Terry wrote:

My stats: 6'1, 220lbs, 36yo, novice

So this year it is my goal to do the Texas Water Safari (TWS)and a
friend lent me this boat he
Bottom View: http://tinyurl.com/c8t4u
In Water:
http://tinyurl.com/aghcs

Riverman has a pretty good take on the issues. It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. A guy locally wanted advice on
kayaking from North Georgia to Mobile Bay. He was giving himself 14 days
for the trip, had never paddled before, and wanted to know what boat to
buy. I think we talked him out of most of it.

Anyway, Terry, you've got some work to do. The TWS is a killer paddle
for experienced racers, so start now working up to it. You might
consider working up to the 2007 race, but maybe you're athletic and
committed enough to make it work.

You've got a boat, so get out in it today. Paddle every day until you
find something better. You'll learn to go straight, which is a good
skill. It wasn't clear if your friend was trying to sell you the Hydra
and I wasn't sure what the 1200 referred to, but that boat is worth
maybe $400, tops. But for $1200 you should be able to find a decent used
touring kayak that you can paddle a couple of years and sell for 2/3
what you paid for it, assuming the TWS doesn't trash it too badly.

Oh, yeah, get somebody who knows something to show you how to paddle
efficiently. Yes, I am advocating training, and maybe you'll even have
to pay a [gasp] "professional" (Just some in-group sarcasm here, Terry,
nothing to do with you). Some of it you can figure out on your own, a
lot you won't, and you don't have a lot of time for trial and error.

Good luck.

Steve
--
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA

Hi Steve,
When you say "It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. "

When I was 19 a guy told me about the race and I wanted to do it. I did alot of things in life but did not do the race. Then a guy I work with did it and I realized at age 36 that life is passing me by.

I want to do this race not because I will win but because it's been a life goal for a long time, would be a great motivator and goal for me getting in shape the way I wish to be, and seems like a great way to challenge myself.

Thanks for the above advice all. I will let you guys know how I do.
Terry

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 22:34:17 +0000, Terry wrote:

Hi Steve,
When you say "It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. "

When I was 19 a guy told me about the race and I wanted to do it. I did
alot of things in life but did not do the race. Then a guy I work with
did it and I realized at age 36 that life is passing me by.

I want to do this race not because I will win but because it's been a
life goal for a long time, would be a great motivator and goal for me
getting in shape the way I wish to be, and seems like a great way to
challenge myself.

Thanks for the above advice all. I will let you guys know how I do.
Terry

Terry, you say in your first post that you are 6'1", 220 lbs, 36 yo.

I can envy you your stats, being 6'2", 270 lbs, 56 yo. I could wish I
was still 36 and 220 lbs. I would settle for 36!

I would not say for sure, but I expect that you are already 30-40 lbs
over medical ideal weight, which would indicate that you are not the
most athletic, though may have been before. I would recommend that you
get a good physical checkup before trying this race. Get lots of
training, and lose some weight, like 40 lbs.

If this was one of your dreams and it is passing you by, I expect that
there are other dreams that are passing you by as well. Welcome to the
human condition! You might want to start with some of the simpler
dreams, achieve those, and get into shape for this monster, or it will
eat you alive, and you could get frustrated about even trying those
other dreams.

The exact boat you use will be more insignificant than a lot of other
factors that you appear to be disregarding. Be sure and wear a helmet,
and a good PFD. That way when you pass out, you don't hit your head
and drown, and if you do drown, you will float and be easier to find.

Otherwise have fun carrying that 60 lb boat and all your other gear on
some of the portages that try the hearts of man and beast.
RkyMtnHootOwl OvO

in article , RkyMtnHootOwl at
wrote on 1/7/06 8:55 PM:

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 22:34:17 +0000, Terry wrote:

Hi Steve,
When you say "It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. "

When I was 19 a guy told me about the race and I wanted to do it. I did
alot of things in life but did not do the race. Then a guy I work with
did it and I realized at age 36 that life is passing me by.

I want to do this race not because I will win but because it's been a
life goal for a long time, would be a great motivator and goal for me
getting in shape the way I wish to be, and seems like a great way to
challenge myself.

Thanks for the above advice all. I will let you guys know how I do.
Terry

Terry, you say in your first post that you are 6'1", 220 lbs, 36 yo.

I can envy you your stats, being 6'2", 270 lbs, 56 yo. I could wish I
was still 36 and 220 lbs. I would settle for 36!

I would not say for sure, but I expect that you are already 30-40 lbs
over medical ideal weight

"Medical ideal weight" sounds like a total bull**** concept along the lines
of the Body Mass Index, which is really nothing more than the old "weight
charts" our grandparents and great grandparents might have seen.

Your height and weight doesn't provide nearly enough information to make a
determination about one's health. It obviously depends on the type of body
you have, where you are carrying the weight on that body, and the type of
life you lead. There are a great many professional athletes in the same
proportion as 6"1 and 220.

