Merrily
Administrator
I’m hoping to go to the three Master’s midwinter events in Florida in February. John and I have motel and camping reservations, so the “only” thing holding me back is a pledge that I’ve made to myself to finish the book that I’ve been working on for many years by the first of February. It is within my grasp.
The thing is, I don’t want to get there and be so out of the shape that I can’t comfortably compete. I’ve gained 10 pounds since this time last year (Merry Christmas), so I’m a bit heavy to sail Radial, which is what I expect to sail. I want to lose the flab and be conditioned for Laser sailing. I’m counting calories and following a diet similar to the South Beach diet. I can’t sail now because it’s winter in Ohio and the river is frozen right now. It may thaw, and if I can get anyone to go out with me, I’ll do that for the practice and the fun. I have an exercise program that I’m adhering to. For strength I’ve been doing push ups (I can do full body!), rows, lateral pull downs (can’t even begin to do chin ups), various planking exercises, one-legged squats, dead lifts. I also do a one hour pilates routine that I’ve been doing for years. For aerobics I’ve been using a rowing or cycling machine, half an hour with some intervals. Aerobics is my weakness, as I can’t run due to knees that swell up like grapefruit when I do. I’m trying to add some brisk walking to increase the aerobics. So my pattern is Day 1 pilates, Day 2 strength training and brisk walk, Day 3, rowing, Day 4 strength training and brisk walk, Day 5 cycling, Day 6 rest. If I can’t get outside I do some stair climbing, yes, on real stairs. I don’t want to add time to the rowing and cycling because it is just too darn boring and also stressful to my joints to go longer. What do you think? If I stick to this workout, will it be enough? Any suggestions? I’m not joining a gym, so it has to be stuff I can do at home. Oh, yeah, I also try to get some weight on the tops of my feet to simulate hiking.
I put my boat away clean and dry, so no worries there. Some of you will remember that I had rub rail on the gunwale. It kept trying to come off in places, so I finally pulled it off by hand. So much for permanent marine glue. So far, I’ve become a good enough sailor to not bash up the gunwale like before. I’m going to be checking all of my equipment and clothing in the near future to see if I need anything there. In particular, I’ll be looking for my sailing watch. I think that it has somehow sprouted legs. Hope I’m wrong.