PADDLER 72
PADDLER 72
for a couple of weeks and meant I didn ’ t get a break then , meant I was completely burned out . I was surprised I had made it this far into the week before crashing ! I went into this week knowing I might need to take a half day at some point , and it turns out that half day off was at 14:00 on Friday !
It ’ s hard to explain to people sometimes what fatigue feels like , and it has taken me years , but I now know my body well enough to know when not to push it . I struggle to pace myself . For the last 4.5 days of this week , I had given everything I had into my kayaking , and it had been great . But I had crashed , and there was nothing ( for example , eating lunch or having a break ) that would get my energy levels high enough to kayak this section .
LISTENING TO MY BODY
I took five minutes to consider my options whilst people were discussing lines but decided that despite the river being at a prime level and knowing full well I could paddle it , I did not think my body would make the moves I wanted it to . If I got on , I might be OK , but I felt it would be more luck at this point . I also might have a horrible time and end what had been a great week on a low . So , I chose to listen to my body and get off . Instead , I followed the others down and cheered / took photos from the bank whilst they all smashed out their lap .
Afterwards , we said our goodbyes , and I started the drive home . About 10 minutes into the drive , as the
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Group selfie on the Ogwen !
Photo of me on the Vyrnwy and lovely Matt taking photos / coaching ! Photo : Jamie Greenhalgh
sun began to set , there was the most spectacular view , so I stopped for five minutes to take it and grab a final photo . It felt like Wales was waving me goodbye !
GOODBYE , WALES – THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME !
It had been a lovely week with really different river experiences each day . I have a few takeaways to work on and even got a new river in as well , which , after 10 years of regular paddling , doesn ’ t happen very often these days ! The coaches were lovely , and I had lucked out to share the course with some lovely other clients . So thank you , everyone , for a lovely week ! And if you are reading this and feeling jealous , make sure you get yourself signed up for next year ! A week in Snowdonia with Paddle365 is the best Christmas gift you can give yourself !