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Author	Message Text
Wallidave	02/22/2022 11:51AM   I remember doing a ton of bike riding for a trip years ago only to have my legs feeling like spaghetti on the portages going in. Coming back out they were fine.
PeaceFrog	02/20/2022 04:55PM   Split some wood today on a beautiful Ohio day. 50 in February
DRob1992	02/21/2022 03:43PM   scat: "I was replying to SlowElk’s post about exercising, then I saw your back paddle. Your’s aren’t worth commenting on any further. Cheers, scat" Fair enough and, since you're not worth it either, we can squash it.
papalambeau	02/21/2022 07:20AM   scat: "I will just throw this thought in here for the hey of it. Sometimes the guys who are all into working out and spend half their day looking at themselves in the mirror are the biggest wussbags of all. It’s mostly about the heart and attitude. Some of the smallest scrawniest people are the best tripping partners to be with. My usual partner on trips has been bringing his gf Heather who is 5’ 3” 105 lbs soaking wet on the last couple trips and she is tougher and more of a wilderness warrior than any guy I’ve ever been with. Always smiling and she is a great cooker too! I told Nick we should figure out how to clone her, but he said, no, I’ll just keep her to myself. Can’t blame him for that." I hear you Scat. Heart and mental attitude are the key. I coached high school football for 25 years and I saw this played out all the time on the gridiron. Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane are always a coaches biggest challenge. I know with my grandkids going on multiple trips now, they aren't big and strong yet, but they are all heart and mentally tough. I'll take them anytime over a brute who whines through tough weather or a tough portage.
Speckled	02/21/2022 08:31AM   scat: "I will just throw this thought in here for the hey of it. Sometimes the guys who are all into working out and spend half their day looking at themselves in the mirror are the biggest wussbags of all. It’s mostly about the heart and attitude. Some of the smallest scrawniest people are the best tripping partners to be with. My usual partner on trips has been bringing his gf Heather who is 5’ 3” 105 lbs soaking wet on the last couple trips and she is tougher and more of a wilderness warrior than any guy I’ve ever been with. Always smiling and she is a great cooker too! I told Nick we should figure out how to clone her, but he said, no, I’ll just keep her to myself. Can’t blame him for that." I witnessed this on a trip. Myself and two of my usual tripping partners, all desk jockey's and in what could be described as the worst shape of our lives, had a trip planned to enter at Fall Lake, and make our way up to Crooked, seeing the falls and picto's along the way. I mentioned to a work friend and he expressed some interest. He was a late 20's gym rat. No question - the guy was in way better shape than any of the rest of us slouches. Paddling 4 solo's all the way through basswood, we decided, make sure you have at least one other person in sight. Turns out myself and gym rat are much stronger paddlers and make our way up to the mile long portage at the end/leaving basswood and entering the basswood river. I hit the portage, pack comes out of the canoe and onto my back, boat goes off to the side and down the trail I go. I make my way back to the canoe and find the gym rat just getting ready for his crossing with his boat. He'd struggled a bit with the previous portages and decided to take a little break, pump some water, have a snack. So I grab my boat, he grabs his boat and off we go with him behind me. I get to the end and he's no longer behind me. This portage...while long isn't terrible. It's fairly flat and wide open. I decided to have a snack, re apply some bug spray and end up leaning against my pack and catching a quick cat nap. I awake...see he's not there, thinking he's probably on his way for his second trip...a quick look around and see his boat isn't hear yet. Geez - I hope he didn't fall and hurt himself, I start back down the portage and find him about half way, sitting beside the trail on a log, with his boat on the ground. I ask if he's all right, his answer is "I can't carry the boat, I don't know how you do it. My shoulders are killing me. I pick it up and I can go a little ways and then I have to put it down again." The dude just broke under the weight of portaging. I had to help him on every portage for the rest of the trip.
Speckled	02/21/2022 08:50AM   I'll add - I remember my first portage under a canoe and there certianly were doubts that crept into your mind. There were 4 of us in 2 canoes on that first trip. I hoist the canoe up on our second portage and start down the trail. This sucks - I don't think I can do it. What am I going to do. Second thought is - I just watched my buddy do it on the portage prior and I watched a guy smaller than me do it on the portage prior as well. I'm not going to be that guy. One foot in front of the other and down the trail you go. Each subsequent portage after that got easier.
scat	02/21/2022 01:07PM   Wow, what a strange thing to say. Not sure how to take that, other than it seems incredibly sexist. What diff does it make if a canoe partner is a ‘chick’ or a guy. Have fun with the boys. Wowza.
ockycamper	02/22/2022 10:53AM   after reading all these threads on hard sided coolers. . .maybe an excercise plan of hauling fully loaded cooler around the house 5-10 times per day!
