On Sunday, I raced at Norwich. Been nursing a chest infection for a few weeks, I've been bumped up a division, so I was of two minds whether I should even go.
Div 6 means double the distance and portaging.
Race plan was to try to get into a lead group, hang on to them and then see how I felt after the last portage, with about 4km to go.
The race actually went like this; jumped to the lead at the start. Pulled a group of 3 (4 including me) for 1.5 km, then decided pace was a bit high and eased off. Someone else decided that they liked the pace and went to the front. Tried wash hanging the group, didn't like it, was very messy, so I dropped off a bit and to the side and paddled by myself. Portages went well (bloody long; 100- 150m each one). After the 2nd portage, we were down to 2 people, the others had burnt out.
By halfway, one lung was bubbling a bit and I considered pulling out. However I was running 2nd (would have been happy with a top 5 place), and keeping up. So I carried on.
We caught up with some Div 5 paddlers and formed a group of 4. I wash hung like a dirty leach for 3km.
About 1km to go, I felt like I had a bit of power left, so thought I'd try a sprint for the finish. Stopped wash hanging, got on clean water.
500m to go, put the power down. It felt great, just accelerated, something in me knew nobody was going to catch me. I was 2-3 boat lengths behind at this stage. Flew past them and finished 15s ahead.
First place. Very unexpected.