Greetings all,
We are coming to the end of our second week now, and I have been feeling really positive about how our national team camp has been going thus far. This week we built on a lot of the ideas from the last, slowly generating a bit more speed, and ramping up the kilometers a bit. This week the goal was around 120 km, though I do think we will be over that quota. The efforts on the water are challenging the aerobic system primarily, and have kept us on the water for between an hour twenty and two hours.
I have really noticed that my motions feel as though they have cleaned up a fair bit, and I think that working on the stroke with the pulley systems in the gym was a big factor. That said it is still very early on in the camp, but usually these are the weeks I find myself struggling to stay in the game in years past.
Off the water we are still running very hard, this week a beach run and bridge hills were hard on the lungs. Big ups to Dustin Shaw who is showing some great focus, and has been really solid in his efforts in training, showing great improvements from last year (last year far behind in most running workouts, Dustin was the 2nd fastest guy on the hills this week). In the weight room endurance weights have made an appearance, making some of the training days feel pretty long, but they are the types of workouts you feel great once you are finished.
While training has been consuming most of my time and energy in Florida so far, I have managed to continue working in my role with the RBC Olympians program, in particular working with an upcoming event I am very excited about. Teamed up with the ACNS (Aids Coalition for Nova Scotia), we are working on a big adventure race style event called the "RBC Amazing Challenge for Aids" that should prove to be a great time. To have a look at our sneak peak: http://www.chesterco.ca/blog/blog.php, or for more info check out
http://live.haligonia.ca/halifax-ns/events/details/1316-rbc-amazing-challenge-for-aids.html
That's about it for now, all the best for now, and keep it real,
Andrew
Hello and greetings all,
The first week of Florida training camp is now behind us. It was a fairly challenging first week, with on water practices designed to re-associate the paddling muscles with the motion of the strokes. I felt very good through the week, and feel as though my work through the winter had me much more ready to work right away in camp. I had one of my best longer workouts in quite some time on Saturday morning when we did three times 20 minutes on the water. It is such a satisfying feeling finishing that type of workout.
While the intensity on the water may not yet be full out, off the water there has been some very high intensity running. This week it looks to be more of the same, with the bridge causeway quickly becoming a challenging staple on the program.
Canada USA tonight, you can be the Pines will likely be loud for every Canadian goal; Bingo night just ran into some competition for rowdiest crowd.
All the best, and keep it very real,
Andrew
Greetings all,
Another Florida training camp has begun in mild Indian Harbor Beach, Florida. For those familiar with the Pines Resort (the location the Canadian team has been migrating to for camps for many years) not a lot has changed. A majority of national team athletes are here now, and I had two good paddles and a session at Flex Fitness gym to start things off. For those interested in television, Flex is owned by former American Gladiator "Rage". Anyhoo, I am rooming with fellow canoers Paul Bryant and Cory Rublee right now, just awaiting the arrival of Gabriel.
There are quite a few international athletes here already, a strong contingent of talented German canoers, and the formidable Anders Gustavsson of Sweden just to name a few. All the disciplines (men's canoe, men's kayak, and women's kayak) met this afternoon prior practice to discuss the upcoming season and the vision for the 2012 Olympics. Speaking of the Olympics, some inspiring stuff is taking place in Vancouver, and the first gold medal by Bilodeau in the moguls is amazing.
It is always a fun time at the beginning of the February training camp because the first few days you have a chance to catch up with lots of teammates you may not have seen for a while, as well as start the on water paddling for a new year. Here are a few shots from the Canadian canoe and kayak campus at the Pines Resort...
Tom Hall and Women's Kayak.
Scrizz and company. C4C member Morty with Angus and Rich.
Roommates Paul and Cory.
After a few quick photos around the Pines, I promised I would pass on a few words by the one
and only Ryan "Scrizz" Cochrane. Last year he paddled 100 km in one day along with fellow
national team member Steve Jorens. However, Adam van Koeverden exclaimed prior that if
he were to accomplish the impressive feat, that he would, and I quote, "eat his shoe". I must
point out that a year has passed and no leather has been consumed. Thus, Scrizz is working on a double or
nothing proposition that I will keep the readers up to steam on.
Other than the friendly challenge, the atmosphere here at the Pines is a very positive one, with
the Canadian athletes looking fit and looking forward to a great camp, myself included.
All for now.
Cheers and keep it real,
Andrew
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Greetings all,
Well word has come that 6 more weeks of winter is hitting NS, and in tune with that it has been cold all week. Hill sprints have been toned down outside because of the temperatures, but things are heating up in the weight room.
This morning we did a 6 km "warm-up" run before settling in to the centre for some muscle endurance work in back to back bench press and pull. For those unfamiliar with these type of weights, you work with a partner, and you do a set, and then pass the weight to your partner who is waiting on a adjoining bench. It is a challenging workout, especially at ten times 30 reps, and two sets of each.
I am heading down to training camp a week from Sunday now, and in light of the weather am looking forward to a change of scenery. It'll be nice to get back on the water, and get back to business. I've been trying some new things this year, and am excited to see how they impact the training on the water.
On a more serious note, it was nice to see teammate Corey Hamilton set up a team initiative for canoe kayak Canada to try and raise some much needed funds for Haiti. I donated for a third time with this pool, and if you haven't yet made a donation I'd encourage you to do so. Sometimes we all lose sight of just how good things are, and events like this should serve as a reminder how truly fortunate we are.
For those in the paddling community or people who are just interested in getting involved, here is our donation challenge site coordinates:
Go to msf.ca
Click on 'Donate' in the left hand column.
Click on 'Fundraise for MSF', again in the left hand column
Click on 'click here' in the second paragraph in the centre.
Click on 'Search for an event' under 'Supporters' at the bottom left.
Finally, search for "Canadian Canoers and Kayakers.
Then follow the steps.
All the very best, and keep it real always,
Andrew
