When I first found PNet I asked the question “In cycling the endurance event for the enthusiast is 100 miles and it’s called a century. What’s the distance and name of a paddling equivalent?” The answer I got was “Marathon; 26 point whatever miles.” I thought that was weak. Runners have that, Paddlers should have their own. I created one and did it several times. I invented the “Thirty Minute Paddle” or “Half Hour”.
Honey, I won’t be gone long. Just gonna paddle with the guys for thirty minutes… latitude.
Thirty nautical miles in one day on flat water. We did it on three separate occasions. Twice from Harker’s Island to the Cedar Island Ferry and once where we finished in Swansboro. (Tour de Core Sound and Tour de Bogue Sound).
In the Adirondacks we call it the Cannonball 90. Do the traditional route of the 90 mile Adirondack Classic canoe race all in a single calendar day. All quite unofficial (the official 90 mile race in September is a staged race held over a 3 day period). I like to start out at midnight, usually around the summer solstice (for maximum daylight), paddling some of the first large lake segments with starlight reflecting off calm water. I Usually arrive at the finish about 19-20 hours later.
In the Yiukon we call it either the Yukon River Quest (440 miles) or the Yukon 1000 (1000 miles). A normal team day training paddle close to home before heading to the Yukon is a route of at least 35 miles.
Well, here in mid-Michigan we have the Hugh Heward. 50 miles on the Grand River with 3 dams to portage. That is the last Saturday in April (and lately, a week after Campus 2 Coast). Campus 2 Coast is roughly 160 miles on the Grand (and Red Cedar) with the current record time of 25 hrs 14 min.