ottawaoutdoors tips
Running
The January 2004 edition of Runner’s World featured motivational tips from everyday runners. “I always brush my teeth
before I run. It makes me feel fresh, energized, and ready to go,” reports one reader. Another runner uses experience to
remain disciplines. “After running regularly for about 25 years, I have only one tip: Force yourself to step out the door. Once
you’re outside, you’re golden.”
Swimming
Matt Mann, coach for the 1952 USA Olympic Team recommends the technique of swimming downhill. He says that it is
necessary to think of water displacement when swimming. The water moves forward in front of you and sets up a bow
wave. It forms a V in front similar to that of a boat when it is under power. As you move forward, the water you have dis-
placed creates a bow wave. The void that is created with the body passing through the water in this manner, then fills in.
The ideal way to swim is to get on top of that bow wave....then you will be able to swim down hill. Like body surfing, Mann
says, you can ride down the front of the wave.
Fishing
According to fishing expert Gary Skrzek, a.k.a, The Trout King, no other sport fish in history has so much folklore and mis-
understandings surrounding it. Misconceptions include: You can only catch Lake Trout in spring or fall; You have to use
steel wire to get deep enough to catch them; Lake Trout don’t fight very well; Lake Trout don’t taste good; Lake Trout only
hit big shinny lures; You have to use a heavy trolling rod; You have to use flashers ahead of your lure.
Kayaking
The kayaking experts at race.fit2paddle.com say the canoe and kayak stroke are almost identical except the upper paddle
blade is sawn off and you return on the same side rather than alternating sides every stroke. You have to start by thinking
of the paddle stroke force as the sum of a linked sequence of movements. In paddling, the sequence is hyper-rotation and
reach forward, followed by blade drop, same leg drive, hip rotation, and torso rotation, all with bottom are straight fol-
lowed by slight elbow bend and chicken wing as the blade comes out between you knees and hip, and you rotate back
forward as far as you can go.
42 OTTAWA magazine summer/fall 2009 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca