So I know this is a bit late in coming, but I've had a crazy last few weeks which included limited internet access, random sicknesses, minor truck altercations and camping with out a sleeping bag, among other things.  So, without further delay a recap of the times and events at Dartmouth's Gold Medal Running Camp.

At the Gold Medal Camp Coach Hartwick made sure the kids understood what they were getting in to.  "For most of you," he said "this is going to be the hardest week of training of your summer."  To prepare for this week of training Coach Hartwick made sure that every runner stretched for 15 solid minutes before each run, and then again afterwards.  This stretching work out was led by Coach Hartwick and allowed for visible improvement in flexibility because they were asked to attempt to touch their toes before and after the stretching and saw instant results.

Why did the runners need to be so prepared?  Because to back up Coach Hartwicks claim that this week would be the hardest week of the summer for most runners he structured the week as follows: Fartlik on Monday, hilly run run on Tuesday, recovery day on Wednesday and then a time trial on Thursday.  The courses the kids got to run on were all trails and all within running distance of the University, unlike many of the camps I've visited where the runners had to be bussed to and from their runs.  The trails were very well kept up and great for training as even the days not labeled as "hilly" were far from flat.

At the end of the week I drove to from Hanover NH to Lyndonsville VT for the last few days of the Green Mountain running camp.  It was a great precursor of the week to come and allowed for me to spend the most time yet at one camp.  More about that later.