Training Log Archive: Mounty

Down to Fisherman in Bruno with the singles, while the kids were off at some Santa do. Ins and outs on the remnants of yesterdays swell on the Fenn, and Katrin on the Think. Paddled behind, giving some tips - which took about 2 minutes before the well of my technical paddling knowledge was dry. Wifey much improved from wednesday.

Interesting to swap boats after an hour - suprising how different the 2 feel. More suprising was how slow and heavy the Fenn felt by comparison. Not sure how much to do with shape, and how much to do with the 6kg weight difference.

Hardest part of the day was trying to turn the arm over in the cricket nets afterwards. The ol' tweakers are rusty.

20 Beaches. The annual Manly to Palm Beach classic, or vica versa depending on wind direction. Fun factor for this paddle is very dependent on conditions - from awful in a westerly, to sublime if the wind lines up right.

This year was....absolutely sensational...by the skin of its teeth. Wind was blowing a solid offshore westerly until about an hour before the start, but swung to the south just in time, resulting in clean swell and 15-20kts of wind up your backside. Impressively, seabreeze.com.au called the shift spot-on.

Start was the usual schemozzle, but I've learned now that you just ignore the starter and start-line in these things - everyone else does.

Game plan this year was to try and paddle 'well' rather than hard, ie. focus on catching waves (and looking cool) rather than hurrying. Unsuprisingly, this approach usually means you end up faster anyway. Focused on the tips I got from the a couple of the big boys recently
- If you chase a run, make sure you get on it
- Its not like kayaking - rest as mush as possible between 'sprints'
- Dont be scared to weave around chasing the holes - if your nose is underwater, youre doing it wrong.

Pretty happy with how I went this time - alot better than the race a couple of weeks ago - proving that cramming really does help. Most importantly, it was obscenely good fun - underscored by the regular sound of people coming past saying 'weeeeeh' as they zipped down a bump. Claiming a personal best run linkage - must have done a couple of hundred metres off narrabeen at one point with just the occasional tap of the water, moving from one hole to another just with the rudder.

Must have got tired off Avalon, as started to miss a couple of waves - amazing how quickly the people around you disappear if you stall - but recovered enough to get through the Whale Beach rebound and home in reasonable shape. About 15 minutes quicker than last time I think.

Best paddle for ages.

C • that sounds sweet! 4

Lunch Opera House trot. One of those enjoyable cruisy runs where the GPS claims to be travelling faster than I would have guessed.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20680315

Rode in at about 10am at a decent clip. Bloody hot.

Observed a mexican stand-off between an old guy on one of those motorised cart things, and a workman that had dug a hole in the footpath at the exit of the warringah expressway footbridge. Suspect they may still be there when i head home.

Tried to go hard but it didnt really work, and I submitted defeat. Still hot, and another big nor easter to push in to over the bridge.

I met a goanna on the footpath next to Roseville Bridge. Not sure who was more suprised. A fence between us and the greenery meant my lizardy friend couldnt get away, which made for an interesting moment all round.

Ouch of the week. Was up at the park throwing a ball with Annika after I got home. Suddenly she stopped throwing, walked over and said, 'sorry daddy, but you're doing it wrong - and proceeded to give throwing technique tips'. Disturbingly her tips helped.

Gotta love working from home. Lunch paddle from Clontarf on the Mark 6, and Katrin on the Think. Certainly getting some good nor' easters so far this summer.

Headed out under under the shadow of dobroyd, then round the corner and in to 20-25kt of sweet lovin' blowing towards balmoral. Caught some absolute spankers, while Katrin worked on her remount technique.

Lovely day. Finished with a lying on the back float off the beach. No matter how hard I try, my legs just don't float.

Headed to Summer Series at Killara. Something hurt in my foot, so I aborted halfway round and jogged home. A bit soft.

Rode from the physio in to town. Borderline unloggable, but Ill take what I can get at this time of year.

Feel an inch taller after getting the hip flexors released. Right vastus lateralis was also very tight.

Rode back to Hunters Hill. The commute across Anzac bridge is very competitive. Lots of bikes pretending that they were ignoring each other.

Feels like ages since I rode in. Passed the google car. Keep an eye out for me on google maps in kirribilli.

Snappyish ride home to meet the nanny cut-off.

Cute comment of the week. I caught a glimpse of Thomas' santa wish list - starts with a couple of toys and finishes with "snow on mondays".