Day4 started with a pool swim or ocean option, and I’m glad I chose the pool since the ocean was full of whitecaps in the morning. It’s such a treat to swim laps in an outdoor pool–dramamine only required if I try to backstroke! So Tara and Anja and I drove to the Kona community pool and got to work. I’ve been doing more swimming than usual since last year’s bike incident, as it’s one of the activities that usually doesn’t hurt my messed up hips, and I’ve actually come to enjoy it. We had time for the 6k option, too (the day’s minimum swim was 3k)–bonus! Swimming band-only is a favorite challenge (I’m crazy, obviously 
), and the set of 20×100 on an easy interval was a no-brainer, too; the time flew by.
Next up on the day’s schedule was a timed 5k run, as part of the required daily 10k. I wasn’t optimistic about getting through it when I could barely jog an extended warmup without walk breaks. We gave E our predicted finish time (and watches, garmins, iPhones) and because of my painful warmup attempt, I added 5 minutes to my original estimate (points for the closest to actual run time). Turned out, my original prediction would’ve only been only :15 off…oh well. On the bright side, I managed to jog the 5k with only two brief stops to allow my symphasis pain to subside, a bit over 5 minutes faster than my estimate. (Trying to be positive; I’ve got a long way to go to get back to running…and am hoping that I didn’t cause a setback this morning.) I had noticeable discomfort on and off the rest of the day (more than I’d hoped I would following that little effort)…but the good thing about camp is that the rest of the muscle discomfort keeps you from dwelling on just one body part!
I was famished since I’d not eaten much after the long swim, not wanting to run with a sloshy belly, so made/inhaled a delicious hummus, pickle, tomato wrap. Unfortunately, I totally wanted to take a nap afterwards. But no rest until the day’s prescribed bike to kekahakai (aka pretty beach) and back! We rolled out and stopped at BikeWorks to pick up Michele, who was having her fit tweaked there, and after a bit of browsing, set out on the QueenK. I rode the Tara train almost to the turnoff and waited for the rest of the crew who’d dropped off the back–fall off and you’re left to suffer on your own! Alicia came through next so she and I rode down together to the prettiest beach on the island.
Etienne arrived at the beach a bit later but no Michele; turned out her knee didn’t like the new bike fit, so she chose not to continue and called a cab to transport her back to the house.
The climb up from the beach back to the QueenK wasn’t nearly as arduous as I’d remembered, so when T said to head back to the epic house, I got aero and cranked. I fully expected everyone to blast by me but it turned out that I provided a good shelter from the headwind back to town, so they rode the Lisa local train (as opposed to the Tara express!). I peeled away and dropped off the back after the airport but caught up with the rest of the group outside town and we made a quick stop for some tasty liquids (ginger lime tea for me, cafe cubanos for Anja, David and T)!
Our second massages of the camp were a welcome treat for those not too sunburned, and another yummy dinner…followed by a strategically placed icepack for my poor body.
Tomorrow is the mid-camp rest day, not a moment too soon, as always. I’m hoping my body will do some major healing over the next 36 hours so we can continue the adventure on Thursday! I’m having a blast, finally able after 6 previous camps, to keep it all in proper perspective and enjoy the epic process of learning about perceived (often incorrect) limits. If only my aging body would cooperate….!