Is Kayaking A Good Way to Lose Weight?
Published July 28, 2011 | 
These days it seems everyone is looking for a good way lose weight. As a kayak coach and dare I say, an advocate for the sport, it’s a bit of a no-brainer that I would tell you that kayaking is indeed a good way to lose weight.. After all, any exercise that supports physical fitness, burns calories and keeps you interested is on its surface, a good way to lose weight. But is it really? Here are some thoughts… Continue reading
The Good Fight
Published April 23, 2011 | 
Jesus if I had to quit tonight / I’d never know if I was wrong or right
But that’s just what you get / You gotta go the distance
If you’re gonna fight a good fight,
Keep it up & keep a good fight – buffett
Today I jumped on the scales again. It’s a Saturday morning ritual. Well, actually it’s a daily, and sometimes many-times-daily ritual. Saturday though, is “THE” day. It’s the day I actually write down the result in the bottom right hand corner of the Saturday box on my big dining room calendar. Sure, anyone can see it, but more importantly it’s there for me to see. It’s there to remind me why one malted Easter egg an hour before bed is almost better than, well, you know.. Continue reading
Snowshoes Stop You From Sinking
Published January 7, 2011 | 
We’re workin’ our jobs, collect our pay
Believe we’re gliding down the highway, when in fact we’re slip sliding away
– p. simon
My snowshoe journey continued yesterday as I took my first silly steps through the local state park. One thing I learned, the most obvious thing, is that snowshoes stop you from sinking. My hiking partner without snowshoes, (And substantially less um, sturdy than I am, I may add!) sank about 5 inches into the virgin snow of the abandon Northern Lights campground. With my cool new snowshoes under foot, I sank maybe an inch or two at most. Well, that’s what they are made for right? Continue reading
Paddling from the Beginning – Fitness
Published February 1, 2010 | 
Paddler on Lake Michigan at the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium. Door County, Wisconsin.
In the last “Paddling From The Beginning” post I gave you just some of the reasons we paddle. Today I want to talk just a bit about paddling for fitness.. for us average non-super athletic types.
I’ll never forget reading an interview with Israeli expedition paddler Hadas Feldman where she said something to the effect that she had to go on a major expedition every so often to simply avoid getting fat. Obviously she wasn’t serious, but that’s athleticism I understand! Certainly there are paddlers who go for the most efficient strokes, amazing speeds and all that. Bless their little souls! But most of us define fitness by simply staying active, alive and not getting too fat! Continue reading
Posted in Fitness, From The Beginning Series, Learning, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling | 
Fitness, hadas feldmanHealthier, fitter, less productive
Published March 24, 2009 | 
March 23rd – Hitting the trail in high winds and heavy rain.
Paddling fitness does not mean winning an Iron Man contest. It’s no secret that one of the reasons for sea kayaking’s popularity is that people can do it well into their graying years. Still, if you are planning a trip of any duration you must act prudently. Give yourself enough time to build up to it, train your body, build endurance, have a physical and all the rest. You don’t have to be a Greek god but you do need to be well, fit. Here are some snaps from the last few days…
Don’t cry
Don’t raise your eye
It’s only teenage wasteland
– who
I don’t know about you but when it comes to outdoor sports/recreation, I’m not worried about young guys kicking my a** any more. I came to a sort of epiphany. No, I didn’t surrender to being 45 years old and accept that I’m over the hill. I didn’t bow under to the fact that my body is not capable of what it once was. No, I realized that the majority of people, including the “young guys” simply don’t get around much anymore. In fact the majority of humans (in our culture at least) participate in very little physical activity. There’s like a zillion studies to back that up. Heck even the military is getting freaked. While there’s a small minority of us that have truly physical jobs or that participate in any sort of sport, most of us don’t. We’re becoming a sedentary, obese and diabetic society. So for what it’s worth, if you’re active.. kudos.
As far as aging is concerned, I’ve got a theory about that; I think 60 might be the new 40, simply because 30 is the new 50.. Let that sink in for a moment. If you’re “older” and active, don’t worry so much about losing a step. The truth is, you’re still gonna kick a lot of a** out there. On the other hand, maybe that’s something we should all be worried about…