Stumpy	02/20/2022 08:40PM   Last two years, have put me in the worst shape in my life. I have to turn that around.
HayRiverDrifter	02/09/2022 04:28PM   bhouse46: "Like others I have regular exercise, stretching and relaxation routines. These include paddling and hiking. As a trip nears I carry my loaded packs on my hikes and put them in the canoe when I paddle. I paddle more including two or more days in a row. At 75 I want to know all the gear is working before I enter the wilderness. One exercise for the upper back/shoulders. Hang clothing on a line. The squatting to get the items from the basket and bringing them above your head and pinning them to the line does wonders. Obviously, most of us do not hang clothes, but use those movements with a bit of weight and you will feel it. " Ya, please don't tell my wife about the hanging clothing on the line thing ;-) Thanks Actually a really good suggestion. Get a workout and earn some points.
KarlaWithaK	02/10/2022 08:03AM   The muscle group between your shoulders are the rhomboids. Here's an article with several exercises to strengthen that specific area: Rhomboid strength exercises
YetiJedi	02/09/2022 11:10PM   scat: "I exercise year round. Walk 3-5 miles and do 80 sit-ups a day. Lift weights every other day with the same weights and bench I bought my freshman year in high school, almost 50 years ago. I look at it this way, exercise is the only thing in life that you get out of it exactly what you put into it. You do the work you reap the benefits. Can’t say the same for the job or relationships, which can often disappoint no matter how hard you try. Conversely, you can’t get lucky, like win the lottery and suddenly be fit, you have to do the work. So I guess I need something to believe in, to know when I do this I will get that. With winter I have been walking 4 miles a day. There is a 2 mile paved track in a local forest preserve so no ice to contend with, it’s a bit over an hour and a half with driving and I can work it in. Once in a while I skip a day but not often. Walking helps calm my nerves for the day, helps me sleep, and lifting has many benefits. Sit-ups to keep the core strong and avoid problems with the back. I generally eat healthy, avoid the booze, and get my fair share of cookies and ice cream daily. I’ll throw in I almost died of cancer 5 years ago, spent a delightful 23 days in the hospital, had chemo and all that happy scene, still have my chemo port in my chest, get scans and see the doctor, so exercising sure isn’t the worst idea. Have a cat scan next Tuesday just to look around. When buddies I haven’t seen in a while say I look fit and trim, my line is, get cancer dude, works like a charm! That’s my story and I’m stickin to it. Cheers, scat" Good luck, Scat, with your cat scan. I hope you receive good news on Tuesday and get to enjoy another season paddling the bwca. Here's to finding something to believe in! All the best...
airmorse	02/10/2022 08:30AM   I workout year long. Elliptical, free weights, resistance bands, and incline bench for crunches and leg lifts. And also walk the dogs 1.5 to 2 miles a day. When I travel for work I bring my resistance bands. I put a bath towel on the floor of the hotel room to do my crunches and leg lifts. Not comfortable yet using the hotels exercise room. My resting pulse is in the low to mid 40's. Keep weight in check. Eat healthy. Everything in moderation. Don't smoke and don't drink to excess. Doing just a few of those will improve one's health.
