I do believe winter has arrived for real. When I put my boat in the water Thursday morning the Fahrenheit temperature was about 25 degrees, and after 60 minutes of paddling it had warmed up to 30 or so.
I own two pairs of pogies: a simple nylon pair that protects my hands from the wind, and a fleece-lined pair for more frigid conditions. The unlined pogies are adequate for a good 95 percent of the winter days we have in Memphis and the Mid South; I don't break out the fleece-lined ones until it's below freezing. Since that was the case on Thursday, fleece-lined it was.
Yesterday was balmy by comparison: about 40 degrees. The unlined pogies worked fine. And yet, paddling yesterday felt like more of a chore than it had Thursday: on Thursday it was sunny and there was little wind, so once I got going I felt perfectly toasty. Yesterday it was overcast with a pesky north wind, and the paddling felt labored and my body not so comfortable. I tell people often that 30 degrees and sunny and calm is much more pleasant than 40 degrees and overcast and windy.
On these cold winter days I usually just do a steady paddle. Sure, I'm working on my stroke--I'm always working on my stroke--but I give myself a break from sprints and drills and stuff. Even in our colder winters we have a good number of days in the 40s and 50s, and the drills can wait until those days come back around.
Today we're back to frigid. A new front came in yesterday afternoon: by four o'clock the temperature had dropped below freezing, and the overnight low was in the teens. With today's high predicted to be about 25 degrees, I was happy to stay in and do the current strength routine. With a new month about to begin, this was probably my last time doing this routine.
More freezing weather is in store for the next several days, with highs in the low to mid 20s and single-digit overnight lows possible. Those fleece-lined pogies will probably be back on the next time I get in the boat. I tentatively plan to paddle tomorrow--I can think of few better ways to start a new year that paddle a boat--and as far as I know my Tuesday morning paddle with Joe is on this week.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Sunday, December 24, 2017
A day at a time, closer to the start of another race season
I'm doing what I usually do for the Christmas holiday--hanging out at my sister's family's house on the North Carolina Piedmont. We're doing the sort of things I expect most families do: lots of sitting around and visiting and consuming all the seasonal sweets and eats.
But I did find time for a smidgen of exercise this morning. I did an abbreviated version of the current strength routine--that is, I did exercises 2, 4, and 5. Exercises 1 and 3 require dumbbells and I don't have those with me. Normally I go through the routine twice, but today I did it three times since I was doing fewer exercises.
I've continued to get in the boat twice a week--Tuesday and Thursday this past week--and work to get more comfortable with the mechanical adjustments to my stroke. Slowly but surely I'm getting there. Once I'm back home I'll start to dial up the volume toward my usual training workload. I won't be doing as much as a 20-year-old Olympic hopeful would be, of course, but with any luck it'll be respectable for a 50-year-old man.
But I did find time for a smidgen of exercise this morning. I did an abbreviated version of the current strength routine--that is, I did exercises 2, 4, and 5. Exercises 1 and 3 require dumbbells and I don't have those with me. Normally I go through the routine twice, but today I did it three times since I was doing fewer exercises.
I've continued to get in the boat twice a week--Tuesday and Thursday this past week--and work to get more comfortable with the mechanical adjustments to my stroke. Slowly but surely I'm getting there. Once I'm back home I'll start to dial up the volume toward my usual training workload. I won't be doing as much as a 20-year-old Olympic hopeful would be, of course, but with any luck it'll be respectable for a 50-year-old man.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Monday photo feature
I've mentioned that I've been catching up on some out-of-the-boat things lately. That includes the things that provide my livelihood--my woodworking business and my rental properties. But you can always count on me having something frivolous going on to distract me from my "real" job. A couple of months ago I took a class at the Five In One Social Club in which I learned some simple block-printing techniques, and since then I've been gleefully geeking out on that stuff, carving all kinds of little designs and printing them in a variety of colors.
Is this relevant to a paddling blog? Why, of course it is. Don't forget that I am a canoe-and-kayak nerd as well as an arts-and-crafts nerd, and I made sure to carve a couple of paddling-related blocks. The blue kayak above is based on the cover design of the book The Barton Mold: A Study In Sprint Kayaking by William T. Endicott. The black whitewater C1 paddler is based on a photo of German slalom racer Nele Bayn that I saw on the "Planet Canoe" Face Book page. Both blocks still need some touching up so they'll print a little cleaner, but don't forget that I'm a complete amateur at this and will probably stay that way... in other words, I've got a right to do it badly. In any case, I'm having fun with it.
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Laying some good groundwork
The training volume has definitely been lower in this early part of the offseason; I've been paddling twice a week and doing a strength routine twice a week. But I think I'm doing more than simply going through the motions.
In the boat I've been working to incorporate the things I learned in Morgan House's clinic back in October. Making even small changes to your stroke mechanics can be tiring even though the paddling intensity is low. The biggest challenge is staying relaxed: we humans like things that are familiar, and doing something you're not used to makes you want to tense your body and burn more energy than you should. I think the best thing I can do is follow Morgan's advice and work on my stroke just a little bit at a time, every time in the boat, rather than try to get it all right in the space of a day or a week.
I've been doing the new strength routine for a week now. As with most of my routines I get it done in less than a half hour, but it's a good intense workout.
In the boat I've been working to incorporate the things I learned in Morgan House's clinic back in October. Making even small changes to your stroke mechanics can be tiring even though the paddling intensity is low. The biggest challenge is staying relaxed: we humans like things that are familiar, and doing something you're not used to makes you want to tense your body and burn more energy than you should. I think the best thing I can do is follow Morgan's advice and work on my stroke just a little bit at a time, every time in the boat, rather than try to get it all right in the space of a day or a week.
I've been doing the new strength routine for a week now. As with most of my routines I get it done in less than a half hour, but it's a good intense workout.
2018 race schedule (first draft)
Here is how my 2018 race schedule looks right now. As usual, this is a working document. I probably won't make it to every event on this list, and as other events announce their dates I'll be adding them to this schedule.
You can count on seeing me at one event: that would be my hometown race, the Outdoors, Inc., Canoe and Kayak Race. Other events I attend pretty regularly are the ones at Ocean Springs in March and at Vicksburg in April. And of course, I had to register early for the Gorge Downwind Championships because of its registration cap, so that's a go as long as no unforeseen complications arise.
Since I've attended the USCA Nationals the last two years I put it on my schedule for this coming year as well. But I seriously doubt I'll make it there this time. Going out to the Pacific Northwest in July will be an epic trip, and I just don't see myself making a trip to New York less than a month later.
Anyway, here we go: an early look at where I might be racing this coming year.
March
18 Battle On The Bayou. Old Fort Bayou, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 8.5 miles on flatwater.
April
7 Top Of The Teche. Bayou Teche, Leonville, Louisiana, to Arnaudville, Louisiana. 7.7 miles down a Class I river.
21 Bluz Cruz Canoe and Kayak Race. Mississippi River from Madison Parish Port, Louisiana, to Vicksburg, Mississippi. 21 miles down the largest river in North America.
May
12 Bluegrass River Run. Kentucky River near Richmond, Kentucky. 19 miles down a Class I river.
June
16 Outdoors, Inc., Canoe and Kayak Race. The 37th edition of this classic. 5000 meters down the largest river in North America.
July
16-21 Gorge Downwind Championships. Columbia River, Hood River, Oregon. A race for surf skis and outrigger canoes in the legendary downwind conditions of the Columbia River Gorge.
August
9-12 U.S. Canoe Association National Championships. Onondaga Lake and Erie Canal, Syracuse, New York. Marathon races in a variety of boat classes sanctioned by the USCA.
September
8 Lower Atchafalaya Sprints. Atchafalaya River, Patterson, Louisiana. A series of 3-mile races on flatwater.
You can count on seeing me at one event: that would be my hometown race, the Outdoors, Inc., Canoe and Kayak Race. Other events I attend pretty regularly are the ones at Ocean Springs in March and at Vicksburg in April. And of course, I had to register early for the Gorge Downwind Championships because of its registration cap, so that's a go as long as no unforeseen complications arise.
Since I've attended the USCA Nationals the last two years I put it on my schedule for this coming year as well. But I seriously doubt I'll make it there this time. Going out to the Pacific Northwest in July will be an epic trip, and I just don't see myself making a trip to New York less than a month later.
Anyway, here we go: an early look at where I might be racing this coming year.
March
18 Battle On The Bayou. Old Fort Bayou, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 8.5 miles on flatwater.
April
7 Top Of The Teche. Bayou Teche, Leonville, Louisiana, to Arnaudville, Louisiana. 7.7 miles down a Class I river.
21 Bluz Cruz Canoe and Kayak Race. Mississippi River from Madison Parish Port, Louisiana, to Vicksburg, Mississippi. 21 miles down the largest river in North America.
May
12 Bluegrass River Run. Kentucky River near Richmond, Kentucky. 19 miles down a Class I river.
June
16 Outdoors, Inc., Canoe and Kayak Race. The 37th edition of this classic. 5000 meters down the largest river in North America.
July
16-21 Gorge Downwind Championships. Columbia River, Hood River, Oregon. A race for surf skis and outrigger canoes in the legendary downwind conditions of the Columbia River Gorge.
August
9-12 U.S. Canoe Association National Championships. Onondaga Lake and Erie Canal, Syracuse, New York. Marathon races in a variety of boat classes sanctioned by the USCA.
September
8 Lower Atchafalaya Sprints. Atchafalaya River, Patterson, Louisiana. A series of 3-mile races on flatwater.
Friday, December 8, 2017
A new strength routine
This past week I started up a new strength routine that I'll probably do through the end of the year. The exercises are as follows:
1. A compound exercise similar to what U.S. slalom racer Casey Eichfeld is doing in this video. Lacking the weight-room equipment he's using, I use a stability ball instead.
