New injury today. Runners knee!
Went for a run last night after I had finished work. It was my 7.4 mile route that I last ran in February.
It was a really enjoyable run. More comfortable trainers, good music, and a confidence from having completed a half marathon meant I positively bounded along. I didn’t really suffer too much, a bit of pain in my knees and a couple of pressure spots on my feet that were developing into blisters but I have inflicted worse on myself. I ran the route in 1hour 4 minutes so was a smidge slower than I ran the distance a month before but I was no where near as fatigued.
A few hours later my left knee began to feel a bit bruised under the kneecap. There is no swelling or obvious sign of injury but this morning it feels like someone has booted me in the kneecap. Stairs are mild agony and standing for periods of time begins a dull ache.
Internet diagnosis has identified Runners Knee. There are several causes of this, most of which I can identify with, overpronation, weak inner quads, a job which involves sitting for long periods of time… Not good news. So now I am back to resting the joint, and avoiding stairs. I am hoping that it will be fine for the weekend as I have a nice run planned.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Monday, 30 March 2009
Another morning swim for me and again I was running late, this time because of the clocks going forward, so I had only half an hour in the pool.
When I swim at full power I create a bit of a bow wave, and because the middle lane was in use, I decided to use the open part of the pool so that I didn’t swamp the lady using that lane. As I had all of the rest of the pool to myself I decided to do circuits instead with the sole intention of not touching the side. I did find myself having to take longer to recover after a burst of speed while continually swimming and I suspect that when I am swimming lengths, even though I stop for the shortest amount of time, this pause is enough to recover.
I have also invented a new breast stroke today (actually it might not be new, but it is new to me) where when my legs are fully extended and I am applying an arm stroke, I give a butterfly kick of my legs. This additional propulsion has sped my breast stroke up quite a lot. I gauge my speed on other people in the pool, and I was able to keep up with someone who had a fast crawl with my new improved stroke.
[EDIT]
I went off to find out if I had found the secret to a world class breast stroke, and it turns out I haven’t. However I seem to have accidentally stumbled upon quite an advanced level of this swimming stroke.
From Wikipedia.
"This much faster form of breaststroke is referred to as "wave-action" breaststroke and fully incorporates the whip-kick."
It seems that you can only downward kick once when swimming competitively and an upward kick will have you disqualified, I don’t know if my technique will contravene Olympic race rules but I don’t care as I don’t think I am going to be at London 2012 somehow.
When I swim at full power I create a bit of a bow wave, and because the middle lane was in use, I decided to use the open part of the pool so that I didn’t swamp the lady using that lane. As I had all of the rest of the pool to myself I decided to do circuits instead with the sole intention of not touching the side. I did find myself having to take longer to recover after a burst of speed while continually swimming and I suspect that when I am swimming lengths, even though I stop for the shortest amount of time, this pause is enough to recover.
I have also invented a new breast stroke today (actually it might not be new, but it is new to me) where when my legs are fully extended and I am applying an arm stroke, I give a butterfly kick of my legs. This additional propulsion has sped my breast stroke up quite a lot. I gauge my speed on other people in the pool, and I was able to keep up with someone who had a fast crawl with my new improved stroke.
[EDIT]
I went off to find out if I had found the secret to a world class breast stroke, and it turns out I haven’t. However I seem to have accidentally stumbled upon quite an advanced level of this swimming stroke.
From Wikipedia.
"This much faster form of breaststroke is referred to as "wave-action" breaststroke and fully incorporates the whip-kick."
It seems that you can only downward kick once when swimming competitively and an upward kick will have you disqualified, I don’t know if my technique will contravene Olympic race rules but I don’t care as I don’t think I am going to be at London 2012 somehow.
Friday, 27 March 2009
The Great North Events.
As most of you know, I am taking part in the great north swim and run this year. I have decided to compete in both of these events for charity and have chosen to raise funds for the local RSPCA Animal Centre at Gonsal Farm.
