The PaddlerUK magazine July 2015 issue 3 | Page 28
P D L RUK 28
A DE
Coaching sessions
Our coaching sessions were so varied that I feel we had
prepared for every possible eventuality. Although we weren’t
going to do any river running on the trip, the skills I obtained
during those sessions crossed over to the flat and open
water environments, such as how important the core is for
efficient kayaking. I am especially thankful for the 50mph gusts
and freak weather that we experienced during a particularly
choppy open water training session on Bala Lake; no matter
how fresh and gusty the weather became during the trip, I
felt competent and confident to see it through, whilst having
enormous fun surfing the waves along the way.
Getting out on the water and having lovely picnics and
adventures in freezing (in the main) to sizzling temperatures
weren’t the only aspects of my training regime.
I had a daily routine of Theraband exercises to help build
strength back up in my arms (particularly the one that
suffered paralysis) as well as squats, crunches, and press-ups
to increase the power in my core.
In order to maintain motivation, Chris created a spreadsheet
using the magical ‘Cloud’ which we were to update once we
had completed some exercise, and where we could write
motivational messages to each other, especially when the
sheet looked sparse – Chris could be quite the Army Officer,
even with those funky dreadlocks. This was particularly useful
in the early days to get into the habit of training, as even
though we were physically apart, it was like having an
exercise ‘conscience’ on my shoulder, a ‘cyber coach’. At the
beginning I could only plank for five seconds, but by the time
we reached the expedition, I was able to plank for at least
one minute at a time – what a victory.
Chris has surpassed my expectations in a coach and has
empowered me to believe that anything is possible. I no
longer believe in disability, I only believe in ability, and I
certainly don’t consider the option that I can’t do something,
only that I can – there is always a way. I hope that one day, I
too will be good enough to coach others to reach their
personal paddling potential, and take them on adventures.