Racing selfies
This is one of 500+ pictures shot from the bow of my Sea Wind canoe during this year Missouri River 340 Race. It was early during the first day of the race with sky still cloudy.
I used a waterproof Pentax Optio W30 mounted with a suction cup on a front deck. The camera was set to shoot in an interval (time lapse) mode – a medium quality picture every 4 minutes. I was hoping to cover the entire race, but the battery went dead after 36 hours since I forgot to turn a camera flash off. It wasn’t a fun to be blinded by a flash every 4 minutes during night time paddling.
I posted more about my photography during 2010 MR340 race in Paddling with a Camera blog. I am also adding some pictures to my stock photography portfolio (available for licensing as royalty free images).
Hydration
I was drinking mostly water with Camelbak electrolyte tablets + two endurolytes capsules every hour or so. No typical energy or power drink except 3 bottles of Ensure Plus per day and some Starbucks DoubleShots for dessert. I had a lot of semi real food during this race. After all it was a paddling from one barbecue (aka checkpoint) to another. No stomach problems!
I was paddling self supported this year. I didn’t use any ice during the race. I was just buying a cold water at checkpoints. The cooler weather of late August was great.
My drinking during Texas Water Safari used to be quite different, more “race oriented”, and included some energy and recovery drinks, but always more diluted than recommended. And, I always had more or less serious stomach upsets. Ensure Plus stays still in my racing menu.
Somehow, I wasn’t caught by a camera when using my Little John – a very useful device if you have a room to pack it.
I did my first ultra marathon, the Colorado River 100 this past Sept. I used a MSR Dromlite (4L) with a hose and bite valve suspended behind my kayak seat filled with water and took Hammer electrolytes every hour. I drank 4-5 oz. about every 15 min. We were blessed with a storm the day before the race and it was only about 92º during the race.
I did my first ultra marathon last year. I tend to stick with plain water. I’m not a big energy drink fan anyway but nothing rehydrates me better than good old tap watet, but maybe that’s just me!