Can you say 'plateau'.......

[TallDude]

It seems I'm on one. I think it's lack of real effort. In other words, I've found a large enough amount of excuses to combat my ability to improve.
Last year at the Hanohano race, I finished in 1:01:40. I had a really fast start but didn't draft at all. This year (last weekend), I finished in 1:03:40.
Got trapped at the start. I drafted almost the whole way and I'm 5 lbs heavier. That equated to 2 minutes slower exactly. From the looks of my GPS, there wasn't much of a sprint at the finish either. Need to find some motivation.....
 

[Luc Benac]

Same here.
Remedy. One on one lesson with one our best paddler coming soon.
Goal, paddle at 5 mph average over 20km.
More modest goals than yours but same spirit....

[PonoBill]

I'm on a downward slide, but I have an excuse--my carpal tunnel syndrome is flared up. I was hoping that being on a lake would give me lots of opportunity to train, but between torrential rain, some surfing, and this damn carpal tunnel I haven't done nearly as much as I wanted to. Hopefully I can get this under control without surgery or injections--I get enough cortisone as it is for my knees. I'm doing the nighttime taping thing which previously has settled things down briskly. Once it's gone, it's usually gone for a year or two. But it's being a bit more persistent this time.

[stoneaxe]

Well if it helps I'm deep in the canyon.....

[Glowmaster]

I think your race result is awesome.  It's not a plateau, you are near your peak and still doing it..

compared to most of America, you are an athlete.

ed

[burchas]

For me what did it is training with 3 different blade sizes (75-85) and
keep the body guessing. During the race always eyes on the GPS and
as soon as I hit a plateau and go under the average speed, I change  stroke rate and/or style ( rotation to compression).

That yield me a 4:59:59 on my last 25 mile race. I used the 80 blade
for the race.

[yugi]

Getting trapped at the start can easily cost you those extra 2 mins. If you get out early and paddle in clean water you spend so much less energy than when you have to deal with all the race chop. 300 people? The chop must be brutal.

5 lbs lighter definitely helps too.

But most likely it’s the [almost] 300 vert ft climb you seem to have done. Those big uphills on a SUP kill me every time.

[Quickbeam]

Same here.
Remedy. One on one lesson with one our best paddler coming soon.
Goal, paddle at 5 mph average over 20km.
More modest goals than yours but same spirit....

Hey Luc,

Just curious. Is your lesson with Norm? Ken? Other?

[Luc Benac]

Same here.
Remedy. One on one lesson with one our best paddler coming soon.
Goal, paddle at 5 mph average over 20km.
More modest goals than yours but same spirit....

Hey Luc,

Just curious. Is your lesson with Norm? Ken? Other?

Norm. Cannot beat Norm for long distance....plus I always go to Squamish...

[TallDude]

Lately I've been getting a sore back about 2 miles into my distance paddles. Never had an issue before. It's forced me switch to temporarily a more upright, higher cadence, almost short plunger type of stroke. After about 5 or 10 minutes, I'll switch back to my deeper, longer, and slower cadence power stroke. Drafting was almost a free ride, but it kept me at their pace not mine. I kept telling myself, I need to get out of this train and catch another further ahead. I felt a waited too long to break away.
One of my friends who was a outrigger paddler from back in the 70's just blew away the field. He's in the 60+ 14' group. He not only beat all the 60+ 14' guys, he beat all the 50+ 14' guys and it was a huge field. Well done Dale! 

[ukgm]

Lately I've been getting a sore back about 2 miles into my distance paddles. Never had an issue before. It's forced me switch to temporarily a more upright, higher cadence, almost short plunger type of stroke. After about 5 or 10 minutes, I'll switch back to my deeper, longer, and slower cadence power stroke. Drafting was almost a free ride, but it kept me at their pace not mine. I kept telling myself, I need to get out of this train and catch another further ahead. I felt a waited too long to break away.
One of my friends who was a outrigger paddler from back in the 70's just blew away the field. He's in the 60+ 14' group. He not only beat all the 60+ 14' guys, he beat all the 50+ 14' guys and it was a huge field. Well done Dale!

Try stretching your glutes, hip flexors and hamstrings extra regularly. That may help.