Today was our first race day. The only event we had is the 2k, scheduled at the hottest time of the day. "C" and I set out early to watch the Grand Dragons (over 50yrs category) in their 2k event. It was incouraging when they took the bronze.
The 2k is the only event here with turns. The course is 4X 500m with turns at each end. It takes a very qualified steer person to be successful in this event. Our steer person "G" started steering this summer and had never raced a 2k before. Teams start one at a time at 12 second intervals, so even if we pass a boat it's hard to tell where we place until the official announcement several minutes after the race.
My nerves started kicking in at the marshaling area. The noise seemed overwhelming to me while I tried to focus on the race. The race started and at about 100m it felt like my brain was frying in the heat. The thoughts that go through one's head during a race like this one are crazy, but as soon as a thought that can lead to defeat enters one's mind it's important to shake it off. A brief list of thoughts I can remember:
1. shit it's hot.
2. the other boats look too far ahead.
3. pound it!
4. will I survive this?
5. 40 weeks of training.
6. reach it out.
7. am I having a heart attack?
8. I can't breath.
9. don't hold back, pound it!
10. gold.
11. pass these guys before the corner!
12. 500 to go, kill yourself now you can recoup later.
In the third 500 we were catching up to another boat on the inside. I had no idea who they were (i have to look ahead) but I heard the officials order them to let us pass at the corner. Passing a boat in the 2k is very motivating and it gave me a second wind. The corners are tough and I know G will call a pick up after every corner. Come to think of it, it seemed she called a pick up after every ten strokes! In the final stretch we were all wheezing but no one was giving up. G called the finish and it was all over.
For those of you out there who don't want any grosse details please skip this paragraph. After finishing the race I barfed. While my team mates started paddling back to the dock I barfed some more. That was not the only instance of excrement for me around the 2K. During the race my nose was running a lot but I did not have the breath to sniff and it was bugging me so I blew it out all over my face. At the time all I could think about was breathing and I could not care less if I had a face full of boogers.
I had no idea how well we had done until we got back to the dock. It seemed a medal was possible but we'd have to wait a while for the results. Coach M came and made the announcement when we were back seated in the stands. It was a pretty emotional moment. Strangely my "glee" didn't last as long as I had expected. I wanted to know who had beaten us, by how much and how far ahead we were of the third place team. Brisbane Australia had taken the gold by a comfortable 20 seconds and the Bronze went to Toronto's Outer Harbour team. Our time was in the area of 9min50sec, a great accomplishment.
Receiving a silver medal on the podium was a proud moment but still not as intense as I would have expected. My thoughts were on beating Australia on Saturday's 200m and making sure Outer Harbour does not catch us. Am I uncapable of savouring success or is the voyage and the anticipation of it's outcome what rocks my world? I felt more emotion waiting for the 2k results than I did 10 minutes after hearing them.
The Austalians were very excited to have beaten the Canadians. Two years ago Outer Harbour had won this event. Our real competition in these championships have far more experience than us. Both Outer Harbour and Brisbane have been around for at least 6 years. We are the babies of the competition with this summer being our second dragon boat season (my first with this team).
Coach M told us to enjoy the medal until 2pm friday when it would be time to start thinking about the 200m on Saturday. A 200m is a very different race from a 2k. It can be won on the start and there are no "pick-ups" because the whole race is one big pick-up. The race time should be somewhere around the one minute mark.
After the 2k all I want to do is go to bed. I know I'll feel like I got hit by a truck in the morning.
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