You might feel old when you get up in the morning and wince as the muscles and joints creak. How does a 91-year-old feel? That depends
somewhat on genetics but mostly on lifestyle. Mike reports about his trip to the national championships this past week. He’s like the energizer bunny; he never stops!
Week of August 4, 2013
Aug.4 Sun. Canoed in practice for National Championships, 16.5 mi, Little Miami River
5. Mon. Raced canoe 3
6. Tue. Ran 5
7. Wed. Raced canoe 3
8. Thu. Travel to Newaygo Nationals races, Michigan
9. Fri. Raced canoe 15 mi.
10. Sat. Travel home
Schedule for week of Aug.11:
Paddle 3 days - 3-mile races
Run 30 miles
Rest 1 day
MARATHON CANOE RACING
I've been a racer since 1963. It can warp your life: if you win a race, you think you're good, you're encouraged, and so you stay with it. So it's my 51st year as a warpee. My racing partner Scott Gallagher and I won the second time we raced, on the Little Miami River in 1964. When we won the 21- mile Greenville Creek Race in 1967, the newspaper reported "Couple of Old Men Win Canoe Race." .... we were both 45.
In 1968 the United States Canoe Association was formed for marathon racing – not Olympic or whitewater or kayak racing – those were left to The American Canoe Association (ACA). Every August the USCA has national championships in such attractive places as NY, PA, MI, IN, CT, IL, WI. There are races over a 5-day period (You can camp there) so that the whole family can race with each other or separately. The marathon distances along a river are set by how far the champs
can go in about 2 hours. That allows you to race 2 or 3 days in a row without burning out.
One race, the General Clinton in Cooperstown, NY, features 70 miles in one day. That's an out-burner! Scott Gallagher and I did it in 1975 at age 53. It includes portages around 3 dams, lots of Class 1 rapids and sometimes a Class 2. Your speed depends on how much it has rained in the last
few days or weeks plus dam operation needs. The all-time record is 6:36 in high water. In low water, solo, at age 86, it took me 12:30. With partner 44-year old Brian Masters the following year we did a 9:28 (He pushed me!).
On Saturday I returned from the USCA National Championships at Newaygo, Michigan, on the
Muskegon River. The race started at the dam-formed lake and required paddling a 2.5 mile course in the lake, portaging the dam, and doing 12.5 miles on the river to the finish. I struggled to finish in LAST PLACE against old friend Dr. Neal Sanders of TN, who is 73, and I won (last place) in 2:53. He beat me by 22 seconds! Beat by a youngster!
Another old friend, Dr. Fred Tuttle of Kentucky, said "You know, all the canoes lined up in the grass before the races used to be aluminum. Then fiberglass. Then Kevlar. Now carbon fiber." Prices have changed, too.
Our Newaygo hosts went all out for us racers, providing camping areas, parking, shuttles, snacks, privies and a park with chairs for the awards ceremony where we were addressed by the regional congressman and Newaygo's Mayor. It’s a scenic place to visit. Go to the Newaygo Nationals website to hear more.
Also, I find that more and more racers are moving to a plant-based diet. Seems to be a healthy trend and maybe it enhances our performance.
somewhat on genetics but mostly on lifestyle. Mike reports about his trip to the national championships this past week. He’s like the energizer bunny; he never stops!
Week of August 4, 2013
Aug.4 Sun. Canoed in practice for National Championships, 16.5 mi, Little Miami River
5. Mon. Raced canoe 3
6. Tue. Ran 5
7. Wed. Raced canoe 3
8. Thu. Travel to Newaygo Nationals races, Michigan
9. Fri. Raced canoe 15 mi.
10. Sat. Travel home
Schedule for week of Aug.11:
Paddle 3 days - 3-mile races
Run 30 miles
Rest 1 day
MARATHON CANOE RACING
I've been a racer since 1963. It can warp your life: if you win a race, you think you're good, you're encouraged, and so you stay with it. So it's my 51st year as a warpee. My racing partner Scott Gallagher and I won the second time we raced, on the Little Miami River in 1964. When we won the 21- mile Greenville Creek Race in 1967, the newspaper reported "Couple of Old Men Win Canoe Race." .... we were both 45.
In 1968 the United States Canoe Association was formed for marathon racing – not Olympic or whitewater or kayak racing – those were left to The American Canoe Association (ACA). Every August the USCA has national championships in such attractive places as NY, PA, MI, IN, CT, IL, WI. There are races over a 5-day period (You can camp there) so that the whole family can race with each other or separately. The marathon distances along a river are set by how far the champs
can go in about 2 hours. That allows you to race 2 or 3 days in a row without burning out.
One race, the General Clinton in Cooperstown, NY, features 70 miles in one day. That's an out-burner! Scott Gallagher and I did it in 1975 at age 53. It includes portages around 3 dams, lots of Class 1 rapids and sometimes a Class 2. Your speed depends on how much it has rained in the last
few days or weeks plus dam operation needs. The all-time record is 6:36 in high water. In low water, solo, at age 86, it took me 12:30. With partner 44-year old Brian Masters the following year we did a 9:28 (He pushed me!).
On Saturday I returned from the USCA National Championships at Newaygo, Michigan, on the
Muskegon River. The race started at the dam-formed lake and required paddling a 2.5 mile course in the lake, portaging the dam, and doing 12.5 miles on the river to the finish. I struggled to finish in LAST PLACE against old friend Dr. Neal Sanders of TN, who is 73, and I won (last place) in 2:53. He beat me by 22 seconds! Beat by a youngster!
Another old friend, Dr. Fred Tuttle of Kentucky, said "You know, all the canoes lined up in the grass before the races used to be aluminum. Then fiberglass. Then Kevlar. Now carbon fiber." Prices have changed, too.
Our Newaygo hosts went all out for us racers, providing camping areas, parking, shuttles, snacks, privies and a park with chairs for the awards ceremony where we were addressed by the regional congressman and Newaygo's Mayor. It’s a scenic place to visit. Go to the Newaygo Nationals website to hear more.
Also, I find that more and more racers are moving to a plant-based diet. Seems to be a healthy trend and maybe it enhances our performance.
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