The training had been going quite well up to December and then came a bit unstuck. All those Thames trips I had intended to do to get used to the open water conditions never got done as there was always something cropping up at the last moment that provided a get out. All in all the resolve to do this thing has flown leaving a rather half hearted attempt to keep up some sort of paddling fitness.
During a bit of a lull in the weather I went out with five others on the club's New Year's Day paddle, once more on the Wey. It was cold and wet and we could only manage to get as far as Walsham Gates because the river was running so fast. Eventually we put in to the Anchor pub for lunch before setting back the last two miles. It was pretty bloody.
Christmas came and went leaving its mark on the scales of which only a small part has been dealt with. But at the end of the year my log shows that I'm nearly 300 miles further on than the point that I gave up on last year. At least I can claim a BCU annual silver badge, if I get around to it. I had hoped that my mileage might just result in a place in the clubs annual mileage awards, but it seems that six others have done over 500 miles, so unless they are members with over 3 years standing I won't be figuring in that either.
Since the weather has now curtailed paddling action I've pretty much resigned myself to no entry in the race this year. Really I don't know if it's worth continuing paddling at all as it doesn't feel as if there is any improvement to be made even if I continued for another year. On the other hand there is the BCU gold award for 500 miles in a year which might be attainable with a bit of effort
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