It's been like forever since I last paddled on a Saturday morning. In the past I was either having AHM training or going cycling or something. Yah so anyways I had training today, and honestly paddling wise I've only been doing like 1 paddle a week the past 2 or 3 weeks? Simply put I was destroyed by the simple 16km wash-riding excercise. Something that I guess was like a Saturday morning stroll in the park to some (JS, girls K2 etc...) turned out to be a paddle till I drop session.

It feels kind of like I'm starting from scratch again. Weekend-warrior / retired-for-a-year-plus Jiansheng was like easily stroking the pace in front and I was just, well, dying in some faraway land behind? I think it's even harder than those cycling group rides, triathlons or what not:

- I don't remember having balancing problems when I'm struggling to keep in contact with the group during cycling.
- And when I'm drafting I don't have the problem of my stroke becoming spastic and causing me to lose balance...
- My bike doesn't have danger of tangling with people's pedals or their handlebars, requiring correction with every stroke... (at least not at my level lah)
- And it was pretty easy to just reach down and get my bottle for a drink, while today I just couldn't drink without losing like 10 boat lengths.
- And my bike doesn't get HEAVIER with time!
- Nor do I suddenly realise that a hole has opened up on my foot controlling the rudder...
- And where are the traffic lights and junctions for me to catch up?
- Or the downhills when I can stop pedalling and just coast?
- How come certain positions behind actually SLOW me down and DESTABILISE me?
- My water bottle starts swimming around in my boat and getting in the way of my legs?
- My grip starts loosening and my hands start slipping inwards?

I think sports like running and cycling just spoil you with their simplicity sometimes. Well, they are just different in nature lah. But well, so far I think canoeing is actually the most painful of them all.

I have to do something about this situation. Shouldn't be dropped by retired paddlers and/or girls leh...

But first, it's time to nap then start picking on the pile of work.