Memoires of a Want 2B Athlete

5 ½ Months Until the Big Race!!

2009-08-04T18:12:00.001-04:00

OMG! It’s just a little over a month until the race. Am I freaking out? Absolutely!!!
This week I should know for sure if my entry has been accepted (fingers crossed). I’m keeping a close eye on the mailbox to say the least. I’m also getting geared up for the big event. I ordered a Thule rack for the roof of my car. Those of you who’ve seen my car will understand that the roof rack will encompass the entire worth of that vehicle. This means I’m gonna start locking my doors. :) Anyway, hopefully the rack will be in any day now.

I spent my evening, last night, calling every Wilderness kayak dealer within 30 miles of my house to see if they carry the Wilderness Tsunami 145 with Rudder (sheesh). REI is the only one that has it and the second Dan gets that Thule rack installed on my car I’ll be headed to the store to her pick up. I’ll surely let you know when I’ve got it.

In the meantime, I’ve been planning my weekend paddles to work up the strength to complete the 90-miler. Weather kept me from completing the 20-miles I wanted to accomplish last week. I only got it 10. This weekend I’m off to a rafting adventure on the Delaware River. Losing another couple days of hard paddling. The plan is that once I’ve got the new boat then I’ll be on the water at least four days a week. I better get that boat soon!!

6 hours of driving + 2 hours of research = 1 nap

2009-06-15T20:15:00.006-04:00

I recently found out that the worst type of kayak you can use in the Adirondack Canoe Classic is a short, fat one - aka my recreational kayak. This was some discouraging news. Looks like another chunk of money I'm gonna be spending. So, I hit the road on Saturday before my husband was even out of bed and made it to the canoe/kayak demo in Farmville, Va in three hours.

Though I drove around the little town for 20 minutes, I finally found the poorly marked entrance to the top of Wilkes Lake. The parking lot... err, field was starting to fill up. I made my way over to the boats, signed in and got fitted with life vest. The shore of this lake, which would be considered merely a pond in NY, was lined with all different types of kayaks and canoes. The angler crowd was there, white water kayakers, first time boaters looking for a rec. kayak or canoe, there were surf kayaks, kayaks with sails and catamarans. It was your basic one-stop-shop for self propelled water craft. I seemed to be the only one looking for a boat to complete a marathon paddle.

After wandering for a bit, I finally got the attention of staff member. Nice guy. Can't remember his name. He was from New Hampshire and I was glad that he'd actually heard of my 90-miler. He told me some war stories of friend of his... I really didn't need to hear about his friend, in great shape, who couldn't finish the race. Anyway, he was stoked to help me out and showed me a great touring kayak - the Wilderness Tsunami 165 (though he said the 160 would be better for me since I have a smaller frame). This boat has some nice bells and whistles that my current kayak can't even dream of. Adjustable seat, thigh and hip support, and a ratcheting backband to keep your posture on point. I was impressed.

He told me to ditch my Teva's. Asked me if I minded stepping onto the mucky bottom of the lake. And steadied the boat as I slipped down the bank and stepped into the kayak. Everything about it felt more comfortable then what I'm currently using... except the crappy paddle.

Note: If you go to demo a kayak BRING YOUR OWN PADDLE! It makes a huge difference and is just as important a piece of equipment as your boat.

The Tsunami weighs a heft 65-lbs and I could feel the difference a bit as I paddled. Because the lake was so small I couldn't really get a good reading on if I was cutting through the water efficiently or not. Plus, I had to dodge all the other people on the water. Many of them didn't know how to steer and a touring kayak doesn't turn like a rec. kayak. There were no collisions.

After 20 minutes or so I headed back to shore. I climbed out. Was glad that I didn't tip her since I'm not used to the narrow design. I was then directed to the P&H kayak dealer. These boats are classified as sea kayaks and are lighter (55-lbs) and more narrow than the boat I just left. Didn't have the same great adjustable options as the Tsunami but is supposed to be made of a layered plastic that's more ridged. This info is a bit lost on me cause I'm not at that level yet. Getting it out on the water I could feel how much less stable I was. The kayak wobbled in the water with each stroke. I grabbed a worse paddle than before and it seemed to be welded with the blades at too great an angle from one another. I had an annoying 15 minutes in the water veering left. I felt like a total novice.

