Middle-aged, middle-weight, mother of 3 on mad marathon mission
At some point during December 2010, I agreed to partner a friend to do the DW - a 125 mile canoe race, through the night at Easter. After a few close calls (dislocated knee, flu, heat-stroke) we did it.
It took us 3 hours longer than we had hoped, but severe sunstroke and an inability to keep down food and drink made us adjust our plans. We still came 2nd in our division and are in the top 50 of all female crews who have ever paddled the race.
And like childbirth, just a day later we were contemplating our 2012 DW race... but this time we'll be starting from a position of marginally more fitness!
This is my occasional account of a middle-age mother's attempt to take on things which are really quite beyond her. ( www.kayakingkiwi.co.uk )
And when that's done, I'll be looking for a quadrathlon to do...
It took us 3 hours longer than we had hoped, but severe sunstroke and an inability to keep down food and drink made us adjust our plans. We still came 2nd in our division and are in the top 50 of all female crews who have ever paddled the race.
And like childbirth, just a day later we were contemplating our 2012 DW race... but this time we'll be starting from a position of marginally more fitness!
This is my occasional account of a middle-age mother's attempt to take on things which are really quite beyond her. ( www.kayakingkiwi.co.uk )
And when that's done, I'll be looking for a quadrathlon to do...
canoeingTag search: canoeing (Close) 6 months of training, 1 fall and it's all over before it began  by crawlingkiwi Apr 5th 2012It's just a day before the start of the race which has occupied my every waking moment for the past few weeks and every training session for the past 6 months. But I'll no longer be on the start line.
It has been a tricky couple of weeks. I was tr... I've lost the balance by crawlingkiwi Jan 21st 2012Just when my training schedule should be stepping up, I've had almost 2 weeks of virtual inactivity on the training front. I've managed a couple of runs, a couple of gym sessions and a swim, but that's nowhere near what I should be doing at the momen... Two national finals - managed to snag a medal ... by crawlingkiwi Oct 2nd 2011Yes, this non athletic paddler actually managed to get a medal at the national marathon championships in August (we're talking kayaking). It's been a good summer - watching my daughter win at the World Quad championships in the Czech Republic, time i... Going Long - gets under your skin by crawlingkiwi May 1st 2011Since completing my absurdly long 125 mile race last weekend in very hard conditions and with a very high drop-out rate, my paddling partner and I have been searching around for something else to focus on.
I have found an adventure race we could ... Imodium at the ready - because I'm nervous enough to need it now by crawlingkiwi Apr 20th 2011Three days from race day and my list of preparations is now ludicrously long. Reading through it seems to bring on a feeling of exhaustion and I have to go and lie down, so I'm not sure how I'm actually going to cope with the race. We have 4 support ... So that's why we sterilise camelbaks... by crawlingkiwi Apr 5th 2011It started with a low gurgling in my stomach and a sense of rising nausea. After a weekend of hard racing, I thought at first I had perhaps just overdone it, but as the stomach upset and nausea took hold, it became evident this was more. I got the bu... Spring has sprung by crawlingkiwi Mar 27th 2011With my K2 partner still injured, I opted for an 18 mile training paddle today in the gorgeous weather. It could not have been more perfect, aside from the pleasure boaters who were speeding past threatening to upend me. I'm a little sunburnt and my ... A tough race - with a little ballet and squealing by crawlingkiwi Mar 20th 2011Oh my - that was tough! My partner's knee was still too dodgy to risk racing today, so I opted to do the 19 miles on my own in a VERY HEAVY K1. The build up for the race was not ideal - 2 days off work ill on Thursday and Friday, then a 240 mile roun... 125 miles? Having a bit of a wobble... by crawlingkiwi Mar 14th 2011Can I really manage a 125 mile race, 25 hours non stop? I am veering between wild optimism and blind faith that I can do whatever I put my mind to, and complete negativity when I wonder how I'll cope with sleep deprivation, the dark, the cold and sta... A Tunnel called Bruce by crawlingkiwi Mar 13th 2011Last Sunday's race had a bit of an unpleasant finish, when my K2 partner dislocated her knee as she went to get out of the boat, seconds after we crossed the finish line. Thank goodness it happened where it did, because had we been on a portage (wher... It's purple, it sparkles and it's beautiful by crawlingkiwi Feb 25th 2011As all athletes know (even pretend wannabes like me) the right kit and equipment is essential. Obviously the right colour and numerous gadgets make us faster and better, how else to explain the sums of money I've spent on electronic bits and pieces o... Brain function and exercise... by crawlingkiwi Feb 6th 2011Some people can undoubtedly perform complex mathematics in their head while running or cycling, they can estimate splits and their ultimate finish time to within a few seconds. Me? I have a singular inability to even count accurately when I'm trainin... Motivation and that competitive spirit - who has it and why? by crawlingkiwi Jan 8th 2011While I've been languishing in my sick bed over the past week or so, I've been contemplating motivation and why some people seem to have it working in overdrive, while others leech apathy from every pore.
At school, I have students (primarily tee... And it was going so well.... by crawlingkiwi Jan 8th 2011Now I'm sure it had nothing to do with paddling through blizzards and ice-storms, but oh my, I've been hit by 2 shocking types of flu ... the second bout of which, didn't even have the decency to wait until I was recovered from the first.
So I g... Plans by crawlingkiwi Dec 19th 2010Have decided to undertake the DW (125 mile canoe race) at Easter next year. Lots of things could go wrong before then, but it feels so good to have an aim and a definitive goal. Along the way there will be some Waterside Races and hopefully a huge ga... | DW - 125 miles, 24 hours
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