Get in Shape

Aerobic Training Techniques:

Walking and/or Running (outside)

Advantages: Cheap and easily accessible, good for legs and lungs, can be combined with errands for efficiency

Disadvantages: Doesn’t help paddling endurance, can be hard on feet, ankles, knees, hips and lower back

Walking and/or Running (treadmill)

Advantages: Good for legs and lungs, can watch TV or read a book, time efficient if you have one at home, meet people at the gym if you go there

Disadvantages: Treadmills cost money, if you go to a gym you have to drive there and it costs $ to belong, availability if the gym is crowded

Swimming (in a pool)

Advantages: Great all around workout, good for paddling development

Disadvantages: Clorine, usually costs $, have to drive there, lane availability if it’s crowded

Swimming (in ocean)

Advantages: Same as pool but also getting used to being in Our Mother Ocean and sensing her “moods”

 Disadvantages:  Weather, currents, temperature, no lanes, large animals

Bicycling (on road)

Advantages: Good for legs and lungs, interesting things to see, can be combined with errands for efficiency

Disadvantages: Unaware drivers, weather, poor road surfaces

Bicycling (stationary)

Advantages: Good for legs and lungs, time efficient if you have one at home, can watch TV or read a book, meet people if you go to a gym to ride

Disadvantages:  Stationary bikes and/or spinners can be expensive, gyms and/or spin classes can be crowded and do cost $, if you go to a gym and/or a spin class you have to drive there

Paddleboarding (prone)

Advantages: Great for surf paddling practice, get a “feel” for being farther off shore than usual and Our Mother Ocean’s “moods”

Disadvantages: Paddleboards are pricey, wind and weather and swell size can be an issue, cold water, large animals, transporting the paddleboard to the beach, can be hard on the back if don’t watch your technique, pretty hard to steer if you try to ride a wave, a real bummer if you get caught inside by a wave

Paddleboarding (stand up aka: SUP)

Advantages: Great for core strength and balance, easy on the back, you are up high so you can see a lot, get a “feel” for being farther off shore than usual and Our Mother Ocean’s “moods,” much easier to surf a wave than a prone board, very popular so you can meet a lot of people, warmer than a prone board because you don’t get as wet

Disadvantages: Can be pricey, wind and weather and swell size can be an issue, large animals, transporting the SUP to the beach, more of a rowing motion than a paddle motion for propulsion, a real bummer if you get caught inside by a big wave