Sunday 26 May 2013

It’s Official…I’m a Dragon Buster!!!


I am no longer a newbie. Wooo-hooo! Yesterday I paddled in my first regatta; am now officially a Dragon Buster; and earned the coveted sticker for my paddle.  :)  

For those who do not know me in real life, exercise has never been high on my list of ummm “likes”. I have never been a fan of the great outdoors (due to my bug phobia) and will willingly admit if put in a situation I am a fair-weather sports player.

So you can imagine the reaction I received when announcing I was going to become a dragon boat paddler. Everything from encouragement and the thumbs up to shock and stunned silence. Ha!

I will even admit…I was sceptical…and afraid…very, very afraid. What if I couldn’t do it? Have you ever seen a dragon boat race???  Well…me neither. BUT…what I had heard about it was quite daunting. It was a team sport where timing and working as a unit were required until the boat crossed the finish line. Eeep!  What was I thinking!?!?

After the first couple of practices I was hooked! I find a real sense of calm being out on the water. Even in the pouring rain. Trust me no one is more shocked about this than I am.

I know what has made my experience so awesome has been my teammates. They are an amazing group of women. We are all breast cancer survivors and more importantly we all look good in pink…thank goodness for THAT! 

In case you were wondering what Dragon Boating is…here is a clip (~3 minutes) from the Breast Cancer Challenge race yesterday. There were 2 heats; 9 boats in total. We were in the second heat with 5 boats racing. We finished 2nd overall!!!  Our boat is the one with the black paddles. 


I don't know about you but I was exhausted watching that!  *wink*



6 comments:

  1. Congratulations!! That is a big deal.
    My mother-in-law, who I have never known to do a lick of exercise, joined a team when she was 61 years old, a year or so after beating cancer. Completely took all of us by surprise. I think it is one of the best things she has ever done. Because of this group, she is doing things she never thought she could/would, including going on a 12 day trip through Alaska!
    Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you C!!! I am surprising myself too. Who'dda thunk it?!?!? :)

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  2. woo, hoo, way to go seestor! that WAS one LONG race! my arms are tired just watching!
    congrats!

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    1. Right??? I'd better not get chicken arms after all this paddling. Just sayin... ;P

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  3. OOOOOMMMMMGGGGGGGGG!!!!! *smiling from ear to ear!!!!!!*

    THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so super fantasticly (yes I'm making up words just for you) AWESOME!!! Holy smokes!!! You looked exhausted lmao!!!! I would have needed a slice of pizza after that hahahaaa ;)

    What an amazing race!!! Cheering you on from waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy over here!!!! Not only are you all survivors.. you're absolutely fabulous! So sosooooooooooo proud of you!

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    1. But are we "fantasticly" fabulous??? ;P

      Awww shucks Rhonda...thanks friend! It was amazing and I could've eaten an entire pizza. Well maybe not RIGHT after but definitely later. Tee hee.

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