Ten Tips for HanoHano Race
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the upcoming HanoHano Ocean Challenge, or any race for that matter. You can make this into a checklist if you would like. There are many more things involved, we have just come up with 10 important tips to get your mind thinking about the race. Whether you are a beginner in your first race, or a seasoned veteran these tips apply to everyone.
1. Hydrate the day before.
2. Have a good dinner and get to sleep early.
3. Arrive to the event early. There are many pre-race things to get done before the race; unload, check-in, get equipment ready, chat to friends, warm up, etc.
4. Get in a GOOD warm-up on land and in the water.
5. Get to the start line early to secure a good position.
6. Take hydration! Just cause it’s “only” 4.5 miles it’s always better to have hydration just in case. If there is wind a 4.5-mile race can turn into a 90-minute race, in which case hydration comes in handy. Also it’s good practice to learn how to drink while racing, which takes practice, and this race is good practice.
7. GO for it! Start out with a bang! Then settle into your pace, then finish with a bang! Go hard at the start to put yourself in a good position.
8. Adapt. Be ready to change your game plan. Maybe you were going to draft so and so and try and keep up, but they you had a great start and find yourself in front of so and so and the whole pack of your age division, but you feel great. Then keep going! Maybe a jet ski comes flying by and throws 3 foot waves at you, making you fall… no big deal because you will be back on your board so fast you will barely get wet! Be mentally strong.
9. Stay focused! Focus on something. Try not to daydream. Focus on paddling straight. Focus on your stroke rate. Focus on your breathing. When you find yourself wandering pick one thing to focus on for a while.
10. Have FUN. Enjoy pushing yourself. Enjoy the community of 300+ other paddlers pushing themselves to reach their goals. Some have the goal of just finishing their first race. Some have goals of bettering their time or place from the year before. Some people have their goals of paddling a certain MPH for the whole race. But everyone out there is pushing themselves together and that’s pretty cool, and fun to be a part. ENJOY PADDLING!
If you are looking for Private Coaching, thinking about joining the Performance Paddling Training Club, or have any questions feel free to send me an email: anthony@performancepaddling.com.
