Last stop for Kime before he hangs up his paddle
Lance Kime will tackle the Non-Stop Dusi before heading overseas.
The Non-Stop Dusi will be the final competitive race for runner-up in the 2015 Dusi Canoe Marathon, Lance Kime, before he jets off to Europe to work and travel.
A relaxed Kime is looking forward to the race on Friday, 6 March from Camps Drift, Pietermaritzburg to Blue Lagoon, Durban and is taking it easy in his build-up to the event.
“With a two-week turnaround from the Dusi, the best way of training for the Non-Stop is just resting up and taking it easy, so I will go for a few runs and a paddle or two.The race is very different from the Dusi in a number of ways, and I almost enjoy it more as there is a lot less pressure on us going into the race.”
The Euro Steel star believes that the pace of the Non-Stop is more tailored to his strengths.
“The race is a lot more relaxed and the pace is a lot slower, with the first half being a runners’ race and then a lot of paddling in the second half, and that is hopefully where I will be strong going into the second part of the race.”
Kime, who has never tackled the race in a K1, believes that there is less chance of coming into problems in a K1 then in a K2.
“With two guys in a boat there is a bigger chance of something going wrong. If someone in the boat blows then the whole boat won’t be as strong and lose a lot, and there is always the chance that the other guy will blow at a different stage, so there are problems. I will hopefully be better on my own.”
He added, “I do prefer to paddle alone because I am not a flat water marathon paddler and I don’t really like sitting on a wave, but with that said, when we get to halfway I will enjoy the company of the other guys.”
One of Kime’s major threats will come in the form of 2015 Dusi third place finisher. Sbonelo Khwela (Euro Steel/Red Bull). who is a strong runner.
“Sbonelo is a fantastic runner and the first half of the race will be his, so I know that if I can limit the damage through the first half of the race then I have a chance because I think I will be strong through the second half.”
With the Non-Stop being his final competitive race for a few years, a winning finish is definitely a goal for him.
“Look, I am not putting any pressure on myself going into the race and having a clean race is my main concern, but if I can get a win that would be brilliant as well.”
