State Marathon Championships 09: Day 2 Race Report

After ensuring that I reloaded up on carbs and had an early night to bed, I woke up feeling excited about racing in the TK2 with Mick. I felt refreshed and ready to go. I knew it was going to be fun and couldn't wait to have a good hit out against Dave and Leah, Craig and Liz, and Mark and David (all from the Central Coast Canoe Club) and Liz Van Reece and John McIntosh also in a TK2. I expected some serious racing and tactics, and thought that Mick and I would do well together again.

This was only the 2nd time Mick and I had ever paddled in a kayak together and just like last time we clicked straight away. Our warm-up went really well and I was feeling confident. At the start we all lined up together and the mood was great. Off we went and Dave and Leah took off. The 3 remaining crews soon settled into positions with Mick and I taking the lead and the other 2 crews wash-riding us.

With Dave and Leah in Dave's new TK2 their turns were amazing and they gained on us each time. Occassionally we would get within reach, but would lose too much ground on the turns again. I think we were paddling about the same speed, but they increased their distance on us with each turn. We dropped back to try and wash ride one of the other kayaks, but everytime we did this the other kayaks would slow down and Dave and Leah would get even further ahead. I think that if we had all worked together a bit better we would have been able to catch them, but as it turned out most of the race was spent with the other 2 kayaks wash riding us, and as hard as we tried we could not catch up to Dave and Leah on our own.

Towards the end of the second lap (half-way into the race), a speedboat came past and the other 2 crews (Craig and Liz, Mark and Dave) didn't stay with us through it, so Mick and I took the opportunity and made a move. Within about 30 seconds we had made enough of a lead and got them off our washride and we just kept getting further in front of them from that point on. By the end of the 3rd lap we had a significant lead on them and knew they couldn't catch us. So in retrospect I think that they didn't take over the lead place and let us wash-ride them because they were probably struggling to keep up with us as it was.

Now that we were well and truly on our own we again busted our butts to try and catch Dave and Leah, but every metre we made up we lost again on the next turn. Half way through the last lap we realised we couldn't catch them and eased off a bit. The others were way behind us, it was amazing how much distance we had made on them in just over a lap, and we finished a strong second to win the silver medal. Dave and Leah did 1:47:41, we finished only 50 seconds behind in 1:48:31, Mark and Dave finished almost 2 minutes behind us in 1:50:17 and Craig and Liz in 1:50:39.

Considering we were hoping to do 1:50:00 Mick and I were stoked with our time. And considering it was only our 2nd time paddling together I think we did amazingly well. Throughout the race, without even speaking I could feel what Mick was trying to do...increase rate, increase pressure, surge, ease off. He didn't have to say anything, I could just tell by the feel of it. Our timing was great and I really think we paddle well together. I hope we get the opportunity to do it again, because I think with experience we could be very good.

State Marathon Championships: Day 1 Race Report

Singles events were on this morning and I started off at 10:04am in the Open Womens K1 (me and only 1 other competitor) with the Under 23 Womens K1 (Elizabeth Dodd from our club and 1 other competitor) starting with us as well. A pretty disappointing turn up for all events I must say.

I aimed to start conservatively and was slow off the start (better to stay upright and lose a couple of metres). Straight away the 2 elite women bolted and that was pretty much the last Lizz and I saw of them the whole race (other than turns of course). They were just too superior and it was pretty much what I expected to happen. So it was me and Lizz paddling fairly close together for the race. I was feeling good and by the end of the first lap I had caught up to Liz (after my slow start) and we went into the portage together. By the end of the portage she had gained a lot of distance on me, but I caught her back up by the end of the second lap. The second portage was the same, but she gained even more distance and I couldn't catch her. However on the 3rd portage she didn't do so well and we left the beach together. I decided to wash ride her (technically I wasn't meant to but everyone else was doing the same thing) and the first part of the 4th lap was spent with me wash riding her, and some guy wash riding me. I started to feel really good and strong and had planned to let her rest behind me after the turn around and then after the last portage to let it be every man/woman for themselves, but 200 metres from the turn disaster struck...

The whole race we were cursed by speed boats and water skiers. They were very inconsiderate and even sped up when they got near us. I can't believe that they were allowed on the river - it was really quite dangerous. I had coped with all this wash extremely well, but this time we had 2 boats come past from behind us who sped up when then reached us. It created 2 lots of enormous following wash. I coped with the first lot well as I had time to turn towards the bank a bit, but at one point the cockpit was even in the water. I had never paddled on wash so big! The second lot was the end of me. I was still paddling in the direction of the wash but the waves just turned the kayak and spun it sideways and flipped me over. I have no idea how Liz didn't fall in - much better skill I suppose. But then again I think it was just bad luck for me.

I was pretty pi$$ed off. I swam for shore and soon discovered that eventhough it was shallow water the mud/silt was knee deep. I had no hope of getting back in on my own. Every time I managed to brace my paddle on a rock and get a leg in, the other leg would sink in the mud and I would tip back over. I tried in vain for a while and then finally a safety boat saw me and came over. After several amusing attempts for them to help me (which included them drifting 30 metres down the river with my paddle), they finally managed to help me get back in. In all, it was at least 15 minutes spent until I was back in the K1. Soooooo frustrating. I really had only 2 options. To end my race there and then with a DNF (which really wasn't an option for me) or to keep going. So I kept going. I was so far behind by now it was embarrassing, but I came in for the last portage and everyone was cheering me and encouraging me, so off I went on my final lap and paddled hard till the end.

