After I listened to my latest batch of podcasts, I went on a hunt for new (read: free) content.  I stumbled across a variety of different topics from triathlon to nutrition to exercise physiology but nothing really riveting enough to keep me entertained on my commute.  And then it happened.  I stumbled across some podcasts on Endurance Corner (EC).  For those of you unfamiliar with this site, it's an invite only triathlon social network created by Gordo Byrn and it hosts a wide variety of known pros and experts.

[Email me for an invite http://www.felog.net/mailform.asp]

I first joined the site a month or so ago and I've pretty much been lurking for fear of asking a stupid question.  I mean when you have guys that can go sub9 in an IM, it's hard to imagine someone asking whether or not their seat is too high.  Needless to say, I'm not the only one NOT asking questions because the content seems to be on a more intelligent level than most other forums.

Anyway, I logged on the other day and noticed a recent post about a podcast interview with Greg Bennett.  This was the first time I realized there were podcasts on the site so I downloaded a handful.  I didn't really know who this "Greg Bennett" dude was (I know... pretty sad huh?) but I figured I'd grab that one as well as a few others.  I dumped them to a CD and went on a road trip last weekend so I was able to get through quite a few I'd burned.  And while the audio quality is fair at best, the content is fantastic and some of the best I've listened to so far.

If you're a podcast geek like me, you know there are some that are good but then there are some SO good that you are forced to stay in the car just so you can listen for a few more minutes.  That's the kind of stuff I've been listening to from EC.

After going through my first set, I grabbed more and I'm catching up on old episodes.  The one I listened to yesterday was from last year (I believe)... a post Epic Camp recap.  If you're not familiar with Epic Camp, it’s a monstrous week long training camp hosted by Scott Molina, Gordo Byrn along with Coach John Newsom.  While listening to this podcast, I was fantasizing about quitting my job so I could attend this year's camp in France.  Let's not even begin to discuss that I barely, and I mean BARELY, meet the criteria for attending.  While listening to the podcast, I envisioned myself getting blown off the back of the pack on a daily basis but I still thought it sounded like fun.

After realizing I could not attend Epic for many reasons, I started to look into other camps.  It turns out Endurance Corner also hosts camps, one in Boulder and one in Arizona.  And a little closer to home for me are the Solvang Camps with one of my favorite bloggers... Chuckie V.  Each of these camps is 7 days long which is nearly impossible for me to do because of work but then I got to thinking... which is usually dangerous.

With the amount of time I need to take off for Lake Placid and Kona next year, (Yes, I am going to Kona... I will qualify at Placid.) I really can't afford to take off another week for a camp.  I think I could get away for a three day weekend though.  So I came with my own version that I'm now calling "Ghetto Camp".  It's sort of like Epic, EC, and Solvang except there are no pros, no elites, no doctors, no sag wagon, and maybe no other participants other than me.  But what I came up with was a mega-weekend of training that would look something like this...

Friday

- 80 mile ride (5 hours) - am combo
- 13 mile run (2 hours) - am combo
- 2.5 mile swim (1 hour) - afternoon

Saturday

- 120 mile ride (7 hours) - am combo
- 7 mile run (1 hour) - am combo
- 1.5 mile swim (45 minutes) - afternoon

Sunday

- 1 mile swim (30 minutes) - triathlon
- 60 mile ride (3.5 hours) - triathlon
- 10 mile run (1.5 hours) - triathlon

... for a grand total of 22 hours and 15 minutes not including whatever else I throw into my week.  I think I would front load a minimal amount of workouts on Monday and Tuesday but would try to leave Wednesday and Thursday open so I could go into Ghetto Camp somewhat fresh.

What's the point?  I have no idea but from what I can gather neither do the hosts of Epic.  They assume there's some benefit to the overload but have no substantial proof.  The way I see it, Ironman athletes are obsessed with volume.  If nothing else, this would at least satisfy that need in me on some level.

Before I go into this any further (and I've already gone too far), I'd like to say that I have NO IDEA what the heck I'm talking about when it comes to something like this so DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.  That said, the 2009 Ghetto Camp will be held in the Santa Barbara area in March because it's getting really cold here in Northern California and I'm looking for warm weather destinations for training.