Posted by grooke@cix.co.uk (grooke@cix.co.uk) (from e-mail; ID <memo.20010304204033.305L@rooke.compulink.co.uk>) on 04 March, 2001 at 20:31

In reply to: Re: Wot Have I Done!!! posted by Clive Taylor on 08:27 01/3/01:

Excellent advice.

However, if your support crew lose you, make sure they phone the Information
Centre sooner rather than later. They will have the number in the paper work,
dont lumber them with another copy. The information Centre keeps close checks on
who is going through what check point and when, and can usually recommend a
strategy to the support team. We can also call up marshals etc as/if deemed
necessary, so that is one less thing for the supporters to worry about.

One year, we had one support crew looking for their paddler at Maidenhead at a
time when the crew was 10 minutes past Shepperton.

Another crew had phoned up her mother and gone home to bed for 10 hours, hoping
that their support crew and the umpires would not notice, and then she and her
partner may not be disqualified. Dont do that to your supporter, they may speak
to you ever again.

Dont hesitate to call us.

Gil Rooke (Information Team Leader)

Incidently, when setting timing goals, take small steps; looking forward 5 or 10
locks can get very depressing. The quicker you achieve each little goal the
higher you morale stays.

> Message sent by: Clive Taylor
> Dated: 01 March, 2001 at 08:27
> From: 195.173.48.205
> Subject: Re: Wot Have I Done!!!
>
> I did exactly the same thing many years ago and went back time and time
> again. The adrenalin/emotional rush to the head as you see Big Ben makes all
> the pain and suffering worth it.
>
>
>
> Train hard, set realistic goals but very importantly, train your support
> crew. They are your lifeline when things get really cold and wet. They are
> having a hard time themselves, especially at night and in bad weather, so
> they need to be prepared.
>
>
>
> Get some really good friends who are prepared to make you laugh, take the
> p***, take the grief you give them and make sure that you keep in the boat.
> Get them to support you during training so you can get used to each other and
> they can understand how fast you really go in a boat. Losing your crew at
> night is massively demoralising. If you do, don't stop. let them find you on
> the river. Marshalls and other support crews will help them do this. If you
> stop and wait, as I did once, you get very cold and very unhappy.
>
>
>
> Oh, and set yourself a time to go for, be realistic, and don't worry if you
> start to get off schedule. You will learn for next time.
>