An unplanned experiment has really cemented my thoughts on the benefits of SUP. This has been a long winter. I got sick (chest/head cold) that stayed for two months, all of November and December. That, coupled with a crazy schedule at work (caused by having to play catch up from being sick and the return of my headaches) conspired to keep me off the water for pretty much all of 4 months. The return of my balance problems came slowly, occasional bumping into door frames, slight stumbles, a building wonky head. I even had a little vertigo near the end causing some sleep problems (spins when I closed my eyes).
When I finally got back on the water a few weeks ago it was in some tough conditions but nothing I hadn't done many times before. I knew I was a little out of shape and I was concerned about the wonkiness but I wasn't prepared for the beating I took. It was terrible, I couldn't even paddle out through small whitewater. I fought for a 1/2 hour and finally just barely managed to get outside during a short lull in the waves. I dropped to my board and just rested for a bit before getting back to my feet. It was still horrible, I kept falling, conditions that I reveled in just a few months ago I couldn't begin to handle. I realized that I stood a good possibility of hurting myself. I caught one wave and rode it to the beach.
So I recommitted, I've been paddling a lot, my balance has come back, I surfed for 4 hours in some big waves last week (fortunately in much nicer conditions) and just got back from my 1st trip to the mountains for some skiing since this whole AN journey started. I took it easy, no bumps or jumps, no fast fast (which was how I used to love to ski) since I would hate to hurt a knee or something and interfere with water time. Mostly just cruising...I didn't fall once. A couple of weeks ago before getting back on the water I would have had to cancel the ski trip.
It made me realize just how important this is to me. Standup is unique as a form of therapy. The obvious balance challenge combined with the broad horizon and the fact that falling into water is a lot less likely to injure than a similar activity could on land makes it just about perfect.
On another forum where I am much more active about ...surprise...standup paddleboarding a recent discussion came up about "Never stop going". The demographic for standup is older...kind of like this forum...
. Lot's of older guys and girls with injuries or issues. Pushing through and working hard makes all the difference and the the main point of the post being it's easier to keep the momentum going rather than stopping and starting. Get out there and find something that keeps you going, wanting more. Something that even when you don't really feel like doing it makes you feel good when it's done. Never again will I be off the water that long unless absolutely unable to go.
