My Mission, My Goal

Well since this is my first blog for this adventure I guess it is best to introduce myself and explain what I plan to do and why I am doing it.My name is Frank and I am a 45 year old, husband of 27 years, proud father of 3 sons and 2 wonderful grandsons. I am an avid outdoorsman and love to ride my bicycle and paddle my kayak.I have been a kayak enthusiast since the late 1980s when I began kayaking in the Florida Keys. I am a self taught artist and somewhat of a writer.In my 45 years of life, I have lost a cousin to lung cancer. Her mother, my aunt, is a survivor of lung cancer as is my father-in-law. I have a very dear friend who has been dealing with cancer off and on for many years and know that in the years to come there will be others in my life who will be stricken with the horrible disease. I am sure at one point in time all of us will be directly affected by cancer, and many of us, like myself can't do much about it. This is where my little adventure comes into play.My wife and I have always been hard working individuals but have never made enough to do much more than keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. We are in no way financially capable of helping others, though we wish we could. But there is something I can do. I have always loved to ride a bicycle and been able to do so for long periods of time, and kayaking is now as much a part of me as eating and sleeping. For some reason the good lord blessed me with the ability to do both of these well and I don't believe it was just for my own personal fun. I can help out.I can fight for others.On Saturday, August 13, 2011 I will stand on the west coast of Michigan with my foot in Lake Michigan. I will then get on my bicycle and ride it just over 100 miles to the town of Grayling Michigan. Once I arrive in Grayling I will leave my bicycle and get into my kayak on the Ausable River. I will paddle my kayak from Grayling, 120 miles to the town of Oscoda, where I will step out of my kayak on the East coast of Michigan into Lake Huron. I will do this in the course of one weekend. Starting on Saturday, August 13, 2011 and finishing sometime on Sunday, August 14, 2011.I will soon have a website with all the information pertaining to sponsors,donations, and volunteering.My wife and son will be my major volunteers but there will be several more needed throughout the weekend to help with following me, getting me food and liqiud, bike or kayak maintainance, the possible emergency, or just encouragement. This is going to be a major task.I can do it but there is a lot of work ahead.Just to give you and idea of how much work I have cut out for me. Picture this. I had surgery just 8 weeks ago to repair a broken ankle. My cast has only been off for about 2 weeks. There is now permanently a metal plate and 7 screws in my ankle. I have not been on my bike since last fall and I put on a lot of extra weight being laid up.I am currently at 232 pounds, which is definitely to much for a guy of only 5feet 7inches, so the physical preperation is going to be quite rigorous. I did get back in the kayak last weekend and should be getting the all clear from the foot doctor next week to get back on the bike.Work outs officially begin tonight.I will regularly post here for those of you interested in keeping up with my progress.I hope everyone will at least take an interest in the fight against cancer and help in any way possible.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Two Terrific Days of Training

Wow, the last 2 days have been great workouts. Saturday evening was a mix of several different exercises with 15 reps of each. I did 4 exercises,15 reps each, back to back, then on to the treadmill for a 10 minute hard walk at 3.5 miles per hour. Off the treadmill for 120 seconds then back to the Total Gym for another cycle of exercises. I repeated this for 1 hour. Holy cow was the old ticker working hard. My heart beat was up between 120 and 140 beats per minute for almost the entire hour. Burned some serious calories.
Last night was all about the kayak. I started at my house and began paddling. It was really feeling good after about 15 minutes non-stop paddling so I just kept at it. One hour and 15 minutes later, with one complete trip around the shoreline of the west arm of Wixom Lake,non-stop paddling, I pulled back into the shore at my house. I got in a groove and the paddle just seemed to flow through the water on its' own. About every 20 minutes I would pick up the pace for a 5 minute kayak sprint, and then drop back to my steady pace.
I am ready to start increasing both my paddling and Total Gym workouts and will add some biking to it starting next week. Although it won't be long and the snow and icy roads will be here and the biking will have to wait until spring.
My wonderful in-laws are getting me a membership to the local gym so I can keep up good, hard training throughout the winter and be ready for spring to arrive. I am hoping to put at least 10 hours a week on the stationary bike in the gym, as well as an equal amount on the rowing machines and weights.
I can do it!
I will succeed!
I will help!
You can help also by spreading the word.
www.michigancoast2coast4acure.webs.com
or Pedal and Paddle to Fight Cancer on facebook
or PEDLnPADL4aCURE on twitter

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Eating Right, Working Hard, Losing Weight

Well so far it has been a pretty simple process. Eating right. High protein, low fats and carbs. 5 small meals a day. Working hard. Paddling 4 days a week, Total Gym 4 days a week, light workout or rest day 2 or 3 days a week. Losing weight. Weighed in 3 weeks ago at 232 pounds prior to starting training and new eating regimen. Weighed in last night at 220 pounds. Dropped 12 pounds in 3 weeks. Hoooray!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

I Can Feel It

Just 304 days to go and I feel great about it. Every day I workout/train I am one step closer to reaching my goal. With every stroke of the kayak paddle I am one stroke closer to completing my goal. The last 2 days training have been terrific.

