Paddler’s Cup

The sprint race season has begun with Kenmore-Cascade Canoe and Kayak club! As a 200m paddler this is very exciting! The Gig Harbor Paddler’s Cup was a really fun event. There was something for everyone; distance, sprints, SUP, and fun booths. Unfortunately the weather was not so kind and we had everything from rain, wind, sun and hail. Thankfully it blew out as fast as it blew in so it wasn't terrible for long. My good friend Lisl came out despite the weather to watch me paddle... which made it all the better. 

I did well in my races and I was award the “Para Paddle Queen” for the weekend. 

Racing For Cookies

Paddling at Kenmore-Cascade Canoe and Kayak club is always interesting and things have improved for me, almost exponentially the past couple weeks. The stability and control I’m finding in the boat is so much better! That is not to say that I have been staying out of the lake every workout, but it’s on occasion, not regularly.

We are doing weekly time trials at Green Lake and those have been some of the most challenging moments I have faced. It feels like pulling it together for 200m is nearly impossible, but I’m not giving up. Each effort I try to draw something positive for the next time.

On the 21^st of March we had our Race for the Cookies at Squire’s Landing. It was a 2km, individual start, race. Thankfully we did the whole 2km on the river because that day Mother Nature was NOT happy. We had strong winds, rain, and clouds. Of course after it was all done the sun came out, but that’s how it goes sometimes. I raced a lot faster than the previous distance races I've done, doing about 7:26 minutes per kilometer, my race in November was just under 8 minutes per kilometer. Measurable improvements feel good.

Pre-race meeting photo credit Karol Osuský

Me, Diane, and Thomas. photo credit Karol Osuský

Just under a month to go until Trials in OKC and I’m pushing to find speed.  Each day is a challenge but I truly believe hard work pays off! When I reach my time goals in OKC, I will be qualified for World Cup so the fundraising push is on to get me to Germany... as well as races later this year. I'm so appreciative to all the people that have donated already but I need much more for international competition. If you know of anyone that might be interested in helping a Paralympic athlete be successful please send them my way. 

Game On

Good Luck Charm

Things at Kenmore-Cascade Canoe and Kayak club have been productive and busy the past couple of weeks. My friend Spike Kane returned from his travels and has since joined me for the daily training sessions. Last week I went 4 straight training sessions of working hard without dumping the boat over. I was so excited about not swimming! I told Spike I was so happy to have him paddling with me and he was my good luck charm. 

The next training session (without Spike) was meant to be timed runs on the course at Green Lake… and unfortunately Green Lake got me again. I took a long cold swim before I reached the finish of my final attempt at a fast 200m. I was paddling hard and just lost my balance. I’m grateful there were lots of people there to offer help and support. 

This week I have also been training quite hard and making progress with my technique, but progression for me seems to bring instability and time in the water. Thankfully it has become less frequent.

The weather is not supposed to be very kind come Saturday but I’m hoping to finally get a good time… at least for 1 of my 3 attempts.  This  Saturday my good luck charm friend will be with me, so maybe luck will be on my side J

Don’t quit

Another week of working hard completed. This week with Kenmore-Cascade Canoe and Kayak club we went to the VA hospital and in conjunction with Team River Runner got some guys in sprint boats. That was a new experience for me and I had a good time.

Unfortunately I ended up catching a really bad cold. The benefit was that I got to enjoy a pleasant workout with the master’s ladies on Monday but ended up taking Wednesday off of training to let my body rest. When I returned to the water we mostly worked on technique. Later in the week I was happy that another Paracanoe paddler, Josh, came out for training with me and kept me working hard and pushing forward. The water conditions weren't the easiest but we got a beneficial workout in and it felt good.

