Inconsistent Waves and Lots to Do

As usual, winter proves to be a difficult time to guess about the waves. If the north wind comes through strong enough, nice, clean waves are available. But, the weather has been so bizarre that the north winds are either too strong or too weak to create waves of any worth. It's also seemed so unusually cold this year. Case in point: last week, I looked at various webcams and saw some waves. They weren't the prettiest waves, but they were surfable, and I needed to get wet. Well, I think the water temperature has been hovering around 55 degrees, so I was definitely out in my 5-4. I hate having to surf in a 5-4.  My movements are hindered, and it is a pain in the behind putting on and taking off. Ran into a few people that I met through Facebook, and they seemed to be having a good time. But, they too, complained about how cold it was, the good and bad about wearing booties, and the uncertainty of the waves.  I went out at 36th Street, and because the waves were fairly weak and because I'm not the best surfer, I only caught a couple of waves. Many were having trouble, so I didn't feel so bad. But, I sure miss catching nice waves.

Waves are calling…somewhere.

I'm dreaming of travel again. I've looked up some warm places to travel that might be inexpensive and easy to travel to, and that might have surf. I could fly back to Ixtapa, Mexico, and go to Troncones, but I think I would be nervous going alone or with just a friend. So, then I thought about Cancun. I would feel pretty safe traveling there, but I'm not sure the waves are great. I found a couple of surf schools, which I think I mentioned in a previous post, but I'm just not convinced the surf would be very good. What to do, what to do…

One thing I can do during these winter months is build stamina and upper body strength. I've started a 28-day challenge for doing planks. I'm on day 8, and I've already skipped a couple because I've forgotten, but I'm now back on track and must stay in plank for a minute, building to three minutes by the end of the month. I certainly see how doing plank can help with surfing, as well as my other sports of running and cycling. Most sports require a strong core, and the planks are one of the best ways of getting that core. From the plank position, I can practice the pop-up. I certainly could use more practice with the pop-up. I think I'll be practicing that forever.

Please send some waves my way!

Yoga, Running and Very Cold Water

Several years ago, I was a yoga convert. I started taking it when someone decided to hold yoga sessions in one of the classrooms during lunchtime at work. I wasn't sure I would like it, but there was lot of hype about how good it was for you. I remember thinking that it can't be that great because people taking it don't sweat. I found out after a few sessions that I was wrong. Not only was it quite a workout,   it also helped me to strengthen my core, something that is incredibly helpful for any sport, including surfing. I wasn't surfing at the time though. I was cycling then, and it helped me to get faster on the bike. However, I did get a couple of yoga sessions when I went to Chica Brava Surf Camp, and each time I had a session, I seemed to have a better day in the water. I decided last Tuesday and Thursday, on a whim, to go to the yoga class at my gym. I felt better than I had for the previous four days. As I've mentioned before, I'm training for a marathon, so I've been doing quite a bit of running. For some reason, my runs for the past couple of weeks have resulted in lots of leg pain. I don't have time for "rest" since my marathon is in just a few days. So, yoga was the next best thing to rest. And, it was a miracle. My leg felt great. At least, for a few hours…

I ran the Chevron Houston Marathon today.  It has required a lot of training, a lot of long, painful runs.

My 2015 Chevron
Houston Marathon
Finisher's Medal

I was both nervous and excited as the day approached. I really never know how I will do. I wanted to run it faster than I did last year, and I did by 10 minutes. My leg hurt a little at the start, but was much better than it had bee. The yoga must have helped. Of course, none of this really has anything to do with surfing. I haven't been surfing in about two weeks. I went out on the 3rd this month. It was definitely quite cold. Water temp is lower than I remember it being since I started surfing.  Right now, I think it is hovering around 48 degrees. And, with the air temp around the same or slightly above, it makes it downright miserable to surf. I went anyway though. I surfed some beautiful waves. Many surfers were out. It was a Saturday, and I had just finished a 15-mile run.  I was wearing my 5-4 wetsuit, but had chosen not to wear booties or gloves. Needless to say, I only lasted about two hours before I was freezing and had to get out of the water.  After that, I thought I probably should stay away from surfing until after the marathon. I had trained too hard and didn't want to get hurt or sick before the big day. I'm on the final countdown right now, and, so, I'm avoiding large crowds lest I get around someone sick, and staying away from any activity that might be dangerous for me right now. I can't afford to get hurt. Although, I must admit that I miss surfing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the water will warm up and waves will form and I can go surfing again soon.

Happy New Year and Three Key Words

December was a crazy month! Between work, holiday commitments and life, getting to do anything fun is very difficult. When I had the time to surf in December, I would check the wave cam and find it flat. I made it to G-town one Sunday early in the month. I didn't have very much time to surf, but I still needed to get wet. Waves weren't the best, but there were some out there. I had already decided that I was wearing my 3-2 wetsuit instead of the 5-4 simply because I am sick of wearing the really thick one. It limits my movement. The air temp wasn't too terribly cold…in the high 60s and low 70s. I was certain I could get away with the thinner suit.

One other person was out. I paddled out in the rip current to the end of the jetty and got pulled west. I paddled for a few waves, but couldn't catch them because they were too week. But, by the fourth wave, it had just enough punch to get me a little ride. The other person who was out was a shortboarder and he was staying real close to the jetty and a little on the inside. He spoke to me as I sat waiting for a waves. He mentioned that we must be really desperate. I responded by saying that we must be the only ones who had full-time jobs because we had to surf on the weekend whether there were waves or not. He agreed. He caught a few, and I caught a few. I had fun. I wished the waves had been a little better, but beggars can't be choosers.

Ugh! I will be wearing a wetsuit in Galveston
until March or April. 

Since that time, waves have been hit or miss, as has the weather. When the waves have appeared, I've either been busy at work or it has been too cold to even think about getting in the water. I saw a picture the other day on the Internet of a man who had been surfing either in Alaska, Canada or somewhere in northern Europe. He wore a full wetsuit that included a hood, gloves and booties. He had icicles hanging from his mask, and all I could think is how miserable that would be. I'm sure he caught waves, but I don't know if that would be something I could do. I'm pretty strong, and although I could make up my mind to surf no matter what, even I would have a difficult time being in water and possibly having icicles dangling from my stocking cap and or gloves.  I have a hard time even thinking about those few seconds between pulling off the wetsuit and putting on the dry clothes. The time period is short, but it feels like a lifetime as I'm shivering and pulling clothes from my bag. A 3-2 wetsuit, and possibly a 5-4 wetsuit -- yes; but a stocking cap gloves and booties with that 5-4 -- probably not.

Happy New Year! 2015 is upon me and I always reflect on what I've done in the past, and what I want for the future. I saw a post on another social medium that suggested people come up with three words to describe the hopes and dreams of the upcoming year. I took some time thinking about those three words and came up with Change, Adventure and Passion. I think I start most years hoping for these three things, or, at least, Adventure and Passion. However, I believe I sink back into the safe and standard way of living life. And, although, I'm often opposed to Change, I finally realized that I can't live a year of Adventure and Passion unless I learn to accept Change more readily. I'm excited about my own personal discovery, and I'm committing to accepting what might lay ahead for me. And, as usual, I'll still be looking for waves.