Great White in NZ

Mucking around in the house due to thunderstorm.  Truth be told, I just want to stay dry today.  How am I going to finish my 20-30km assignment...?

Doing some readings about dolphins and sharks in NZ; I don't know why I'm so obsessed about them, I think I have a better chance of being struck by lightning than bitten by one of these creatures.

Globally, there were 61 unprovoked shark attacks in 2004, according to The International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Seven people died. There were also 15 provoked attacks (typically a diver bit after grabbing a shark or a fisherman bit while removing a shark from a net) and 12 cases of sharks biting boats. The global total was down slightly from recent years but still part of an upward trend overall.

I know.  12 isn't much.  But still, hate to be part of that statistic.

Shek Mun Initiation, and Fan Goh's program

Trained K1 with Suk-Fun today (instead of Man-Sir), then went to Shek Mun to train for the first time.  Spend the first 15 minutes being told off with a lot of far-fetched metaphors about what a liability I could be to HKCU if I were to paddle solo and get hurt.  But then we talked about the circumnavigate NZ trip, and that was very helpful.

Am too tired to write coherently.  So will use point forms and maybe reorganize later (or not).

• I have 6 months before the expedition, so make 6 progressive monthly training plans.
• write up all my calorie intakes (food + drinks), time of consumption, (how frequently)
• write up  how much work out I did every day, and paddling speed
• make a point to analyze my recovery (how long did it take to recover after a long, hard, continuous trip?) and make a log 
• measure my pulse rate after the paddling exercise, aim to work it up to 191bpm, but starting with 114.
• paddle 20-30 km every day, with a tiger, with no break at all (not even to bail water or to drink, bring a mountain fountain for drinks.)  Must work it up to 8km/hr by the end of June.  And that's "leisurely pace," not the 100m dash pace.
• sync my breathing with every stroke.
• run/jog for 7-8 km every day for cardiovascular conditioning.
• #3 Work on Endurance
• #2 Work on Strength
• #1 Work on techniques, skills, postures, rhythm, cadence, coordination... 
• must work on speed for the sake of survival -- in case I need to turn around at the mercy of a storm
• use a pair of 8 lbs dumbbells to tone the biceps.  Lift (L.R.L.R...) for 5 minutes, rest for 3, lift 5, rest 3, repeat 3 cycles until I can do it easily, then do 4 cycles, and so on.
• 3 sets of 20 : pull-ups, push-ups, dips, sit-ups.  When I can do it steadily with decent speed, add another cycle. (ha!  fat chance!  oh, but think survival...)
• work on 20-30 lbs dumbbells only just before the trip (or tournament)
• take frequent, small meals, with lots of veggies, but must also eat meat.
• absolutely no smoking, only half to one glass of wine per day, and avoid fatty food.
• avoid using a liquid-only diet for long term
• stretch for 20 minutes before paddling, stretch for 10 after.
• towards the end of the paddling exercise, paddling slowly to cool down and let the lactic acid out.
• experiment with seat paddings for height and also to reduce blisters.

That's all that I can remember for now.  Oh, and the gym session was humiliating.  I couldn't even finish one set of dips.  And I had to finish my second set of push ups on my knees.  Got down to the water  after 3 cycles though, paddled a tiger and somehow managed to keep pace with the k1 paddlers.  So that lifted my mood a little.

whoa, 0129 in the morning!  must...get...sleep.

Training Plan

I'm going to write this blog, and then I'm going to bed.  

Paddled a typical KAT launching from WSWSC, went from WSC to Hoi Ha to Grass Is. to Chek Keng back to East Arm and then back to WSWSC.  It was fairly uneventful.  Siu Ming took a 15HP power boat out (instead of a kayak), so there wasn't much room for messing around.

What I want to write about is the discussion we had after everybody left.  First we talked about seal launching/ landing, he reckons we can probably get some practices, or at least experimentations, in Tung Ping Chau.  (Of course we can, I did it accidentally in 2007!)  He isn't willing to teach a course, but might be willing to come along for some mutual experimentations if I can find a power boat and if the wind condition is moderate.  So, I'll either have to ask Paul, or So-Goh (sampan).