That wrapped it up for me. I was wet (not sure how all that water got in the kayaks before I tried them out), hot from paddling in blazing sun, and not looking forward to the three hours back to northern Virginia. I don't think I found "my" new kayak at the demo day but talking to the staff there I have a much better understanding of what I need to get. Now it's time to surf the net and find the boat of my dreams... or a boat I can afford. Either one will do :)

Quest for a New Kayak

2009-06-13T07:35:00.005-04:00

Well, I'm just about to head out the door to Farmville, VA to check out Demo Day 2009. I'm wisely driving my compact car the 3-hours south-west and not my husband's truck. That would have been too tempting to throw a kayak in the back of.

I'm also just about a week away from receiving the application forms for the Adirondack Canoe Classic. I've been finding some folks online who are blogging about the race. I'll post those links in the coming day or two.

Try Before You Buy

2009-05-18T20:45:00.002-04:00

It's been 2.5 months since I really started training for the Adirondack Canoe Classic. I've shed some pounds, built some muscle and may be outgrowing my kayak!

I told myself that when I complete the 90-miler that my gift to myself would be a new kayak. As the weeks go by I'm slowly realizing that my current kayak just isn't built for speed. What's a girl to do? Should I buy a new boat before my race? Just not sure yet.

What I do know is that I'm gonna head out to Farmville, Va next month to check out what's advertised as the "largest canoe and kayak demo day on the East Coast." I'm hoping the ad for this wasn't created by the same folks who pitched Cobleskill, NY's Maple Syrup Fest as "world famous."

Anyway - if you're intersted here are the details:

Demo Day 2009
June 13, 2009 - 9:00 to 3:00
Wilck's Lake Park, Farmville, Va
www.paddleva.com

Go it alone

2009-04-29T14:01:00.001-04:00

It seems that between all my kayaking and running I’m finding myself out there on my own. Not that I’m complaining – I get to set my own pace, wander if I see something of interest and simply spend time decompressing from the stresses of the work week.

There are so many random, funny and odd things that go through my mind when adventuring outdoors. The problem is that at some point I get bored of myself (yes, it’s possible) and all those thoughts. That’s when I started packing my iPod as essential piece of gear. When I’m out for a run I’ve got a case that allows me to clip my iPod to my clothes and I’ve also got a band that goes around my arm (caution: can cause strange tan lines). I’ve even got a waterproof case for when I’m kayaking.

Problem solved? Kinda. Now I’m completely over my playlists and even the surprise of shuffling songs. After a few hours out on the water I’m just not into it anymore. That’s when I had the bright idea of downloading an audio book onto my iPod – brilliant, if I do say so myself. I took to the water and listened to the first 3 hours of Life of Pi. It definitely helped me through my usual paddle and kept my brain going the whole time. I highly recommend it!

I’ll give one obvious warning though. If you do choose to wear an mp3 player while taking part in your favorite outdoor activity – please make sure you’re being as alert as possible. On the water you’ve still gotta look out for other boat activity. On a run you’ve still gotta be vigilant about your surroundings, cars and other runners/cyclist. I try to accomplish this by only putting in one ear bud. So far, so good.

Hiking 101

2009-04-06T19:35:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday I had the good fortune to do my first hike of the year with two great friends, two cute dogs and on a gorgeous but windy day. I’m all about planning, so before the trek I carefully picked out a route that 1) I hadn’t done before so I could see some new sites and 2) would be just the right amount of time to scratch the outdoors itch but not leave me limping for the next three days. I made a list of gear to bring and an itinerary for the day, which I shared with my gal pals. All there was left to do was make it out to Shenandoah National Park and hit the trail.

