Multisport: Save Time and - don’t just survive this season Thrive By Chris Stagg
There is more to being an effective, fun living multisporter and endurance kayaker than simply “getting more time in the boat”. As coaches, we hear our clients spin this term on a daily basis. At the end of the day nothing beats experience(1), but there are many more factors that need to be considered to have a great time this racing season.
the Coast to Coast is not a steady flow, it’s an interval performance race by nature. It consists of extended flat sections (often more than desired) followed by a shorter torrent, and then back to flat.
Whether you are a seasoned weekend warrior, or leading up to the dream of completing the Speight’s Coast to Coast for the first (and hopefully not the last) time, the tips below will assist you to make your multisport an experience and not a survival regime.
Training is just a cultural social event in the lifestyle that you have chosen, and doing it with others at a similar level to yourself will drive you to train hard and make it a pleasure while you’re at it. (2)
Elements of Training ‘Training’ for some is fun, for others it’s the regret of knowing you should do more, and then some of you may be wondering why you aren’t getting results and find it a bore. Inevitably, whatever you do you have to gain from the hard work you put in. Work hard, play hard… at the same time. The majority of the experience of competing and completing a particular event is not held up in the race itself, but the journey getting there.
Effective training - boring laps on the lake is history There has been bucket loads of research showing that interval and variance training are more effective than a steady constant effort for hours on end. In an endurance event there are very few times that you can stick to this strategy. For example, the Waimakariri river section of
Grab a buddy…or 10
Save at least 20 minutes on race day Keeping your white water skills current and effective are key to surviving the longest paddle you’ve ever done. Every swim will cost you approximately 20 minutes spent landing your boat, emptying it, getting back in, warm up and into your rhythm again. There are three things you can do to prepare: Low brace - A natural reaction of a low brace can save you losing too much time. Learn to roll – learning and practising your role at the end of every training paddle will get you set. (3) Paddle - every stroke lifts your boat, and remember: “If in doubt, paddle hard out”.
Over 800 competitors will vie for places in the the world’s premier multi-sport event, the Speight’s Coast to Coast race on February 14th and 15th 2014.
Grade Two certification and brush up courses run through out the year. Contact your nearest Canoe & Kayak Centre for details.
Will you be there? - 2014 entries now open.
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