Training Log Archive: Dangerman

Event: Metro 0 - Reabold Hill
 

Coach Rick really got into me about my top hand. I push too much with it and lower it too early. After the session I went out on the open water to the 2 limestone reefs, then the fish sanctuary area and then back in again, all the way super concentrating on the top arm.
Keep it close to your face, keep it up, wait for the other arm to finish then stab.
Getting beaten by the little kids in their heavy and wide spec ski's is great motivation though.

Neil and Meg were kind enough to give us a coaching session today. I was initially worry about getting mixed messaged from different coaches but it was soon clear the Neil and Rick were on the same page.
Luckily for me, Neil, after some questioning from me, was able to explain things to me in a way I understood. I'm a picky bugger, in that I usually won't do something unless I know what I am doing it for. Parents never liked that as religion and me never mixed - I asked too many questions!
So anyway, in this session I learnt
- relax, yes, relax, its really important
- to help relax, hold paddle with 2 fingers
- do the dance move to setup your stroke
- pause with the paddle an inch above the water's surface before starting catch (as a training technique to get it right, don't do this normally)
- to catch, lean from above position
- twist, keep top hand high
- clean exit with small twist back to dance move position setup for next catch.

but most importantly, relax and lean forward.

Neil was fun too. I tried to push him in and of course it didn't work. He, on a spirit, set after me. I grabbed the nose of the boat and let him push me for ages. Geez that boat went quick. Eventually, laughing so much, my boat broached across his, and i fell in. Awesome fun while learing - i like that.

C • Religion and questions 3

Took to short course option. Why?
Cause it was the sensible thing to do. A short run, probably under my 20 minute time limit and the chance to do well in it cause all the gurus were doing medium or hard ;-)
So I won! Yay! One guy was unhappy with me, asking me why I took the short course option. I felt like asking him the same question.
Few twinges from top part of left shin and inside of knee. Inside of shin felt tight when I massaged it later. Calves felt sore though, but that could be from the ride the other day (it hurt). Managed to keep reasonable technique too. Stood up proud, tucked the hips in and picked up the feet high on the return. Had a good stretch and cool down run afterwards while the litres of sweat slowly dried out.
Happy with route choice but had heaps of trouble reading the map while running. I couldn't focus on it very well - my knowledge of the area saved my arse there.

C • Winning and grumpy people 4

Cool down run after Metro-O.
Stretched
4 x 30 hip flexor
4 x 30 calves
3 x 20 hamstring
4 x 30 back stretch (left side was sore)
massage shin and hammy.