scat	02/10/2022 09:53AM   Thanks YetiJedi - I'm sure it's all good. Might sound weird, but the whole cancer thing never really freaked me out that much. I knew I was going to beat it, and I kind of took as an interesting experience. Hey, beat cancer and you're an instant rock star right! I am totally aware that it is an awful, horrible disease and so many others are not so lucky. One really positive thing I got out of it is I met a bunch of really nice people during my stint in the hospital, nurses mostly, I'll never forget Shirah and Margaret in particular, and I came out of it with the goal to be the nicest person to other people that I can be every day, which has proven to be an interesting experiment. Some folks just aren't used to that, but most come around when they see you are sincere. Just thought I would respond. Truly wish the best of luck to all that have to deal with it. Anyone who has dealt with it is my bro or sis for life. I'll add this - For whatever reason I always had a positive outlook on the whole thing. Never forget the only time I had a male nurse and he laughed at me, Dude! I've never seen so many pumps attached to one person! I had ten pumps pushing twelve different fluids into a pick in my arm at the same time, getting my dinner out of a green bag on St. Patty's Day. I have a pic of it giving the peace sign with a smile on my face. Had a 5" softball sized tumor in my chest and a blob in my bile duct, whatever that is, and had the start of an infection and came really close to cashing in the chips, which I really wasn't aware of at the time. I wrote a note on the board, saying, Hey Doc, Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment! for levity and a salute to the Ramones. They got a kick out of it. All that said, really wasn't that bad for me and what the hey, saved me a fortune in haircuts! As always, Cheers! scat
airmorse	02/10/2022 10:50AM   Reading your posts I realize how lucky I am. And am very thankful!!! I hope you get a clean bill of health Scat. Good for you for taking the high road.
DRob1992	02/21/2022 02:58PM   scat: "Wow, what a strange thing to say. Not sure how to take that, other than it seems incredibly sexist. What diff does it make if a canoe partner is a ‘chick’ or a guy. Have fun with the boys. Wowza." You'll notice that I did say 205 lb person... So it no way was that sexist...
DRob1992	02/21/2022 02:59PM   scat: "Wow, what a strange thing to say. Not sure how to take that, other than it seems incredibly sexist. What diff does it make if a canoe partner is a ‘chick’ or a guy. Have fun with the boys. Wowza." So, to provide you an example that relates to what I said... I would take a 6'3 205 pound woman over a 5'3 105 pound woman if each of those two ladies had the same exact attributes, attitude, intelligence, body language, etc.
scotttimm	02/21/2022 12:15PM   My son and I are giving the Border Route Challenge a go on our own in May. He's been working out for almost a year now, and is in spectacular shape. He does a really well-rounded routine that includes a lot of cardio and free weights. He lost 15 pounds, is now putting on a lot of muscle, 6' and just under 200 lbs. He's been bugging and bugging me to join, so I finally decided after New Years to start. Well, I'm almost at 7 weeks, and I'm down 15 lbs, in better shape than I've been in a long time. I'm fitting into clothes I haven't worn in 10 years. I've been working out 4-5x per week for about an hour 20 minutes. I warm up on a bike for 20 minutes, then 30 minutes on the rowing machine...working my minutes up on it each week. Then back to the bike for another 20 minutes to keep the sweat going. I think that the rowing machine has done more to strengthen my back and give me the best workout than anything else. Then I work my way through machines focused on upper body, shoulders, back, etc. The stair machine is my new nemesis. I'm starting to move to more leg exercises. I'm looking forward to where I will be in another 14 weeks. My goal is really to slim down and reduce knee strain, strengthen my core, back, upper body. I'd love to lose another 15. Diet has also been critical, as has cutting out 90% of my alcohol consumption. I feel great. And I'm less anxious about doing 260 miles in 8 days as I get in better shape. As to the original question, I would think lat pulldowns, shoulder presses, etc would do a lot.
DRob1992	02/21/2022 12:36PM   scat: "I will just throw this thought in here for the hey of it. Sometimes the guys who are all into working out and spend half their day looking at themselves in the mirror are the biggest wussbags of all. It’s mostly about the heart and attitude. Some of the smallest scrawniest people are the best tripping partners to be with. My usual partner on trips has been bringing his gf Heather who is 5’ 3” 105 lbs soaking wet on the last couple trips and she is tougher and more of a wilderness warrior than any guy I’ve ever been with. Always smiling and she is a great cooker too! I told Nick we should figure out how to clone her, but he said, no, I’ll just keep her to myself. Can’t blame him for that." But ain't it great when you get both in one package. No offense to that 5'3 105 lb chick... I'm sure she's a warrior and a bad***... But I'll take the 205 lb person who is of equal mental toughness and intelligence. Not saying I'd deny the smaller chick as a part of my trip group. She can come, too.