This charity-run Animal Centre occupies a 186-acre site that sits amongst the hills of the Shropshire countryside and provides a safe haven for animals that have seen cruelty or have been given up. Here, they look after dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, various small mammals and horses, and at any one time they are caring for over 150 animals.
It costs the RSPCA over £2,400 a day to run Gonsal Farm Animal Centre but the RSPCA receives no government funding so they rely entirely on kind donations from people like you.
Please visit my Just Giving web page http://www.justgiving.com/greatnorthevents anything you can spare will be gratefully received. Thank you.
This charity-run Animal Centre occupies a 186-acre site that sits amongst the hills of the Shropshire countryside and provides a safe haven for animals that have seen cruelty or have been given up. Here, they look after dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, various small mammals and horses, and at any one time they are caring for over 150 animals.
It costs the RSPCA over £2,400 a day to run Gonsal Farm Animal Centre but the RSPCA receives no government funding so they rely entirely on kind donations from people like you.
Please visit my Just Giving web page http://www.justgiving.com/greatnorthevents anything you can spare will be gratefully received. Thank you.
Early morning swim was nearly aborted because I slept in late but a burst of motivation and some quick driving got me to the pool only ten minutes late.
Being late did mean that I wasn’t going to have enough time to complete the mile distance so instead I decided to work on my technique and did some interval work at VO2Max. †
† I have heard the phrase VO2Max a few times and wanted to use it here on the blog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Exercise_zones.png Really basically it is working at full maximum power.
I swam for 40 minutes and can feel that I have worked hard today. This is the last bit of effort before the weekend. Next week should see me get back into running in the evening.
Being late did mean that I wasn’t going to have enough time to complete the mile distance so instead I decided to work on my technique and did some interval work at VO2Max. †
† I have heard the phrase VO2Max a few times and wanted to use it here on the blog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Exercise_zones.png Really basically it is working at full maximum power.
I swam for 40 minutes and can feel that I have worked hard today. This is the last bit of effort before the weekend. Next week should see me get back into running in the evening.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
The aches and pains have taken a couple of days to wear off but I am mostly fighting fit again. I have a plan to soon start the day with an hour swim in the morning and then an hour run in the evening but with my feet still a bit blistered I am going to save the running bit till next week. Didn’t mean I can’t go swimming though so 50 minutes in the pool this morning saw me complete the mile distance. It was hard work though, I was slow and was exhausted very quickly. My muscles still haven’t recovered and I haven’t refilled my energy stores.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Ironbridge Half Marathon
Arriving at the Arena in Telford with 700+ other racers all warming up and chatting calmly I began to assess the competition working out who I would and wouldn’t beat. Everybody looked fit though, and I regretted not training harder. The weather was nice though, it was cold as we stood about but once we started running it was a welcome chill.
Once we got underway I used my dad as a pace setter. He run the course and had more of a plan as far as timing strategy was concerned than I.
I had to make a quick pit stop when nature called. It was the longest I have ever taken to empty my bladder, and was dismayed to find when I had rejoined the pack that I was amongst people I had spent the first 40 minutes overtaking.
I was feeling fine by the time we got to Ironbridge. There was a large crowd of people there and their cheering really did give a boost to the confidence but after crossing the bridge there was a single track slog where the only thing I had to focus on was the runner in front and the knowledge that every footfall from this point onward was further than I had ever run in one go before.
I hit the Wall. I have never hit the Wall before but I had run out of fuel. My leg muscles had nothing left and I was struggling. I did have a plan though, I had a lucozade gel in my pocket, and there was a water station coming up. This water station I was going to walk through and actually drink the water rather than jog thorough sort of splashing myself in the vague area of my mouth. My supporters were also at this station and were quite unsupportive though, all I could hear was my sister and Mum laughing and exclaiming that I can’t stop and had to keep running!
This was the last bit of flat ground before the long uphill grind out of Ironbridge and it was brutal. This was the first stretch where I could run no longer and had to walk. For the whole of this hill I alternated between running and walking, and every time I started to run again I found my legs had seized up just that little bit more.
