The latest in a series of blogs provided by Naomi Riches – building up to The Great Thames Row, an attempt to set a record for being the fastest woman to row 165 miles along the length of the River Thames, whilst raising funds for www.IN-vision.org.uk. The full archive of related blogs can be found here: www.mymarlow.co.uk/blog/tag/tgtr2016/
The Great Thames Row, Blog 8 – 30th April 2016
I am going to have to start writing shorter, more frequent blogs… I get to the end of the month and so much has happened that I never know where to begin…
Training is going great! I am getting fitter, faster and lighter. Jacqui & John’s knowledge and the programme they are writing for me appears to be working! I have definitely chosen the correct people! Time on the rowing machine is already starting to feel a tad Groundhog dayish, but still – I cannot complain about the view from Marlow RC gym….
The most exciting thing that has happened this month is that the pull up banner, school posters and first round of leaflets have been printed. I was amazed how little to-ing and fro-ing we had to do to get them right. Liz and I were very specific about what we wanted and AvvioReply delivered above and beyond what we expected. However if it wasn’t for Dan Kearney at Oasis Graphic, none of this would have happened… he has co-ordinated it all and arranged for all design and print as donations to the cause. Utterly brilliant Dan!!
Playing about in Molesey lock was interesting… we need to figure out a process that will be repeated at every lock along the way for me to be able to drink, eat, stretch, change kit if needed, and get to the loo if needed. In my boat it’s not going to be as simple as it sounds… I have those floats either side and I can’t just step onto the bank – unlike existing record holder Malcolm who, in his skiff could easily get onto dry land. It’s going to take some planning.
We also have a few amazing Ambassadors and still searching for more… Sir Steve Redgave, Steve Williams, Cath Bishop, Derek Redmond and Lawrence Dallaglio have all said yes.
I am particularly pleased to have Emma Mitchell as TGTR2016 Ambassador, she was part of the Coxless Crew who just recently spent 10months rowing across the Pacific Ocean. Whilst my challenge is not quite as epic as hers there are many similarities in the planning stages and I have been able to pick her brains of various things. Thankyou Emma!!
You can also check out what I’ve been up to on our lovely new Instagram page, put together by my clever friend Gemma, who has created a thing of beauty – check it out at TGTR_2016.
We are only 4 months away… where is 2016 going!?!?! I am sure that with the incredible team Liz and I have managed to build around ourselves and this row we are going to make this a success… a HUGE success!
If you would like to know how you can get involved in this, please contact us at info@IN-vision.org.uk and we can send you all the information you might need.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreatthamesrow2016
Twitter: @TGTR2016 @INvision_buzz @NaomiRichesMBE
The full archive of related blogs can be found here: www.mymarlow.co.uk/blog/tag/tgtr2016/
