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...
trainingTag search: training (Close) Fifty - but not out  by crawlingkiwi Aug 21st 2012 An account of the trials and trauma of aging ... And finally pulling myself together (bit of a long post)
Today I ran for 15 minutes without stopping. To anyone with an interest in sport, that's probably a ludicrously short effort, but after the ... 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... 50 but not out by crawlingkiwi Dec 29th 2011When I was 15 I grandly declared that when I reached 50 I was going to kill myself as there was no reason to carry on after that point. As the dreaded age approaches, I find that my daughters are not fully supportive of my teenage plans, so I've come... Competitive, Addicted or just plain OCD? by crawlingkiwi Oct 25th 2011 I've known for a very long time that I have an addictive personality but generally, I can use that focus for good. My slightly obsessive qualities become really evident when competition is involved - whether it's playing freecell on my phone or wipi... I'm fitter than I've been in years and weigh less than I have in years, so why is my blood pressure going sky-high? by crawlingkiwi Jun 22nd 2011Evidenty I'm more naturally attuned to a life of sloth and indolence. But really? I've been going very dizzy and have briefly blacked out a few times lately when teaching - hugely entertaining for the students, but an easy way to get a reputation I f... 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 ... Finally, a bit of race preparation I'm really good at by crawlingkiwi Apr 17th 2011After a 35 miler last weekend, I've entered the final stages of race preparation: specifically tapering and eating. I've been out for short jaunts this week, including taking 10 kids over to a neighbouring club for a day's training, but have kept all... Over the cliff cyclist - an update by crawlingkiwi Apr 12th 2011My brother in law who cycled off a cliff a couple of weeks ago has generated a bit of interest, so I thought an update was called for. He spent just over a week in hospital and was then reluctantly released. He will need to go back in for an operatio... 35 mile race done! But can we manage the big one? by crawlingkiwi Apr 11th 2011A few months ago I thought a 10k race was a long way, but yesterday I finished a 35 mile (56k) in 7hours 2min. It was 2mins over our target time, but having had to stop and phone our support team (they missed a stop and we desperately needed a fluid ... One weekend, 2 races, a 1st, a 6th and a promotion by crawlingkiwi Apr 3rd 2011To appreciate my level of smugness fully, you have to realise I have NEVER won a race. In any sport. I was a good dancer, played basketball and tennis to a high standard, but have never been anything other than a back of the field plodder. One of th... 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... Success! 30km, £1200+ by crawlingkiwi Mar 4th 20111. Woke up on time (actually only had 3 hours sleep and minimal food);
2. VERY dark, at one point was surprised at how wide the river was and discovered I was paddling at speed straight for the bank;
3. Guy provided excellent support at 3 points th... 4.30am, 30k, and naked?? by crawlingkiwi Mar 3rd 2011Tomorrow morning at 4.30am (yes, 4.30AM) will see me set off on my most nerve-wracking undertaking to date. I'm paddling 30k to raise money for the NZ Earthquake appeal
( www.bomp.co.uk ) and while I'm nervous of paddling completely on my own in th... Commuting by Kayak by crawlingkiwi Mar 2nd 2011Because I have been so affected by the Earthquake in New Zealand, I'm doing a sponsored paddle this Friday. Rather than just do a normal paddle, I've decided to commute door to door from my home near Godalming to my school in New Haw (near Woking). I... Me or the Bearded Lady of Guildford? by crawlingkiwi Feb 20th 2011I seem barely able to go out training these days, without someone stopping and taking a photograph of me. As I've seen the way I look when I come off the water, I know they are not moved to record an image of great beauty. The truth is a bit more pro... | DW - 125 miles, 24 hours
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