Tuesday I paddled very hard for 1 hour and 40 minutes, covering over 10 miles in that time. My upper body was pulsating and limp when I pulled the kayak into home but wow did it feel great. That evening I paddled another hour, but it was a much softer, relaxed paddle with a bit of fishing thrown in.

Last night I put in a hard, fast paced hour on the Total Gym. Ringing with sweat and my entire body drained was a great feeling. I followed the workout with a couple hard boiled eggs and a handful of Almonds for a nice blast of protein, then a quick shower and called it a night.

I am going to weigh myself tomorrow after work for the first time since training workouts began about 3 weeks ago. I don't expect there to be much of a weight loss but I feel great and think that is what really matters. It is going to take a lot of hard work and a seriously positive attitude to accomplish this adventure.

I am willing to work hard!

I have a positive attitude!

I will succeed!

I will help!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Awesome training yesterday

Yesterday was a great day for training. The weather could not have been any better for October in Northern Michigan. Temperature in the low 80s with a very light wind and clear skies made it wonderful for paddling the kayak.
I started the day with 45 minutes on the total gym and then headed to the lake. I a met with a friend from Ohio who rode along in the front seat of the kayak while I paddled. We actually took advantage of the great weather in between paddling sessions to do a little fishing. I managed to put in about 2 1/2 hours of good hard paddling, with an extra person in the kayak, and put a dozen nice bluegills on the stringer to take home. It does not get much better than that.
When I returned home I took a little time out to have dinner with our friends from Ohio then relaxed at home for a bit before putting in another 30 minutes on the Total Gym before hitting the bed.
All in all it was a terrific day.
Only 307 days to go

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Eating and Training

It seems I have slipped into this strict eating regimen quite easily. Low to moderate carb intake and high protein intake, eating 5 times a day has kept me from being hungry and eating the bad stuff. Grilled chicken on 8 grain tortilla wraps, grilled chicken, beef jerkey, and scrambled eggs seem to be just the protein pack my body needs for the training I am doing. Mixed with generous amounts of fresh and frozen steamed veggies, fresh and dried fruits, high grain cereals, cottage cheese, and nuts, each and every day.
My training is not yet extreme, but I am just getting back into it. A couple hour hard paddle in the kayak a few times a week accompanined by 4 days of at least 45 minutes on the Total Gym has me feeling great. My energy level is already beginning to rise and my spirits are high. I have not weighed myself since I began this about 2 weeks ago but I am sure some weight is gone already.
In about a month I will kick up my paddling to at least 3 hours, 4 days a week until the ice sets in. I will also increase my workout on the Total Gym to an hour and begin to increase the bench angle to add more strain to the workout. A lot of my training right now is geared toward endurance and weight loss. As time goes by I will increase some of my strength training as well but will always key on the endurance side of it. 6 - 9 hours on the bicycle followed directly by as much as 30 hours of kayaking will definitely require extreme endurance.
Just 300 days to go.
You know, it only takes 200 people to donate $5 each for me to give $1000 to cancer research and it can be done safely and securely right her on my blog or on my fundraiser website at www.michigancoast2coast4acure.webs.com using PayPal or a credit card.
If you would like to consider sponsoring me in any way please visit the website sponsor page for more information.
I can do it!
I will help!
I am going to fight for everyone who has had to deal with cancer in any way

Monday, October 4, 2010

Duck Camp 2010

Great Workout, Great Fun

Well even though I had a great time this weekend, I did manage to get in a real good kayak workout. Friday evening I paddled about 6 miles, which isn't much, unless you add about 300 pounds of gear, a nice wind, and water hyacinth, cattails, flooded grass, lily pads and swamp muck. It really was not an endurance workout, more of a strength builder and calorie burner. Felt great and lead to a wonderful weekend.
After hauling camping gear for a couple hours I basically sat around with good friends and told tall tales. Oh, and the eating regimen was sort of thrown out for the weekend, although I still did good. Managed to stay away from all but just a handful of chips. Did have a brat and a bun, some macaroni salad,a couple of my famous camp breakfast burritos, and of course fresh duck stir fry. Actually I guess that was not all bad now that I look at it.
Saturdays workout was a bit different then Friday. I took off my myself in the kayak about 10:30 am and paddled up steam for about an hour into a 17 mph headwind. Then I took off into the cattail swamp. Winding and weaving my way through a maze of 7 foot cattails, using paths that were often no wider then my kayak. I was often forced to use my paddle as a push pole due to the narrowness of my chosen path or very shallow water. After winding my way through the swamp I worked my kayak back out to the main river chanel and paddled fast for 20 minutes non stop then hit a shallow bay off the river and wound my way through another cattail forest. About an hour of this and back to the river for my 2 mile fast paddle back to camp.
Sunday was a bit easier and more of a stretching workout. Just 2 trips across the lake hauling gear and that was enough.
It all felt great and I had a terrific time hanging out with some of the best friends a guy could ask for.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A Great Start

