To say I'm a little nervous about my trip to Hawaii this December would be an understatement. In addition to the marathon, I plan to surf the North Shore. As you know, this is when the waves are the biggest. In case you didn't know, surfing is about 30 percent paddling, 60 percent just sitting there waiting for a wave, and then only 10 percent (at most) actually surfing waves. That's one reason why I've been working so hard on my upper body strength these days. This includes dumbbell curls.
It also calls for pull ups.
I also do a decent amount of cardio each day (today I got in 12,000 steps). Daily stretching and mobility work has also been important.
Really, surfing is a bunch of cardio (paddling) punctuated by little HIIT cardio workouts when you catch the wave. You've got to be fairly fit and flexible to be able to do it well.
Will I be ready? I hope so!