At the end of the twelve mile trip I had felt pretty exhausted, which I had more or less expected, but it must have taken more out of me than I thought. Since then I've done the five mile New Haw to Pyrford run three times,and not once has it gone well.
Initially I left it for a week recovery time then went back to the canal. The first time was slow and erratic just getting along. Like the curate's egg it was good in parts, but generally a pretty poor show. The second and third trips were no better.Everything was just disjointed and uneven. I simply couldn't get any form of rhythm or semblance of order going. Also the same old problem of being able to keep upright for any length of time occurred earlier in each trip until the point came where I was glad to finish and just get off the water.
The only saving grace in all this was that each trip was without stops, including the turn around and the overall times of 1 : 16 to 1 : 18 were consistent and work out to be an average speed of just under 4 mph. Nevertheless, of I could just maintain a good, even paddling motion I feel that I could crack the average 5 mph that I need to stand a real chance of completing the race.
I've entered for another club long distance event that is going to happen in two weeks, this time on the Hamble river which is partly tidal. I'm not looking forward to it much, especially if this poor form persists, but at least it'll be some sort of experience of tidal conditions.
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