Our 4-week canoe expedition this summer will be very physically challenging. I’ve got six months to train for it, and I need to accomplish two things.

First, I need to get stronger. I need to add muscle to my upper body, with an emphasis on my shoulders; they’re what gets sore after a week of canoe poling. I also need to work on my lower body because that’s where balance comes from. And I need to strengthen my core so I don’t have any back issues poling upstream day after day.

Second, I need to increase my cardiovascular fitness in order to make my body burn energy more efficiently, and to minimize my recovery time after exertion. After all that work on the river, there will still be plenty of work to do every day in camp.

I’ve got a significant amount of work to to. I haven’t done any strength training for more than a month in a long time. Up to this point I’ve always had enough physical strength for any of the challenges I’ve faced. This expedition will push me, and it will push everyone else as well. I know the training will be difficult, but I’m looking forward to the process. And the results.