Having cycled on my own from Ireland, across Europe, to Istanbul in 2014 and walking from France, across Spain and into Portugal in 2015, I wanted a water based challenge this time. I knew I had the endurance and the mental strength for this type of event....but did I have the skills?!
When the entries opened for the 2016 event I immediately signed up. At this point I didn't own a board and had never actually been on one!
After a bit of research on the internet, I purchased a Red Paddle Co 12' 6 Sport online. Watched a couple of 'How to SUP' videos on YouTube. Then in May 2016 I took myself and my board to a local lake to give it a go.
Up and standing in 5 minutes and paddling around, it was a great feeling. I have done some kayaking before, but that first moment I stood up on the board it was amazing. It felt weird to be so high up off the water, compared to sitting in a boat on the surface. The previously unnoticeable breeze felt a lot stronger when standing on the board too and the new perspective was also different.
Fast forward to September 2016. Arriving in Leeuwarden the day before the start, I totally felt like a fish out of water. All these tanned, super fit, men and women, with their fancy race boards were getting their stuff sorted.
I felt like I'd just learnt how to ride a bicycle and turned up to the start of the Tour de France, with my supermarket bike!! I was totally out of place!!
Accommodation on the traditional sail boats was great. The boats followed the route we paddled each day and were at the finish when we got there. Perfect. The communal area was big, but the cabins were small. This didn't matter however as you were only in them to go to sleep!
So, day one arrived. The weather was hot and sunny, not what I'm used to coming from Ireland. Knowing I'd be spending the whole day exerting myself, I'd gladly have had 10 degrees and rain, over melting in the scorching sun.
After breakfast and the skippers meeting, where we were told about the days route and dos and donts, it was time to go. This was it. ARRGGHHH.
Out on the canal at the start line I was seriously considering my choices in life! Having only paddled a grand total of 167km since I first stood on a board in May, all on flat calm water, with no other boat traffic, wakes or waves, I was concentrating hard on not falling off in front of everyone.
Once the starters gun went and everyone started paddling I couldn't help but think how ridiculous this was. I had never even paddled with anyone else before, let alone in an event. I didn't even know what speed I was meant to paddle at. When everyone started disappearing off ahead of me, I knew I was going to be way off the back of the group. My only thought was not to get lost.
We all had trackers that showed our live positions and it was good knowing that friends and family back home could follow my progress through the day. It also helped me to keep plodding/paddling on.
The racers who started after us in several groups began to overtake me. It was amazing seeing how fast and smooth they paddled. I watched how they were paddling and tried to copy their technique in the hope it would make me go faster. It didn't.
I was the last person to arrive at the lunch stop. The crew were actually packing everything up when I pulled in. Very demoralising and it also made me feel a bit mad at myself about how slow I was. The guys were all really friendly and supportive though and had my lunch set aside for me. I knew at this stage I hadn't been drinking or eating enough and with the hot weather I was fading big time.
I got back on the water and made it to the stamp point/ring the bell at Ijlst. I made the really tough decision to stop here. There was another 10km or so to go across an open lake and I was so drained and so far behind, I didn't want to put the organisers out by waiting on me. I'm not a quitter and it was really tough sitting in the car being driven to the finish.
I didn't start day 2. I thought there wasn't much point as I was so slow, that the organisers probably would rather I didn't continue. I was gutted. I knew I could do the distances each day, but I also knew I was just too slow.
Standing on the bank in Sloten, watching the groups all start day 2, I was feeling a bit sad. Aukje Postma, one of the organisers, happened to be standing beside me and questioned why I wasn't on my board and away. After telling her I thought I was too slow, she told me that isn't what the event was about. It was an event for everyone and I was to get on my board and be at the start line tomorrow!
It was really great of her to give me a pep talk and I really appreciated it. To know that even though I wasn't a racer, this event was also for people like me, who just wanted the challenge for themselves and the challenge to get to the finish line each day.
I spent the day on our sailing ship traveling to the next town, Workum, where the day 2 finish was. Sailing on a huge boat through the lakes, canals and locks was an amazing experience in itself.
Day 3 and I was back on the start line. Weather was hot and sunny again and I told myself to remember to eat and drink continually throughout the day this time.
When we started I focused on trying to keep the last few people of my group in sight. That was the only thing I was thinking. Paddle paddle paddle.
The racers started over taking and I always made sure to pull over out of their way, slightly jealous about how fast they were going and how easy they made it look, even though I know they were probably suffering too. I made it to lunch and I wasn't the last one there this time. Yey!
The last section after lunch to the finish was tough as I was on my own for most of it. The last few racers had passed me and I then had the safety boat escorting me to the finish line. I felt so happy to have finally completed a full day.
Day 4 was more of the same. Try and keep one or two people within sight ahead of me and try to get to lunch without being the last person. My board had no glide, so anytime I stopped to eat or drink, I stopped. It was a bit frustrating, but I kept my focus and just tried to keep paddling at a continuous steady rate.
I was also starting to feel a lot more comfortable being on the sometimes choppy water and negotiating the wake from passing boats. Being on a shipping canal was a little daunting, but another competitor had caught up with me a we paddled together along this stretch, which was great to actually have some company for a while, as the rest of the time I was always paddling on my own.
The last day was here. A slightly shorter day, but more people on the start line. It was brilliant for the first 10km. There were so many people paddling around me and then the racers started to catch us and overtake through the narrow canals with the accommodation ships sailing in the middle of us. Very exciting! Quick stop at lunch then on to the finish back at Leeuwarden. I also wasn't last to cross the finish line today, woohoo, result!!
What a crazy week. Looking back there are so many great memories. The scenery, beautiful towns, open countryside and windmills. The accommodation on board the sail ships was a unique experience. The amazing crew and organisers who all did a great job from feeding us, looking after us out on the water, giving us encouragement, setting up and moving the race village and the lunch stop each day. It was a perfectly organised event. The friendships made from the girls I shared a cabin with, to fellow competitors and the friendly locals along the way. Overall it was a special, one of a kind event, which I feel honoured to have been part of.
So, if you're reading this and wondering if you should sign up for the 2017 event - YES, do it and I'll see you on the start line, as I have the coveted 11 Cities cross medal to paddle for this year!
http://sup11citytour.com/registration/enter-now/
