The PaddlerUK magazine July 2015 issue 3 | Page 27

Five into
three will go
Student-coach symbiosis
Six months of kayak training has led up to May’s incomprehensible
achievement; in three days, rather than the recommended five, a team of 10 of
us paddled the full 60 miles of the magnificent Great Glen by sea kayak and
open canoe, and wild camped loch side. As hoped, I kicked Multiple Sclerosis’
butt, raised approximately £1,500 for charity, and to top it all off, I met some
incredible people and saw and did some magical things along the way.
By Sonja Jones

It’s amazing to think that May 2014, I was
finding it difficult to walk up stairs or walk
around town for longer than 45 minutes, open
jars and bottles with my hands, not to mention
the battles I was facing with lethargy and
getting used to peculiar sensations and pain
throughout my body. Now, not only have I
kayaked across Scotland, I did it two days
shorter than the recommended time frame
and with energy and strength spare to do it all
over again.

Under the guidance, support and belief from
my coach, Chris Brain, I have paddled my way
to strength, both physically and spiritually, and
in turn, to a new way of life. This has been a
whole new league of rehabilitation; paddling, in
all forms, beats the gym hands down.

When I started this journey six months ago with
Coach Brain, I struggled to paddle to midday, and
there was definitely a very noticeable slump
post 2pm where I would become so weak that
my paddling would rapidly deteriorate. Back
then, I even found a regular bag of shopping
incredibly difficult to lift, let alone share the load
of carrying a kayak; Chris used to have to do
everything for me, that’s probably why he has
such big muscles now.

At all times, Chris employed S.M.A.R.T to my
paddling which enabled us to maintain focus in
order to complete the quest of both physically
completing the challenge, and the journey
towards expedition fitness. This technique will
be at the fore of my mind at all times during my
future paddling career.

P D L RUK 27
A DE