A
FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT BLACKBURN:
I
think, although I am not absolutely certain and haven’t done the hard work to
figure it out, that this is my seventh Blackburn Challenge coming up this
Saturday.
Yesterday,
Stephanie and I did our last long row, the Grand Tour of the World: around
Tinker’s Island, out to Halfway Rock, around Bakers Island, around Misery
Island and home, basically outside everything in the neighborhood!
As
we rowed through the cove on the Manchester side of Misery someone yelled to me
wanting to know how long the boat is.
“21
feet” I said. “And it weighs 35 lbs.”
“Wow”,
he exclaimed turning to his buddy, “that boat weighs 35lbs!”
“We’re
getting ready for the Blackburn Challenge next weekend.” I share.
“My
seventh and I’m 62 years old!”
I
feel really good to be ready to go out and row this event again. Thankful for
my body, teaching me, yet again, to pay attention, listen and take loving care
of myself. In return I get to enjoy the blissful pleasure of being on the ocean
in my rowing shell, day after day, mile after mile, feeling good in my body.
What a gift!
Thankful
for Stephanie, my rowing partner, she constantly invites me to go a little
harder, a little longer, no slacking on her watch! Whenever I think I’m rowing
well, keeping my boatspeed up to race pace, not falling too far behind, she
disappears, later saying, “Oh, I feel light, like skipping over the water!”
For
those of you getting ready for your first Blackburn, a few thoughts about
preparation.
Rest, really important to let your body recover this week. I often
don’t realize how much demand I have been putting on my body and how much rest
I need to be fully recovered and ready to go. Planning to stretch, do a few
easy rows, get a massage etc.
Fuel My body needs fuel during the race. I have tried a lot of
different combinations for race fuel including one awful protein enriched
mixture tasting like pancake batter that I fed to the fishes around mile 12.
After years of fooling with different stuff I have settled on Cytomax drink mix
and GU. It works for me. In several Blackburns I have hit the wall around mile
14, a few GUs and fluid does the trick!
Hydration Again, I’ve tried a lot of different
strategies including Camelback hydration systems velcroed to the deck of my
boat and have found that for me the best strategy is to PREHYDRATE beginning
Thursday before the race. Prehydration infuses that body tissue with fluids
decreasing the fluid demands during the race. Then I row with bottles just like
a regular row.
You
can prehydrate by drinking alot of water, and I mean a lot, eat lots of
watermelon and other watery fruits and veggies, to the point where you have to
pee constantly. It works.
Pace You will row faster than you normally row. Just happens
that way, caught up in the race frenzy with boats all around. Don’t forget it’s
20 miles! I’ve seen lots of Rock & Row’ers go out hard and burn out by
Straitsmouth. I try to find a comfortable rhythm with good boatspeed knowing
that the run from Milk to Eastern Point will be hard as it always is, good to
have energy for the second half!
Course The first and perhaps toughest navigation challenge is the
river. If you look at a chart you’ll see the twists and turns. Not sure yet
what the current and tides will be doing but it runs hardest in the middle and
the sides can get very shallow at low water. You can actually run aground in
the mud flats! Following the channel is safe but slow as it corkscrews around.
My recommendation is to study the chart and have a plan! (BTW, Capt Jack is the
best river runner I know)
That’s
it for this morning, Bertha will be at boathouse Friday at 5. If you want your
boat on Bertha, be there. If you are not able to be there, talk to either Chris
or myself, we’ll be happy to load your boat for you but you have to ask. If we
do not hear from you and you do not show up Friday at 5 we will assume you are
making your own arrangements.
More
later in the week about timing for Bertha’s arrival in Gloucester.
And
for those NOT rowing BLackburn...WHY NOT?
Come
cheer us on!
Have
a gentle week,
Paul
