Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Short on time, but since I promised to do the Toronto Marathon next weeked with Goose (After deciding not to since I'm at the highest weight and lowest fitness after our anniversary get-away, P&L's wedding, 2 Jewish holidays and Thanksgiving as well as weeks of light-to-no-exercise due to a prolonged cold), I'd better start training.

Bash and I did a 2-3-4-3-2 pyramid.

Now it's time to taper.

C • road race ???? 11

We were just able to sneak out for a short paddle today.
Again, I used the tippier OW. I made an interesting discovery- a big motor boat slowed down to pass us, sending a pretty big wake up behind us, and as I rode the wave the bow of the OW dove right into the preceding wave, acting like a rudder. I didn't like the way it was tricky to steer while also trying to stay upright in a following sea. Now I understand why the surf ski has such a huge buoyant bow- it's made for following seas.


Again, really got my core and legs engaged while paddling.

Bash and I got out for a paddle on Lake Muskoka in the racing boats (and dry suits). I ended up using the smaller and tippier Open Water boat, which seems just fine on a calm day anyway. I didn't really clock how fast it was, but it doesn't seem *that* much faster than the sea kayak I have now. I have to say that my technique seems the best ever in this boat and the surf ski, as you're really connected to the boat, and any moose-wrestling would result in a swim.

Bash didn't really want to push it on the Open Water with the lake at 12 degrees, even in a paddling dry suit.

We both agree the Surf Ski is a lot easier to maneuver, much easier to hop into, easier to climb back in if you fall out and is a faster boat too, but is more awkward to schlepp as it's almost 22' long. It would also blow around a lot in a crosswind.

I didn't get any pics or GPS readings as the boats are both so wobbly when standing still that I didn't dare drop the paddle.

Oh, I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK...

Spent a while hauling 150kg loads of wood to the shed in the back, and splitting big logs with a maul, then stacking. Lots more of this to haul.

Mike F lent me an Epic surfski and an Open Water racing boat to try for the weekend. Goose and I took them to Albion Hills, and paddled around a bit before Bash arrived by bike. Goose got the surf ski to 14.7kph, but only got the OW up to 14.3 before going for a swim. As he described it, paddling that speed isn't pretty- he's wrestling a walrus, and this time the walrus won.

Bash tried both boats too, but also succumbed to the Albion Hills walrus in the Open Water, and couldn't get back in until she swam it to shore.

I didn't have the guts to go full-out, but did try to get my core engaged. It's sore today, so it worked. At least I didn't fall in. In sympathy, I did jump in and try to get in both boats while swimming. Surf ski was fairly easy to get back in (in dead calm water), but the Open Water took me over 10 tries.

The surf ski would be a better AR boat, but you will be wet for sure.

I noticed I'm not all that much faster than in the Wavemaster sea kayak yet, but a lot wobblier. However, you need decent technique in the wobbly boats or you're swimming.

Nice crisp morning for a good stiff run in with Bulletdog, and we had time for extra singletrack. Part way through my lungs felt it though- still not over my cold.