Cotton and steel

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Cotton and steel

April 20, 2010 blog by sensei

I have been trying to incorporate some of my zazen into coaching/teaching the rowing stroke.to my students, and there have been some odd looks as I try to encourage non-doing into something that is very doing.


As with zazen, which is meditation practice to clear the mind and concentrate on the momentary passages, the opening of the mind to the sounds, the tactile and resonant impulses of sitting and pulling the oars lead to improvement.  The other day, while leading a practice through the Holgate channel, I listened - not watched - to a sculler make their way upriver.  It was the sound of the oars turning over together, the splash of the oars as they dipped, and the "haaah" of the slide.  Could I tell that the slide was too fast? That one oar was in before the other?

Later, one student complained to me that their forearms were sore after rowing a practice race.  "You are holding on too tightly- loosen your grip"

"But how can I do that? Won't I lose the oar?"

Grip the oar with your fingers, relax your wrists and elbows- energy cannot flow thru your constricted muscles; you can't row a boat with your wrists, so why try?

 

More later.

so much for data...

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so much for data...

April 15, 2010 blog by Administrator

Seems that all the stuff I put in from Hal Higdon's Marathon training calendar went bye-bye for some reason. So i get to put it all back in place. This time ill incorporate my p90x workouts as well. 


Those start on May 1, which is coming pretty quick.. I have gained about 10# from the recent low of 205.  Body fat % is at ~13%, which isnt bad, but there is definitely a "dunlop" effect going on at the waistline.


Rowing Practice went reasonably well yesterday. the 5 6-minute race pieces we were supposed to be doing didnt fare so well, as it stretched out the group too much. We switched to to race 20's and 60's.  I think that unless we are running double launches, we should go short intervals.  Fortunately, the weather seems to be back on our side.  Its much nicer to be out on the river in sunshine.

Seeing the sun

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Seeing the sun

April 14, 2010 blog by sensei

With my back newly un-kinked thanks to Mike McCall, I no longer look like a "left bracket". The pain is there, especially when I am sitting for a while at work, and the walking is still a little gimped.

going to put the run-loops in today, you can find them under body/training, I hope.  I have a whole slate of notes to self that I want to find pigeonholes for.  This includes the Oatcake recipes, among others.

I thought about creating a flash-based Yoga instructor on here. I need to be more proficient in flash first.


Posted to Facebook that the site exists. so if you're reading- welcome!

Ahh the glory of ibuprophen

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Ahh the glory of ibuprophen

April 13, 2010 Training by sensei

Back is still sore, but I did better yesterday. No run again for me today.


It seems that my hip and L5/S1 joint around the Illius wants to "crack" and when I got the inflammation down yesterday, it did do a little "correction".  I am going to go see Dr. Mike today-
 it will be always an interesting trip.

I am setting up google maps on the site to show the different loops and runs that I am doing as part of the marathon training in anticipation for Portland in October. Linked to this, will be Hal Higdon's marathon training schedule as well as the P90x schedule that will commence in June.

 

Weather has gotten better this week- yesterday's easy row with the team out in the Holgate Channel. The sun was out and everyone was smiling. Even Andy.

Back Still Broken

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Back Still Broken

April 12, 2010 Training by Administrator

Despite stretching and resting, looks like my back is still sore. Latissimus Quadratus and Spinae Erectus are sore- possibly compensating for tweaked psoas.  i look like a "}" in the mirror, and Im walking like Asimo.  So no running for me- nor skiiing, which stinks since Lisa went to Meadows this weekend with Chris and said that the conditions were great and the skies blue.


Im going to see Dr. Mike on Tuesday to get unknotted.