HowardSprague	02/21/2022 04:43PM   So anyway,.... I’m glad I looked at this thread again. The comment about how you use relatively unused muscles on these trips reminded me that last year I picked up one of these BOSU things. You can step on these things in different ways and do different exercises that help your balancing and lateral muscles. These are areas I tend not to work very well no matter how much I might go to the gym or get out on the roads and run. I’ve always had pretty crappy balance as it is, and when I’m on a portage that has a couple boards side-by-side to walk on, I am inclined to walk in the muddy area along side of them since I’m less likely to fall off. I’d better get back to using this thing.
DRob1992	02/21/2022 06:37PM   scat: "Aww - don’t go away mad Drob, just... Your using the word ‘chick’ twice in your post pretty much said it all. My original point was it doesn’t matter the size or strength of a person, it is the heart inside that matters most. I just used my good friend Heather as an example. Next time you let a 6’ 3” 205 lb woman come as part of your ‘trip group’ please share a pic, I’d like to see that." Also, you suggesting that a 6'3 woman is so rare that she needs to be photographed is odd to me. I don't know if they make them small where you're from, but I've had a dozen or more women friends at various points in life that have been 6'3 or taller.
JWilder	02/21/2022 09:56AM   Last year we moved. Now have 5 acres. 4 wooded needing some attention; fell, limb, buck, split, burn. Keeps me active and I get plenty of fresh air. JW
SlowElk	02/21/2022 02:12PM   The first couple trips might be tough for anyone. Depends a lot on your experience level? It gets easier, just dont bite off more then you can chew your first time out. I do not believe the gym/exercise can replace the actual motions your body goes through, but it doesnt hurt either. Both are good. I would say you are probably better off with a gym body, then just from paddling/portaging alone. If you can get outside that wont hurt either. I think many women are better hikers then their husbands, probably for this one reason alone. They actually spend time walking. The mental aspect is everything, if you are positive and happy. Makes for a better trip.
DRob1992	02/22/2022 09:14AM   scat: "Oh well, I tried to post a link but I’m not so handy with it. Picture a weathered faced swami with a turban sitting cross legged on a mat being questioned by a wanting virile young man in a sweat suit. It goes like this: What is the secret to eternal happiness? To not argue with fools. I disagree. Yes, you are right." Ya man and I heard once that a fool must always get the last word. Better let me have the last word, right?
EddyTurn	02/21/2022 04:29PM   scat: "I will just throw this thought in here for the hey of it. Sometimes the guys who are all into working out and spend half their day looking at themselves in the mirror are the biggest wussbags of all. " It's quite a far-fetched way to mix those working out with those looking in the mirror. I don't see the point and I don't know what the author has against gym rats, but it's not a healthy analogy. In my experience an average biggest wussbag tends to be athletically challenged.
scat	02/21/2022 03:01PM   Well said, no matter how much you engage in traditional work out exercises a BW trip with portaging etc will tax muscles you never will reach until you get out there and do it. Your hands, core and others, just bending over as much as you do, you can never simulate that in a gym. Sorry DRob, that don't fly with me, nice try tho.
DRob1992	02/21/2022 03:18PM   scat: "Well said, no matter how much you engage in traditional work out exercises a BW trip with portaging etc will tax muscles you never will reach until you get out there and do it. Your hands, core and others, just bending over as much as you do, you can never simulate that in a gym. Sorry DRob, that don't fly with me, nice try tho. " I never once made the argument that gym workouts simulate portaging, paddling, etc. I'm not really sure that you even know what you're talking about at this point, scat.
scat	02/21/2022 04:14PM   Aww - don’t go away mad Drob, just... Your using the word ‘chick’ twice in your post pretty much said it all. My original point was it doesn’t matter the size or strength of a person, it is the heart inside that matters most. I just used my good friend Heather as an example. Next time you let a 6’ 3” 205 lb woman come as part of your ‘trip group’ please share a pic, I’d like to see that.
Blatz	02/15/2022 07:21AM   I'm 63 and XC Skate Ski during the winter. The poling transfers over to paddling nicely. When the weather changes I Mt Bike and Gravel Bike 4-6 times a week.I don't paddle as much as I used to (was 6 times a week) I'll do an over all weight training twice a week. That's optimum for me. I would highly recommend doing Squats, Lunges, bent over upright rows, and Cleans. These lifts really help the legs for portages, and the other are great to strengthen you back. And of course any core work is highly beneficial.
