What was just a project some month ago is now a reality. Easter week-end is only 5 weeks away and 4 of our fellow paddlers will try to put their name on the results sheet of the Devizes to Westminster international canoe race (www.dwrace.org.uk). The race is a non-stop marathon covering 125 miles along the Kennet and Avon canal, the Thames river and finishing under Westminster bridge in London. During 24 hours (average finishing time), the competitors will have to cope with the the challenges of keeping their bodies fueled, fending off sleep deprivation, carrying their boats over 77 locks, escaping rabid swans ...
The intensive training schedule that some of us followed has paid off though. We already completed 4 "normal" kayak marathons with distances ranging form 12 to 19 miles and there is only 2 races left before the big one, 23 and 34 miles repectively which will be used to fine tune our portage technique and get a good estimation of our finishing time.
If you have nothing to do on Easter Sunday, you can wake up and get to Westminster bridge around 07h00 to cheer on Jemima, Steve, Klaudia and Julien as they cross the finishing line and have to be carried out of their boats. If you want to know what it feels like, talk to me and we'll arrange a discovery tour in the flatwater racing K2s (the boats used in the race).
And if you feel generous (and I know you are), you can help Klaudia to raise money for the
Royal Blind Society by visiting her sponsorship page
See you at Westminster,
Julien