2. Hindu squats (demonstrated in this video)
3. Bicep curls with a dumbbell
4. A simple plank on the floor
5. Dips
And now, what follows is something I re-post from time to time, explaining my general approach to strength training:
I've said many times before that strength work is my least favorite part of training, and because of that I've developed a give-and-take relationship with it. I try to follow a few simple guidelines:
1. Keep the routines short and simple. I focus on quality, not quantity. This way I'm not dreading spending a big chunk of my day doing tedious and sometimes uncomfortable exercises. I try to work in exercises for each general area of the body--legs, core, and arms/shoulders.
2. Good technique is more important than the amount of weight. Paddling is a highly technical sport and I think it's important to be precise in the gym as well as in the boat. And on a similar note, let's not forget that I'm a paddler, not a body builder, so those commercial gym slogans like "Exercise your right to look good" don't really resonate with me. I happen to think that accomplished paddlers do in fact "look good," but there's a difference between "show muscle" and muscle that actually performs useful tasks. A bulky body is generally not an asset in our sport, so I do stuff to bring about good lean muscle tone, "prehab" exercises to prevent injuries, and explosive power. Also, at age 50 I'm thinking more and more about the issues of aging, and I look for exercises that emphasize continued flexibility and range of motion.
3. Don't get all upset if you miss a session. Most of the time I try to do strength work three times a week, but if life gets in the way and I have to miss a session, I just tell myself it's not a big deal, and I'll get back on track the next time.
I do my strength work in the comfort of my own home, where I listen to whatever music I want and can play with my cats in between exercises. I've got some dumbbells, a rubber band, a pair of gymnast's rings, and a few other simple things, and that's more than I need for a good routine.
1. A compound exercise similar to what U.S. slalom racer Casey Eichfeld is doing in this video. Lacking the weight-room equipment he's using, I use a stability ball instead.
2. Hindu squats (demonstrated in this video)
3. Bicep curls with a dumbbell
4. A simple plank on the floor
5. Dips
And now, what follows is something I re-post from time to time, explaining my general approach to strength training:
I've said many times before that strength work is my least favorite part of training, and because of that I've developed a give-and-take relationship with it. I try to follow a few simple guidelines:
1. Keep the routines short and simple. I focus on quality, not quantity. This way I'm not dreading spending a big chunk of my day doing tedious and sometimes uncomfortable exercises. I try to work in exercises for each general area of the body--legs, core, and arms/shoulders.
2. Good technique is more important than the amount of weight. Paddling is a highly technical sport and I think it's important to be precise in the gym as well as in the boat. And on a similar note, let's not forget that I'm a paddler, not a body builder, so those commercial gym slogans like "Exercise your right to look good" don't really resonate with me. I happen to think that accomplished paddlers do in fact "look good," but there's a difference between "show muscle" and muscle that actually performs useful tasks. A bulky body is generally not an asset in our sport, so I do stuff to bring about good lean muscle tone, "prehab" exercises to prevent injuries, and explosive power. Also, at age 50 I'm thinking more and more about the issues of aging, and I look for exercises that emphasize continued flexibility and range of motion.
3. Don't get all upset if you miss a session. Most of the time I try to do strength work three times a week, but if life gets in the way and I have to miss a session, I just tell myself it's not a big deal, and I'll get back on track the next time.
I do my strength work in the comfort of my own home, where I listen to whatever music I want and can play with my cats in between exercises. I've got some dumbbells, a rubber band, a pair of gymnast's rings, and a few other simple things, and that's more than I need for a good routine.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Another guy getting older but still having fun
The world championships of whitewater rodeo took place this past week at San Juan, Argentina. Spectators there saw a sport that's quite different from the type of paddling I do: competitors execute freestyle moves in the maw of a hole, and their scores are determined by a panel of judges.
The event also included a squirt boat competition. Squirt boats are extremely low-volume craft, designed to perform maneuvers beneath the surface called "mystery moves." The men's champion last week was one Clay Wright of Rock Island, Tennessee. Clay and I go back nearly 35 years, as we attended the same summer camp in the mid 1980s. Like me, Clay is 50 years old, but his "advanced" age didn't stop him from making a better impression on the judges than paddlers 30 years younger.
I'm sure Clay was thrilled to stand atop the podium and be recognized among his peers. But according to this account of the competition, his motivation comes from a much deeper place. This is consistent with the point I made in this post almost two months ago: the top performers in any field, in terms of excellence or longevity or both, derive their greatest pleasure from the everyday process of what they do.
The event also included a squirt boat competition. Squirt boats are extremely low-volume craft, designed to perform maneuvers beneath the surface called "mystery moves." The men's champion last week was one Clay Wright of Rock Island, Tennessee. Clay and I go back nearly 35 years, as we attended the same summer camp in the mid 1980s. Like me, Clay is 50 years old, but his "advanced" age didn't stop him from making a better impression on the judges than paddlers 30 years younger.
I'm sure Clay was thrilled to stand atop the podium and be recognized among his peers. But according to this account of the competition, his motivation comes from a much deeper place. This is consistent with the point I made in this post almost two months ago: the top performers in any field, in terms of excellence or longevity or both, derive their greatest pleasure from the everyday process of what they do.
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