I wanted to give you a post race update sooner however things have been pretty busy since arriving home after making the cross country trip at 5am the morning after the finishing the 11 City tour. After my wife picked me up at the airport we headed straight to our favorite Mexican food and to get a margarita. I got one day to relax and then right into sales meetings all week at Callaway. I did manage to give my body a rest for 6 days, longest I can remember not working out. My body loved me for it however my mind did not. The last week was post race partum, my mind and body were doing weird things and then I was dreaming about racing as my mind was still wanting to race. It was great to get home and see my family and work back to a normal routine. I did surf in a contest the very next weekend (placed 3rd) and got some good Paddle surfing in with my Chief Mechanic Shaper Mark Johnson in fun head high surf and 73 degree water.
My hands are finally back to normal with almost all the feeling returning to my left pinky and fourth finger. Believe it or not I lost my finger nail on my left pinky from putting so much paddle pressure on it for 5 days. I thought that I might lose my finger nail on my right pinky however I think is will make it. I guess if you make 50 strokes a minute at an average of 5-1/2 hours day for five days which all calculated is 16,500 strokes a day and 82,500 strokes in all you’re bound to have some kind of hand and finger injuries. It is amazing what your mind can block out during racing and then you feel everything once it is all over and your mind and body shuts down.
I did start training again last Tuesday morning (5am with a headlamp) and then back in the pool swimming as well last week. I do not think that I have fully recovered since it does not feel like I have the little bit extra to push. I hope to be feeling 100% by the time the next two big races come up, the Hennessey’s International Paddle Championships in San Francisco on Sept 26 and then the Rainbow Sandals “Battle of the Paddle” on Oct 3-4 in my backyard of Dana Point, CA. I’m looking forward to both races since there will be most of the top paddlers attending both races. Competition makes you better and I have my training partners and EJ to thank as we push one another every time we hit the water.
I’m getting back to my regular racing diet (details to follow) and working with the guys at Hobie with new boards and paddles. Thanks again for all the great support from my family and friends as you give me a lot of motivation to keep improving. Last big thanks and well wishes to Pop’s, with out you the Hobie dream would never be reality! See you Paddling.
