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Showing posts from June, 2019

Briana Fitzgerald and the Michigan Marathon

Hello NYMCRA members. Most of you know me, I'm Briana Fitzgerald. Last season I completed my first AuSable Marathon with Jeff DeFeo from Massachusetts. It was a wonderful experience. Michigan takes canoeing to a whole new level I've never experienced on the East Coast. Jeff DeFeo is a seasoned AuSable competitor and knows all the ins and out. He was a great person to stick by in an unfamiliar community. This was my first time in Grayling, but they are so welcoming to all the paddlers, I felt like part of larger family. Everyone told me that the moment right before the start gun goes off is the most exhilarating and unique experience. They were right, it was unbelievable. It was silent, you could feel the tension and adrenaline accumulating in the humid July air. Once the gun goes off and you’re running to get into the water, try to take a glimpse at the spectators across from the boardwalk. I was awed at how many people were wildly cheering us on. Their support stretched