Time Trial

I paddled a 4-person canoe tonight at the time trials. It was a lot of fun. I was in the second seat, behind Alec Davis. FWIW, second and third seats in a 4-person canoe are difficult positions to be in; the canoe is soo wide that it is difficult to use efficient technique. I am glad the course is only 3.45 miles in length.

We had a lot of fun .. we got a jump on all the paddlers at the start, then we got stuck on some rocks and got behind. We had to work hard as a team to get back into first place. At the finish we were edged out by a nose by an unlimited kayak. It was high fives and smiles all around after the race!

Distance: 3.45 miles
Time: 29'15"

If I were to paddle that c-4 again, I'd try to move the second seat closer to the bow and use a longer paddle.

Think Legend

Ok. I needed to clear my head, so I took out the think legend for a 1 hr time trial.

All I can write is *Wow*! The legend is a lot of fun ... fast, accelerates well, and is fun!

I did my usual loop.



Time: 57 minutes
Distance: 7.00 miles

I must say, it was a great way to clear my head!

Disappointment

So, Dot called Mac to confirm my registration, only to learn that I somehow got dropped from the 90-miler and *can't race* unlimited k1. Paydirt! This is unfair.

For me, the 90 miler comes around only once every 6 years.

I was registered to paddle in the 90 with a very good friend in stock canoe. Mac acknowledged this in June at the 9-miler; we laughed and goofed about our training program. Later, my friend had to withdraw from the 90-miler due to work conflicts. However, Mac told me that everything would be ok and that I still have a 'seat' at the 90 in spite of the set-back. I asked him specifically about paddling k1 at the St. Regis race and he said "no problem".

Now, I am told that I cannot race.

My plans are like a bad MasterCard commercial.

a second hand boat: $1950
two nights accomodations: $150
comfortable lifejacket: $120
gu and sports drink: $60
Getting *dropped* from the 90-miler: Priceless

Birthday present

So ... after lugging around a 41+ lb boat during practice yesterday, my wife purchased me a new lightweight surfski for my birthday!! She bought me a second hand 'Think Legend'. It is a nice boat, fast in the shallows, good in the deep water and it's *only* 26 lbs! It should be a great companion for the 90-miler!

We drove all night to pick it up ...

I had it for a short session. I notice a few things about the boat: (1) it is *very* stable, (2) at speed, it has slightly less glide [or is slightly more 'draggy'] compared to my fenn mako6, this maybe a result of the horribly shaped rudder? or the flattish bottom? The jury is still out. (3) it is the *most* comfortable cockpit ever built into a ski - I can rotate, (4) it planes out well in shallows, but bogs hard in suckwater.

I wonder what the Think Uno is like ... Mmmm ... now that might be fun!

Reference for picture - http://www.thinkkayaks.com

90 Practice Run

Today I tagged along with the NNYP club for a day of portages and paddling. In short, I needed to learn where the portages were in order to ready myself for the 90.

I started with paddling with a stock canoe around 10:30ish. We talked and paddled to the first portage, where it was clear that I was *too* slow on the portages.

An analogy can be made to the motion of a slinky ... they would leave me behind on land and I would spring forward on the water easily catch and pass them. We did the 'slinky dance' until Brown's track portage. When I put on at Brown's track, the canoe was long gone and I couldn't tell if they'd paddled up- or down-stream. So ... I sat on the dock and waited for nearly 1/2 hour before getting directions from Kim. Kim, Joan, and my wife were setting up a pit stop for the lagging war-canoe.

I then got to Racquette lake. I was alone and desperate for directions, so I talked to some fishermen. It turns out that they share a difference of opinion as to what constitutes a 'cove'. [They told me to, " ... paddle along until you get to the second cove ... the second cove will be the marion river ...". Incidently, the second cove by leads you into another gigantic lake.] Nevertheless, after about an hour, I finally spotted Bob [a great guy and good stock boater]. I followed Bob into the Marion River and slowly made my way to the final portage.

Alas, the war canoe finally caught up and I raced them to the take out. They were slightly faster on the portage [my kayak weighs 40+ lbs], but I had the advantage on the water. I beat them to the take out! Woot! Woot!

Newcomb North Country Challenge

It seems the more I paddle the slower I go, in training I am consistently paddling over 7.25 mph for 1-2+ hrs. On race day I struggle and often fail to hit 7.25 mph. I have no idea why this is the case lately ...? In the past, I am far faster come race day than I'd been in training. Not the case lately ...

Anyway, this weekend was the Newcomb Northcountry Challenge. The last time I paddled it was 2007 and if memory serves me correctly it was *wicked windy*. That year, there were a few swimmers on one end of the lake. I remember that race well ...

This year, the course was as flat as a duck pond. In spite of not having my flatwater boat, I enjoyed racing a k2. I had a very good first lap [37 min], and barely held it together on the second lap [got some severe foot/leg cramps ... ].

I couldn't get a consistent glide from my boat - I wonder how much of the course is cement water?

Time: 1hr17min

Dist: 9.15 mi

It was enough for fastest time of the day and first place. I was more excited by the TWO packs of free granola nut clusters that they provided after the race!! Mmmmm ... Mmmmmm ....

Nearing the speed of light &Time Trial

The theory of relativity holds significant fascination for me. As a particle approaches the speed of light, 'relativistic effects' become significant. These relativistic effects are immeasurably small for everyday objects, but as a particles speed approaches the speed of light, relativistic effects become measurable. Two such relativistic effects are time dilation and length contraction. If two observers are moving relative to one another, they will get different measurements for the length of a given object or the time that passes between the two observers. At tonight's time trial, I believe I was able to measure time dilation. (jking of course)

I paddled the bow of a stock canoe this week. I started my watch on "go" and I crossed the finish line in 31'20", our timer said 32'07". What? Three, four or even ten seconds could be attributed to *random error*. However, standard watches, yet different times?? Hmm ... Relativistic effects?! We must have been moving very fast! LOL.

My time:
31'44" (I'll take the median)
3.49 miles
173 HR avg

Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun and a good workout!