‘This has been one of the hardest marathons that I’ve joined so far,’ says Tom Simmat, who is still leading the handicap at the end of day three.

Fresh from setting a record at the Hawkesbury Classic and competing in the Yukon River Quest (the world’s longest canoe race in Canada), Tom put in more than 12 hours a week of training in the lead-up to the Marathon.

‘Training for other events helped in getting me prepared mentally. More than anything, the Murray Marathon is a mental race,’ says Tom.
 
Aside from mental preparation, competitors have also prepared for the event with the help and support from family, friends, road crew and team mates.

‘My wife has been amazing, supporting me through it all. She’s travelled with me when I take part in these marathons, even to the Yukon,’ he says.

Andrew Coults, President of Parents of Woodleigh Water Ratz, says it’s just as important for a team to back one another up.

‘The Woodleigh Water Ratz are the defending champions in their category. If you have a look at the team, there are lots of other kids in the competition who are built bigger. The reason for our success is that the team is small but cohesive.’

‘The thing I love about participating in the Marathon is that you’re not focused on yourself all the time. Instead, what’s best for the team is what every team member sets their mind on,’ says Reid, Andrew’s son, who’s competing in his fourth Marathon. 

Emotional support has proved to be the key to many teams’ performances and nobody knows this better than the members of Peter Ewell’s team.

Both Peter and his wife Margaret have had their fair share of setbacks. After suffering a double stroke and liver cancer respectively, they both slowly moved towards regaining their health and confidence by being a part of a mutual friend’s road crew for the Murray Marathon a few years ago.

Both Peter and Margaret attribute their recovery and courage to take part in the Marathon to support from each other, their lovely kids, grand-kids and friends.

‘The Marathon has been a very important part of my rehabilitation process and helped with getting me back on my feet,’ says Peter. 

‘It raised my confidence enormously and it was a great way for the kids, grand-kids and friends to rally around us. It showed me how many people there were behind us, supporting us throughout our hardest time.’

Funds raised by paddlers go towards helping Red Cross deliver services to vulnerable people in Victoria, from reuniting families who have been separated by war or disaster to helping communities cope after major emergencies.