Across Canada, long-distance canoe racing has been winning over a steadily expanding population of enthusiasts. Reports from the past four decades show the field of paddlers tackling the standard marathon distance of around 25 km climbing dramatically. Women now represent close to half of everyone who signs up. Last year alone, dozens of sanctioned marathons appeared on the national calendar. Consider the Cedar Rapids Marathon, one of the best-known events: several hundred paddlers registered. Most of them carried their boats across the finish line. Reaching that line, though, is no small feat.
Behind every finisher lies a punishing schedule. Preparing for a canoe marathon demands a great deal of time and dedication. A typical week puts a paddler on the water five days out of seven, with one day reserved for a single extended outing. That long paddle begins modestly, around 16 km early in a program, and stretches toward 32 km later on. All told, a competitor in heavy training may accumulate as much as 80 km in a week. Nutrition matters as much as distance: serious racers depend on whole grains, lean meats, vegetables, and fruit to sustain the effort.
