If you are in Princeton and ask at Carnegie Lake Rower’s Association about a master's rower nicknamed Heart-attack Harry, the veterans will know you are talking about Alan Kitty. This master's rower learned the sport at Temple University many years before and he followed his sister-in-law; step-son and wife back onto the water in 1999 – six years after his second heart attack and bypass surgery at age 43.
The nickname followed an incident in 2004. He experienced some dizziness during an erg session and decided to get it checked out. One of his arteries, which had been bypassed thirteen years earlier, had reclogged. He opted for a stent to hold it open, but remained cautious about training -- especially on an ERG.
Then, two years ago, Alan was sitting with close friend and rowing buddy Steve Raffuel at Triumph, a local Princeton Brew Pub. Steve had just returned from a trip to his Upstate New York roots in Utica. During the trip, the calm waters of the Erie Canal gave him an idea, which he unleashed after a second or third beer.
"Let’s row the Erie Canal," he said.
Heart Disease carries certain risks; but fitness brings great rewards, and it seems to mitigate some risk, according to studies. Alan started to wonder what conditioning for such a trip could do to improve his quality of life – which was already pretty good. He agreed. So did his cardiologist.
Then Steve met his wife to be, and the trip had to be postponed.
A year later, planning began for the 300 mile, 10 day trek from Buffalo to Albany. Training took a while to get underway, since they needed a boat available at all times for their twenty-mile+ sessions. Kaschper's Jack St. Clair came to the rescue with a double and training began in late May of this year.
The trip began September 8 with a press launch at the newly completed Frank Lloyd Wright Boathouse in Buffalo. Rowing clubs along the Canal were asked to provide support along the way, and several responded in the affirmative. The rowers planned event stops along the way to punctuate their periodic destinations. Some of these will no doubt be beer and wine stops. Wine is good for the heart, after all.
To check out their itinerary, go to their website at www.row4life.org. There is also a blog on the site as well that will allow you to share their experiences during the adventure.