Sometimes I forget the strength of the river flow

I decided to go for a paddle on the Avon this morning. I thought I would go to the 4th bridge (about 12K) but I was feeling good, the boat was running well, the new technique I was pratiscing ( it works the abbs!! ) was working good, so I thought I’d just go all the way to the final bridge ( where Avon joins the estuary, about 15K there and back). But the thing I discovered as I turned around was that the tide was going out, and it was going out fast! That would be why the kayak felt like it was running really well duh!!

Now a sprinter is a great down river boat, but not that great as a up river boat. Quite frankly its purpose is for down river so being a up river kayak would be pointless. I have a tendency when paddling upstream in strong flow to start to weave, and the tireder I get the more I weave, and get very frustrated, and can be seen at times throwing a hissy fit somewhere between the 1st and 3rd bridge.

But having said all that, i actually did a great time 1hr35, including a few breaks along the way, I was not exactly going for speed, just concentrating on getting the technique right, getting those side abbs working and getting a good pull in the water. I hadn’t done that entire stretch of water since before the coast. And then I think it took me about 2 hrs.

So I have to say a improvement of 25min, in 6 months, and into a strong flow is pretty good. Working on my technique has done me wonders, I am now a completely different paddler to what I was a few months ago. It has been good, not having a goal to aim at, so I could just spend this time working slowly on my stroke. I have completely restructured it. I had to take myself back to the beginning. The first couple of weeks I was tired after 10min. I spent 4 x’s a week, just getting in a short 20 min paddle to build up my strength to what was required for the new stroke.

Now I am now seeing the benefits of this work, and it is a great feeling.

Here the map my run route

This afternoon, I was going to get Team Nad-ya going for another bike ride, but I just felt really tired. I think that the last week I haven’t had as much sleep as I normally get, and it has catched up on me. So I had a bit of a nap this afternoon, while watching TDF. Yah Julian! 4th place, thats awesome, Just a few places more in Paris and you’ll be a legend

Where was I … oh yeh, next week is the last week of build before rest so its going to be a biggie. I am going to try and concentrate on getting quailty sleep, and make sure that my nutrition is as good as it can be as well, maybe try and cut back on the caffeine intake as well, though maybe that’s taking things a little to far.

Does any one out there use the 10 day on 2-3 day easy 4-5 day hard, 2 -3 day easy routine ? I use 3 weeks on 1 week off. Its easy to manage, but wondering what other peoples experience of the other is, or any other type of recovery routine.