It was so frustrating to paddle so hard and well for so long, to have it end like that so close to the finish. I always knew that I wouldn't win - that wasn't the issue - I had wanted to paddle well and see what kind of time I could do for the distance. And when Liz and I were so close it turned into a race between us (eventhough we were in different classes) and I had hoped to finish close to her or even beat her. Oh well. At least I can look at her time and have a vague idea as to what time I would have done.

So I got a silver medal in a time of 2:46:08 (hr:min:sec) for 25km with 4 portages. Liz did 2:38:30, which I know I could have done without the capsize. I think she probably eased off a bit when she saw I'd disappeared and would have gone faster than that if I'd still been on her tail.

But, all in all I'm happy with how I paddled and coped with most of the wash and conditions. My portages were slow, but for my first time I think I did well. So other than the capsize I'm pleased with my race.

A decision's been made

A decision has been made and I've finally entered the State Marathon Championships in the Open K1 and Open Mixed TK2. I've also decided that I'll race in the Struer for the K1 race. Considering that it is a 5km lap course (5 laps for K1 race and 4 laps for TK2) there's going to be a lot of boat wash and messy water. I am very confident in the Struer and won't feel nervous in rougher conditions, wash riding or when jostling for positions (like on Sunday). I'm just not quite ready in the Van Dusan yet. I can't wait until I can paddle the Van Dusan as well as the Struer because I will fly. But in the meantime I am looking forward to racing (instead of feeling a bit nervous about it) and can't wait until we get up to Forster.

For everyone (Jack, Mark and Anton) who have kindly offered for me to borrow their kayaks I am more grateful than you'll ever know. Your generosity, sharing of knowledge and support mean a lot to me and I wouldn't be paddling anywhere near as good as I am without it.

A flat and disappointing paddle

After switching my paddle session from yesterday to today I was disappointed this morning when the weather was so crap. It was raining all morning. Don't get me wrong - I was going unless there was a thunderstorm, but it's always nicer paddling when it's not raining.
Anway, by the afternoon the rain stopped and the wind picked up and I arranged to meet Anton there at 4:45pm. I got there a bit early and Jack and Mick had just come back from a bridge lap. They convinced me to paddle up towards the lake with them (with much protesting by me...that Anton was going to kill me), and after about 1km I turned around and headed back to meet up with Anton. This part of the paddle felt good, but when Anton and I started heading up towards the lake together I felt a bit flat.
We met up with Jack and Mick, and paddled up to the lake and back with them. When we got back our time and my heart rate was good, but I just felt 'off the mark' today. I convinced Anton to let me practice wash riding him, and this was great. I've never wash ridden in a K1 before and I did better than expected. All up I paddled about 8km.
I'm just disappointed with how I felt today. Maybe it was knowing I had such a short time to paddle as I had to get back home in time for Chris to go to Soccer training. Maybe it was the lack of sleep last night due to Connor's all night long night terrors. Excuses, excuses! I was certainly looking forward to the sessions, but it just didn't click tonight. Oh well, I guess I can't expect every session to be great. I think maybe I was a bit disheartened after reading about the State Marathon Championships. I found out that the Open Womens K1 is 25km and has 4 portages. Now there's no way I'll be up to that standard in the K1 in 5 weeks. I also discovered that I won't be able to race in the Vet 35 category because it is the age you were on 1st January 2009. Usually in vet categories you can race in the category for the year you turn that age, which means I could race in V35, but appartently not for this event. This is a bummer because I was hoping to race in V35. So I think I'll race in the Open TK1 event now because there is no way that in 5 weeks I'd be able to stay upright in a K1 for 25km with 4 portages. Give me another month and maybe I could. So probably it's just that my heart wasn't in it today. I guess I'm just a bit disheartened at the moment. So disappointing after paddling so well on the weekend.

State Marathon Championships....to go, or not to go

Ever since I found out about the 2009 State Marathon Championships I have entertained the thought of going. Considering that it's being held in Forster it's also not too far for us to travel, but far enough that we would have to stay overnight. Since our funds are so tight at the moment I have been considering several possibilities. I really want to race. I think that this is a major competition that would be very beneficial to do. Basically if I can't race well at this level, then going to the World Masters Games is just plain silly. It's also a great chance to get high level competition practice. Since these competions are normally held with individual races on Saturday and Doubles etc on Sunday, one possibility was just doing a day trip and racing individually on the Saturday. Working out finances, we have been going back and forth deciding whether to go or not. We also need to consider the boys. Sure I could stay overnight on my own, but I don't want to be away from the boys overnight again so soon after the Hawkesbury Classic. Their wellbeing is my priority. The idea of a day trip (not sure if it would be on my own or not) was looking like the answer. Then Mick threw a curve ball in....
At the club race on Sunday Mick asked me if I would like to compete at State in the TK2 with him again. Now this is too good an opportunity to miss. After our success at the State 5000m championships it's obvious that we paddle really well together, and it looks like there'd be some more mixed TK2's competing as well this time. So if I do that, it would mean an overnight stay...decisions, decisions.

Well after long deliberations, Chris and I decided that we would plan to go. So I've spent all week trying to find somewhere cheap to stay. At first I tried the Caravan Park where the race is, but the online page said it was all booked out apart from tent sites. So I tried a few other places but everthing was too expensive. We then thought that we'd stay in tents which is not ideal with 2 young children, but I was desperate to go. So upon calling the Caravan Park tonight, I found out that the online site says they are booked out because they have reserved a heap of spots for kayakers for the weekend. After a quick chat, we snapped up the cheapest cabins on offer and are now set for the competition weekend. Now I've just got some serious training to do!