The Sweet Life

Yesterday I took some time to catch up on several tasks that had been halting my progress. Once finished with all my computer work I moved to a much nicer office and finished up with pen and paper. I also got some reading done.

Ultimate Direction Fast Draw Plus Review

The following review was originally submitted to the June 2012 Red9Runners News Letter.

The hot humid days of a midwest summer have arrived making hydration more important now than at any other time of year.  As the mercury rises runners use every trick in the book to take in fluids while out in the heat.  Some stage water at strategic locations, others carry a hydration bladder on their backs, and some even carry a regular plastic bottle full of water with them.  There are many solutions but the important thing is to find a solution that works for you.

I dare you to find a better handheld.

For the past 5years the solution that has worked for me is the Fastdraw Plus handheld from Ultimate Direction.  I have been so happy with this handheld that I have never felt the need to use anything different.   I did have a handheld made by another company before the Fastdraw but it leaked and the valve was not easy to use.  On a recommendation from another runner I tried the Fastdraw and have never looked back.

The Fastdraw is a 20oz 100% BPA free bottle that comes with a Kicker valve and a hand strap with a small pouch.  The bottle itself is semi-transparent allowing the user to keep track of how much liquid is left in the bottle.  The hand strap is useful to help prevent fatigue when carrying a handheld and the pouch has enough room to carry a gel, ID, and a car key.  It will carry what you need for a medium distance run.  The hand strap and pouch are easily removed when they inevitably get gross, and can be washed with the rest of your running gear.  

ProTip: For days it is really hot fill the bottle a quarter to a third full and put it in the freezer the night before then top it off before you go for a run. 

The feature that makes the Fastdraw stand out from other handheld bottles is the kicker valve.  The valve is a soft silicone rubber bite valve that is simple to use and does not leak whether it is in the open or closed position.  Using the Kicker valve is easy, simply extend the valve to its open position bite down on it and squeeze the bottle.  The water or your liquid of choice really flows well, keeping you hydrated without missing a step.

If you are looking for a way to stay hydrated while on the run give the Fastdraw plus from Ultimate Direction a try.  Many people have told me that they cannot carry a handheld when they run, and at first I felt the same.  It was surprising how quickly it became second nature.  Give it a try, you won’t be sorry.  Like I said before I’ve been using these bottles for five years, and they have performed exactly as they should, truly the Ipod of water bottles.

ProTip: Invest in a baby bottle brush to clean the bottle and the valve,  and don’t forget to rinse the bottle after each use.

*I have no financial interest in UD and was not asked to do this review. Furthermore I was not sent a free sample to review. That being said If the good people at UD were to feel like sending me a little something as a thank you for writing this review like a free sample to give away I  wouldn't turn it down.

Storage for keys, a gel, or maybe both.

Something I've been working on

While I am out on the river paddling my kayak in the MR340 I thought I would take the opportunity to show everyone what I have been up to in my somewhat limited spare time.



The raft was supposed to be floated with four inner tubes underneath but while I had the tubes sitting in the yard two of them burst for reasons unknown.  Since I can't trust the tubes out on the river (yes this is being built for a Missouri river adventure) I will be using plastic barrels instead.

A Life Without Limits

Tuesday I will be participating in the MR340, a paddling race on the Missouri river that starts in Kansas City, Mo and ends 340miles later in St Charles, Mo.  I have been looking forward to this race for a very long time.  I was registered to participate last year but the race was cancelled due to dangerous flood levels. With the extreme drought we have been going through there is no danger of it getting cancelled this time around though.

All I have left are some final preparations and I will be ready to go.  I can't wait to get into the river at Kaw Point and head east.  I am not any threat of winning this race (the winner will likely finish a full day ahead of me) but that certainly is not the point.  I will be out there for the adventure, and to hopefully raise a little awareness and and money for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation St Louis Chapter.

I noticed on the Foundation's website there is a tag line that reads, "For Life Without Limits".  That is exactly what happens when children and young adults who suffer from asthma and allergies do not receive the medical care and medicine they need, their life becomes limited.  Everyday things that we normally take for granted become major concerns, when a chance encounter with some peanut dust could turn deadly without the right medication.

Please help the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of St Louis continue the great work they do by contributing a small donation to their cause through the 100+Project, or to them directly.  

As an asthma sufferer I have been fortunate enough to be able to avoid my trigger and be able to go on adventures like paddling across the state of Missouri, but many sufferers are not so lucky.  Your donation will help a child or young adult who is either uninsured or under insured live a life with out limits.

Patrick: An Origin Story

The other day I was reflecting on my life as I will often do, and I posed this question to myself.  Why do I have such high self esteem?  I know, weird question.  Seriously though, why?  I have never been really successful or great at anything I have tried, my job for the most part leaves me unfulfilled (but it is a great job), and growing up I was never "popular".
It took a little bit of souls searching and digging through the archives of my brain space but I arrived at an answer.  More than just an answer a specific moment in time when I somehow found the strength to turn my world view on its head.  In this case a specific moment does not mean a precise time.  It was not on September 17, 1987, although it could have been.  That moment was the moment that changed everything and shaped me into who I am today.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

