nightrain904’s BodyBlog

I want to thank everyone who has donated so far. My fundraising total so far is $490 which is over half way to the minimum. But you know what they say about the minimum… It is really just the starting point. I encourage and ask you all not to forget to donate to help me get to that starting point.
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1187&AID=205&PI
D=16944
 
Last Monday was the first night of group training for the event. Every year they start us off with Kayak training. Last year I was the first one in the events’ four year history to cap-size my boat. I was determined not to make a repeat performance.
 It was great getting to meet allot of new competitors and to see a few faces from last year.  We all congregated on the shore beside Deep Cove Kayak in North Vancouver around 6pm. Where the instructor led us in some basic boat review and some paddle instruction. We then Climbed into our Kayaks. We paddled all around the cove to get comfortable in the boat and to get used to being in the water. Each year they finish the inaugural kayak training night with a race at. That is were things went wrong last year. I had decided to use more Braun than fines and my competitive nature got the best of me. I had started off at the front of the pack and ended up at the bottom of the drink.
This year was going to different, I was determined to redeem myself and finish the race not only first but dry too. As
I passed the starting line with a good sprint paddle witch increased to a furry of left to right obscure arm movements. During which I could feel the boat wanting to go over again, so I stopped and regained my composure and restarted my paddle. Remembering what I had been taught about efficient paddling as apposed to force-full padding. By the time I was two thirds of the way to the finish line I was pulling away from the rest of the pack. I had a good rhythm going and my strokes were at a consistent 45 degrees that were exiting at my hips to minimize drag. My breathing was in rythmatic sync with my paddling, right stroke in, left stroke out. The boat glided across the top of the glass like surface of the water. With no better words to describe, it was like a hot knife through butter. It was a symphony of power and grace. All of this just reassured me that I am starting this years event a in alot better shape than I did last year. Which I’m sure is going to help me surpass my last year’s time.

Tuesday nights at Deep Cove Kayak are paddle Race nights. It is a great deal. $15 for boat rental, it is a structured race but you can deviate the course and go for a recreational paddle. Check it out. Hope to see you guys there.
http://deepcovekayak.com/
Remember…
The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
“Richard B. Sheridan”
Morgan.

Hi Everyone. It has been awhile since my last update. For that I am sorry. Life has been very busy, but I still making time for my training. Easter weekend was probably my best training weekend so far. The weather was great for most of it, so I took that oppertunity to get out and enjoy some of the local trails in Squamish. I had picked up a new mountain bike the week prior and took the chance to break it in as much as I could. The bike I got is a great hard tail with disc breaks, it is a entry level with lots of upgrade possabilities. I picked up from a great non profit company named Bike Rescue. http://bikerescue.org/  They were a huge help in helping me find what I was looking for. The bike I had last year I bought at a consignment store and was pretty beat up, but I looked at my budget and the name of the bike and figured a stead by the name IRON HORSE must be built to last. Littk did I know I would be sorrly mistaken.
It was way to small for me. The mechanicle condition of it gave me nothing but head aches. Everytime I went for a ride on it something would break, not to mention the seat post would not stay at my desired hight, half way down the road I would have dropped so far down that my knees were were hitting my chest. That is only if I didn’t have to get off and put the chain back on. Needless to say I decided that this year I would not be so “thrifty” and get the propper machine. The guys at bike rescue came out and met me a convenient location and brought a number of different bike for me to try out and choose from. They even gave trade in value of what I had paid for my not so trusty stead. If you are ever thinking of a new bike give them a call.
Back to Easter weekend, I managed to make it to the gym on Friday morning, then went for a 8km hike along the dyke up to the Eagle view erea and back. Then on Saturday Went for a bike ride after lunch up by Paradise Valley. Sunday was a day to mosey a bit more, I only did the 4km trek to beach and Back home.  Monday it snowed so I just ran on the treadmill at the gym. I have noticed great improvements on my running ability, I can now run at a steady pace for 12min. One month ago when I started it was only two min. The official group training for the event starts on the 21st of April, by that time I will be able to do 25min. nonestop. As The weather improves and the snow thaws I am looking forward to more trail riding on the new alloy stead.
 
Thanks again for all your support and remember…
 
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. 

