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<\/a><\/p>\nLike so many areas of paddling and training it\u2019s not really rocket science, but a little thought and consideration goes a long way. Sometimes we need a little reminder of what we can do to make life better for ourselves.<\/p>\n
General<\/h4>\n\n- \n
\n- Get warm, stay warm \u2013 once you are warm you are likely to stay warm for the session, even in pretty poor conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \n
\n- Have a structured and practiced warm-up routine, something that\u2019s familiar and efficient. This may be as simple as 10 mins of steady paddling, or may incorporate sprints, a technical focus, flexibility exercises and so on. Find what works best for you and develop it into a regular routine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \n
\n- Minimise the chat \u2013 just because the spraydeck is on it doesn\u2019t mean you are getting warm, the least you have to do is get moving! And if you can easily chat during your warm-up paddling then you may need to lift the pace a little too. However you don\u2019t need to go mad; suddenly going off and paddling at top speed isn\u2019t the best way of going about things either. Warm-up at a useful intensity \u2013 get moving, keep moving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \n
\n- Get your hands warm. Use pogies or gloves\/mitts. If you are blowing on your hands, sticking them under your armpits or in your pockets, then you need to get your pogies on. Even if the weather doesn\u2019t seem too bad, putting your pogies on will speed the warm-up along. Once you are warm, take them off and stick them in a hatch, cockpit or pocket for the session.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \n
\n- Wind and rain have a greater cooling effect than just low temperatures. Protect your hands and try to warm up out of the wind. If this is not possible then run downwind or crosswind to minimise cooling effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.performanceseakayak.co.uk\/Archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/P1090202Crop-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h4>\nPre-Warm-up<\/h4>\n\n- \n
\n- Start at home \u2013 get thinking of the session, this wakes the body and mind. It also minimises time wasted later sitting around on the water or standing in a cold car park, trying to plan what to do \u2013 think ahead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \n
\n- Change into base-layer paddling kit before you leave home. You can arrive warm and then just throw the waterproof layer on before getting on. You are also less likely to forget your favourite fleece or those crucial thermal knickers if you are already wearing them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \n
\n- Consider a short run, or fast walk before getting on to help get the blood flowing \u2013 or even just take the boats off a little more briskly! Don’t hang around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Get warm, stay warm \u2013 once you are warm you are likely to stay warm for the session, even in pretty poor conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Have a structured and practiced warm-up routine, something that\u2019s familiar and efficient. This may be as simple as 10 mins of steady paddling, or may incorporate sprints, a technical focus, flexibility exercises and so on. Find what works best for you and develop it into a regular routine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Minimise the chat \u2013 just because the spraydeck is on it doesn\u2019t mean you are getting warm, the least you have to do is get moving! And if you can easily chat during your warm-up paddling then you may need to lift the pace a little too. However you don\u2019t need to go mad; suddenly going off and paddling at top speed isn\u2019t the best way of going about things either. Warm-up at a useful intensity \u2013 get moving, keep moving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Get your hands warm. Use pogies or gloves\/mitts. If you are blowing on your hands, sticking them under your armpits or in your pockets, then you need to get your pogies on. Even if the weather doesn\u2019t seem too bad, putting your pogies on will speed the warm-up along. Once you are warm, take them off and stick them in a hatch, cockpit or pocket for the session.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Wind and rain have a greater cooling effect than just low temperatures. Protect your hands and try to warm up out of the wind. If this is not possible then run downwind or crosswind to minimise cooling effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a><\/h4>\n
Pre-Warm-up<\/h4>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Start at home \u2013 get thinking of the session, this wakes the body and mind. It also minimises time wasted later sitting around on the water or standing in a cold car park, trying to plan what to do \u2013 think ahead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Change into base-layer paddling kit before you leave home. You can arrive warm and then just throw the waterproof layer on before getting on. You are also less likely to forget your favourite fleece or those crucial thermal knickers if you are already wearing them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Consider a short run, or fast walk before getting on to help get the blood flowing \u2013 or even just take the boats off a little more briskly! Don’t hang around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Change into base-layer paddling kit before you leave home. You can arrive warm and then just throw the waterproof layer on before getting on. You are also less likely to forget your favourite fleece or those crucial thermal knickers if you are already wearing them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Start at home \u2013 get thinking of the session, this wakes the body and mind. It also minimises time wasted later sitting around on the water or standing in a cold car park, trying to plan what to do \u2013 think ahead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Wind and rain have a greater cooling effect than just low temperatures. Protect your hands and try to warm up out of the wind. If this is not possible then run downwind or crosswind to minimise cooling effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Get your hands warm. Use pogies or gloves\/mitts. If you are blowing on your hands, sticking them under your armpits or in your pockets, then you need to get your pogies on. Even if the weather doesn\u2019t seem too bad, putting your pogies on will speed the warm-up along. Once you are warm, take them off and stick them in a hatch, cockpit or pocket for the session.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Minimise the chat \u2013 just because the spraydeck is on it doesn\u2019t mean you are getting warm, the least you have to do is get moving! And if you can easily chat during your warm-up paddling then you may need to lift the pace a little too. However you don\u2019t need to go mad; suddenly going off and paddling at top speed isn\u2019t the best way of going about things either. Warm-up at a useful intensity \u2013 get moving, keep moving.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Have a structured and practiced warm-up routine, something that\u2019s familiar and efficient. This may be as simple as 10 mins of steady paddling, or may incorporate sprints, a technical focus, flexibility exercises and so on. Find what works best for you and develop it into a regular routine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n