The final 3 miles was a long flat stretch of footpath I know well from my childhood so I knew where I was and roughly how far I had yet to run, I sort of shut down and just ran as fast as I could (which by now wasn’t very fast) focusing on each foot in front of the other. There were quite a lot of club runners who had a more comprehensive strategy than me and had saved themselves for the final push. I was overtaken by so many people who had something left for the final mile, I had nothing, and it was quite demoralising being overtaken by people who I had waltzed past earlier on in the race.
I crossed the finishing line in 2 hours 1 minute and 32 seconds. Finishing 427 out of the 660 people who managed to complete the race. (Race Results.)
I had a couple of targets set, I wanted to finish in no more than 2 hours 30 minutes as I knew this was achievable. Anything longer and I would have to re-evaluate whether I was up to this whole thing. And then I had a mind that I might be able to complete the half marathon at about the 2 hour mark if I can get my head down and just grind out the miles and I was 1 minute and 32 seconds shy of that. So I am happy with my performance.
I am most proud of my dad though, after leaving me for dust when we got to the hill out of the gorge, he finished 293rd with a time of 1 hour 53 minutes. If I am half as fit when I am in the Veteran Men category I will be more than happy.
As always I am feeling the pain today. I have joggers nipple, and a really sore right armpit where my skin was rubbing on the t-shirt over the 2 hours. I have a collection of small blisters on both of my feet which are nothing compared to blisters I have had in the past. My knees are really sore though and they are the reason why I am hobbling around today.
I am however really happy with my performance, it has given me the confidence that I can finish the Great North Run in September with a decent time and as long as I can keep on top of the training I am going to see if I can knock 15 minutes off that time.
Once we got underway I used my dad as a pace setter. He run the course and had more of a plan as far as timing strategy was concerned than I.
I had to make a quick pit stop when nature called. It was the longest I have ever taken to empty my bladder, and was dismayed to find when I had rejoined the pack that I was amongst people I had spent the first 40 minutes overtaking.
I was feeling fine by the time we got to Ironbridge. There was a large crowd of people there and their cheering really did give a boost to the confidence but after crossing the bridge there was a single track slog where the only thing I had to focus on was the runner in front and the knowledge that every footfall from this point onward was further than I had ever run in one go before.
I hit the Wall. I have never hit the Wall before but I had run out of fuel. My leg muscles had nothing left and I was struggling. I did have a plan though, I had a lucozade gel in my pocket, and there was a water station coming up. This water station I was going to walk through and actually drink the water rather than jog thorough sort of splashing myself in the vague area of my mouth. My supporters were also at this station and were quite unsupportive though, all I could hear was my sister and Mum laughing and exclaiming that I can’t stop and had to keep running!
This was the last bit of flat ground before the long uphill grind out of Ironbridge and it was brutal. This was the first stretch where I could run no longer and had to walk. For the whole of this hill I alternated between running and walking, and every time I started to run again I found my legs had seized up just that little bit more.
The final 3 miles was a long flat stretch of footpath I know well from my childhood so I knew where I was and roughly how far I had yet to run, I sort of shut down and just ran as fast as I could (which by now wasn’t very fast) focusing on each foot in front of the other. There were quite a lot of club runners who had a more comprehensive strategy than me and had saved themselves for the final push. I was overtaken by so many people who had something left for the final mile, I had nothing, and it was quite demoralising being overtaken by people who I had waltzed past earlier on in the race.
I crossed the finishing line in 2 hours 1 minute and 32 seconds. Finishing 427 out of the 660 people who managed to complete the race. (Race Results.)
I had a couple of targets set, I wanted to finish in no more than 2 hours 30 minutes as I knew this was achievable. Anything longer and I would have to re-evaluate whether I was up to this whole thing. And then I had a mind that I might be able to complete the half marathon at about the 2 hour mark if I can get my head down and just grind out the miles and I was 1 minute and 32 seconds shy of that. So I am happy with my performance.