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:36:06 -0500, KMAN wrote:

in article , RkyMtnHootOwl at
wrote on 1/7/06 8:55 PM:

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 22:34:17 +0000, Terry wrote:

Hi Steve,
When you say "It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. "

When I was 19 a guy told me about the race and I wanted to do it. I did
alot of things in life but did not do the race. Then a guy I work with
did it and I realized at age 36 that life is passing me by.

I want to do this race not because I will win but because it's been a
life goal for a long time, would be a great motivator and goal for me
getting in shape the way I wish to be, and seems like a great way to
challenge myself.

Thanks for the above advice all. I will let you guys know how I do.
Terry

Terry, you say in your first post that you are 6'1", 220 lbs, 36 yo.

I can envy you your stats, being 6'2", 270 lbs, 56 yo. I could wish I
was still 36 and 220 lbs. I would settle for 36!

I would not say for sure, but I expect that you are already 30-40 lbs
over medical ideal weight

"Medical ideal weight" sounds like a total bull**** concept along the lines
of the Body Mass Index, which is really nothing more than the old "weight
charts" our grandparents and great grandparents might have seen.

Your height and weight doesn't provide nearly enough information to make a
determination about one's health. It obviously depends on the type of body
you have, where you are carrying the weight on that body, and the type of
life you lead. There are a great many professional athletes in the same
proportion as 6"1 and 220.

Yes Kman you are correct, and those same pro athletes would consult a
physician before embarking on such a difficult training regimen and
goal as the TWS. At 36, most of those athletes would be considered
beyond their prime, depending on their chosen sport endeavors. OvO

in article , RkyMtnHootOwl at
wrote on 1/8/06 5:03 AM:

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:36:06 -0500, KMAN wrote:

in article , RkyMtnHootOwl at
wrote on 1/7/06 8:55 PM:

On Sat, 7 Jan 2006 22:34:17 +0000, Terry wrote:

Hi Steve,
When you say "It always amazes me when
a person says they want to start paddling becuase they want to do
something epic as their first trip. "

When I was 19 a guy told me about the race and I wanted to do it. I did
alot of things in life but did not do the race. Then a guy I work with
did it and I realized at age 36 that life is passing me by.

I want to do this race not because I will win but because it's been a
life goal for a long time, would be a great motivator and goal for me
getting in shape the way I wish to be, and seems like a great way to
challenge myself.

Thanks for the above advice all. I will let you guys know how I do.
Terry

Terry, you say in your first post that you are 6'1", 220 lbs, 36 yo.

I can envy you your stats, being 6'2", 270 lbs, 56 yo. I could wish I
was still 36 and 220 lbs. I would settle for 36!

I would not say for sure, but I expect that you are already 30-40 lbs
over medical ideal weight

"Medical ideal weight" sounds like a total bull**** concept along the lines
of the Body Mass Index, which is really nothing more than the old "weight
charts" our grandparents and great grandparents might have seen.

Your height and weight doesn't provide nearly enough information to make a
determination about one's health. It obviously depends on the type of body
you have, where you are carrying the weight on that body, and the type of
life you lead. There are a great many professional athletes in the same
proportion as 6"1 and 220.

Yes Kman you are correct, and those same pro athletes would consult a
physician before embarking on such a difficult training regimen and
goal as the TWS. At 36, most of those athletes would be considered
beyond their prime, depending on their chosen sport endeavors. OvO

I'm talking about misleading advice about height/weight and health.

"KMAN" wrote in message
...
in article , RkyMtnHootOwl at
wrote on 1/7/06 8:55 PM:

"Medical ideal weight" sounds like a total bull**** concept

With all due respect, that's spoken like someone with a BMI of greater than
35 who's in a bit of denial.

along the lines
of the Body Mass Index, which is really nothing more than the old "weight
charts" our grandparents and great grandparents might have seen.

Your height and weight doesn't provide nearly enough information to make a
determination about one's health. It obviously depends on the type of body
you have, where you are carrying the weight on that body, and the type of
life you lead. There are a great many professional athletes in the same
proportion as 6"1 and 220.

OK, then. What's your waist to hip ratio?
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/whr

Face it -- you're FAT.

"Roger Houston" wrote in message
...

OK, then. What's your waist to hip ratio?
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/whr

Face it -- you're FAT.

Aw, geez, Kman -- I left off the winky-smiley.

Juuust kidding. ;-)

I'm not kidding about being sorry, though.

in article , Roger Houston at
wrote on 1/8/06 1:48 PM:


"KMAN" wrote in message
...
in article , RkyMtnHootOwl at
wrote on 1/7/06 8:55 PM:

"Medical ideal weight" sounds like a total bull**** concept

With all due respect, that's spoken like someone with a BMI of greater than
35 who's in a bit of denial.

ROFL

along the lines
of the Body Mass Index, which is really nothing more than the old "weight
charts" our grandparents and great grandparents might have seen.

Your height and weight doesn't provide nearly enough information to make a
determination about one's health. It obviously depends on the type of body
you have, where you are carrying the weight on that body, and the type of
life you lead. There are a great many professional athletes in the same
proportion as 6"1 and 220.

OK, then. What's your waist to hip ratio?
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/whr

Face it -- you're FAT.

Could be, but BMI is still a very poor measure of one's health that should
have been dropped many decades ago.