Wow, what a way to start the day. Woke up at 5:30am. Took a minute to stretch and shake the cobwebs out of my head and then hit the workout. 45 minutes with 60 second breaks in between every 3 reps of 9 different exercises followed by 3 scrambled eggs and a banana for breakfast then to work by 8:15am. I swear, I can almost feel the protein from those eggs rushing to every muscle in my body. It is a great feeling.
My legs are a bit sore from Sundays workout as are my shoulders from all the extra paddling in the kayak, but I guess that means they are working overtime. I am sure it won't be long and all the soreness will be gone and things will just get easier. I am actually looking forward to when the time comes that I have to increase my workout incline on the Total Gym to reap the rewards that I am getting now with it almost flat. One of these days I am actually going to be able to look straight down while standing and see my toes. That will be a wonderful sight but until then I will just pace myself.
The last thing I want to do is over do it right from the start. I have 320 days to go, which really gives me plenty of time to get into shape. My biggest concern is the paddle from Grayling to Oscoda. I know the 100 mile bike ride is doable as I did the Black Bear last year after haveing only trained for about 5 months. Sure it took me 9 hours but I made it. I know I can make it from Grayling to Oscoda in the kayak, but to complete the entire trip in less then 2 days will mean my kayak portion will have to be done in less than 40 hours. I am confident that I can do it, as I have been an avid kayaker for 20 years and have no problem paddleing myself and others around for 7 or 8 hours at a time. I think it is just going to be a matter of the proper endurance training and eating, and the right body fuels prior to and during the event.
My goal is to complete the entire Pedal and Paddle to Fight Cancer in 36 hours or less and raise at least $1000 to donate while doing it.
Please stay tuned for more updates and pass the word.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Getting Going

I put in several hours yesterday in the kayak. I actually had a passenger in my front seat for a couple hours so the workout/training was a little tougher but more entertaining as I had someone to share it with. Always passes the time a little better when there is something to keep the mind entertained, and believe me, the friend that was with me is entertaining. He is one of my oldest friends, 30+ year friendship, and has always been one to make me laugh. Along with us was another friend of both of ours who we have known just as long. He was in his own kayak and just followed us along. It was a great surprise to see these two whitetailed deer swimming across a little opening in the middle of a huge cattail swamp where we were paddling. There is one just slipping into the cattails at the left of the photo and of course the other is right in the middle of the picture. The one that is to the left of the photo was actually a spikehorn buck but I was not quick enough with the camera to catch his head in the image. Oh well, still a nice surprise.

When I returned home from the kayaking I relaxed with my wonderful wife for a few hours then jumped on the Total Gym for a brisk 30 minute cardio workout. Man do I feel great today.
Looking forward to getting home from work today and jumping into the kayak again.
This Thursday is my final doctor visit for the broken ankle. I have my fingers crossed that I will get the full go ahead to jump on the bike also. I know there is still 321 days to go, but if you looked at the photo of me in the first post you can see that I have quite a bit of work to do to get myself into shape.
I have confidence.
I will succeed.
I will help someone.
Please pass the word and send as many people as possible to my facebook (Pedal and Paddle to Fight Cancer), my blog (micoast2coast4acure.blogspot.com) or my website www.michigancoast2coast4acure.webs.com

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Work Outs Officially Started

Well I broke out total gym yesterday morning before work. Thought I would just jump in there and give it a quick 40 minute refresher to start reminding my body of what lies ahead. Felt great. Nothing to strenuous. Made for a great day at work yesterday. Now my shoulders and arm are somewhat sore. Not too bad so I guess I did not over do it.
This evening I will be jumping into the kayak as soon as I get home from work, paddle for a couple hours then on to the total gym again.
This sad photo is a pic of me right now. The terrible results of what a lazy, unmotivated winter and spring, and then a broke ankle can do to a guy. A short guy at 232 pounds will never make it. Neck is gone, just seem to go from my head to my shoulders with nothing in between. Waistline is hiding there somewher under that gut. Arms are soft and floppy. A walk up 2 flights of steps would probably kill me.

Look out fat, I am out to get you. Just 323 days to go.