TrailZen	02/08/2022 06:20PM   HayRiverDrifter: "What's your plan to get your canoe body on? I do have one specific question for the group. How do you strengthen the area at the base of your neck and down between your shoulder blades? At then end of a long paddle day, that's where I really feel it." I try to maintain fitness levels throughout the year via frequent hiking and a daily exercise routine. Best thing we did for neck/shoulder pain was to buy a pair of carbon fiber paddles. TZ
PeaceFrog	02/08/2022 07:08PM   45 lb weighted vest - go for a hike Cut beer out (not as tough as I thought it would be) Stretching Chop Wood Wear Ankle Weights At Work
scat	02/09/2022 07:46AM   Military press and upright rowing would be my suggestion. Don't need a machine, just the effort with regular free weights.
HayRiverDrifter	02/08/2022 05:35PM   No beach body workouts here, just canoe body workouts. With permits secured for a couple of trips this year, it's time to step it up and start working out the kinks from sitting on my butt working at a computer. My personal trainer (the Wife) works me out three days a week, but I like to start hiking in the woods to gain hip and core strength. I walk two miles in the snow three days a week with no load, then add a 30 lb pack, and eventually a canoe also. It gets exciting in about a month when you can hoof it up the hills without slowing down. By my first trip in June, I should be able to do a mile with pack and canoe without too much trouble. What's your plan to get your canoe body on? I do have one specific question for the group. How do you strengthen the area at the base of your neck and down between your shoulder blades? At then end of a long paddle day, that's where I really feel it.
PeaceFrog	02/09/2022 07:35AM   I do have one specific question for the group. How do you strengthen the area at the base of your neck and down between your shoulder blades? At then end of a long paddle day, that's where I really feel it." This I do not have an answer for but my first thought would be a rowing machine or similar type motion when working out.
Voyager	02/09/2022 07:40AM   I'll be turning 74 next month, and have signed up for the MR 340, and the Border Challenge ( 250 miles). I either walk 3+ miles a day or cross-country ski, when there's snow, about 5 miles. I've been using a rowing machine, lifting weights to strengthen core, and riding a stationary bike. When the water thaws ,I'll paddle again, kayak 1 day, canoe the next. I logged 700 miles last year of flatwater training. As one ages it's critical to know your body and not overtrain. I've lost 10 pounds since December and would like to shed 10 more pounds of blubber. ( unlikely, I usually plateau at 185#)
DRob1992	02/08/2022 07:07PM   Sounds extreme and a little overboard but I exercise every day - sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. I realize not everyone has the time, desire, or ability to do this. Nor do you need to exercise daily to get your desired canoe body. I do a great number of different workouts - ranging from mountain hikes to weights in the gym to jogs in the street to deep stretching in my bedroom to hour-long dance parties with my wife. I love it all equally. As long as you're moving, sweating, and staying consistent, you'll get to where you need to be for your canoe trips.
YetiJedi	02/08/2022 07:49PM   This middle-aged dad is constantly trying to get my canoe body on...win some, lose some! Halloween through Christmas it is tough for me to eat healthily but I keep up with the exercise throughout the year. I walk 3-4 miles every other day and my dog (lab) loves to run the fields and woods by our home. The walks are always better when my daughter or wife comes along. I do core workouts every other day mostly following youtube videos of people who look like I never will! I also lift weights, low-key in the basement, twice a week. The start of the new year and drawing a few permits both encourage me to eat better after the holiday splurge. I track my food, limit calories, and eat healthier...always makes my exercise more effective. Only 93 days until my first trip of the year into the great BWCA!!!
