Remember how important recess was when you were a kid in school? It not only meant a time away from studying, it was also a time to relax and rejuvenate. It’s easy for runners, triathletes, cyclists and swimmers to fall into a routine of planned workouts with specific goals. This may satisfy our need to achieve a PR at our next race, but it often makes training so much like work it limits our ability to re-energize ourselves with exercise. One of the most satisfying aspects of training myself for Ironman 70.3 Raleigh this past year was creating a training plan based on maximizing my enjoyment of swimming, biking and running. This month’s off-road issue is the perfect opportunity for you to shake up your workouts and try a different type of exercise for the sheer enjoyment of it.
A great place to start is the U.S. National Whitewater Center just outside of Charlotte. Most people know the Whitewater Center as a world-class destination for whitewater rafting and kayaking, but the 400-acre facility offers other activities that allow guests to enjoy the outdoors. The USNWC’s location along the Catawba River gives guests an opportunity to experience flatwater activities that include kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing. USNWC’s many land activities include a climbing center, zip-lines, high ropes courses and a Canopy Tour. The center also boasts a restaurant and features live music shows and events. Of course, there are also great trails for running, hiking and mountain biking.
If your mountain-biking skill level isn’t up to par with your spouse’s you can pick up some tips from Patty Smith (on our cover) and the rest of her Dirt Divas. As co-vice president of the Dirt Divas, Smith knows how hard it is to find a good riding partner, and how frustrating it is trying to keep up with a boyfriend, husband or any guy as you are working on your skills. That’s one reason she helped found the Divas and one reason you’ll never be left behind on the trails with them. You can learn more about Smith and the Dirt Divas in this issue.
Exploring the Whitewater Center by bike and kayak will whet your appetite for more adventure and North Carolina is one of the best places in the country for that. With an abundance of creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds and coastal areas to paddle, your toughest decision will be picking which one to try and what kind of kayak to take! Before setting out on your own you’ll need some sound advice from the pros. Check out our kayak recommendations in this issue, then stop by your local Great Outdoor Provision Co. and talk to their knowledgeable staff for more information. Or, you can check out their online resource for places to paddle at http://greatoutdoorprovision.com/expert-tips/paddle-tips/
This issue of Endurance is also filled with information on taking your mountain biking and trail running to new heights – literally! Don’t miss our story on the sport of skyrunning and our review of Kilian Jornet’s inspiring autobiography, “Run or Die.” We also share the inspiring story of local athlete Kevin Penn, his fight with cancer and his efforts to help others who are battling the disease.
