Learning a new sport

In the summer of 2023, I returned from our summer family trip with an idea to take on something different than I had before. Sometimes it’s tough to shift directions when you become comfortable with the track that you’re on. I’ve grown familiar with swimming events, even though they stress me out. I’m much slower than the average swimmer, and my form has something still to be wanting. I’ve grown to love cycling during certain seasons of my life, although the recurring run-ins with close calls with distracted drivers and people near me that have run in’s makes me leery of putting in too many miles, especially on roads with vehicles. Trail running is still my primary passion after all these years, and I’ll likely come back to longer form races and events in a less full season of life but for now, running serves as a great base for training. 

That brought me to the idea of wanting to do something new for 2024. Last year as I started contemplating different options, I was reminded of some of the events that I’ve had massive resistance to completing and also experienced some of my greatest wins and overcoming fear and trepidation. The swim routes that I’ve taken on are massive endeavors and the idea of covering those same routes on either a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or a kayak struck my attention. 

The plan for 2024 is an 18.3 mile kayak from Port Angeles area to Victoria Canada in late June and then a 22 mile Kayak from Catalina Island to San Pedro in late July. I’m so excited to once again partner with Rotary and the fight against human trafficking sharing in the community that is making a difference along with HOPE61, CAST, and 1736 Family Crisis Center. This time instead of being in the water swimming across these channels I will have the opportunity to try my fortunes in this new discipline of kayaking.

For anyone who has taken up a new sport you recognize the complication of getting the equipment, the technical gear that accompanies it, the racks and systems to transport it, and so many other nuances to the journey. I began this process in September and it wasn’t until a few weeks ago, after almost 100 days, where I finally got the basic setup together, and I am still just in the beginning of the journey to get to the events.

My running partner Kyle happened to have two ocean kayaks that he picked up off a client about a decade ago and has been storing. After a few months of trying to figure out how to transport them well, Kyle decided he was going to throw in the towel and told me to just buy one of them off him for what he has into it. After some consideration I decided to buy one and borrow the other so that I can tune them both up and keep the dream alive of Kyle joining me for one of the crossings. I then found my niece Madisyn’s boyfriend Andy to put on a lumber rack on the truck I picked up in the fall from my good friend and past client Mike Lewis. 

I borrowed a trailer to pick up the kayaks and bring them into town and put the lumber rack on with Andy with the help of our neighbor Bill who opened up his heated garage so that we weren’t doing the project in the freezing winter weather here in the Pacific Northwest. My good friend Gay helped me take the kayak out for its first test run after the new year. I’m still finalizing the padding and ratchet system to completely secure the kayaks without damaging them and this Sunday will take the second kayak out and get it adjusted. 

Gay, Kyle, and I completed a cold water immersion safety class and a flip training at the Sequim YMCA and are slowly getting familiar with the boats. My friend Jack is going to help me secure the hangers for the kayaks either inside the garage or mounted on the far side. After that it’s another training in the pool followed by going out into the harbor with my good friend Jon Palmer who is retired now but used to run kayak safety classes through the college and is a local expert. 

The process of getting ready for a new sport is complicated and comes with many roadblocks and setbacks, especially when you’re aiming to keep the whole endeavor fiscally responsible. If you take the time to knock out each obstacle one by one, reach out to your community for support, and start the process early, the world will conspire in your favor more often than not to make things come to fruition. The next big obstacle to overcome is to secure the transportation and safety boat for both of the two fundraising adventures this summer. These adventures come together one piece at a time and removing one obstacle after another until eventually I will find myself on a beach ready to cross over to the other side.