My fanny still hurts 6 days later
posted Friday, September 07, 2007 by Team Checkpoint Zero @ 12:33 PM -
0 comments
Well, now I know what it feels like to paddle 100 miles in one stretch. Six days after finishing the Colorado River 100 Sept. 1,my butt still smarts a little.
The longest I'd paddled my Ruahine Firebolt in one stretch was probably 42 miles at the Suwannee River Challenge last fall. So, I obviously learned a lot by going well past the 50-mile mark -- kinda like when I first pedaled in a long, fast group road ride. There's a lot to distance kayak racing besides being able to paddle fast. There's drafting, properly preparing your boat for a long race (my rudder kept slipping so I couldn't turn the boat well --very frustrating!), staying focused on your pace despite the persistent ache in your fanny and monotonous scenery, and continually looking for the fast water.
I finished 6th in the solo-unlimited class, which included and all sorts of boats from sleek surf skis to open decked boats built for the Texas Water Safari. I learned a lot from watching the amazing racers there (including my buddy Kip Koelsch from Florida who finished 3rd!!!).
A few other tidbits I picked up:
I'll be back. Now, anybody up for the Yukon River Quest?
- Paul
The longest I'd paddled my Ruahine Firebolt in one stretch was probably 42 miles at the Suwannee River Challenge last fall. So, I obviously learned a lot by going well past the 50-mile mark -- kinda like when I first pedaled in a long, fast group road ride. There's a lot to distance kayak racing besides being able to paddle fast. There's drafting, properly preparing your boat for a long race (my rudder kept slipping so I couldn't turn the boat well --very frustrating!), staying focused on your pace despite the persistent ache in your fanny and monotonous scenery, and continually looking for the fast water.
I finished 6th in the solo-unlimited class, which included and all sorts of boats from sleek surf skis to open decked boats built for the Texas Water Safari. I learned a lot from watching the amazing racers there (including my buddy Kip Koelsch from Florida who finished 3rd!!!).
A few other tidbits I picked up:
- Make sure your dad (or other support person) knows where the dock ends and the water begins. My dad should have been watching where he was running rather than looking at me as I was pulling in to the CP at mile 64. I would have laughed myself to delirium if I wasn't in a race (he laughed, too).
- The Texas paddling community is VERY cool ... lots of laid-back folks, parents paddling with kids, etc. It was one of the best-run races I've EVER done.
I'll be back. Now, anybody up for the Yukon River Quest?
- Paul
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home