Cross training for paddling
- Details
- Category: Training
- Published on Monday, 10 October 2011 21:50
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 274
By Ben Maynard NLK Kayaking
Variety is what training should be all about. And a really easy way of adding variety into paddling training is not to paddle at all.....and occassionally do some other form of excercise instead. So what's cross training all about?
Cross training is an essential part of paddlesport training. The main reason is that paddling on it's own does not make incredible demands on the cardiovascular system. This is especially the case for beginner and intermediate paddlers - often the muscles will fatigue before the heart and lungs. Refining this system for optimal gains needs to be done out of the boat.
For more advanced paddlers there is another important reason to cross train. This is to develop your strength for both paddling power and injury prevention. When good technique is developed, paddling alone is not an extremely high-resistance excercise. It often feels smooth and fluid. Doing some resistance training on the water is one way of counteracting this and developing extra power. But the best way is by doing specific strength excercises out of the boat. It's also the most effective way of working on the stabilising muscles that surround the large muscles you rely on in the boat, and in turn preventing injury.
Cross training can be incorporated year-round, but is most common at the beginning of a paddling preparation cycle - when "laying a base" for your next goal.
So for a bit of a break from paddling post-Freycinet, and for a new dimension to training, we will make our weeknight session on Thursday 13th October a cross-training one. All paddlers - from beginner to advanced - will hopefully learn something from this session.
All you need to bring is stuff to run in and some comfortable shoes (what you would wear to a gym is fine).
