Training Hard or Hardly Training

Some might say (i.e. my coach Michal Staniszewski) that my antics as of late, training three times a day, is nothing. He would tell me about his days back in Poland when he would train four times a day and then help out the family Ox on the farm by carrying hay bail after hay bail from the field to farmhouse. Others may look on in amazement and confusion, trying to determine if I am human or machine.

For me, this is just right. After a four week racing stint, where the volume of training was dramatically tapered, it is nice to get back to the grind and do some hard work before tapering once again for the world cup circuit.

I know I shouldn't complain, but, it has been hot....really hot. Although the water is cool here, it isn't exactly clean....thus going for the mid-session dip is sort of ruled out. Oh well, we are all surviving...and when I mean all, I am referring to my New Zealand friends (Mike, James, Aaron, Mark and Tanya) who are hanging out here in the mighty clubhouse also.

As for life, it is going well. It is amazing to see the changes in Prague....even since last year. You can tell the EU is coming, quickly. Prices are sky-rocketing....new, fancy restaurants are being erected by the minute...the craziest thing of all (which I saw last night) was this all you can eat sushi joint. Sushi in Prague??? Crazy, yes...I guess Bob Dylan was right, the times, they are a changing. Needless to say, the Tesco supermarket, a frequent stop for us paddle-sport athletes is still the same. The food court, the movie theatre....it is still all the same.....glorious.

For my European friends who are off to race in Liptovsky Mikulas (Slovakia) at the European Championships, best of luck. And I hope that neither your car, wheels, or hubcaps get stolen!