The pivotal moment happened when I was in high school.  I was never "popular" in school, and this is not a rant or a whine about how unfair it is that some kids are popular and some kids aren't, that dear reader is just the way things were/are/will always be.  I knew I was cool so why didn't the cool kids recognize me as one of their own.  Haha, very funny.  Maybe it was because while they were all forming lasting friendships I was wrestling with some very crippling shyness.  I guess I came to the game late and ended up wasting a lot of time and energy trying to get people to like me.  "Trying" seems a little strong though it's not as though I was actively campaigning in a popularity contest.  I was certain though that being with the "in crowd" would solve all my problems.  Looking back I know that is not the case but at the time it made sense.  In the caste system of school age children I was an untouchable. 
When I started skateboarding things changed.
Back then in southern Illinois skateboarding was really only popular with a much younger age group.  There were a few of us older kids that skated though and we always got together after school at different spots around town.  With the rise in popularity of skateboarding with the younger kids it became popular for older kids to harrass them, call them names, play keep away with their boards, etc.  I can't tell you how many times cars would drive by and yell horrible things at me and my friends.  Sometimes they would drive closer to where we were to have some fun at our expense only to realize we weren't the young kids they thought we were.  Upon discovering that we were capable of fighting back they would usually call us "skate fags" and drive away.
With how mainstream skateboarding is today it is hard to remember that it was once very subversive.  It was something that upset the status quo, and to some that was not acceptable.  Despite the harrassment I loved skateboarding, still do as a matter of fact.  I loved it so much that one day I decided that if all of the cool kids that I so much wanted to be friends couldn't see how awesome it was or at the very least accept my love of it then they weren't worth my time or energy.  That was a great day, a great day indeed!  After that day evrything changed and I really started to feel better about myself.
I never really played team sports so I never learned all of those lessons about teamwork and sportsmanship but out on my board I learned so much more.  I became a mentor to the younger skaters, I learned problem solving, I learned how to build ramps, and so much more.  The most important thing I learned though was not to worry about what other people think.
If you love something do it!  Do it without fear or embarrassment.  If you don't you are sure to regret it.  Don't worry about what other people think in the end you are the steward of your own happiness, tend it well, and you will be rewarded without fail.

Love at First Paddle

Way back when I bought my kayak off Craigslist it came with a Carlisle Day Tripper paddle.  It worked well for me until I broke it one day practicing some self rescue techniques (so I could lose a few pounds don’t judge).  I had been coveting a Bending Branches Navigator paddle for a while but since there was no emergency paddle fund at the time I had to settle for a Bending Branches Whisper instead.  

I thought it was funny that my nephew had bought two paddles from REI and they told him to use both and return the one he didn’t like, but Alpine Shop told me that if I planned on returning it I shouldn’t scratch it up because they would have to resell it.  How am I supposed to know if I like it if I can’t put it through its paces.  There are a few variables when buying a paddle and a good test paddle is the way to go before committing to a certain brand/model.  I had heard great things about Bending Branches paddles but still...

The Whisper is Bending Branches’ entry level model and it was every bit as good as the Day Tripper.  I used the Whisper for many paddling adventures from just a few miles on Horseshoe lake to 60miles during the GAS 60 race on the Gasconade river.  The GAS was supposed to be the prelude to the MR 340 a race of 340miles on the Missouri river from Kansas City to St Charles, but in 2011 the race was cancelled due to flood conditions and unsafe river levels.  

Fast forward to 2012, and the MR340 is on and so is Kayak100+ the third installment of the 100+project.   One of the requirements of the race, in which I will be participating not competing because competing implies a chance at winning, is that I carry an extra paddle.  When I bought the Whisper which served me well I told myself that when it came time to buy another paddle it would be the Navigator.  I knew I would be in the paddle market for more than just a kayak paddle because of next year’s Canoe100+ on the Illinois river so I contacted Bending Branches to see if they would have any interest in lending a hand to the 100+Project.  They loved what I was doing and offered me a 40% discount.  Once again people’s willingness to aid the 100+Project exceeded my expectations.  My nephew and I were planning a long trip on the Missouri river from Jefferson City to St Charles, Mo so I quickly ordered the Navigator hoping (praying?) that it arrived in time.  It arrived Friday in time for me to get home from work load up and head to Jefferson City.  I couldn’t have been happier.

The Navigator is a really good looking paddle with blades made from black willow and a shaft made from carbon fiber.  It weighs in at 28ounces, lighter than the Whisper by a lot.  During the 100miles that we paddled I had many aches and pains but none of them were paddle related.  The Navigator performed as smoothly at mile 100 as it did at mile one and I am very positive about my chances of finishing the MR340 using it.  Of course I will still have the Whisper as back up but short of losing the Navigator I can’t imagine any reason I will use it.

If you are thinking about buying a Navigator paddle then think no more.  It is a great performing paddle as well as a great looking paddle!

The Unknown Paddlers

Next I need to decide which canoe paddles I want to buy!

Cinco de Paddle-O

This Saturday while everyone in the US is celebrating Mexico's independence, my nephew and I will be paddling from Jefferson City, Mo to either St Charles, Mo or Hartford, IL.  This will be far and away the longest paddling trip I have ever attempted, and it makes me a little nervous.

I only hunt decoys!

We are planning on going non-stop all the way through the night.  It will take us over 24hours to cover the distance.  I have paddled at night before but never on a big river like the Missouri.  Safety is our number one priority and we hope to make to the end without incident.

The new paddle I ordered is scheduled to be delivered Friday and I am hoping it arrives before we leave.  The plan is to leave Friday after work and drive to Jeff City where we will stay the night.  Saturday morning we will get an early start and head east.  When we get to Hermann we will meet our wives and have some dinner before settling in for the long haul.  In Hermann we will decide whether to finish at St Charles, or Hartford.  Both routes will take us over 100miles.

There are a few things left to do to make sure my kayak is ready but for the most part I am prepared.  This is going to be a real adventure and while I am nervous about it I also anxious to get started!

I will be bringing my Spot Tracker and will post updates to facebook and twitter so stay tuned for all the fun!