The thing that really excited me was the discussion about the circumnavigate New Zealand South Island trip -- apart from Dennis and Horia, I don't know anybody else who would take me seriously.  Siu Ming thought I was suicidal to contemplate such a trip, he describes it as self-torture rather than adventure, but he conceded that it would be a good experience to have, and so we talked about a training plan.

He advised I should definitely work on endurance through gym workouts (dope!!!! I *hate* the gym with a passion!) and not just on-water type work out.  At the very least 40%  (preferably 50%) of my training time should be allocated to on land training, like rowing machines, resistance training, etc.  

So a typical training day should go like this: wake up early in the morning, spend 2 hours on gym workout, then get down to the water to paddle until lunch time, have lunch, after lunch, spend two hours on studying and researching, then get back to the gym for two hours, then get back down to the water.  

Have five training days and then take a day or two off to rest. 

If it's stormy (I say have fun paddling it!  But...) Siu Ming suggests to go jogging/ running.  Not sure how that helps me paddle but, oh well.

As for the water part, apparently I need to adjust my mentality - no more leisurely cruising; I need to get mean.   So much for my resolution to focus on rescue.  Siu Ming thinks I need to set a speed goal -- I have no control over time, I'll get 24 hrs a day and there is no way around it.  So the only factor I can control is speed.  Get to TMT faster on the same boat.  Then get to TMT with a loaded boat.  Then paddle to TMT while dragging a mass and I still have to get there on time.  Then paddle a shitty, loaded foldable kayak while dragging anchor to TMT (yeah right.) 

But don't just paddle on water, because it's going to end up damaging the muscle that I overuse all the time.  It's better to work on overall strength and endurance than to just focus on the muscle groups that I use when I paddle.

Research about weather patterns in NZ, look into the details and kinks in at least the last few years.  Also look into all the possible landing/ bailing sites.  Look into difficult spots and rough water warnings, etc.  Really study the blogs of the adventurous souls who already managed the trip before my attempt.  Look into the psychology and physiology of it -- see what difficulties others run into.  Look into all possible mental issues that might hold me back --  like trying to launch a boat alone while leaving a hypothermic patient behind. 

That's all I can remember for now.  My brain is shutting down and I need sleep.  Which might as well, the sun is setting, I'm going to work on my circadian rhythm if I plan to camp for 3 months.

Some thoughts about paddling New Zealand

My dad is retiring next year, and so my family is thinking about a retirement adventure trip in NZ.  (Are you sure your knees are okay with it though, daddy?)

They asked if I can join them.  At first I thought why not.  Then I saw the pamphlet and was sad to see that only one of the 18 days will be spend in a kayak.  So I thought, why don't I do my OWN kayaking trip along side?  Hopefully I can time my expedition so that I can meet them somewhere for food and fuel supplies.  That's what parents are for, right? (anxiously waiting for the next thunder to strike O_O)

Which means I'm planning a circumnavigate NZ trip for early next year.  I don't even know if my parents are going to go for sure, but if I do go, I need to start preparation now.

Just some random thoughts about what to train for, but I should probably consult someone with a bit more experience before I go.  Then again, my entire life has been a long string of suicide-attempts anyway.  So why stop now? :-)

1. Landing/ Launching in surf zones, esp. seal landing/ launching skills.
2. Continuous paddling in big swells
3. paddling a fully loaded sea kayak
4. weeks or even months of paddling without a break
5. self-rescue in rough sea with a fully loaded sea kayak
6. Get that stupid ham license and VHF radio already, c'mon!
7. get a reverse osmosis pump
8. [on-going updates]

Not sure about item 4, because it's also known as over-training.  I've been on the water nearly every day in May and my back is screaming bloody murder.  Petroleum jelly can help with salt blisters, but not fully eliminate them.  If I can't extend my tourist visa, I'll still have to finish the trip within 90 days -- and that includes waiting out the storms, pre-trip planning time, replenishment, etc.

Still pondering about sponsorship.  Don't really want the trip to be a huge advertisement gig, but it can be a stepping stone to getting helps with the transpacific epic that I hope to paddle somedays.  If I can't work out sponsorship, I think I might just get Fred to paint a tiger for me and ship it over for the trip.  If nothing else, circumnavigating NZ with an old tiger has to be a bit of a dare-devil stunt.