Training Log Archive: hilarity

Another cut run! You'd think I live in Mandurah . . . .

The first half of this paddle felt great, then I hit the 'messy middle' bit where waves came from different directions but with a high frequency - if I missed the first one I had to wait for the whole batch to pass me before I could get going again.

Somehow still faster pace than yesterday!

Little L came out of retirement for another cut run and what a difference she made, being stable meant I could put all my power (hahahaha) into catching waves and I was seven minutes faster over 12km than in the Mako. And I had fun.

About half the downwind km were around 5:30, I slowed towards the end because I was tired and I was trying to work back out left but another guy kept coming too close - got to get over that!!

C • Thanks 2

C • Cut run 2

The big fire truck. With a ladder. And 22 steps. At step 2 I had a piece that wasn't attached to anything and after disaassembling and reassembling and counting and recounting and another glass of champage I was happy enough to have a part of my fire truck not attached to the rest of it.

Finally at step 13 I got to attach it the the truck. PHEW. By that time both boys had fallen asleep and so could not share in my triumph.

I continued until I had completed all 22 steps and produced a fire truck with a working ladder, then drove home. AHHHH what a year. At least it ended with a fire truck, which in retrospect I should have brought home with me.

This was brilliant - a cut run, in a Fenn XT double with Lindsay Wiland in the front seat (who is 'not bad' at this ocean paddling stuff). I couldn't believe the speeds we reached, and how much power Lindsay has compared to me. My relative lack of power explains a LOT about why I'm slow downwind.

When Lindsay decided to go for something, his arms went so fast that all I could do was hold my paddle in the air so that being out of sync didn't screw us up, his cadence was amazing. Overall I learned that I'm pointing my ski in the right places, but I need a LOT more power to have any hope of being anywhere close to even the middle of the pack.

Stability is a big part of that, but it is time to concentrate on growing some muscles!!!

One small fire truck assembled from 956 pieces of lego. Only another 900 pieces to go and then there will be: one bigger fire truck, one medium fire truck, one heilcopter, and one fire station.

I love lego knock-offs! Apparently their patent has run it's 20 year course.

It was 38 degrees at the start of this paddle, windy and choppy, and the blister-avoidance tape on my hand sweated off within 200m. So I was quite happy when Jenni and Karl had had enough at about 4.5km and we turned around.

I have a nice blister on my hand and am more convinced that Air Mako doesn't like me :-(

Burgers and beer afterwards made me happier!

Need to put air in the back tire!

Drove to City because Karen wanted to meet the guys organising all the downwinds, even though we were planning Freo to Swannie.

Some kerfuffle about sharks. Karen and I decide to do triangles at Port, so we head off - her last words to me: 'see you at Port'. Then I notice that she has loaded some other guy's ski on her roof.

Arrive at Port, talk to Jason and Pete who decided to head out before the beach is closed - good timing fellas, not five minutes later, the beach gets closed.

Wait for Karen, wait for Karen, where the *&^% could she have gone?

Ring Karen, no answer, wait ten more minutes and head home. Karen rings: 'where are you?' 'Well Karen, I was at Port, which is where we said we'd meet, but after 1/2 hour I gave up. Where are you?'

'I'm at Sand Tracks, these guys wanted to paddle from there'. Unamused!

Drove ski home.

C • beach closed 1