The girls and I parked at the lot just past Hogback Overlook. The dogs were going crazy greeting each other and I just couldn’t wait to get going. Having thoroughly reviewed the map of the 5.2 mile loop and having read through the hike description several times we were off! Start at the cement marker at the south side of the parking lot, check. At the next trail marker take a right and follow the blue blazes down a wooded hillside, check. Pass by Mathew’s Arm campground… errr, wait, what? Ugh… Mathew’s Arm campground is not on the map and I should know cause I’m supposed to be the leader of this hiking party, the one who’s got all the details covered, right?

Fortunately it was a good time to stop and grab some lunch and let the dogs play. As I pulled out my map and directions and stared dumfounded I realize that there must have been a second cement marker at the south side of the parking lot, one that would take us across Skyline Drive and around our planned loop. How could I have missed this? My hiking partners were good sports about it all, though I’m sure I’m not gonna live this one down for a while (1 year, 2 years – only time will tell).

At the end of the day, we put in a good 3 hours of hiking and there’s the promise a do-over to conquer our originally planned trek. The dogs were tired. We felt somewhat accomplished and happily celebrated with some hike’s-end cupcakes J Did I feel dumb? Yeah. Will I redeem myself next time? Definitely!!

Don't Try This @ Home

2009-04-01T19:32:00.004-04:00

Did anyone hear that kayaker Pedro Olivia recently broke the world record for highest waterfall descent by a kayaker? Yeah – didn’t think so. It seems like not many media outlets picked up this news story from early-March. Plus, I’m guess it wasn’t as sexy as the unprotected, naked guy who went over Niagara Falls a week later.

It made me think, is this guy really a kayaker or just a daredevil? By pure definition alone he’s definitely a kayaker, one who uses a kayak. But hmmm… he’s definitely a daredevil. I’m not really into stunts or breaking non-sense records, though I’ve got to admit that I’m intrigued by this story.

Either way, I’m steering my boat clear of any ominous waterfalls even if you triple dog dare me!

Pedro’s Stats
March 4, 2009 – Pedro Olivia plunges 127 feet off Salto Belo Falls in Central Brazil breaking the record for highest waterfall decent by a kayaker.

March 24, 2009 – Ann Curry tries undressing Pedro Olivia with her eyes in a “Today” show interview.

April 1, 2009 – Pedro Olivia returns to obscurity

Cool Kicks

2009-03-26T20:56:00.002-04:00

I did make it to REI a few weeks ago and my wonderful husband bought me some cool new kicks. I got the Siren Sport GORE-TEX XCR athletic shoe from Merrell. Yes – I realize that’s a terribly long name! No worries though cause the shoe is amazing! I’ve taken them on several local day hikes to break them in but they didn’t need. They’re very comfortable right out of the box.

I also tested them out on a couple paddles (8 mile and 16 mile). I’m pretty good at getting into my kayak and getting out on the water without getting my feet wet. With the cold water and cold air temperatures I REALLY didn’t want to get wet at all. The shoes are GORE-TEX lined so I stayed dry throughout my paddle.

The Merrell site really advertises these for off-road running, speed hiking and trail biking. I have no doubt the shoes are great for this and more.

My First Countdown Begins

2009-03-07T14:35:00.003-05:00

Okay, so it’s been way too long since my last posting but get ready cause they’re really gonna start coming now! It’s only 7 days until I can get my kayak out on the water. Although I’ve been busting my ass getting to get in better shape over the past month there hasn’t been much progress on gear. This means I’ve still got a long to do list (story of my life).

I’ve just spent the morning reviewing my gear list and double checking recommendations from Joe Glickman’s “The Kayak Companion”, which I bought a few weeks ago. I highly recommend this book to anyone who’s just starting out or planning their first real kayak trip. Glickman provides a solid gear list, easy to understand notes on technique with illustrations, and some recommended trips (by region and difficulty).

I’m waiting for Dan to finish getting ready and then we’re off to REI to check off a couple items from my list. I’m not sure what I’ll walk out with yet but at least it’ll be a start. I’ll also head over to Lucy to see if they’ve got any suitable rain jackets for me. If you’re a woman and you do any type of real workouts (gym, yoga, hiking, etc..) you should check out this store or their site. I’ve bought several items from them, which I absolutely love- pants for hiking, pullover with thumb cutout for hiking, several long/short sleeved workout and hiking shirts, headbands, socks, workout pants. If the clothes there seem out of your price range then you’ve clearly forgotten to check the sale section. They have amazing sales on some great items that will still have items available in your size. I’m talking $70 shirts for $19!