- Judy Garland 
 
 http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1187&AID=205&PID=16944
Morgan

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Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Hi Everyone. It has been awhile since my last update. For that I am sorry. Life has been very busy, but I still making time for my training. Easter weekend was probably my best training weekend so far. The weather was great for most of it, so I took that oppertunity to get out and enjoy some of the local trails in Squamish. I had picked up a new mountain bike the week prior and took the chance to break it in as much as I could. The bike I got is a great hard tail with disc breaks, it is a entry level with lots of upgrade possabilities. I picked up from a great non profit company named Bike Rescue. http://bikerescue.org/  They were a huge help in helping me find what I was looking for. The bike I had last year I bought at a consignment store and was pretty beat up, but I looked at my budget and the name of the bike and figured a stead by the name IRON HORSE must be built to last. Littk did I know I would be sorrly mistaken. It was way to small for me. The mechanicle condition of it gave me nothing but head aches. Everytime I went for a ride on it something would break, not to mention the seat post would not stay at my desired hight, half way down the road I would have dropped so far down that my knees were were hitting my chest. That is only if I didn’t have to get off and put the chain back on. Needless to say I decided that this year I would not be so “thrifty” and get the propper machine. The guys at bike rescue came out and met me a convenient location and brought a number of different bike for me to try out and choose from. They even gave trade in value of what I had paid for my not so trusty stead. If you are ever thinking of a new bike give them a call. Back to Easter weekend, I managed to make it to the gym on Friday morning, then went for a 8km hike along the dyke up to the Eagle view erea and back. Then on Saturday Went for a bike ride after lunch up by Paradise Valley. Sunday was a day to mosey a bit more, I only did the 4km trek to beach and Back home.  Monday it snowed so I just ran on the treadmill at the gym. I have noticed great improvements on my running ability, I can now run at a steady pace for 12min. One month ago when I started it was only two min. The official group training for the event starts on the 21st of April, by that time I will be able to do 25min. nonestop. As The weather improves and the snow thaws I am looking forward to more trail riding on the new alloy stead.   Thanks again for all your support and remember…   Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.- Judy Garland     http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1187&AID=205&PID=16944 Morgan

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Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Hi everyone. I started my trail running training last week. I have realized just how quickly a person can become comfortable with lack of exercise. I started Monday night on a tread mill in the gym. doing intervals of 2min walk and 2min running for a half hour. I was feeling pretty good by the end of it. I didn’t want to burn myself out by training 2 days in a row, so I took tuesday off. Then on Wednesday I went for a 4km run up Mosquito Creek trail in North Van. I was wearing runners that I had bought last year at a big fitness store, were a 17 year old sales person had made the sale. By the end of my 26min run up hill and back, my feet were pretty sore. On Thursday went for a brisk walk at lunch and decided to pick up some new runners. I went to a store called The Running Room on Marine dr. in North Vancouver. The guy that helped me there was a huge help. My knowledge in proper shoe fitting/size, is very limited. As I am sure most of yours is too. He took one look at my shoes and immediately diagnosed why feet and ankles get sore from time to time. He then brought out a pair of shoes that are designed to correct the problem areas and told me to try them. I laced them up and tried to walk around the store. I could not walk in them, every step I took was like I was moving 100 miles an hour. It was like I was standing on lightning bolts! This sense of speed via my own body is very new to me. My typical speed is a good mosey.

 So on Friday I decided to try out my new rocket shoes on the same trail I had run on Wednesday. Wow, I managed to knock almost 4.5min off my last time. It went down to just over 22min for the same 4km. I am sure some of it had to do with the fact that my nero-muscular receptors were functioning a little more efficiently after the previous 2 training days. But I did find it pretty hard for my upper body to keep up with my lower body. I have realized that there is almost nothing better than a pair of proper fitting shoes. I encourage you all to do your selves a favour, go to a proper shoe store where they have some training in this area. Stay away from the giant surplus sporting goods stores for matters of your feet.

 The weekend took a bit of a toll on my training commitment, as Saturday was my birthday. A weekend long celebration lead me to a slow start this week, but am back on track now. Looking forward to Tonight’s Dodge ball game.

 Remember…

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”

Arthur C. Clarke

Thanks. 

Morgan 

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1187&AID=205&PID=16944 

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