Team LARD heading to Hong Kong

When you been around a paddling community for more than half your life you get to meet some amazing people and teams who turn into extend family from all over the world. I have had the honour of paddling against and even with LARD (Los Angeles Racing Dragons) over the years. Only two teams I have been on have ever come close to how close knit this club really as a family.

This July LARD will be racing in four different divisions at the Club Crew World Championships in Hong Kong representing their club as well the USA. In addition, with it being LARD’s 15 season, the club designed new practice jerseys and used it as a fundraiser for any non-LARD members. Instead of a posing in the new shirt, I leave you with this amazing action shot from one of their recent practices.

Source: Scott

“L.A.R.D, L.A.R.D, L.A.R.D go team L.A.R.D”

Katy |

Almost there

Silly as it may sound; I gave myself a deadline two years ago yesterday, to get my weight back under control as I miss paddling at competitive level. I was able to lose everything but 5 or 10 pounds from when I was pregnant back in 2007 but when I had emergency gall bladder surgery two years later (2009), I ballooned back up to my 9-month pregnancy weight plus some, which freaked the hell out of me. Since then, there has always been some sort of roadblocks called life in my way and those what IF’s that are always in the back of your mind.

What IF I did not go on my trip, I would be closer to/at my goal weight
IF I was not recovering from a shoulder injury, where would I be in my fitness goal
What IF I was paddling on another team, would that help me get closer to my goals
IF only I was that much closer to my goal weight
I cannot let stress run my life

Sure, I was hoping to be a lot closer to my goal weight by now but at least I can see it in sight and I know I am a lot stronger then I was and my endurance level has improved. But at the same time I’m happy that my shoulder is allowing me to do more with it, ex. I am able to increasing the weights at the gym and even being able to paddle on both sides (of the boat) which has made me very happy, I hated being only able to paddle on one side .

The plan is now to get more focused and use yesterday’s weight in as a benchmark for how far I’ve gotten and how close I am to my goal weight. Now to make sure I don’t fall off that diet like I did last week (thanks to a ex)

Kristen | Lisa Marie @ MidwestVeg |