Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC) spokesperson Jennie Dallas pointed out that running is important for canoeists.
“If you’re a competitive canoeist you have to be able to run well. We find that at major events such as Dusi or any other event where running is involved, those canoeists who can run well can make up time,” she said following the club’s success at this year’s Comrades Marathon where all 13 club members managed to finish.
Jennie explains further that, “Running fitness is a crucial skill for competitive canoeists as there are frequently sections of the river where canoes are unable to proceed and the alternative is the dreaded portage where paddlers get out of their boats and carry them through veld, bush, up and down mountain slopes and gorges, to put back in where the river is safe and navigable again.
“Obstacles include short portages such as blocked bridges or dangerous weirs, tree blocks and high boat break risk gorges where water tumbles down steep drops onto rocks or where the water flow is insufficient to carry a canoe through shallow rocky ledges and boulders.
“It is a well-known quip that the runners are the canoeists who do better at races such as the endurance Dusi where some 18km of portage during the 120km race is sometimes necessary and some competitive achievers find they make up their best time and places due to running ability being stronger than their canoeing speeds.
“Numerous athletes are also multiple discipline athletes who compete in Ironman and duathlon’s as well as triathlons, and also enjoy canoeing as an additional exciting challenge”.
Jennie concluded by saying that, “The canoe club at Florida Lake has an affiliation with the road running union to provide racing numbers to members who take their running training seriously, so they do not have to also join a running club, and has also for many years recognized the Comrades combined canoeing achievements”.
