ThePADDLER 98
Diet – our good friend David Gordon , founder of BAM , www . bambooclothing . co . uk , a former internal pole vaulter and adventurer , refers to diet as the relationship between inputs ( food consumed ) and outputs ( exercise completed ). I have previously written about hydration and feeding the machine , keeping calories coming into the system during longer races , but it is common sense to pick things that agree with your palette and metabolism . I prefer bananas , wraps , snickers , malt loaf to energy drinks and gels . As a general guide eating a balanced diet home-cooked for us is the winning formula . Eating free-range , seasonally and locally sourced is our preferred diet and eating out , we eat vegetarian unless we know the food provenance .
TOP TIP : reduce red meat and eat a balanced diet
Improving technique – a key part of paddling smarter rather than harder is to improve technique . As a coach and experienced racer , a key piece of advice is to try and isolate the technique element you
are working on . For example , if you are trying to increase craft speed , consider power and cadence and find your optimum output . You might choose to paddle at a higher rate but with less power or vice versa with more power but slower cadence . You might look at your connectivity or rotation to increase power transfer . Whilst racing , we often look at the ‘ catch ’ of the paddling stroke and extend the length of the forward paddling piece .
TOP TIP : work on the catch and driving the power into the blade with the top hand driving downwards
IN SUMMARY So far , most of what we are recommending doesn ’ t involve gym work or lifting weights ; it involves getting out and paddling using structured training . Building strength can be supplemented with weights but in general , pushing / moving your body weight delivers an excellent overall fitness and tone . Find training buddies who have similar goals and objectives to you . Join a club or paddling group or visit your local centre .
TOP TIP : make paddling a family pastime
I never remember a bad day on the water , and training still provides a happy feeling that lifts my mood . Training for bigger races is a full-on commitment , but it also brings a real sense of achievement to compete with like-minded individuals . Generally , these longer wilderness races are a significant challenge ; they take no prisoners and do not respect previous form ; you are racing against your personal targets , your fellow competitors and most importantly , the environment and conditions .
Stay safe , set a training plan and happy trails . You can see more of our adventures and races .