Post your training paddles

[Alan Gage]

This is good info to have. I have been running into a similar problem and believed it was some form issue causing the imbalanced fatigue. While my form is definitely a work in progress, I am glad to hear that there might just be some muscle adaptation happening alongside.

I think it's a combination of specific paddling strength and form/technique. They both get better with time on the water.

I remember one summer when I was in the best paddling shape I'd ever been in. I won the Jensen Handicap race in Minnesota that summer (lucky draw for a great partner). The next year I started building my own house and had only been on the water a couple times for leisurely paddles. The race has a traveling trophy so when I came back to return the trophy the next summer I decided to race since I was there anyway and what a difference it was!

I felt like I had nothing to give. I felt strong at the start but soon I felt very fatigued and I couldn't sprint to save my life. I could maintain a steady power but I just did not have a higher gear to kick into. I didn't feel out of breath, just like I had no power. I doubt my form or technique had degraded that much but those paddling muscles sure had.

Alan

 

[Alan Gage]

Is this your Barracuda? What a beauty!

That is the AGX. It was my first hull design and gave me the speed I had hoped the Barracuda was going to give me.

18.5' long and 27" wide

Surprisingly friendly to paddle for what it is. I'm much more comfortable in this than I ever was in a racing C1. Speed seems to fall somewhere in the middle between a racing C1 and something like a SR Blackwater or Barracuda. And it has room in the bow for a (small) dog, which was a large design criteria.

Alan

 

[Tryin']

Received and installed a new addition to the pain cave. Takes about 90 seconds to install or remove. I am fortunate to have a great relationship with the gym owner, so I wont even have to transport it. HR monitor also showed up today, so feeling almost professional...

The test run was a wake up call. 10 minutes at 55spm, damper setting 6, was enough to know I wont be faking my way through this training plan.

 

[yknpdlr]

Looks like the Paddlesports trainer that I use during winter months. Beginning around Christmas time I start with 20 minutes at 60 spm, increasing to an hour as time goes on. it is a good machine for building up power strokes and timing. Unfortunately it does not replicate doing buoy turns very well. I bought it at canoe Nationals in Syracuse several years ago for Yukon River race training and I consider it well worth it for all around training

 

[Tryin']

Looks like the Paddlesports trainer that I use during winter months. Beginning around Christmas time I start with 20 minutes at 60 spm, increasing to an hour as time goes on. it is a good machine for building up power strokes and timing. Unfortunately it does not replicate doing buoy turns very well. I bought it at canoe Nationals in Syracuse several years ago for Yukon River race training and I consider it well worth it for all around training

It is indeed the Paddlesports version. Good to hear that an accomplished veteran finds it useful. It kicked my butt this morning.

 

[Tryin']

First ERG workout:

 

[Alan Gage]

Good consistency and your stroke rate continued to improve through the workout.

Alan

 

[Superdave]

Whenever there is open water, I paddle 3-5 times a week as my aerobic workout. Usually for an hour, but also adding in some longer paddles in the spring to build an aerobic base. Last winter,I paddled right up to Dec. 1st, and got back on the water in late Feb. If the water temp is below 50º, I wear a drysuit and/or stick right next to shore. I also practice deep water self rescues a couple of times a year.

I use the Crew Nerd app with a heart rate monitor, and spend the majority of my time in zone 2, but throw in some fartleks once the aerobic base is built up. Structured intervals would probably be more effective, but I don't enjoy them.

Early in the season, I also struggle with getting my heart rate up without fatiguing muscles. One thing that has helped me is to use a smaller blade size in the spring. After 8-10 weeks with the smaller blade, I'm able to switch to a larger blade. By that time, the bigger blade "feels" more efficient; I see my stroke rate drop slightly, but speed increases for a given heart rate. I use ZRE Revolution Lights in 7.5" and 8.5"