I am most proud of my dad though, after leaving me for dust when we got to the hill out of the gorge, he finished 293rd with a time of 1 hour 53 minutes. If I am half as fit when I am in the Veteran Men category I will be more than happy.
As always I am feeling the pain today. I have joggers nipple, and a really sore right armpit where my skin was rubbing on the t-shirt over the 2 hours. I have a collection of small blisters on both of my feet which are nothing compared to blisters I have had in the past. My knees are really sore though and they are the reason why I am hobbling around today.
I am however really happy with my performance, it has given me the confidence that I can finish the Great North Run in September with a decent time and as long as I can keep on top of the training I am going to see if I can knock 15 minutes off that time.
Friday, 20 March 2009
Today was probably the last bit of exercise before the Ironbridge half. Obviously in preparation for a running race, I went swimming. 50 minutes, alternating moderate swimming with some lengths at full power.
My reasoning for swimming instead of running is sound enough though. I haven’t trained enough for this race. It snuck up on me while I was waiting for the weather to get more pleasant for outdoor running. And the two or three occasions when I have gone out for a dash I have spent the next week nursing sore limbs. So instead of wearing myself out before the race, I am going to save it for the day.
Next post will be race report.
My reasoning for swimming instead of running is sound enough though. I haven’t trained enough for this race. It snuck up on me while I was waiting for the weather to get more pleasant for outdoor running. And the two or three occasions when I have gone out for a dash I have spent the next week nursing sore limbs. So instead of wearing myself out before the race, I am going to save it for the day.
Next post will be race report.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
I couldn’t help myself, I ended up going to the pool again this morning. I wasn’t going to and I had a big internal debate about going or not and in the end the draw of swimming was too much for me.
45 minutes swam. I think I hit my one mile target but I lost count of the lengths I was doing a few times so I could be a few metres out.
45 minutes swam. I think I hit my one mile target but I lost count of the lengths I was doing a few times so I could be a few metres out.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
My legs are still aching from Sunday’s run. Concern is my main emotion, I only ran 5 miles and my legs are still aching…
Today spent 50 minutes in the pool. I guess I must have swum around about the mile mark, but I consciously didn’t count how many lengths I achieved instead I focused totally on my technique. I had studied a few youtube videos on efficient and fast swimming techniques and tried to tweak my style to maximise my speed.
This is all for today. I’m going to give the pool a rest tomorrow and have plans to go for a run in the morning instead.
Today spent 50 minutes in the pool. I guess I must have swum around about the mile mark, but I consciously didn’t count how many lengths I achieved instead I focused totally on my technique. I had studied a few youtube videos on efficient and fast swimming techniques and tried to tweak my style to maximise my speed.
This is all for today. I’m going to give the pool a rest tomorrow and have plans to go for a run in the morning instead.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Six days before I run this half marathon and I have finally got a pair of trailers which are going to carry me the distance. I took them out for a test drive on Sunday, just a quick 5 mile run and found them so much more comfortable. I did get blisters again but this time I think because my feet are a bit soft and not used to running.
Talking tactics with my dad in the afternoon he pointed out that I have as yet, not run the full half marathon distance… And it’s a fair point. Yes I can run pretty quickly, and I have adequate cardio vascular performance for an hour or so of endurance work but can I keep it up for over two hours? I just don’t know. I think the generally accepted pre-race preparation is to scale back the distance you run a week or so before, so I suppose the first time I run the full 13 miles is when I don my race number.
This morning before work I swam 1.2 miles in about 50 minutes. I’m not yet swimming faster, I didn’t really expect so after only 4 sessions in the pool, as the mile still came round at about the 40 – 45 minute mark but pleased that I was able to keep going for a few hundred more metres.