scat	02/09/2022 04:58AM   I exercise year round. Walk 3-5 miles and do 80 sit-ups a day. Lift weights every other day with the same weights and bench I bought my freshman year in high school, almost 50 years ago. I look at it this way, exercise is the only thing in life that you get out of it exactly what you put into it. You do the work you reap the benefits. Can’t say the same for the job or relationships, which can often disappoint no matter how hard you try. Conversely, you can’t get lucky, like win the lottery and suddenly be fit, you have to do the work. So I guess I need something to believe in, to know when I do this I will get that. With winter I have been walking 4 miles a day. There is a 2 mile paved track in a local forest preserve so no ice to contend with, it’s a bit over an hour and a half with driving and I can work it in. Once in a while I skip a day but not often. Walking helps calm my nerves for the day, helps me sleep, and lifting has many benefits. Sit-ups to keep the core strong and avoid problems with the back. I generally eat healthy, avoid the booze, and get my fair share of cookies and ice cream daily. I’ll throw in I almost died of cancer 5 years ago, spent a delightful 23 days in the hospital, had chemo and all that happy scene, still have my chemo port in my chest, get scans and see the doctor, so exercising sure isn’t the worst idea. Have a cat scan next Tuesday just to look around. When buddies I haven’t seen in a while say I look fit and trim, my line is, get cancer dude, works like a charm! That’s my story and I’m stickin to it. Cheers, scat
deerfoot	02/08/2022 08:52PM   I never liked going to gyms or doing exercise routines, but always believed in functional fitness. Last week I got released to do anything I am comfortable with physically after a hip joint replacement 2 months ago. So I am back at a local nature center doing outside work (brush clearing, cutting/splitting/stacking firewood, etc.) I am also walking, swimming laps and when the ice/snow are mostly gone I will start carrying a canoe on the nature center trails. So far I am having no problems and I will see how I hold up when I start to carry the canoe. This routine has served me well for the past 6 years and I hope it continues to do so.
SummerSkin	02/08/2022 09:59PM   For me the best conditioning for trips is running, usually around 3 - 4 miles, every other day. I don’t know that this applies to all body types, I just know it’s what makes me personally feel the best physically on my trips. Now I do push my pace pretty hard, running sub 8 minute miles. I’ve tried strength training, but I just can’t build muscle. Don’t know if it’s a genetic thing or what. But if I’ve been running, I have tons more energy on my trips; sometimes enough to even run on the portage trail after carrying the canoe if my partner needs help with the other gear.
pastorjsackett	02/09/2022 04:43AM   I visit my trainer two days each week for resistance training with weights including, upper/lower body, neck, grip work and mid-torso. On my off days from him I do body weight work in my basement: chin-ups, sit-ups, push ups. And also resistance bands--there are good band workouts on youtube from bodybuilding.com. They don't do the same as a full 60 minutes in the gym but in a pinch they get your heart rate up. Now that is it shed hunting season, I follow my 24 year old trekking partner son up and down snow-covered hills looking for antlers. Last Friday we went 12 miles and 6 more on Saturday. Now if only I could keep myself from living in the fridge all night when I'm home from work.....
papalambeau	02/09/2022 08:44AM   As I get older my workouts are changing. They used to be 90 minutes in the weight room 5 days a week year round. Now it's mainly cardio with elliptical and brisk walking, pushups and crunches for strength and stretching to keep flexibility. Don't eat a bunch of junk and be mindful of nutritional value of what you eat. Staying active is the key. As my chiropractor buddy puts it - "motion is lotion".
DRob1992	02/09/2022 08:04AM   scat: "Military press and upright rowing would be my suggestion. Don't need a machine, just the effort with regular free weights." Yes and definitely lat pull downs would be a tremendous help. Normally, you'd pull down to your chest with those lat pull downs. But in order to hit the area that you are looking to strengthen, pull all the way down behind your head. You really don't need much weight. Try to squeeze and hold once the bar is behind your head.
bhouse46	02/09/2022 09:11AM   Like others I have regular exercise, stretching and relaxation routines. These include paddling and hiking. As a trip nears I carry my loaded packs on my hikes and put them in the canoe when I paddle. I paddle more including two or more days in a row. At 75 I want to know all the gear is working before I enter the wilderness. One exercise for the upper back/shoulders. Hang clothing on a line. The squatting to get the items from the basket and bringing them above your head and pinning them to the line does wonders. Obviously, most of us do not hang clothes, but use those movements with a bit of weight and you will feel it.
jwartman59	02/09/2022 10:55AM   Nordic skiing, classic or skate, is excellent for maintaining fitness. Plus it gets you out in the woods.
HowardSprague	02/09/2022 11:03AM   Stairmaster, shoulder presses, shoulder press with kettle bells, held like you’re grasping canoe gunwales. As for the neck/shoulder blade thing, maybe a lat pull down machine? What I really need to do is a lot of stretching/yoga type stuff. Getting in and out of canoes, turning and bending while lifting,… I think stretching and regaining some limberness might be the most beneficial of all. My New Year resolution is to exercise a minimum of 25 days every month of 2022. Some days I don’t want to go to the gym, or running outside Isn’t realistic, so we got a Schwinn stationary bike and at a minimum I’ll put in 30 minutes on that while watching tv.
