"As a novice, can I take part?"

Although DW is an extremely challenging event, it is not necessary to have been paddling for many years in order to be able to enter. It is difficult to say how much time it takes to complete beginners to reach a level where they can safely attempt the race since so much will depend on each person's starting point. Clearly, someone in very good physical condition with a record of participation in other ultra-marathon events is likely to be able to prepare more quickly than someone who does not regularly play sport. Equally people who have done related sports - such as rowing - are likely to have a head start in terms of balance and watermanship. The best advice we can give is to join a canoeing club, learn to paddle, take advice from club coaches, build up your training mileage and make a sensible evaluation of your preparedness as you go along.

Very fit people with related experience have completed DW within 6 months of getting into a canoe or kayak for the first time. More usually, it will take over a year. We would strongly advise against people entering the race unless they have made the appropriate physical, technical and mental preparation. Listen to what your club coach tells you, train hard and go racing. If you enter the build up races, such as the Thameside and Waterside series, you will soon learn whether you are ready or not. If you struggle to complete the 34 miles of Waterside D, for example, it's highly unlikely that you will be able to undertake the 125 miles of DW.

We would also emphasise that it is important that paddlers only enter the race when they are confident in their boat handling skills on fast moving and choppy water. Under normal circumstances most of the course is relatively calm, but the final section on the tidal part of the Thames is always choppy and demands a high level of balance and boat skills. The rest of the course should not be underestimated - in wet, windy or high flow conditions, the non-tidal section of the Thames can be dangerous and challenging.

To find a club near you, contact the British Canoe Union (click here)  - alternatively - contact us and we'll try and help