Talking tactics with my dad in the afternoon he pointed out that I have as yet, not run the full half marathon distance… And it’s a fair point. Yes I can run pretty quickly, and I have adequate cardio vascular performance for an hour or so of endurance work but can I keep it up for over two hours? I just don’t know. I think the generally accepted pre-race preparation is to scale back the distance you run a week or so before, so I suppose the first time I run the full 13 miles is when I don my race number.
This morning before work I swam 1.2 miles in about 50 minutes. I’m not yet swimming faster, I didn’t really expect so after only 4 sessions in the pool, as the mile still came round at about the 40 – 45 minute mark but pleased that I was able to keep going for a few hundred more metres.
Friday, 13 March 2009
3rd morning swim
3rd morning swim in a row is starting to break me, my body is reporting aches from all over the place and it feels like I have some kind of permanent stitch. I did manage the 110 lengths which is just over a mile in the 45 minutes but it was hard, and I was feeling the ache from the moment I started out and it was a slog all the way to the end. I do enjoy it though and I feel fresher and more ready to take on the day after the swim.
I also received my fundraising pack and vest from the RSPCA last night. Despite advice to the contrary, I opted for a vest rather than the T Shirt, in medium. I have always been a medium, whenever I have ever bought any clothes I am Mr. Medium, only it seems that I might have put on a bit of mass on my torso and this loose running vest (in medium) was a bit too tight. It looked as if I had borrowed the Wife’s crop top.
Anyway, onward. This weekend I am planning on getting some running shoes so that I can run this half marathon next Sunday in a little bit of comfort. I am also thinking of having a reconnoitre of the half marathon route just so if I do lose the rest of the runners I will at least still know which way to go.
I also received my fundraising pack and vest from the RSPCA last night. Despite advice to the contrary, I opted for a vest rather than the T Shirt, in medium. I have always been a medium, whenever I have ever bought any clothes I am Mr. Medium, only it seems that I might have put on a bit of mass on my torso and this loose running vest (in medium) was a bit too tight. It looked as if I had borrowed the Wife’s crop top.
Anyway, onward. This weekend I am planning on getting some running shoes so that I can run this half marathon next Sunday in a little bit of comfort. I am also thinking of having a reconnoitre of the half marathon route just so if I do lose the rest of the runners I will at least still know which way to go.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Further by 150m
Another morning swim for me. I have a very simple plan to increase my strength and stamina. Increase the number of lengths I swim every time I put in a 45 minutes session. (I have a vague desire to be competitive, so I need to be able to manage about 300 lengths in 45 minutes by September)
Today I added 10 to my 110 total from yesterday completing 120 lengths or 1,800 metres in 45 minutes.
I am pretty knackered physically today, arms shoulders and back ache the muscle ache and after just five minutes in the pool they started to protest but it’s all good.
Now the more observant people in the audience might notice my complete lack of run training for this half marathon that is just 10 days away. My reasoning for not running is pretty straightforward. I don’t have any running shoes that don’t inflict vicious blisters on me at the moment and pounding the streets could well do more harm than good. And I suppose that I have been pretty lacking in my training to date, and 10 days worth of running will make little or no improvement to my performance even if I were to get out there and run. I am going to spend the weekend sourcing a pair of shoes that are good for me, and then I might have a couple of runs to get me in the mood during the week. I am kind of hoping that my general level of fitness will carry me through. I don’t hold out much hope for my success for this HM.
Today I added 10 to my 110 total from yesterday completing 120 lengths or 1,800 metres in 45 minutes.
I am pretty knackered physically today, arms shoulders and back ache the muscle ache and after just five minutes in the pool they started to protest but it’s all good.
Now the more observant people in the audience might notice my complete lack of run training for this half marathon that is just 10 days away. My reasoning for not running is pretty straightforward. I don’t have any running shoes that don’t inflict vicious blisters on me at the moment and pounding the streets could well do more harm than good. And I suppose that I have been pretty lacking in my training to date, and 10 days worth of running will make little or no improvement to my performance even if I were to get out there and run. I am going to spend the weekend sourcing a pair of shoes that are good for me, and then I might have a couple of runs to get me in the mood during the week. I am kind of hoping that my general level of fitness will carry me through. I don’t hold out much hope for my success for this HM.