Before I run, I’ll include my current gear list (left to buy) for both my training and the Adirondack Canoe Classic. If you have any additional recommendations then feel free to let me know :)

New life vest
Spray skirt
Dry bags
New seat for my kayak (not a necessity, yet)
Pogies
Rain jacket
Thick soled water shoes
Camp booties
New visor

Is it February Already?

2009-02-06T20:24:00.002-05:00

Good news! I’ve found myself a pit-crew for the race. My parents have volunteered, which means at the end of each race day I’ll have my tent, sleeping bag and food waiting for me (to setup and cook), plus a ride back to my car once the race is over. I wasn’t looking forward to the extra weight in my kayak or the possibility of hitchhiking back to the race starting point. My brother, Keith, says he’s still going to carry his supplies… we’ll see ;)

My folks are really supportive of this trip. They even bought me an early birthday present – a kayak carrier, which slips under my kayak during portages, so I’ll be able to roll instead of carry my stuff. Keith was quick to mention he’d be stacking his kayak (and gear) on top of mine during portage. I think this means I can ask him to pull all that weight (I kid).

In training related news, my food journal lasted all of three days. It was such a bore! The only thing worse than having lentil soup for lunch is noting it. But, after only losing 1 lb in two weeks I’m back on the case again – what a snore.

Kevin came through with a workout routine for me. I’ve purchased both a 15lb kettlebell and a home gym system, which consists of various bands and things. The kettlebell totally kicks my butt. My legs and forearms are so tired and sore afterward… I’ve nearly fallen down the stairs at my house due to post-workout lack of leg strength. The bands workout still seems awkward to me and I’m hoping I’ll start enjoying it more. I’ve got a couple other things I’m doing to supplement these two routines and that’s helped keep me interested in working out each night.

I’m looking forward to March 14th. That’s when the park near my house opens up its water access. I’m planning on paddling once or twice a week for the following months to really get in shape. I’ve got to alternate short/long paddles and touring kayaking with sprints. I’ll need to row with the same amount of weight I plan on carrying during the race, which thanks to my parents won’t be substantial.

Until the 14th I’ll be trying to buy the stuff on my gear list . I’m also going to start training for a local 5K (running) race to give myself a shorter goal to keep me motivated. The race will take place at the end of March. I’m also planning for a trip to Europe. There’s a sweet looking guided kayak tour of caves off the coast of Barcelona. Looks like fun.

One last thing – I found a decent account 2008’s Adirondack Canoe Classic from a fellow racer who canoed it. It’s worth reading over if you’re interested in signing up for the race for the first time.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

2009-01-05T20:42:00.002-05:00

We’re officially into the new year, 2009 wow! This race is clearly my biggest resolution of all and going public with it has been fun. I’ve had many conversations with folks who took a peek at the site (please don’t be afraid to “follow this blog”) and I thank you for your support. My brother Keith confirmed that he will be joining me in September. He reassured me of this during the phone call where he let me know that he’d jumped in Lake George (yes, still New York folks) on January 1st with a 12 degree air temperature and 33 degree water temperature. He amazes me! Then he went on to talk about the 50-mile cycling race he’ll be doing this year as well. How can I compete with this?

In the past week I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the race. This means a lot of online research. I’ve been trying to better understand just what I’m getting myself into. The Adirondack Canoe Classic’s “official website” does give a brief course description but I’d still love to talk to someone who’s done the race before (if you know of anyone then please let me at ‘em). In the current absence of that resource I’ll just breakdown the basics:

Day 1
Distance: 35 miles; Carries: Four (3.5 miles total)

Day 2
Distance: 30 miles; Carries: One (1.25 miles)

Day 3
Distance: 25 miles; Carries: Three (.5 mile total)

