Evening star., 1952-08-08
Olympic Grind Ended,
Havens' Wife Looks
To More Normal Life
BY Brian Bell, Jr.

Dy bIIoh DeIl, ".
Mrs. Frank Havens, wife of the
Olympic 10.000-meter Canadian
singles canoe champion. is looking
forward to moving the family's
dinner hour from 10 pm. to a
more normal hour now that her
husband isn't in serious training
any more. ...
after we had dinner around 10
and washed the dishes, we were
too tired to do anything but fall
in bed." Mrs. Havens said last
night at a~party given for Frank
at the Washington Canoe Club.
"He probably won't even be hun
cry il we have dinner at T."
Kay won't have a normal life
9or her family yet because Frank
is planning on competing in the
national canoe championships in
Philadelphia August "a and in the
Presidents Cup regatta. But those
races will only be 1000 meters
three-f1fths of mile-instead of
the rugged 10000 meters he pad
died at Helsinki.
Training Program Rugged.
Now that Frank is in shape
and he should be because he had
trained for the 1852 Olympics ever
since he finished second in the
1948 games-Kay thinks they
might get to eat at a reasonable
hour a few nights a week.
Frank. who is an automobile
appraiser, had a rugged program
once he buckled down to serious
training last winter. He would get
to work at 8 or $50 am. and
sometimes not be through until
1880 pm. Then his routine called
tor practice at night on the Poto-
mac and finally back to the
Havens' home on Babcock lane in
Vienna, Va.
II was glad when daylight saw
ing time went into effect and I
could see what was doing on the
river" Frank recalled. "I've been
on the river most of my life so
40 know almost every inch of the
Potomac. Still it was pitch black
at night and once in a while I
would run into things, usually
submerged logs"
Ornaments WeII-Trained.
Frank was impressed with the
condition of the foreign competi-
tors he raced against in Helsinki
and said he won on experience
and style, not because Of being in
better shape.
THE Czechs, Firms, Russians,
Aungarians and most of the boys
( raced against had been prac-
ticing in special government sub
sidized camps with many more
hours of training than I could
spare" Frank said. They were
in great shape and they didn't
quit either. I was behind until
we had raced 5000 meters and
then I edged in front. thought {
maybe that would finish off the s
two leading canoes had caught
but they kept right on trying and !
had to hold my pace to win by
Q couple of lengths" '
William A. Rogers, who didi
much to arrange the party for
Trar1k last night. has been in
:ouch with the District Commits
sioners about honoring Havens
and the other Washington
Olympic point winners. The
latest plans call for Frank. Norvel
Lee, the boxer; Zoe Ann Olson
Jensen, the diver. and Jim Brad
ford. weight litter. to be pre-
sented with certificates of merit
At the District Building next Fri
day.
Won't Defend Title.
Frank. %. was we'll satisfied
with his Olympic title but doesn't
plan to defend it in 1856. In fact,
he and his brother Bill are think :
ing about turning pro.
This winter Bill and I are
going to go in training for 500
mile two-man canoe. race they
nave each August on the Missis-
Mppi River" Frank said. First
prize is $4,000 and there's a special
5-mile Sprint-our specialty-mid-
way through the race which gives
The winners a $700 bonus. We'd
Ike to win the money" K
If they decide definitely to
train for the Mississippi race rext ,
year, instead of racing miles ,
or so every day, they'll just con-
fine themselves to 60 or 70 miles
pm week ends. Kay may be able
TO have her dinners early during
the week but she'll have to resignl
herself to packing lunches for
Frank on week ends. L.