Race 6 Winter kayak Series - 18th September 2011

Race 6 was a 22km paddle from Vaxuhall Yacht Club down the harbour to Goat Island at Port Chalmers and return. The race was operated on a handicap start system, I had a 30minute delay on the first paddlers and would have ot work hard if i was to catch these paddlers. The paddle down was not too taxing as there was an outgoing tide so the flow in the channel was good, apart form one little shortcut across the shallows that involved about a 50m portage in ankle deep water things were good. After heading around the island it was a good grind back up the harbour just sticking to the edge of the channel. After about 90minutes of paddling my body was feeling pretty taxed. So just over 2 hours of paddling i was at the finish line and pretty well exhausted.

Dunedin Marathon Sunday 11th September 2011

After a very early start to a Sunday morning 5.15am!!! after watching some exciting Rugby World Cup games on Saturday I was up and getting all fed and ready for the Dunedin Marathon. This was to be Marathon #7 - I don't quite know why I go back for more with these but it is always a good challenge for the body. I think after each one prior to this I have said no more of these pavement bashers i'll stick to multisport as I have usually suffered a bit in the final kms of previous Marathons.

Today's Marathon I had taken on some words of wisdom I have received from some seasoned older Marathon runners. It is a 32km warm up for a 10km run effort of all you have after this! I started with this in mind and my plan for the race was to run at a comfortable pace for the first 30km and see how things felt from there and then give what I had left from there. With some careful pacing at the start and not taking off and chasing too many at the start knowing that I would pass some of them doing the mighty marathon shuffle in the later stages of the 42km run.

I passed the half way mark in 1hr 40min and was feeling fine, and this carried on for the next 10-12km. From about 34 km things started to feel a bit heavier and harder to keep up the same pace i had held earlier, but no signs of any cramping at all. I had ensured that I kept hydrated and fueled up with regular Leppin shots, a Banana and a bar at the 25km mark. So nearing the end I caught a few who had taken off earlier, I gave all I had to the last kms of the race and finished up in a time of 3hrs40min not my fastest time ever but very happy with this, I felt completely exhausted at the end but not totally destroyed from head to to like in previous Marathons.

So all up a great run.3hrs40min26sec, 23rd Open Man and 65th from 221 runners. more pics and full results available at www.moromarathon.co.nz