Just for a laugh I brought a uni-cycle from the local boot-fair, can defiantly confirm the uni-cycle is far harder than a K1 kayak, the only difference is its drier and easier to get back on than a K1, quite a laugh though.
Back out with the club on a different part of the river I hadn't been on before, a real winder of a section, takes some getting used to steering around each bend with something that's got a turning circle of a dumper truck.
Put a lot more effort into this training session and into leg work, its getting there slowly, played around with seat position again and getting my heals planted down and the rudder pedal between my big toes, can feel a lot more power on each stroke and a lot less effort required off the arms to maintain a reasonable cruising speed,
one of the notable things I found was trying to catch someone up in front is kinda slow motion compared to say running.
Starting to get a reasonable rhythm going now and finding it fairly easy to keep up a good speed, and starting to get a good feel for body position but did suffer lower back ache at the end of the evening though but I'm sure that'll get there, correct posture in the kayak is important with a slight lean forward, also allows you to get the paddle bite as far forward as possible and a longer stroke.
Had some fun at the portages at the locks with the banks being quite high from the water level, some not so graceful exits and entry's, something I've got to perfect as nearly all races have portages and especially the Devize's race having 77, lots of time and position can be won and lost at the portages.
The clubs younger fast racers were out practising sprints, had a sneaky see if I can keep up, didn't do too bad considering I was in a slower boat lol, hoping to join them in a couple of weeks if they don't mind a Granddad tagging along.
Overall a good evening, no real aches and pains except my lower back which was pretty much gone by next morning, pretty pleased to that I can get a good speed and maintain without out too much effort, totally happy in getting my seat and leg position right every-time now, and miles more comfortable with the "Cirrus", I'm suffering a little bit with my modified wet suit as I'm getting to hot with it, preservation in case of falling in is going to have to take a back seat now.
Back to the club and I pestered Mo for the use of one of the racing carbon wing paddle's, totally different from the standard paddle, the locked in feeling described to me is really evident, wasn't the most graceful of try's but there is a definite faster speed with these paddles, a few more pennies to save before I can get my own, next thing I know Mo's given me the next boat up "Raven" and said this is what you should be playing with not paddles, She did say I'd be moved up before I got too used the current one,
this is the one that I have previously described as like sitting on a knife edge, ah well what the heck the waters warm , a lot more unstable than my now comfy one, but it felt a lot better than the last time I sat in it,
these boats are a lot more stable when you get moving so it was bite the bullet and dig in and move, it didn't feel too bad once I'd got some speed up, the rudder was a lot more sensitive and could feel the boat was faster straight away, turning round though at slow speed the ejector seat got me fair and square, I'd got this far and wasn't gona be beaten so all emptied out and second try, an un-graceful u turn turn but I beat the ejector seat this time, well chuffed as this boat seemed impossible the last time I sat in it, but I think I'll need a whole evening to truly get comfy in this boat, could be a real love and hate relationship we'll have :)
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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