I have been away for a week, having sailed the seas around Sardinia and Corsica for a bit of a holiday. I have managed pretty much zero training in this time and if anything I have put my training back with a new injury.
The weekend before we flew I did go for a bit of a paddle with my dad. Not in the racing kayak but in our play boats, just for a bit of a muck about on the river. The sun was shining and it was a really nice day, and I plucked up the courage to have a go at a roll.
The first ever time I took this boat out after buying it, it dumped me after a short period of time and despite frenzied flailing, I failed to right myself. Since then I have been a bit of a coward with rolling.
Despite the sun, the water was freezing but this time I managed to roll and with it I gained a new confidence on the water.
Monday we flew and all thoughts of swimming, running and weight training was out of the window, replaced with French wines and sailing.
At some point while sailing between Sardinia and Corsica I broke my toe. I wish there was a heroic tale of battling with a mizzen sail in a gale but I basically stubbed my toe on a door bulkhead while getting changed below deck. Though as we were hours away from medical attention I was forced to perform surgery (splint my toe), John Rambo style, on myself.
This toe injury is going to make running difficult for a while though as of today I am no longer limping.
I did manage to get a little canoeing in though, in an inflatable Spree 2 kayak with the wife. This thing looked pretty good when it was inflated and despite being disappointed with its mediocre performance when we paddled it, (I was unfairly comparing it to the weekend paddle in my Dagger) the experience did convince the wife that she wants to take up kayaking. This is great news, I can now justify getting a new boat so she can inherit my current craft.
I have also discovered the joys of sailing. I have a mind to take up some kind of dinghy sailing. There is a racing class called the Fireball Dinghy. Now that’s what I’m talking about.
All in good time though. First of all I have a swim, half marathon and the DW race to complete.
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Training, Planning and Running the Devizes to Westminster Race
Welcome to my blog where I am documenting all of the training and planning toward competing in the Devizes to Westminster kayak marathon in 2010.
When I started this my one and only goal was to be ready to take part in the DW race but once I begun my training in earnest I started to look around at other endurance events with a desire to take part in those as well.
On the 22nd of March I took part in the Ironbridge half marathon finishing the race in 2h 01m 32s.
The 12th September I will compete in the Great North Swim.
8 days later I will take on the Great North half Marathon.
And then in April 2010 is the reason for all of this, the Devizes to Westminster kayak ultra marathon.
Thank you for your support.
When I started this my one and only goal was to be ready to take part in the DW race but once I begun my training in earnest I started to look around at other endurance events with a desire to take part in those as well.
On the 22nd of March I took part in the Ironbridge half marathon finishing the race in 2h 01m 32s.
The 12th September I will compete in the Great North Swim.
8 days later I will take on the Great North half Marathon.
And then in April 2010 is the reason for all of this, the Devizes to Westminster kayak ultra marathon.
Thank you for your support.
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Short sleeve thermal top
Short sleeve lightweight cag
Long sleeve heavy cag
Full length lycra or thermal trousers
Zipped spray deck
Normal spray deck
Paddling gloves
Poggies
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The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race is the longest non-stop canoe race in the world. It starts in the quiet market town of Devizes in Wiltshire and finishes 125 miles later at Westminster Bridge, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament in the heart of London.
It is held over the Easter weekend each year and has been a fixture in the British sporting calendar since 1950. But DW is much more than just a canoe race - it’s an adventure! It forces competitors to dig long and deep into their reserves of physical and mental stamina which is why the race is often called “the canoeists’ Everest”.
Having the technical skill to paddle a kayak or canoe is essential but the most important quality needed to complete DW is raw determination. And the reward for making the mighty effort needed to cross the finish line is a sense of satisfaction so profound that many paddlers can’t resist coming back year after year.
It is held over the Easter weekend each year and has been a fixture in the British sporting calendar since 1950. But DW is much more than just a canoe race - it’s an adventure! It forces competitors to dig long and deep into their reserves of physical and mental stamina which is why the race is often called “the canoeists’ Everest”.
Having the technical skill to paddle a kayak or canoe is essential but the most important quality needed to complete DW is raw determination. And the reward for making the mighty effort needed to cross the finish line is a sense of satisfaction so profound that many paddlers can’t resist coming back year after year.
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