lconn4
10-24-2004, 10:09 AM
Well, I was at the Kayak Expo yesterday, listening to all the talk about the big race on Sunday morning. People coming by to enter and the talk goes to sizeing up the competitors.
Turning 49 next month, I find out I would be eligible for the senior division. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Also find out that 40 is the start of the senior division. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif
When a competitor comes out to do a practice run, I decide to tag along. Now I've run a lot of track events in my day, but this is a different kind of track, and I was quizzing my paddling companion along the way.
He was paddling a sit inside and had the lightest paddle I've ever held, I think it was a carbon Epic racing paddle. Not a good sign for yours truly.
I brought my rod along, in case I decided to call it day. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
It's obvious this dude knows a lot more about going fast for a long time, in a kayak. We still had'nt shown each other our best effort. The course is three miles to the dam and 3 back, are we there yet? http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
Decide to cast along the way, maybe it will make the trip shorter....better yet, if I hookup, a good reason to stop paddling. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif
Put the rod away, and go into high gear to catch back up, with Mr. Paddling Machine. OK, he slowed down for me to catch up. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_redface.gif
When the dam comes in to view, we decided to do a sprint...I had just finished a smoke and felt ready to go.
In actuallity, over the 100 yards we gave it out all, he took me by about 5 feet. Don't know if he just gave enough to win or if that's all he had, but I was feeling good.
He practiced his turn arounds for about 5 minutes, while I fished and tried to breathe.
Three mile down and three to go, when the skies open up. Left rainsuit in car. Mad dash in cold rain all the way back. Total time 1 hour 40 minutes, a little better than 4 miles per hour.
What could I do without smoke breaks, fishing, switching paddles, tring different strokes, in the heat of battle...? My mind wondered. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
The alarm went off at 6:30 am, yak loaded from last night, stop at store for pound cake breakfast and Dr.Peper...jet fuel! http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif
Get on I95 headin North.......what am I doing...I'm gonna kill myself.....for what.......got off the next exit and went fishing....killed the jacks instead. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
Turning 49 next month, I find out I would be eligible for the senior division. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Also find out that 40 is the start of the senior division. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif
When a competitor comes out to do a practice run, I decide to tag along. Now I've run a lot of track events in my day, but this is a different kind of track, and I was quizzing my paddling companion along the way.
He was paddling a sit inside and had the lightest paddle I've ever held, I think it was a carbon Epic racing paddle. Not a good sign for yours truly.
I brought my rod along, in case I decided to call it day. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
It's obvious this dude knows a lot more about going fast for a long time, in a kayak. We still had'nt shown each other our best effort. The course is three miles to the dam and 3 back, are we there yet? http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
Decide to cast along the way, maybe it will make the trip shorter....better yet, if I hookup, a good reason to stop paddling. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif
Put the rod away, and go into high gear to catch back up, with Mr. Paddling Machine. OK, he slowed down for me to catch up. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_redface.gif
When the dam comes in to view, we decided to do a sprint...I had just finished a smoke and felt ready to go.
In actuallity, over the 100 yards we gave it out all, he took me by about 5 feet. Don't know if he just gave enough to win or if that's all he had, but I was feeling good.
He practiced his turn arounds for about 5 minutes, while I fished and tried to breathe.
Three mile down and three to go, when the skies open up. Left rainsuit in car. Mad dash in cold rain all the way back. Total time 1 hour 40 minutes, a little better than 4 miles per hour.
What could I do without smoke breaks, fishing, switching paddles, tring different strokes, in the heat of battle...? My mind wondered. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
The alarm went off at 6:30 am, yak loaded from last night, stop at store for pound cake breakfast and Dr.Peper...jet fuel! http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif
Get on I95 headin North.......what am I doing...I'm gonna kill myself.....for what.......got off the next exit and went fishing....killed the jacks instead. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif