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5mi. Paddle Strategy

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JCM:
Hey Guys, (I think this best fits in Technique, though it does have some general questions)

Looking for some fast advice for a race this weekend.
I am racing the Charles Island SUP Cup. It's a 5.5mi. elite race or a 2.5mi. Rec. race along the Connecticut coast of the Long Island Sound.  It'll be my first race in 2 years and i've only ever done 2 other races that were both 3mi. (one on a rented race board and the other on my 'barge')

Looking for a good strategy if i choose to do the 5mi. what's a good approach?  Is it an all out sprint? Sprint a mile, find a strong steady paddle for 3mi., sprint last mile.? Alternate, Sprint, Steady, Sprint, Steady, Sprint? other strategies?

Here's some info and why i'm asking.
1. I don't own a race board, instead i'm paddling a 2010 12' Bote HD. It's like racing a barge or a tug boat, whenever one else has quad engine cigarette boats.  and i'm pretty confident the other elite paddlers will all be on race boards.
2. Did a time trial last weekend, paddled about 5.25 mi against an outgoing Saugatuck River current (Westport CT, ~7' tidal change). it took me about 1hr 45mins. (incl. pauses get lap times on phone).   I checked last years race results. the slowest times were about 1:45.  So I kind of feel like i'm not going to be competitive and i'm setting myself up for failure. However, i'm also thinking do the 5mi., someone needs to come in last - may as well be ME.
3. It'll be high tide/slack tide, so little to no current, however the Long Island sound can get a little choppy from wind and boat wake, which gives me more confidence on a wider board.
4. I can normally fast paddle 3mi. in about 50/55mins on my Bote board.
5. i can do the Rec Race no problem and be competitive with the touring board. So i'm torn on what race to do. -I am trying to get my hands on a race board, if i can i'll automatically do the 5mi.
6. current physical condition and training is well below par.

Thanks for the help

Joe

Ichabod Spoonbill:
Hey JCM, I've done that race twice, always in the rec category. 5 miles isn't a sprint, so you probably want to find something more than a cruise but leaving some left over for the end. The chop usually isn't too bad except on the Sound side of Charles Island where things can get rougher. Winds usually pick up during the day but aren't too bad for the morning race.

That's a really fun event, BTW. It's nicely organized and the venue is great. I'm not a serious racer, BTW. I podiumed both times, but as I said only in the rec category. Other people might have better advice.

JCM:
Thanks Ichabod,
 That's sort of what i was figuring, strong consistent.
I paddle around Cockenoe and the other Norwalk Islands in the Sound, so i know what you mean about the chop when you get further out into the Sound.
race is at 10:20, so i'm expecting that boring to afternoon wind change over. 

the only other races i did were the 3mile rec paddles in the Saugatuck river - did decent both those times - 3rd and 6th (i think)

TallDude:
You race to beat your last time, and so on. There is a whole field here in SoCal that would be under and hour for that distance. My sprint is a younger more fit persons glide. When I race I'll go for the tippy fast board. I may get wet a few times, but it's about going fast. Comfortable racing is an oxymoron. Racing is about pushing your own personal limits. I probably did 4 or 5 races before the concept of 'race strategy' came to mind. Even then my "strategy" went out the door before the race even started. After years of races, I knew what to eat before and when. I knew what board for the conditions (and had a bigger quiver, but started just like you). I knew where to position myself at the start. I knew who I could keep up with and try to get a train going with them. I knew where the 'clean water was'. I knew how to adjust my stroke (long to short, deeper into the wind with head down, waist bend vs, knee bend, paddle feathering in chop, etc. etc...
The fact that you want to do it, and you are challenging yourself is what it's all about. Races give me a reason to train harder. Have fun. Try to find a faster (narrower - longer) board to rent or borrow.

Bean:
It sounds like you can do the distance, so don't sweat the stop watch.  Have fun!

As a mid-pack paddler (at best) my strategy is to pick out someone who might be a little faster and try to keep up.  This strategy changes throughout the race as I get dropped or pass my target. 

Avoid exerting yourself until you get close to the finish line (where people can see you ;D).
And, most important, save your energy for the after-party.

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