Don't Be Weak

Endurance, from the root endure, is an old word, from the 14^th century when endure meant “to undergo or suffer,” or “to continue in existance.” It’s interesting then that some folks think that endurance can be developed from short high intensity activities. From an etymological perspective this makes little sense, and possibly even less from a sports science perspective. Physiologically and metabolically, developing endurance does require the protypical long, slow distance effort.

Ideally, one follows a well designed training programme during which endurance both metabolic and physical is slowly built upon. This certainly reduces the suffering that one must tolerate as endurance is built, but, as with any effort to force supercompensation, some discomfort is natural.

We logged another 30 kilometres of paddling on Monday, this time all on the open sea. A light headwind and a sagging swell meant that I got a wee bit sea sick once we’d passed Burrewarra Point, but the queasiness of mild sea sickness is also something that a sea kayaker needs to learn to endure. Mostly I felt cramped for the last few kilometres and noticed that my already not very good paddle stroke quickly deteriorated without intense concentration.

Saturday I ran around the Dam Loop which from my place is just over 15 kilometres – with a decent (for a flat country) amount of elevation gain (440 metres) and an enjoyable forest bathing experience. I stuck to nose breathing pace (aka ventilatory threshold – VT – one) as the two preceding training days had been tough – 30 kilometres paddling, heavy strength. Nose breathing pace felt right and more importantly I would recover more quickly.

How useful is endurance? Consider this news story. Imagine if all the people at the top gondola station had even a modicum of endurance they could have walked back down the (very well maintained and groomed) track and been back in their hotel rooms in time for a nightcap. After all, the track is only 10 kilometres long and is all downhill. My Mum walked further on a rougher track when she was 80.

The Power Of Numbers

I don’t know if the planet is really boiling but down in my part of the world we are having a warm, dry and largely benign – as far as sea conditions go – winter. On Tuesday, Margot got the band back together and we had eight paddlers out for an easy paddle on a “summer” winters day. There’s no doubt the band is getting older and a couple of people are facing serious medical illnesses, so each day with friends in a free and beautiful part of the world feels like the ubiquitous #blessing, except, I think #blessings are out now and #victim is in.

Our paddle total on Tuesday, however, was only 18 kilometres, two kilometres shy of our self-imposed 20 kilometre minimum target. Thursday, on an even warmer day with northerly winds, we set out to paddle 30 kilometres. For some reason, unknown to myself, I had decided I wanted to walk at least 8 kilometres (5 miles) every day for a week, so before paddling I went out at dawn to get the 8 kilometres done.

The northerly wind was a bother and, combined with the sea current running south, made progress north up the Murramarang Coast slow. We did 8 kilometres and then turned around and made up the final 22 kilometres paddling around the northern side of Batemans Bay as far as the new bridge over the Clyde River. Finally, with 24 kilometres on the clock, we could catch the tidal current and paddle back home. At our home bay, my odometer had not quite cracked 30 kilometres so I paddled out to sea far enough to watch it tick over, then back.

Now the real dilemna becomes obvious, stop at 38.5 km (30.5 km paddling and 8 km walking) or bump that number up to 40, an appealing number, divisible by ten – the basis of our decimal system. Bump to 40 is the obvious and only number. Luckily, trolleying the kayak home and a bit more walking and I was able to call Thursday a 40 kilometre day.