Been a busy few days with work and the kids but managed some time back down the club, had a long look at training programmes and diet over the last few days, so much information on the net its a little confusing what's going to be right for me, the Kayak racer web site has some useful information http://www.kayak-race.com/trainingplan.html.
Back out on the water with the Cirrus K1 it just didn't seem right from the last time I went out in it, nope nought wrong with the boat so must be me!!!!! the other club members, most being dedicated to racing are brilliant when you ask for help, but there's still an element of sussing things out for yourself.
50 yds down the river and it was just to uncomfortable trying to keep upright and an area where the weeds were really bad and not an ideal place to be ejected, so a quick un-graceful U turn back to the club house to suss out the problem,
Simple solution in the end, my seat was to far forward and my knees too high, a few clicks on the seat and my legs a little straighter made a big difference, still wobbly but controllable.
No format to the evening, Mo's instruction was simply up to the viaduct and turn round, we have a loop to the viaduct and back then to the weir and back which is a short 3miles.
So a simple evening just to paddle and get used to the boat, all fine till I hit the first corner and a new element was thrown at me, the wind, just to upset the balance even more, quite surprising how much the wind can effect you.
As I said there is a huge amount you have to suss for yourself, with questions answered and you tube videos watched it was now simply a case of putting something into practice.
Wasn't getting on to bad, loads of other members on the river, fast K1's and 2's, open canoe and youngsters, kept a reasonable pace to everyone, and found another element that upsets the balance, bow wash from the larger K 2's going past on full steam.
Paddling technique must have been ok as after nearly 8 miles all be it not a pushed evening I didn't have any major aches or pains, had trouble with getting the right toe position on the foot rest and being comfortable and just couldn't deliver the power through the legs on each stroke, there's a little piece of wood that sticks out between your feet that operate your rudder, I'm still looking at the thing when I need to steer as a learner driver looks a the gear stick,
managed to get it sussed on the last loop in finding the right position, which meant I could start delivering power through the legs on each stroke and in turn using more power from the torso twist into each bite of the paddle and felt like the I'd got into second gear at least lol.
Overall a good evening and a little more confident about what I have to do and aim for, was a little surprised it was nearly 8 miles covered as it didn't seam that far and even better news my first race will be over 8 miles :)
Full training and pushing a lot harder, and work on technique starts this week, not that long before the first race and not helping is Ill loose a week as I'm on holiday a week before the race, so I'm hoping I can bag the use of a canoe and have a paddle around the Mediterranean while I'm there
The beginning
At 47 most would regard you over the hill as an athlete, hopefully I can prove that's not always the case, and Ive got a few more puffs of steam left yet.
Ive chosen the fantastic sport of K1 Kayak marathon racing for my last ditched attempt of a physical endurance sport before I fall the wrong side of the hill.
The last time I did any Kayaking was well over 20 years ago, technology has made vast improvements in construction and weight saving, paddle technology too has gone a long way in deign and efficiency, but the overall concept has changed very little.
I have chosen to enter the Devizes to Westminster race Easter 2011, raced in a solo K1 its a race against the clock over 125miles of the Thames river, with 77 portages (get out of your boat and carry it around locks etc) over a period of 4 days,
if raced in a K2 (2 man) then its a race non stop from start to finish inc. through the night, advertised as one of the worlds toughest Kayaking races it not only tests your fitness and stamina, but your mental endurance as well together with the help of a good ground crew providing support with food and water.
Have a look at the posted YOU TUBE 6 part documentary to get a better idea of how tough this race can be, and for a laugh there's a couple of videos showing how difficult it can be trying out a K1 kayak for the first time.
I'm planning to enter one of the winter 6 race series starting on the 7th November to help towards the Devize race, my general fitness is OK and quite reasonable for endurance, perhaps bordering insane to take this on, got a feeling I'm going to be feeling some pain along the way.
I am smoking but that has another 7 days before I stop, aghhhh I have to :( I'm getting so much grief from my boys so all in all it'll be a good thing and a few more coins in my pocket.
Technique does play a major part in this sport, but fitness and training can't be ignored, so much to achieve in a short time, where to start I haven't a scooby yet or what other training away from Kayaking will help, another whole ball game to look at and plan.
The K1 Kayaks have a stability rating of 1 to 10, 1 being the least stable, the less stable they are the faster they go, that is if youre staying in the boat that is.
I'm comfortable on a 5, but the difference between the 5 and 4 seem a big step, the width (beam) is even narrower, if you can imagine trying to keep upright on a uni cycle for the first time then you're getting near how difficult it can be, once you're moving it's a little more stable, well that is until your co-ordination goes haywire then it seems to remind you you're on a tight rope and the ejection seat is getting ready to dump you overboard,
I keep being told its like learning to ride a bike all over again, mmmmm seems a lot harder than I remembered, so looks like practice and more practice will be the order of the day,
the club have told me as soon as I'm comfortable with the current boat ill be put on the next faster boat, heck the one I'm on is like balancing on an ice skate, the next one was like balancing on a knife blade aaaagghhhh
Im going to use this blog as a diary entry to show how I get on and some useful information about the K1 & K2 kayak marathon and sprint racing as I go, and my preparation for the Devizes to Westminster race, it should be a laugh and hopefully some may find it useful starting the sport themselves, or perhaps what not to do!!.
Feel free to add comments and any advise on any of the subjects I may be failing on, that'll be ALL to start with !!! lol
Tip's and hints will continually be added to entry 18
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