OCEAN Grove’s Ralph Wright paddled 202km during one of the world’s longest canoe races, the Murray Marathon.
“It starts in Yarrawonga and finishes in Swan Hill passing through several towns along the way. It’s over five days, 50km the first three days then around 30km and 20km,” Ralph said.
“It’s a really great event that’s been going since 1969. This was the third time I competed, my first back in 1985 as a 20 year old.”
Despite competing in ‘85 and ‘86 consecutively Ralph took a hiatus until rediscovering his love for paddling earlier last year.
“I stayed in touch with the event, being on various support crews over the years but I really got into triathlons and bike racing so I no longer had as much time for kayaking,” he said.
Ralph said he found the race which started at 11am each day and went for five hours, easier this time despite been 27 years older.
“It really is an endurance event rather than speed so I probably got a little bit better with age. There are people of all ages competing, there are even people in their sixties and seventies,” he said.
“It was really good to compete again and help support the event. Having done it all those years ago I find it, as a sportsman, part of my character.”
Ralph said you have to be organised and take several factors into account when training and preparing for an endurance event.
“I was paddling about twice a week building up the distance and length of the paddles and also doing running and cycling. I was doing about 12km regularly and did a few 24km paddles,” he said.
“I was also doing surf ski training too in the ocean which builds up your fitness. The main factor is determination, I guess, to complete it.”
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