April 2015

I'm passionate about waka ama (paddling outrigger canoes) even though I came to it later than most. I was 63 when I took up the sport. I have never done a team sport before, and not done any sport at all in the last 25 years, apart from an occasional walk to the Centre of New Zealand and a couple of small tramps about 10 years ago. My first waka ama race was at Lake Rotoiti in February 2014 and I was ‘hooked’.

I am currently a member of the Maitahi Outrigger Canoe Club in Nelson and am mainly paddling with an OC6 Golden Masters mixed crew of 6. We are training for endurance 20km races. I also paddle with a couple of recreational crews. Joining the club has been fantastic for me. It has given me opportunities to participate and to learn, but what I love the most is the strong whanau support, the encouragement and inclusiveness waka ama seems to engender.

At 64 I was the youngest in my Golden Masters crew when we did the 20km race at the “Tuna E Hoe Ana” waka ama regatta at Lake Rotoiti in February this year (2015). We completed the race in 1 hour 56 minutes. The category (Golden Masters) was uncontested. However, we beat both a masters and a senior masters crew in the same race.

And now I have a dream - to paddle Vaka Eiva (the Round Rarotonga race) in November 2016 and the Motu2Motu race in Aitutaki that follows it. The Vaka Eiva race is 37 km race that requires paddlers to do water changes (deep water exit and entry). This requires upper body and core strength on top of normal paddling endurance as well as confidence and courage.

In february I applied for a scholarship to go to Outward Bound on a Masters course. The age range stated 27+. I emailed away and asked “how far can we stretch the plus?”. I was told that I sounded like a great candidate and to apply. I got the scholarship, passed the medical.

I see the Outward Bound 21 day course as being an ideal way to start building towards that strength, confidence and courage I will need to compete in Vaka Eiva race as I believe it will challenge me physically, emotionally and mentally.

In preparation to go to Outward Bound I knew I needed to get fitter so I have been in boot camp for an hour, twice a week, for the last 5 weeks. Our trainer is Jason Hulena from Primal Fit and he is gearing our boot camp specifically to help us become stronger waka paddlers. It is paying off. I have had so much encouragement from Jason and the other “boot campers”. I have never worked so hard, sweated so much, pushed past so many boundaries or lost so much weight so ‘easily’ as Jason advises us on how to eat more effectively. I have lost 6.1kg and 22cms around my waist. It has been a real eye opener into what I am capable of - so much more than I would have thought. I hadn’t realised that the effort required would be so great or the rewards so delicious. (I can actually look at those fancy yoga tights and running gear now and starting to imagine myself in them. That was definitely not an option before.)

I will turn 65 the day after I complete the Outward Bound course. What a rite of passage into an age where most people are thinking to slow down.

I want to show others that age is not necessarily a barrier to starting. I want to inspire people my age to have a go, just start something, keep going, keep active, keep competing and not to give up. Do something everyday until it becomes a habit.

I have never been a runner, never wanted to be a runner but, by golly, I want to do this Outward Bound course; want to do the Rarotonga race; and so I will learn to run. I am not giving up!

3rd June 2015 - 4 sleeps to go

Oh my goodness, what have I done! I had shin splints again in the weekend, the running isn’t getting easier and the weather is getting more wintery with each day. I’ve got as more warm gear than I think I will need, but if the rain keeps up - is it enough?

Yesterday as it was raining so hard all day I wondered “What would we be doing today? Tramping? The rivers are up and probably uncrossable. Kayaking? The rivers are up and that could be very interesting (not!). Sailing? Its a howling gail, the rain is horizontal, possibly not. Oh well I guess that leaves abseiling. Oh Joy! Wet, slippery ropes. Why did I think this was a good idea!”

And then I go help unload the waka after the Fire and Ice regatta in the weekend in Dunedin, and everyone there is saying to me as I leave “Have a great time”, “You’ll really have a ball”, “Let us know how you get on”, and I feel the support of my waka whanau behind me. It helps a lot with the pre-OB nerves.

I’m missing boot camp, realising how important that was in the build up towards this experience. I don’t feel as on top of my fitness as I did when I was going. Running is a solitary thing apart from the Strava feedback from my coach (my son) and another waka paddler my age who is on Strava as well and who cheers me along as I struggle through yet another 2.5km run.

Thank goodness I have my Eric Orton mantra for running; “courage, determination, joy” and a strategy for managing the pain (thank you Katie). I have to keep reminding myself as I run, that this is a means to an end, that it will be worth it. I am excited, I feel really honoured and I’m scared. I’m sure I will have a ball. Thanks again Waka Ama NZ for this possibility!

Photos:

Jan Blythe, just after completing my first race in 2014

2 Maitahi teams battle it out in a waka ama race on Lake Rotoiti 2014

Jan Blythe