13 Miles Paddled, 327 To Go
Regenerative design can be applied to more than landscapes and communities. In fact, personal health is arguably the first place it needs to be applied.
For example, If I’m not healthy in body and spirit, I won’t be much help in achieving the long-term change I’d like to see in the world. That’s one reason I’ve set a goal to paddle 340 miles in our Oconee and Altamaha River basins between now and July.
Here’s a map of the watersheds in Georgia. The Oconee joins the Ocmulgee just outside Lumber City to form the Altamaha, which flows into the ocean near Brunswick.
In addition to the exercise and fresh air, I’ll get a better understanding of the waterways that drain from Athens, Georgia, to the ocean, providing valuable ecosystem services to our region. I hope to also connect with—and perhaps grow—the small community of folks who regularly exercise and play on our local rivers.
Why 340 Miles?
Three hundred and forty miles is the distance on the Missouri River between Kansas City and St. Louis. That’s also the course for the MR340—a long-distance race in which I’ll be participating on July 20.
I’ll paddle the local miles between now and July for recreation and training. That’s an average of roughly 50 miles a month. But to finish the race in July, I’ll have to complete the entire 340 miles in under 88 hours.
I realize that sounds a bit crazy. However, the winners typically finish in about 34 hours—without stopping! By contrast, my plan is pretty luxurious. I intend to enjoy all 88 hours on the river and see if I’m in St. Louis when the clock runs out.
OK, That Might Still Be a Little Crazy
Here’s the thing. I absolutely love paddle boarding. Every time I go out, I’m a little sad when it’s time to stop. And I ALWAYS feel better—physically and mentally—when I step off the board than when I stepped on. My head is clear and my body is loose.
I got into paddle boarding when injuries forced me to give up soccer. It’s similar to swimming in that it’s a full-body workout without any impact on the joints. However, the views are much better. (Perhaps not coincidentally, UGA’s long-time swim coach, Jack Bauerle, is reportedly an avid paddle boarder.)
In November 2019, I participated in the Chattajack—a 31-mile race on the Tennessee River that begins in downtown Chattanooga. I used nearly the full time allotted for that event (8 hours) and was sad when I rounded the bend and saw the finish line in the distance.
So, a factor-of-10 increase in time and distance should equate to 10 times more enjoyment, right?
Here’s Another Reason
I signed up to paddle the MR340 in August of this year (2020) but with all the disruptions caused by COVID, I decided in March that I couldn’t justify spending the necessary training time away from home. Ultimately, they ended up cancelling the event several weeks later anyway.
The race was also cancelled in 2019—due to flooding. The Missouri, which helps transport tons of agricultural products east from the U.S. heartland, has become seriously impaired over the years. “Frequent flooding, degraded water quality and aging infrastructure will require $2 billion in annual funding for multiple years to remedy, according to a report grading the management of the vast Mississippi River watershed,” according to a story published earlier this week on The Center Square.
Sadly, the Middle and North Oconee Rivers, though much smaller than the Missouri, have the same problems. By telling their combined stories here on Regenerators.earth, I aim to raise awareness about the problems and potential solutions.
Here’s a great map for anyone in the region whose interested in recreation on our waterways.
I also hope to inspire more people around Athens to get out on these underutilized recreational resources. To that end, I’ll be tracking my training miles here—distances, times, water levels, put-in and takeout locations, etc.—to build my own knowledge of the river and share it with others.
On Sunday, I paddled 13 miles from behind my neighborhood, Forest Heights, through town and out to Barnett Shoals Road. It took three hours, and despite cold toes, I was sad to quit when I got there.
