PADDLER 94
Lots of running over the last few years . I had a goal to finish a 100-mile race ,
“ and after completing that , I did a few big running events .
PADDLER 94
When preparing for a race , what qualities do you look for in a fellow teammate kayaker ? This is where the DW Paddler Matrix comes into play ( copyright Billy Butler ). On one axis , we have speed ; on the other , we have reliability . It ’ s no good being fast for two hours if you can ’ t get to the end , and no point getting to the end if the record falls out of reach along the way . We both knew we ran a smooth boat and could hold a strong pace for four hours ; we needed to build our resilience over the year to attack the record throughout the race .
Do you have any favourite conditions for paddling , or are you happy with whatever Mother Nature bowls your way on the day ? The cold is frustrating for me ; if it ’ s cold , I find it harder to focus ; I get increasingly annoyed that my hands and feet are turning into blocks of ice . The rain , wind , flow and swirls on the water are no problem ; just fussy about the cold ; give me + 5 degrees Celsius , and I ’ m happy .
How much did the KayakPro help in your training ? What a huge difference this made to my training . Four minutes on one-off x again and again and again . I spent hours on this awesome machine over the winter . Working in the city meant spare time wasn ’ t always on my side , but having the machine allowed me to build my fitness to take on the 15-hour race .
Talk us through a typical training day for a race like the DW . Both Tom and I are handy runners ( for kayakers ), so we would often blend running with kayaking to hit the volume targets required to prepare for the record attempt ; a typical day would include a 10 to 15km run and a 20km paddle or 2 hours on the machine .
What diet regime do you follow to ensure you ’ re paddling strong ? During the race , we had cereal bars and baby potatoes ( they had to be warm !) to get us through the night . These give a great steady release of energy . Combined with our electrolyte drinks , these helped us to maintain a high work rate throughout the race .
What ’ s your favourite race and why ? Racing at Elmbridge . I have always had strong results on that piece of water . The river ’ s flow allows for a tactical race and a race that rewards a high work rate ; you can put the hurt on in that race and use the river to your advantage .
What is it that you love about kayaking ? The people and the competition . I have always loved training . Training groups are always competitive and funny ; these like-minded idiots in the sport made the early morning worthwhile . There are always funny stories and new chances to make memories with friends .
If you could capture just one ‘ amusing ’ moment in your racing times – which would it be and why ? Cold Potatoes ! I can be quite fussy with the food ; the potatoes must be warm . I love warm potatoes but can ’ t stomach them cold . When we arrived at our support crew , the food went in … one second later … straight back out ! A bit of a surprise to the crew and made a couple of the guys laugh . Luckily for me , they got the camping stove out and warmed them by the time we next saw the crew .
What ’ s the longest race you ’ ve completed ? Nonstop it ’ s the Devizes to Westminster ( 201km ), but I have also completed the Berg in South Africa ( 240km ) and ran the length of Wales ( 360km ), completing the Dragons Back race .
I ’ m a paddler looking for the perfect UK river ; where would you recommend it and why ? Hereford , Worcester or Richmond in the summer . Richmond , on a sunny day , is the best location to go canoeing , and the water , scenery and people make this location ideal .
And a body of water you haven ’ t been to would be on your bucket list , and why does it flick your switch ? The Dusi in South Africa and the Molokai Ocean Race in Hawaii . Both are legendary races . With my running and fitness , I would enjoy the Dusi , and the Molokai is one to tick off the bucket list .
Any fellow paddler you would like to interview and why ? Hamish Lovemore ( South Africa ) always seems to love training and racing . Some people seem to lose the fun element at the top levels , but he always seemed to be smiling and loved the party along the way .
DO ANY OTHER SPORTS INTEREST YOU APART FROM PADDLING ?
Lots of running over the last few years . I had a goal to finish a 100-mile race ,
“ and after completing that , I did a few big running events .
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