Another morning swim for me. I have a very simple plan to increase my strength and stamina. Increase the number of lengths I swim every time I put in a 45 minutes session. (I have a vague desire to be competitive, so I need to be able to manage about 300 lengths in 45 minutes by September)
Today I added 10 to my 110 total from yesterday completing 120 lengths or 1,800 metres in 45 minutes.
I am pretty knackered physically today, arms shoulders and back ache the muscle ache and after just five minutes in the pool they started to protest but it’s all good.
Now the more observant people in the audience might notice my complete lack of run training for this half marathon that is just 10 days away. My reasoning for not running is pretty straightforward. I don’t have any running shoes that don’t inflict vicious blisters on me at the moment and pounding the streets could well do more harm than good. And I suppose that I have been pretty lacking in my training to date, and 10 days worth of running will make little or no improvement to my performance even if I were to get out there and run. I am going to spend the weekend sourcing a pair of shoes that are good for me, and then I might have a couple of runs to get me in the mood during the week. I am kind of hoping that my general level of fitness will carry me through. I don’t hold out much hope for my success for this HM.
Today I added 10 to my 110 total from yesterday completing 120 lengths or 1,800 metres in 45 minutes.
I am pretty knackered physically today, arms shoulders and back ache the muscle ache and after just five minutes in the pool they started to protest but it’s all good.
Now the more observant people in the audience might notice my complete lack of run training for this half marathon that is just 10 days away. My reasoning for not running is pretty straightforward. I don’t have any running shoes that don’t inflict vicious blisters on me at the moment and pounding the streets could well do more harm than good. And I suppose that I have been pretty lacking in my training to date, and 10 days worth of running will make little or no improvement to my performance even if I were to get out there and run. I am going to spend the weekend sourcing a pair of shoes that are good for me, and then I might have a couple of runs to get me in the mood during the week. I am kind of hoping that my general level of fitness will carry me through. I don’t hold out much hope for my success for this HM.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
110 lengths
I have been slacking a little bit for the last few weeks, part of the reason for this was not enough time in the evenings to train. Today saw me try something new. Going swimming BEFORE I go to work. The pool opens at 7am, so I can put in 45 minutes of swimming first thing.
I swam continuously for the duration, with mostly breast stroke which is my strongest stroke, and every fifth length I would do a length of crawl, which I’m not bad at but I can’t sustain it for very long.
110 lengths at 15 metres a pop saw me complete a little over a mile in the 45 minutes. Not bad, at least I can swim the required amount to be able to take part in the Great North Swim with ease.
Wondering then what I would need to do to be able to compete with the world class swimmers on this event I looked at their time last year. About 17 minutes for the guy who won apparently… I am going to have to get faster, three times faster, if I am to be in with a chance of winning.
I swam continuously for the duration, with mostly breast stroke which is my strongest stroke, and every fifth length I would do a length of crawl, which I’m not bad at but I can’t sustain it for very long.
110 lengths at 15 metres a pop saw me complete a little over a mile in the 45 minutes. Not bad, at least I can swim the required amount to be able to take part in the Great North Swim with ease.
Wondering then what I would need to do to be able to compete with the world class swimmers on this event I looked at their time last year. About 17 minutes for the guy who won apparently… I am going to have to get faster, three times faster, if I am to be in with a chance of winning.
Monday, 9 March 2009
First paddle
The training for the DW took a massive and important leap forward this weekend. We not only collected the boat but also managed to take it out for a test drive.
Saturday we drove up to Warwick to collect the boat that I had won on ebay from the 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts. It was in pretty good condition having been stored inside for the duration of it’s time with them. Everything seemed in order, overstern rudder worked, and pretty much all of the dents and holes had been well repaired.
On Friday I called in a favour or two and had a 7ft long cradle made up to carry the boat home with, but loading the boat onto the roof proved a trial, with my straps being too short to fasten it down. I had to get creative and in the end my knot work learned in the scouts 10+ years ago was holding the boat to the roof. The drive home proved quite a trauma with gusting winds snatching the 21ft long boat like a sail. The boat made it home in one piece and all was well in the world.
Sunday morning I collected Nigel and we headed off to Ironbridge to test the boat out. It was the first time either of us had been in a 2 man boat, it was also Nigel’s First time in a slender racing boat and we both knew that a swim in the river was on the cards.
After some initial problems floating the boat we were underway. My role in the front was pace setter and driver, all Nigel had to do was keep his strokes in time with mine.
Steering was proving to be a steep learning curve for me. In my normal kayak I can turn on the spot with a couple of strong strokes on one side, or maybe a back stroke, or even by leaning over. The 21ft long racing boat does not respond to paddle input really and steering is achieved with a rudder the size of half a dinner plate. The rudder is controlled with a joystick type affair with my feet and it took some getting used to, essentially move it to the left, steer left. With a boat this long it took a few boat lengths before input with the rudder took effect so I wasn’t sure if it was working so I was waggling it to the left and to the right in increasingly severe angles. I am going to take full responsibility for the first dunking we had as I had the rudder hard over and the severe angle just caught us out.
After we had emptied the boat and re floated we set off again, with more cautious use of the rudder and both Nigel and I relaxing a bit the boat became less tippy and we were able to get some good speed.
Turning round was a worry for me as I couldn’t envisage how to do it, but with the rudder hard over and me applying a low brace, while Nigel paddled on one side we managed quite easily. Returning back to where we launched we paused for a moment to talk through what we had learned so far, and I boldly declared that we had mastered this staying afloat malarkey. Within a couple of strokes of setting off for a second charge upriver we were dumped unceremoniously into the water again. Second dunking we have no idea what happened, I can only assume our cockyness was our undoing.
Undeterred we emptied the boat and tried again. This time the lessons we had learned were all starting to make sense and we successfully made it back to the bank for a dry departure. It did take us too long to manoeuvre close to the bank and this is something we are going to have to practice a lot if we are going to successfully manage the portages.
I was pleased with the session in the boat, it wasn’t very long but a lot was learned. Nigel surprised me with how instinctively he was paddling, even when I made it hard for him to keep in time by dropping a second stroke on the same side (a naughty habit from my playboat I am going to have to drop). Having always relied on my own abilities in a boat I didn’t know how we would work as a team but I now know that I can trust Nigel 100%.
The boat is now off the road for a little while, there are some minor repairs to the fibreglass that need to be looked at and the rudder could do with a bit of a service but she should be re-launched better than ever just after the Easter holidays.
In the afternoon we went ice skating. This sport, on reflection, is not something I should be doing with a half marathon coming up and kayak training that must be pursued. The boots have near crippled my ankles, and a bad fall has damaged my left hand and wrist, where even changing gear in the car is now painful.
And then because there aren’t enough endurance events in my calendar this year, I have entered myself into the Great North Swim which is a 1 mile swim across Lake Windermere in September.
Saturday we drove up to Warwick to collect the boat that I had won on ebay from the 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts. It was in pretty good condition having been stored inside for the duration of it’s time with them. Everything seemed in order, overstern rudder worked, and pretty much all of the dents and holes had been well repaired.
On Friday I called in a favour or two and had a 7ft long cradle made up to carry the boat home with, but loading the boat onto the roof proved a trial, with my straps being too short to fasten it down. I had to get creative and in the end my knot work learned in the scouts 10+ years ago was holding the boat to the roof. The drive home proved quite a trauma with gusting winds snatching the 21ft long boat like a sail. The boat made it home in one piece and all was well in the world.
