So, I just came back from The Carolina Cup . I had done the 3.5 mile last year, this year wanted to step it up to the 7 mile, albeit with no real training. With my ultimate goal being Molokai 2 Oahu someday, I really want to do the Graveyard next year. Problem is, I live in Maryland. This year, the lakes didn’t even thaw out until the end of March. Is there a realistic way for me to train for the Graveyard in this climate? Perhaps I need to go visit the course, my Uncle lives there?

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Given the fact that there are  limited slots at Molokai (e.g it is really hard to plan your race season around a race you might not get to attend) and the fact that The Carolina Cup is the best produced, most respected, best attended, race on the race calendar in the US (kudos Mullets) we expect to see more and more of these questions come through the website as The Carolina Cup is probably the #1 destination race on the calendar these days.

As you are aware, however, because the Carolina Cup is in the early spring, many paddlers are unable to effectively train and do their best at the race because (at least unless you are Jodi Caplan and you fancy paddling past icebergs ) they are frozen out of training in the winter.

This is one of those questions we don’t have great answers for. As we posted previously, you can cross train like you mean it and set realistic goals but paddling is a specific activity. There is just no great substitute we are aware of.

All is not lost however, just because you cannot be at your peak fitness for The Cup doesn’t mean anything at all really now does it? Unless you are a pro and it is your job to place on the podium, who cares. We would approach this race as a “train through race”

Do your best, learn something but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t win. Do your winter cross training, get fit, learn something at one of the symposiums at the race, and (at least if you have some paddling experience from the year prior) you should be able to complete the graveyard race with only a few weeks of training. Remember, with a “train through race” you won’t need to taper before the race. Just use it as a big, fun, workout/learning experience and set your A-priority race later in the season. Maybe that race is Molokai. Maybe it is Chattajack. Whatever you do, don’t skip The Carolina Cup because you think you won’t be in your best racing form.

Hope that helps.