Training Day (and Week and Month)

For some reason I keep thinking that I will have more time on my hands when outrigger season ends, and for some reason I magically am surprised when it does not come true.  Actually, I guess I expected it, but I'll keep fawning ignorance.

I have been training, training, training still but it's not longer in a canoe, it's at the gym, on the road, and up and down stairs.  The fall/winter line-up is:

*Carpinteria Triathlon (Olympic Distance) - September 30
*Tough Mudder Las Vegas (Double Header, Saturday & Sunday) - October 6 & 7
*SLO Mud Mash (10k) - October 28
*World's Toughest Mudder (24 Hours Obstacle Race) - November 17

I honestly don't know how to begin to be ready for the World's Toughest Mudder, but I'm excited, I think it's going to be a lot of fun, and my only prayer right now is to stay injury free.  I want to be smart, which means not going totally crazy.  We'll see how that goes!

I lift every weekday morning at 6.  I do some kind of bike, run, or swim most evenings.  On the weekend if I can, I'm doing long distance.  My goal soon is to do three distance runs (maybe 10 or 15 miles) 3 times on a weekend, one Saturday am, then pm, then Sunday am.  If I can work up to that I think I'll feel much more confident going into the 24 hour race.

I also joined Crossfit for the month of October, and am looking forward to training with teammates there.  I have to remember to rest, though usually my body lets me know loud and clear when it's done for the day.  Balance, balance, balance.... hurrah!

Ka Nai'a Outrigger Videos!

Over the 3 day weekend, I finally got my butt into gear and made some paddling videos that have been waiting for me a long time.

First, a little montage from Ka Nai'a Outrigger's training paddle out to Santa Cruz Island.  We left in the wee hours of the morning Friday, paddled 30 miles, then stayed on the island 2 nights before paddling back home.  The ocean was rough on the way over, but placid and beautiful on the return.  The fog totally surrounded us, so you couldn't even tell which way we were heading.  Surreal, and on top of it a massive pod of dolphins came out to play with us!

The second video is from a race I wrote about here, the Dana Point change race.  You can see (towards the very end of the video) exactly how close the race was in the final miles, before the other team pulled away, finishing one minute ahead of us.  (Aaahh... epic!!)

CATALINA CROSSING is this weekend.  I can't believe how this summer has flown.