Sunday morning I collected Nigel and we headed off to Ironbridge to test the boat out. It was the first time either of us had been in a 2 man boat, it was also Nigel’s First time in a slender racing boat and we both knew that a swim in the river was on the cards.
After some initial problems floating the boat we were underway. My role in the front was pace setter and driver, all Nigel had to do was keep his strokes in time with mine.
Steering was proving to be a steep learning curve for me. In my normal kayak I can turn on the spot with a couple of strong strokes on one side, or maybe a back stroke, or even by leaning over. The 21ft long racing boat does not respond to paddle input really and steering is achieved with a rudder the size of half a dinner plate. The rudder is controlled with a joystick type affair with my feet and it took some getting used to, essentially move it to the left, steer left. With a boat this long it took a few boat lengths before input with the rudder took effect so I wasn’t sure if it was working so I was waggling it to the left and to the right in increasingly severe angles. I am going to take full responsibility for the first dunking we had as I had the rudder hard over and the severe angle just caught us out.
After we had emptied the boat and re floated we set off again, with more cautious use of the rudder and both Nigel and I relaxing a bit the boat became less tippy and we were able to get some good speed.
Turning round was a worry for me as I couldn’t envisage how to do it, but with the rudder hard over and me applying a low brace, while Nigel paddled on one side we managed quite easily. Returning back to where we launched we paused for a moment to talk through what we had learned so far, and I boldly declared that we had mastered this staying afloat malarkey. Within a couple of strokes of setting off for a second charge upriver we were dumped unceremoniously into the water again. Second dunking we have no idea what happened, I can only assume our cockyness was our undoing.
Undeterred we emptied the boat and tried again. This time the lessons we had learned were all starting to make sense and we successfully made it back to the bank for a dry departure. It did take us too long to manoeuvre close to the bank and this is something we are going to have to practice a lot if we are going to successfully manage the portages.
I was pleased with the session in the boat, it wasn’t very long but a lot was learned. Nigel surprised me with how instinctively he was paddling, even when I made it hard for him to keep in time by dropping a second stroke on the same side (a naughty habit from my playboat I am going to have to drop). Having always relied on my own abilities in a boat I didn’t know how we would work as a team but I now know that I can trust Nigel 100%.
The boat is now off the road for a little while, there are some minor repairs to the fibreglass that need to be looked at and the rudder could do with a bit of a service but she should be re-launched better than ever just after the Easter holidays.
In the afternoon we went ice skating. This sport, on reflection, is not something I should be doing with a half marathon coming up and kayak training that must be pursued. The boots have near crippled my ankles, and a bad fall has damaged my left hand and wrist, where even changing gear in the car is now painful.
And then because there aren’t enough endurance events in my calendar this year, I have entered myself into the Great North Swim which is a 1 mile swim across Lake Windermere in September.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
The K2.
Great news to report today. I have sourced through the power of eBay, a k2 racing kayak. I have to be honest I don’t know much about it, looking at it’s dimensions and the profile of it’s hull it will be a tippy craft and I know full well that I am going to be spending some time getting to know the flavour of the river Severn while training in it.The boat is also a little tatty looking at the moment, though it has been stored inside and looks in pretty good knick. Skilled application of some fibreglass around the cockpit and a lick of paint should make this boat look half decent.
I’m planning on collecting the boat on the weekend so will know more about it’s condition and amount of work that will be needed to be sea worthy then.
And then onto other news. One of those races I entered myself into this year, the Ironbridge half marathon, emailed me on the weekend to tell me that my race number was 176.
I had sort of forgotten about this race what with the Great North Run and all that eclipsing this 13 miler. A couple of things have dawned on me since receiving that email though. The main one being that it is a 13 mile race in 18 days, and so far I have not exactly done much in the way of marathon training. In fact, I have only been running twice and the combined mileage is a meagre 11 miles.
I remember a friend of mine training every day for months before he did a half marathon, and after all that training he still complained that it was a tough event.
Well there isn’t much I can do about it now, I will have to get what training in that I can and hope that it is enough.
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