 kilometres an hour. Three hours after setting off, we reached the southernmost point of our route, and stopped for a well deserved break.
In a Chinese restaurant, overlooking the beach, we ordered milkshakes, smoothies and croissants. How we ended up in a Chinese restaurant I am still not sure. The non-Chinese food we ordered was predictably poor and as I remounted my bike I knew the lack of calories I consumed would come back to haunt me. This fear was tested almost immediately as we climbed away from Playa Blanca and towards the small town of Femes. The first section of the climb averaged 5.8% but it was the heat that was most challenging. We worked together in a small group, rotating frequently to try to get a break from the grind. As we approached a roundabout we could see the road continue off to our right. The road went up at an angle so sharp that it would be considered ‘Black’ if it were a ski slope. After the roundabout our group splintered as the gradients increased. My heart rate sored as I stood out of the saddle and tried to use my body weight to keep moving the bike forward. At a bend in the road, near the top, a car was stopped and I had no choice but to stop and clip out. With the gradients now above 15%, I couldn’t get going again and had to walk for 20 metres to a section of the road that levelled slightly. Finally back on the bike, it took one more effort to get to the top and stop. Energy reserves in the red, I welcomed the brief respite we took at the top to compose ourselves. In the remaining 37 kilometres the road continued to undulate, but the hard work was done. There was a sense of achievement in the group as we crested the final hill and began descending towards the hotel. With nearly five hours of cycling done and 1581 metres of climbing, there was just enough energy left for a final sprint to the hotel entrance.
Thursday morning was the long run and I set off in a buoyant mood. Although tired from the previous day's excursion, I wasn’t yet feeling the pain that can come with high levels of fatigue. The run followed the coastal path where a cool breeze helped temper the increasing heat. My intention was to run to Puerto Del Carmen 20 kilometres away, and five kilometres in I was in an optimistic mood. On the coastal path, I passed a shipwreck used for diving before turning slightly inland to avoid a busy port. After the port the path rejoins the coast and climbs to an overlook before descending into the town of Arrecife. It was while entering Arrecife that I first grew concerned about the heat. Now in the mid twenties, sweat seemed to be coalescing on my skin before dripping off in large splotches. I had lathered on sun cream before leaving the hotel but this too was now sliding down my forehead leaving a perfumed taste in my month. I tried to put these thoughts to the back of my mind, severe sunburn as a child has always left me fearing the worst when the temperatures rise. After Arrecife there was nothing for 10 kilometres, it was when leaving this critical go/no-go juncture that a fellow triathlete commented on the visible sun cream running down my legs. I needed no further convincing and quickly spun on my heels and went to the nearest cafe. My run was done. While sitting in the cafe drinking a frothy cappuccino, I had no qualms about my decision. 11k was a solid run in that heat and when in doubt go get a coffee.
With the second annual triathlon training camp coming to a close, there was one omission from the week that needed to be righted, Tabyessco. Tayessco played a key role in our first trip to Lanzarote. On our first full day in 2023 we took photos at the top, celebrating the achievement of everyone conquering its 10 kilometres of climbing. On the last day of that first trip, its challenging hairpins and steep gradients were tamed by the elite members of our group. It would be wrong to leave this Island in 2024 without taking one more trip up to its peak, and I personally wanted to see if I could improve on my previous time. With that in mind, we arrived at the bottom of the climb after one hour of very easy riding on Friday morning. I immediately decided to go for it, not flat out, but to push and see how fast I could go. As the climb reached its first hairpin two kilometres in, I was struggling. My legs felt the weight of the week. As if all the fatigued had waited for this moment to tell me ‘it is time to stop’. I couldn’t stop, I had to keep pushing. Not just out of dumb pride, I had also convinced others that it was a good idea to take on this challenge. Now with my legs feeling like sandbags, sweat dripping from everywhere, I had to just keep moving. I kept spinning my legs and slowly the metres ticked by. At the halfway mark, I was able to see down the mountain and see how far I had come. This gave me a mental boost and I pushed on towards the top. With the restaurant at the top finally in view, I found a final bit of energy from somewhere. Like a marathoner who falls over the finish and then does a victory lap, I picked up the pace and made one final push to the top. Later that day I would find out that I completed the Tabayesco climb six minutes faster than my last attempt, but standing at the top I was just relieved to have it done and happy to see others completed this awesome challenge.
Recommend Coffee/Cake Stop - Jonniebakes
Best route - 100k spin including Mirador Del Rio
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