I’ve got my brother-in-law, Kevin, hot on the trail of a training program that will be right for me. He’s recommended I find a sports nutritionist. After tracking down someone locally I’m thinking I should put this off until April or May. Baby steps – let’s get the fitness part down and I can layer in the nutritionist once I check the exercise box. So, to keep myself honest (thanks again Guilt) I’m going to keep a food journal. I realized I need that after today’s brownie, cookie, pasta, English muffin with cheese, etc… (note: I did not eat that in one meal or in that order). I’ve also had Dan take some lame pictures of me, Biggest Loser style, so I can compare my before and after progress. No scrolling ahead necessary, I’m not posting them here – I do have my limits. Also, I weighed myself and have taken measurements. This is my own personal grand experiment. Hopefully these things will give me milestones and motivation over the next 9 months.

To sum it up for the past week – nearly all I’ve done is read. I went “running” once with Cannon, my Rhodesian Ridgeback, but ended up walking most of the 4.5 miles. I guess that’s a start. Now I’m off to create a plan to get moving over the next 7 days. First stop, weather channel – I prefer outdoor exercise; next stop, day planner; and then I’ll make one of my famous and detailed lists. Guilt will have to push me the rest of the way. Typical.

Happy New Year and good luck with all your resolutions!

And so it begins!

2008-12-30T14:57:00.002-05:00

So, I’m not even sure where to start here but I’m pretty sure that this first post is going to outline how very lame I am. This blog is just some strange brainchild of that piece of me that’s not a total procrastinator. We’ll call that piece of me “Guilt”… I like to keep things simple. Anyway - I’m gonna take it slow here and try not to dump four+ months worth of thoughts into this one post.

The short story (as if I could ever tell a short story) is that in August I read an article in New York Conservationist magazine (thanks Mom & Dad) that talked about the Adirondack Canoe Classic. This is a 3-day, 90-mile race that starts in Old Forge and travels up to Saranac Lake (this is New York folks). I have limited facts about the race beyond this because unfortunately there’s not a great website out there that gives details. Maybe I can help with this next year. Focus… okay, after having read the article I was totally amped up and was like, “Yeah, I’m totally doing this in 2009. It’s gonna be badass. I’ll get a few people to go with me and it’ll be great!” I was nothing if not enthusiastic.

My email/phone campaign started (really? campaign is a complete over-dramatization). I emailed by best friend, Sharese, who also has a kayak. I knew she’d be down for this kind of adventure. We’d have so much fun and have tons of stories when all was said and done. Only problem… she’s not down. Not only is she not into but she loaned her kayak to a friend of ours a year or so ago and hasn’t asked for it back yet. I totally struck out with her.

Next, I started talking this up to my husband, Dan. At first he gave me a line about how if no one else will go with me then he’d go. Note: he has no kayak. This weak commitment has since disintegrated and I’ll surely just be sharing photos with him when it’s all over. I’m cool with this since he has to listen to me go on-and-on about the race. He’s a great listener.

Then there’s my brother, Keith. He’s got a couple kayaks but is more into hiking. Any true upstate New Yorker would say he’s “wicked into hiking.” He says he’ll go with me and may have a few more folks to join us. We’ll track this progress as the months go on. I have faith in him though… but have decided, if he backs out then I’m still do’n this thing.

At this point we’re just about 9 months away from the race, which begins the weekend after labor-day. If I recall correctly, I can’t even sign up for the race until June. Registration fills up fast, so I’ve gotta be ready to turn in my application and payment right away. After all, how ridiculous would it be if I spend all this time training and writing about the race and then not even be able to participate? Let’s not go there though.

Through the help of Guilt and Dan, I’ve realized that if I want to do this that I’m actually going to need to train for it. I may be in good-enough shape to complete 30-miles but definitely not 90. Plus, there are several carries during the race and I won’t be able to rely on my kayak for that. Do I actually need 9 months of training? Probably not, but it’s not going to hurt and there’s nothing wrong with getting in shape for my 30th birthday in March.

Some have said that I shouldn’t talk about the race much in case it doesn’t happen or I punk-out. I figure, the race will go on rain-or-shine and if I’m going to share this journey with people then I’d be a total ass to back out (thank you Guilt).

I welcome questions, comments, etc.