Ok, so you have your boat all ready, you've tied like a gazillion zebra midges and green machines and weight flies, you've re-spooled your line on all your reels and you're feeling good about the season but what about the most important gear you have? Yourself.
Every year I get to about November in pretty good shape and then the tromping around in the mountains chasing elk and deer ends; Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas parties, Discovery Channel and hunting shows take over and winter metabolism sends my gear into my own version of "Storage Wars," where everything winds up in an oversized trunk just above the hips in the shape of a loosely fashioned tire. It's late winter/early spring and in years past, I've definitely felt the burn of early season guide trips where I wished I had taken better care of the most overlooked gear for a guide-the body.
I know it sounds a little preachy but why stop now? The reality is, what we do for six+ months is incredibly demanding if you're doing right. It's work to get on the sticks; sometimes 30 or 40 days straight and if you're not ready for it, you can burn out pretty quick. That can lead to some pretty grueling days if you have a sense of pride or it can also lead to sub-par days for your clients.
A few years ago I got tired of feeling like a big lump in March and April and decided to do something about it. I did my own version of P-90 Treks and lost about 20lbs. I felt great. Not only was I stronger and had more energy, I also avoided feeling the pain of arthritis in my hands, shoulder and knees. It's not just after rowing either. I rarely feel pain anymore with weather changes or from driving long distances. (Yes, when I drove even a couple hours in the past, I would wake up in the middle of the night with knee and wrist pain from staying in one position for extended periods.)
Now I'm not saying that everyone should go out there and get into pro-athlete shape. We all have a few extra pounds here and there but do a little cardio and strengthen and lubricate those joints a bit. You'll be surprised what a few pounds can do. Oh yah, and don't forget the diet. Again, you don't have to get crazy but be mindful of the fuel you're putting in there. You'll be a lot happier this season and you might show that just because you're over 40, you're not over the guide hill like some folks believe.
Keep 'em where they live...
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