There's a Quadrathlon in Southern Indiana that I'm considering for late August. I'm wondering if anyone here has done the kayak thing, because that's leg four of this thing. I'm wondering:
How difficult to learn?
How strenuous compared to swim/bike/run?
How far is five miles in a kayak compared to ??? what? 5k? 10K? half century?
I think it sounds fun, but I wanted some feedback.
How difficult to learn?
How strenuous compared to swim/bike/run?
How far is five miles in a kayak compared to ??? what? 5k? 10K? half century?
I think it sounds fun, but I wanted some feedback.
I've always wanted to try kayaking. But it was either that or a mountain bike and there aren't many good places to kayak here (okay, not much mountain biking either, but moreso). Just check the other distances in the quadrathon and it should tell you what the kayak distance is equal to. Usually they try to keep them roughly equivalent.
5 mile kayak 8O
I have only rented the huge beginner ones. It is a lot of fun; but, you will need to practice for that. Will they provide the kayaks?
I have only rented the huge beginner ones. It is a lot of fun; but, you will need to practice for that. Will they provide the kayaks?
5 miles is 5 miles. The level of effort depends on the steepness of terrain (gravity working with you) and the water current (faster the current, faster you get pushed/pulled). Kayaking is fun Fun FUN! but requires a lot of core, shoulder, and forearm strength (yes, the ultra urbanite has kayaked before! I have some proficiency at it even). If you choose to do this, make sure to strengthen your lower back and forearm muscles along with your pecs and triceps. Make sure you get properly trained on rolling, particularly because many of the motions are counterintuitive. As a last leg it would be quite tiring, but it sounds like a fun as hell race. Good luck.
It's open water, ie a lake, no current. I figured as much re: core. They've got a registration option to rent a kayak. I just wonder where one goes to learn how to do it/practice in the first place. I'll talk to the LKS, I bet they'd know.
i really enjoy recreational kayaking. i dont know about competetive kayaking.
i really enjoy recreational kayaking. i dont know about competetive kayaking.Competitive is a relative term here. I'll compete to not roll and drown.
:) i didnt know that rolling was involved.
the few times ive done it, it was in the ocean. in all honesty, i didnt think that it was all that difficult and i had no experience.
so, are you gonna do it?
the few times ive done it, it was in the ocean. in all honesty, i didnt think that it was all that difficult and i had no experience.
so, are you gonna do it?
uh huh! of course I'm gonna do it. Don't let anyone evah tell you bpdou has backed down from a challenge!
Now... to find myself a kayak somwheres...
Now... to find myself a kayak somwheres...
If they supply the kayak and the kayak is one of those plastic types that's going to be more difficult than the fiberglass kayaks. I did an adventure race with the blow up kayaks and it was manageable but slow. Core training and shoulder/back weight routine should help.
I went kayaking a few times this past summer and had a blast with it. I did it only in lakes and reservoirs. I tried out a rcing kayak from like the 70's. It was fibergalss. It was narrow. I tipped it about every 10 seconds. It SUCKED! When I traded for a wider and slower one, I really started enjoying myself. Sounds like a really fun race. I'd find out what kind of kayaks the race is renting and go to REI or the like and compare what they offer. REI rents EVERYTHING (even camp stoves). Rent one a couple of times and see what you think. They are very easy to get the hang of as long as it's not a racing one.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Kayaking isn't that hard to learn - August is heaps of time. The hardest bit for me was balance, but that was more due to my fear of falling in, than the boat actually being tippy. Once I stopped worrying about falling in, I stopped falling in!!
Depending on your rating, you probably won't get nearly as puffed kayaking as swimming or running. It's a resistance exercise, so you'll get tired muscles without getting that puffed out.
You'd probably be wanting to learn in a touring kayak or TK1. As alyson98 said, racing kayaks or k1s are way tippy!! Your best bet would be to find a canoe/kayak club and join up. You should be able to use their club boats for training and they would have experience paddlers who would be able to teach you the basics.
The main muscles you'll be using are abs and lats. And believe it or not, you use your legs a bit too. You shouldn't be getting sore forearms or pecs, nor too much shoulder pain if you're doing it right. You should be driving off your legs and pulling through with your abs and lats.
Hope that helped some. Kayaking is heaps of fun.
Good luck!
Ella :)
Depending on your rating, you probably won't get nearly as puffed kayaking as swimming or running. It's a resistance exercise, so you'll get tired muscles without getting that puffed out.
You'd probably be wanting to learn in a touring kayak or TK1. As alyson98 said, racing kayaks or k1s are way tippy!! Your best bet would be to find a canoe/kayak club and join up. You should be able to use their club boats for training and they would have experience paddlers who would be able to teach you the basics.
The main muscles you'll be using are abs and lats. And believe it or not, you use your legs a bit too. You shouldn't be getting sore forearms or pecs, nor too much shoulder pain if you're doing it right. You should be driving off your legs and pulling through with your abs and lats.
Hope that helped some. Kayaking is heaps of fun.
Good luck!
Ella :)
You think 5 miles is far? Check out this:
404km over 5 days. I've only done the relay, but I know quite a few people who've done full distance, and it's definitely on my to do list. Just have to save up the $400 entry fee. (Or find me a sponsor.) We're planning an assault on the relay record for this year.
Ella :)
404km over 5 days. I've only done the relay, but I know quite a few people who've done full distance, and it's definitely on my to do list. Just have to save up the $400 entry fee. (Or find me a sponsor.) We're planning an assault on the relay record for this year.
Ella :)