So as the race gets closer and closer so the training gets harder and harder, for those of you who haven’t been reading the blog, over the Easter Weekend I am going to be kayaking 200km non-stop down the Thames in England. Hoping to complete it in 22 hours, however there will be two of us so that should make it easy. www.dwrace.org.uk .
Training last weekend was an interesting experience
as me and Geo, my partner for race, headed down to Tramore in Waterford to meet up with DW (the race) legend Mick O’Meara who along with another Irishman Jim Morrissey had one the race 2 in the 90’s. It was good to be out on the water with Mick and to hear all the little bits and pieces that go into completing the race in a good time. The little things that can make or break you in this long a race, food is an essential part of everything and also what to wear. The unique challenge of the DW is in the fact that there are 77 portages of locks and wiers over the course of the race.
To practise for this we have been up to Shannon Harbour near Ballinasloe to train on the canal and the locks. A unique experience, for anyone who hasn’t been on the canals in Ireland I would highly recommend it as you do get to see a different part of Ireland. Paddling down the canal you see the countryside you don’t get to see looking of the roads and there is plenty of different types o floating crafts to take you down the canal.
The race is now getting very real as it is only 25 days away, squeaky bum time as the big man is quoted as saying. 20 more days of hard training before tapering off for the last week and then the fun will start. For those that are interested I will post the GPS routes of this weeks training on Sunday so that you can have an idea of what goes into completing such a race.
Enjoy Paddys weekend (a dry one for me) and enjoy the parades.
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