2010 Pre-Season Training Camps in Lagos, Portugal 
Together with our UK Travel Partner Embrace Sports, we've put together an unbeatable training camp package that combines luxury catered accommodations with unmatched daily training and coaching from ironguides. ironguides has planned out a complete training schedule (with different options for beginner and advanced athletes), while Embrace has put their travel industry experience into creating an unmatched holiday value in Europe's best triathlon training ground - the western Algarve near Lagos, Portugal!
Dates
Our camps are available during the following weeks:
February 20 - 27
Weather
The
It's not uncommon to see daytime termperatures in the 20's from February onwards.
Your Camp Includes- Targeted triathlon training (see below)
- Talks on training rationale, meal planning, recovery and regeneration
- Coached training sessions & full support everyday
- Luxury villa accommodation (see below)
- Airport transfers (Faro) including guests bike boxes
- Training transportation
- Catering: Breakfast & lunch food provided. Dinners prepared for 6 nights
- Embrace Sports representatives managing your triathlon holiday
- Free technical training top
The Training
This triathlon training week is suitable for all abilities. The week's training schedule provides longer & shorter options for athletes. Training is supervised and run by ironguides and Embrace representatives and encompasses some of the most amazing and scenic routes in the Algarve (see video below).
Terrain: Lagos, the surrounding areas and inland mountains are unrivalled for the diverse range of training options. The mix of beaches, great roads, mountain routes, trail routes and coastal tracks are unbelievable.
It's all here: Great scenery, sunny skies (mostly!), fantastic facilities, uncrowded roads, a (slightly chilly) sea to swim in, with a fantastic selection of cycling terrain including rolling hills, a small mountain and flats for recovery. Nearby are hundreds of kilometers of red dirt roads for running in rolling terrain and flats to spare your legs from injury, and the long, flat beach of Meia Praia will test what your legs are made of at the end of Camp.
Swimming: The swim training is held in various locations, including the new local indoor 25m pool, a beautiful outdoor olympic-size pool and open water sea swimming (conditions permitting!). We offer coached drill & technique sessions. For the key swim sessions at the pool we book out private lanes for our use.
Cycling: The western Algarve offers great quality roads for cycling. Our routes vary from coastal roads (via Sagres) to inland routes into the Monchique Hills or to the Serra area for a mixture of flat and undulating roads. There is also an option to complete a full stage of the Tour of the Algarve, won by Alberto Contador this year.One thing's for sure -- you won't find too much traffic!
Running: We are lucky to have some of the most amazing running routes right on our doorstep! We will mix up the training to try and show you the best of what is on offer -- be prepared for the infamous Stairs Workout. Inland woodland trail routes, coastal/beach runs, road running and an interval session down at the local track tend to be the favourites.
Additional Services- Catering geared towards your training
- Gels, bars, energy drinks can be sourced locally
- Vehicle support on long cycle rides for nutrition and spares
- Local hire of road bikes can be arranged
- All run routes are clearly marked out and led
- Hydration provided on long runs
- Massage can be organised at the villa for a small fee
- A friendly ‘Yellow Jersey’ competition will be organised
- Track pump, bike tools, local servicing can be provided locally
Our luxury villas offer first class accommodation and are well positioned to all training facilities, cycle & running routes. The villas back onto a number of scenic coastal routes, trail runs and the famous Barao trail run is only 10min away by car. They are also well positioned for all cycling routes including the Monchique mountains. The outdoor olympic pool is 5-10min jog away and beaches perfect for open water swimming are only 3-5mins down the road.
Each villa offers a high standard of accommodation. Although facilities vary, they all have a private swimming pool and outdoor space. In addition, some of the features on offer are:
* indoor pool
* gymnasium
* sauna
* games room
* cinema room
* bar
* tennis
* table tennis
* badminton
Guests will be asked to share rooms (if travelling as individuals) to keep costs low.
Room Options
The following options are available:
- Twin bedrooms 484 GBP (about 800 USD, prices may fluctuate due to currency exchange) per person sharing two per room
- King double bedroom, based on two people sharing - 484 GBP (about 800 USD, prices may fluctuate due to currency exchange) pp sharing two per room
Plan to arrive on the first day of camp. Transfers from Faro (FAO) airport are included and provided by Embrace Sports -- please contact info@embracesports.co.uk for more information.
Bike Transport
These days it's getting tough to find free bike transfer with an airline. To help, we have lined up some bike rentals through a local provider, and are in the process of getting quality bikes for rent locally to avoid you having to travel with your bike and pay for bike transport.
In the meantime, here is a link to baggage fees for major carriers:
Click here for baggage fee summary
Getting to Lagos by Bus
For athletes traveling to Lisbon seeking alternate transfer to Lagos, there is regular bus service between Lisbon and Lagos.
- The bus station is called TERMINAL RODOVIARIO DE SETE RI and is a 10 EUR cab ride from the airport
- There are two bus companies: EVA and REDE. It doesn't matter which you take. In some cases they "code share" so it's the same bus.
- Return fare to Lagos from Lisbon is about 34 EUR (30 GBP / 50 USD)
- Buses are not full and you won't need a reservation unless it's a holiday weekend
- For more information (English web pages available):
http://www.eva-bus.com/
http://www.rede-expressos.pt/
Car rental is cheap in Portugal and Lisbon airport is served by all major agencies.
- The distance is 300km or about three hours of driving time.
- Expect 45 EUR of highway toll each way between Lisbon and Lagos.
Click here to get driving directions
Sign Up!
Click on the Buy Now button below to book your Algarve training camp holiday through ironguides.
- You'll be asked to pay a 60 GBP (roughly 100 USD) non-refundable deposit.
- Your information will be forwarded to Embrace Sports, who will provide you with support to book travel arrangements.
- Someone from ironguides will be in touch to confirm your booking.
- Embrace Sports will send you an invoice for the balance of the camp cost (in GBP).
Alternatively, you can book through our UK Travel Partner Embrace Sports -- mention the Registration Code "ironguides" to receive your free ironguides 8-week Sprint Triathlon Training Manual (normally a 45 USD value).
