Does anyone else feel a little extra drag this time of year?

[TallDude]

I just started training a few weeks ago for the season opening race (Hano Hano) in Mission Bay, San Diego  which is this coming weekend. I just feel like I'm towing another 30 pounds. I'm still recovering from a minor bronchial virus that the whole family had, that may be part of it. The funny thing is everyone I been talking to feels the same drag. I'm drivng the pace as mutch as I can to see if I can break out it. I haven't put on any weight and my board weighs the same. I don't feel out of shape, but must be. Maybe the cold air has something to do with it?

[headmount]

sunlight?  But yeah a bronchial virus will be a huge drag.  Over here when the wind stops, we get periods of heavy volcanic haze that can really set you back.  It's worse than any man made pollution... even compared to LA.

But it also could be American Idol over on that aircraft carrier in nearby San Diego Bay.  Once Steve Tyler stops singing, you'll be good again.

[TallDude]

I've experienced the VOG first hand a couple years ago, working on a project in South Kona. It really sucks when the winds shift. Life on the big Island. I've got that pesky evening dry cough going right now. That is probably a good portion of my drag. A lot of people have had it lately as well. How about that chick in San Diego doing the little rap with the nasty thing going. I bet her mom is proud!

[crtraveler]

I'm chalking mine up to tax prep......

[hbsteve]

I have mixed holiday results.  I gained about 5 lbs., that aren't going away as easy as they went on.  but, my endurance has improved.

[hbsteve]

I have mixed holiday results.  I gained about 5 lbs., that aren't going away as easy as they went on.  but, my endurance has improved.

[PonoBill]

I heard a quote from Stephen Tyler on Alice Cooper's radio show last night--Tyler said he had been Aerosmith's Dancing Bear for too long and wanted to do some stuff on his own. I hope it doesn't include singing.

[Strand Leper]

Sometimes Dancing Bears get the idea (because they are such good Dancing Bears) that they have some natural talent aside from being a Dancing Bear... the track record of said Dancing Bears is not uniformly good.

[stoneaxe]

Not sure how this went from drag to ST...

it's easy to understand more drag for those of us in cold climates...less workout and water time. True for me anyway.

I knew ST way back in the day, early-mid 70's when they were still unknown local talent. He hung around in our neighborhood and road/stage manager was the older brother of a friend. I've never seen anyone party harder than that crew. I think he should be happy he got the opportunity to dance. Don't get me wrong...I've always been a huge Aerosmith fan but he is what he is.

[TallDude]

I think Pono is right on with his drag relief. I trained the week before the Hanohano race in San Diego, and felt slugish. Night before the race, I had a big plate of pasta, a few mugs of beer. The race day morning, I didn't worry about using any Hammer Gel, or performance bars. Instead, I went to McDonalds, got a Egg McMuffin, and a coffee. Had a banana too. Instead of going to the pre-race meeting, I paddled a mile working up to sprints. When the race started, I charged the whole way, no bonk. Did better than I ever had done in that race before. Oh Yah, I listened to Aerosmith on the way there, with my coffee in one hand, a McMuffin in the other. Just steered with my knee..

[PonoBill]

That will do it. Just skip the five bottles of wine and the cuban cigars though. You wind up chumming for the first half of the paddle. Just ask Bald Brownie.

[XLR8]

TallDude, now that is an excellent pre-race routine!