Today did not feel so wonderful. Coach Dan has decided that Saturdays until Trials are sprint days and we are doing time trials in the early morning on the Green Lake race course to prepare ourselves better. When we arrived at Green Lake it was sunny and windy. The water had significant waves and occasional white caps. I watched as my able-bodied teammate navigated his way off the dock and I just gulped. My nerves were high. The water was rough and swimming seemed pretty much inevitable for me. I was uncertain if it was worth it. Dan gave me the option as I sat at the dock in my boat.  He wanted me to at least sit there and feel the boat move underneath me for a bit.

After a while the wind seemed to die down and I decided to give it a shot. Another Paracanoe athlete Vadim was there and I didn't want to let him or Dan down by not making an attempt. I pushed off, put the paddle in the water and headed down the side of the race course. I got turned around and lined up with Vadim and away we went, except I was going right, and further right, and more right… not straight and not fast. It was not a good effort at getting an accurate time.  

I circled around and headed out again, I wanted to have at least a semi straight line down the course. I worked on sitting up and relaxing thinking about the timing of my stroke as I paddled out. I paused to make the turn to go back to line up. Just as I was ALMOST fully turned around and back into the course, I tipped over. UGH! I righted my boated and waited for my motor boat rescue. My day was over. I was cold and wet but glad I didn't quit.  

What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger

A long time ago while on the road at a ski race, a teammate had purple toes from very tight ski boots mixed with cold temperatures and I was appalled! He just looked at me and said, “Eh, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.” At the time, I thought it didn't exactly apply to the situation but reflected on his words. I have since repeated them, to myself and others, many times in many different situations because often times part of growing stronger does come with some pain.

The past couple weeks paddling at Kenmore-Cascade Canoe and Kayak club I have been getting stronger. I am getting better in the new boat and I have had some absolutely sensational days on the water! We were even fortunate enough for the sun to bless us with its presence for several days in a row!

Not so fortunately, I have also continued to fall out of the boat. Just when I think I’m figuring things out and doing better, SPLASH, back in the water I go. I get hauled out of the lake, climb back in the boat and continue with the workout. During this process I keep being reminded that everything that makes you go faster also makes you more unstable.

It seems just when I start to worry that I’m never going to figure it out, Mother Nature smiles at me and then the next workout goes better than any prior day. The other morning was no exception. After a true test of perseverance the previous day, I didn't even want to train. I made myself go anyway, and when I showed up the air temperature was whopping 38 degrees. I was so tentative because I just didn't think I had it in me to go swimming. That’s not a good way to train. Finally, I let go of my apprehension and relaxed, started putting more weight through the paddle, and worked on my reach. I am glad to report that I thankfully kept my boat upright and my body out of the water for the WHOLE workout! I needed that! Hard work really is rewarded! I will keep pushing, and I will get faster and stronger!

U.S. Team Trials race in Oklahoma City is just over 9 weeks away, and I plan to be fast enough to qualify for World Cup! 

"Just keep swimming"

A friend of mine told me this recently because my training with Kenmore-Cascade Canoe and Kayak club has been challenging to say the least.  The Nelo ML has not been an easy transition for me. I've been in the water more times than I care to admit to. Plus, tipping over and swimming is not productive or good for confidence, but it is part of the learning curve. Rather than tell you what to do to stay upright, I can tell you what not to do: 1) Don’t get back in the boat after getting dragged out of the water and try to hurry too much, take your time and get in the boat properly 2) Whatever you do, don’t stop paddling!! The paddle is your best friend to keeping upright.   

Each day I have been going out with the goal of getting more comfortable in the boat. The positive is that I have improved in how far I’ve made it before swimming. The 47 degree water is mighty chilly, and a strong motivator to stay relaxed and do everything to avoid going in the drink. The past 3 workouts I thankfully haven’t swam at all! The negative is that my swimming fun times wore my body down and I got very sick and had to take several days off. It’s hard to sit around and try to feel better when my brain is constantly thinking about paddling, and the nice days on the water I was missing.  

Thankfully I was able to return to training today and I made it over 10km, without swimming! Hopefully confidence breeds confidence as I move on to interval workouts this week. If not, I’ll “just keep swimming” until I get it.