EddyTurn	02/09/2022 04:54PM   I used ankle weights in addition to a pack when hiking local hills. 5lbs on each ankle makes for a wonderful workout (10lbs even better). It's been said that it gives 4-5x load compared to a backpack.
scat	02/21/2022 03:20PM   I was replying to SlowElk’s post about exercising, then I saw your back paddle Drob. Your’s aren’t worth commenting on any further. Cheers, scat
SlowElk	02/21/2022 03:25PM   I was only able to walk on flat ground, hit the gym etc for a while. I never felt better in my life as far as paddling and hiking were concerned. So I like both.
SlowElk	02/21/2022 03:32PM   Thanks!
scat	02/20/2022 09:52PM   I will just throw this thought in here for the hey of it. Sometimes the guys who are all into working out and spend half their day looking at themselves in the mirror are the biggest wussbags of all. It’s mostly about the heart and attitude. Some of the smallest scrawniest people are the best tripping partners to be with. My usual partner on trips has been bringing his gf Heather who is 5’ 3” 105 lbs soaking wet on the last couple trips and she is tougher and more of a wilderness warrior than any guy I’ve ever been with. Always smiling and she is a great cooker too! I told Nick we should figure out how to clone her, but he said, no, I’ll just keep her to myself. Can’t blame him for that.
DRob1992	02/21/2022 06:17PM   scat: "Aww - don’t go away mad Drob, just... Your using the word ‘chick’ twice in your post pretty much said it all. My original point was it doesn’t matter the size or strength of a person, it is the heart inside that matters most. I just used my good friend Heather as an example. Next time you let a 6’ 3” 205 lb woman come as part of your ‘trip group’ please share a pic, I’d like to see that." You're beating a dead horse by keeping your stance on me being 'sexist'. My comment wasn't sexist. I love to see empowered women and I 100% believe that women can keep up and be badasses on a physically demanding wilderness trip and keep a positive attitude all-the-while. Open that close-minded brain just a bit, scat.
Lawnchair107	02/21/2022 06:30PM   Paging member Tony here. You do Tony’s workouts for a couple months, and you’ll be running with a canoe on your shoulders, too.
PeaceFrog	02/21/2022 10:01PM   Stumpy: "Last two years, have put me in the worst shape in my life. I have to turn that around. " You can do it Stumpy. One day at a time then it will become routine. Best - PF
scat	02/21/2022 09:47PM   Oh well, I tried to post a link but I’m not so handy with it. Picture a weathered faced swami with a turban sitting cross legged on a mat being questioned by a wanting virile young man in a sweat suit. It goes like this: What is the secret to eternal happiness? To not argue with fools. I disagree. Yes, you are right.
scat	02/21/2022 07:45PM   Thou dost protest too much. Enough said. Over and out.
GopherAdventure	02/22/2022 12:03PM   Lawnchair107: "Paging member Tony here. You do Tony’s workouts for a couple months, and you’ll be running with a canoe on your shoulders, too." Thanks for the page…I’m currently working on Canoe Trip Workout #4 that I’ll post here when it’s complete. Hopefully it will give some people useful stuff to help get ready for the spring. Tony
Speckled	02/21/2022 06:05PM   Treadmill and weight training. The area around the base of your neck...are you talking about traps? If you have hand weights you could do some trap raises or upright rows. Alot of times tension in that area can come from weak shoulders. Work on overhead presses or lateral and front shoulder raises. light weights for the lateral and front shoulder raises, over doing it here puts un-needed stress on the joint.
justpaddlin	02/14/2022 07:39PM   Like some of the others I try to keep my canoe bod on year round through an exercise routine. Seems like your neck/shoulder pain could easily be caused by leaning forward looking into a computer with your neck tense and locked in one position for a long time. You could try stretches like lying face down and just pushing yourself up with your arms and arching your back and neck backwards. A deep tissue sports massage focused in that area could also do wonders. Or regular swimming. Oh, and Mr river drifter, I paddle against the current. So if you're looking for exercise you may be paddling in the wrong direction. ;)