Siblings Jeremy Mock and Laura Mock talk about their first time at Florida Camp. They went with Banook Canoe Club down to Perdito Keys in Florida, with other Banook Athletes.

1)How long have you been paddling for?
Jeremy: I have been paddling for 12 years
Laura: I have been paddling for 7 years.

2)How was your first time in Florida? 
Jeremy: My first time in florida was awesome, I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be back next year maybe for a little longer than 5 weeks. The food was really good, I thought that the caterer did an awesome job of making sure we ate healthy, got lots and made there is enough for seconds. Also, Anne-Marie Schaus and Jans wife Christine made lunch and dinner every Wednesday and Saturday and those meals were really good, couldn’t ask for anything better! I found Jan did an amazing job coaching us, his program was simple yet very challenging and we really packed on the kms each week accumulating easily over 100km per week. He seemed to find time for everyone while balancing 3 different programs (Banook, Senior woman Kayak, and Senior Mens 200m). We had video sessions to look at technique after the practice and we could slow it down and pick it apart bit by bit.
Laura: My first time in Florida was a lot of fun! I will definitely go back next year. The food that we ate was delicious, you were always full after lunch and dinner.

3)What was the hardest practice you did? Why?
Jeremy: The hardest practice was the combination of the three workouts we did this friday consisting of 2km and 4- 600m all out as well as 2 sprint pyramids. And then doing the same thing tomorrow but instead of 600m it is 250m, but without the 2km tomorrow!
Laura: The hardest practice was when we did 20km one Saturday morning because it was such a long way to paddle and took a really long time to do.

4)What was the best practice you did? Why?
Jeremy:The best practice we did was when we did a 20km washride around the island in the middle of the canal, it was interesting because it was really foggy so we didn’t know where we were going until we found the turn around the top of it. There was even a few stingrays in the shallow parts of the canal which was really cool.
Laura: The best practice was when we did 8km wash ride because I didn’t know how to wash ride before I went to Florida but know I do.

5)What did you do on your days off? 
Jeremy: For the first few days/afternoons we got off it was all about tanning and going to the beach, which isn’t so bad. But as camp went on, on the days and afternoons off I just wanted to lay down and enjoy the rest. On St. Patricks day we got the pleasure of going to New Orleans and hanging out on Bourbon street for the night which was super fun, there was so many people you could hardly walk anywhere.
Laura: On my days off I went to the beach, we went shopping one day, and another time we went to New Orleans.

6)How do you think going to Florida training camp will help with your up coming season?
Jeremy: I think Florida camp will help because I got the chance to get in a lot of kms (well over 100 a week) and really focus on improving my technique and how the boat glides through the water. So any time you can do that before the racing season starts is a huge advantage.
Laura: I think Florida training camp helped me push myself more.

7)Do you have any recommendation for people considering going to Florida next year?
Jeremy: My recommendation is only that if you want to come to Florida you have to put in the work in the off-season and to make sure you do all the running, swimming and weights because thats the only thing that can prepare you for all the work that you put in down here.
Laura: A recommendation for people that are thinking of going next year is to make sure not to leave your homework for the last week before you leave, do some everyday.

8)What will you pack for next year- that you forgot to pack for this year?
Jeremy: My own bed
Laura: I didn’t forget anything, I brought everything I needed.

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Ben Russell- The Myths and Realities of Florida Training Camp

I still remember my first Florida training camp the spring of 2003.  I was a 2^nd year midget eager to take that next step.  Leading up to my 3 weeks in Florida I was eagerly anticipating some fun in the sun; a few extra weeks onto my March break.My first paddle on the canal was going to be an easy one, 10km to try and regain my feel for the water.  My brother Ned and I arrived at the same time and as younger brothers often do, I decided to follow Ned’s lead.  Ned told me we were going to the bridge and back.  After what seemed like forever of trying to keep up, we finally arrived at the bridge.  I was preparing to turn when Ned said to me, very casually, “That’s the first bridge, we’re going to the 2^nd one”.  I looked far into the distance and I made a devastating realization, the second bridge is really, really, really, far.

Before I arrived to Florida for that first training camp I had an image of what it might be like. Sure we would do some paddling, a few sprints here and there, but we’d have plenty of time for going to the beach, playing beach volleyball, playing soccer, working on my tan… you know, the important stuff. As it turned out, there really only was time for paddling, paddling, some more paddling, maybe some running and weights training, and an afternoon nap if I was lucky, but naptime was usually replaced by the stack of homework I was assigned for while I was away.

It’s safe to say that Florida wasn’t exactly the vacation I thought it would be.  In addition to learning to accommodate such a heavy training load, I also had to learn to cook my own meals (which even included cleaning up afterwards), do my own grocery shopping, and even do my own laundry.   I was really good at making cereal, but the rest was a work in progress.

By the end of the first week I couldn’t wait to leave this awful place.  But as the second week passed, I was starting to get the hang of it. After the three weeks, although I was still eager to get home, I had also learned to enjoy what Florida training camp had to offer.

Spring training camp is an extremely challenging, and extremely valuable experience.  Spring training camp is where I first learned to (for the most part) take care of myself, where I learned a strong work ethic, goal setting, and how to push my limits.

When I look back on that first spring training camp experience I remember the first time I learned to love to hate it.  But despite all the hardship, there really is something about it that’s special.  Spring training camp is a love hate relationship, one that I plan on enduring and enjoying four more times after this one.

Cheers,

Ben Russell

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Connor Taras- Life in Florida

Over the next 4 months I will be living here in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida doing the majority of my training leading up to the Olympic trials. It’s crazy to think yet another Olympic year is already upon us. As it may seem close, there is still a long road ahead of us before anyone gets there and that final stretch starts here in Florida.

As always, I am amazed how fast time is going by down here. It feels like yesterday I was playing some basketball, or doing some rowing workout with Jan and the group back home. I really have to say a big thanks to @banooktraining for getting me ready for a big camp and a big year! I really learned a lot this fall and winter from our great coach, Jan Kruk. First of all I learned that no matter who you train with, everyone has something to offer and that was evident training with the group over the last few months. I also learned that training is a lot more productive when you’re happy!
So long story short, I have shown up to camp prepared and ready to win!

So I’m here in Florida. We live at The Pines Resort. Calling it a “Resort” may be a little far fetched as its pretty basic living here, but its got everything we need. We live in four unit buildings with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and living area. It’s got a big field, close to the gym, and the beach. Some of the best athletes in the world even train here. Athletes like Anders Gustaffson from Sweden, Max Hoff from Germany, and our own Adam VanKoeverdan share the canal I paddle on. But the best part of living here is that we live about 200m from where we keep our boats. The convenience, the beautiful weather, and the paddling idols makes it one of the best places in the world to have a training camp!

The last 2.5 weeks have been pretty tough training. Averaging about 120km, four weight workouts, three runs, and the occasional testing every week makes for a tired athlete. But like I keep telling myself I’m not here to feel rested. On Tuesday I ran a 1500m running test and I told myself before the start of it, “No pain, No gain!”. I ended up getting a personal best time and if I keep up with that motto than I’m sure to see more success as the season goes on!

It has been nice to have some fellow Banookers join me over the last week as well. The club is very well represent down here as Andrew and Ben Russell, Jason McCoombs, and Jillian D’ Alessio have arrived and look ready to light some fire up on the water. We are all looking forward to have the rest of the gang join us over the next couple weeks and months. And as best as we can, we will try to send some warm and sunny weather back to Dartmouth for everyone but for now train hard, and take care!

Your truly,

Connor Taras