Lost...
Never mind the picture. It's a stained cross section of an artery which, by the way, is clogged with atherosclerosis. I just wanted a health-oriented image for the top of this post. The real news is that the scale says I am down 4 pounds from my peak weight.
I have either been in the gym or the boat every day for the past two weeks. I do some weight work three times a week and core work 5 days a week. If I don't' paddle, I am on the treadmill almost daily alternating long and short workouts. I hesitated to post this as I've been here before, but I thought it might be a good incentive to keeping me on track.
Mean while, my arms and shoulders feel stronger, and I can tell the difference when I lift the boat and do other work. I am hoping that the combo of endurance and strength work will make me a better paddler all around. Time will tell.
Along the same lines, I have been neglecting basics. JB and I often spend a portion of our paddles just practicing draws, bow rudders, hanging draws and other fundamental strokes. We do rescues and we roll. This all served me well in my recent dump into the icy waters along shore. Clogged with ice chunks, it cold have been ugly. The training and reflexes all kicked in just fine. Thing is, I am not used to going over unless I have chosen to do so.
Finally, this leads to my old concerns about my paddling friends who (literally) hang it up during winter and return to the water in spring with rusty skills. They spend the summer "catching up" and never have the confidence to stretch and go out (along with experience folks) into bigger waters and winds. Still, if that's what makes them happy, so be it. I just know that many of them are capable of a higher level of paddling, and I've seen the joy of those who have stepped up and now feel comfortable in the soup.
Paddle safe...
DS
8 comments:
Keep up the great work, or I'll start to nag you again ;)))
Looking forward to the pool session this Saturday.
Very nice! One day at a time.
I'm paddling!
I'm not sailing though. Not ready for dinghy sailing in the wintertime. It will be interesting to see how rusty I am on that front come spring. I've been trying, during paddles, to picture how I would approach things were I in a Sunfish. The mental images are alarmingly vague.
Of course I have a strangely hard time mentally picturing rolling, too. I guess I'm more of a doing learner than a thinking-things-through learner - the trick for me is just getting a skill to the point where the body knows what to do automatically.
If the brain has to get very involved, we're all in trouble!
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My hope is that my body, which was really getting the hang of Sunfish sailing by Fall, will remember what needs to be done at least a LITTLE better than my brain!
Great job!
I'm tending to think that this kayak-related et al blog community is really quite a fine support group. Need a bit of a pick-me-up? Feeling a bit down-in-the-dumps? Let us know and we'll try and find a word of support for you! Keep it all going, Silbs!
I was thinking of suggesting we get together for some southern paddling this winter, but with your weight going down and your skills and strength going up, I'm worried about being able to keep up... LOL
Count yourself lucky to have accommodating pool managers in your area. We got kicked out of our only accepting pool a few years ago (it was too much trouble for them, they said) so we've no place to improve/maintain our skills.
Thanks to all for the kind...and supportive...comments. Another pound has slipped away! Got to get back on the water this week. The pool for sure this saturday.
Ouch! That photo hurts! I have just had to go and find a tangerine to make me feel better :o)
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