Post-SDBF Race Reflection / The power of Encouragement

It is exactly 1 week after the SDBF 800m race at Bedok reservoir. I am still feeling bits of excitement and joy. Our team did well to qualify into the minor finals; an achievement that we have never realised it might happen.

I have to say that we couldn't have achieved this if we have not put our hard work and effort together. Coach Lele mentioned that only about 3 weeks ago, we started to show some improvements during our training. She have also reminded us to be calm and composed, which i believed during our heats, we rowed with a calm composure.

With this, i also have to say for myself that i am also quite suprised that somehow i am able to row well (still with some mistakes though) throughout the race. And in the first place, i didn't even expect to be able to row in this race.

Please allow me to share with you my personal experience here, that leads me to join the rest of the team in this race. About 2 months ago when we were all training hard for the race, i experienced disappointment and frustrations in my own rowing technique; i somehow feel that with every training, i am the obvious one whose coordination has always been out. My morale and motivation drop; and finally i thought to myself that maybe i should give up dragon boat. Therefore, i started to absent myself from training (for about 2 weeks). However, deep in my heart, i do feel regretful that i am giving up a sports hobby that i enjoy.

It was then when Ivan (Team captain) started messaging to everyone to reply on our availability to take part in the race. I thought i should be responsible to let him know that i intend to stop rowing; therefore i replied saying that i will not be taking part in the race, as well as sharing with him my frustations. Ivan replied back to me and quoted me some personal motivating words.... and for this, i decided to come back for training (however with no expectation to take part in the race). And when i came back for training, i somehow don't feel stressed or pressured... In fact, i tried my very best to absorb whatever Coach Lele teaches. Somehow, i noticed that i improved a bit in my coordination and am able to keep up with everyone's pace during rowing.

As the weeks passed with the race approaching nearer, i attended training faithfully... Somehow i felt a bit of waste that i have make the decision not to take part in the race... It was during the last 2nd week (Sun) of training before the race, i have the opportunity to switch from left to become right rower (because during that day, most of the racing rowers are in and there's too much left rowers). Surprisingly, i am able to row better on the right side; coach Lele also commented that i do better on the right. There was suggestion that i should go in the race as a right rower, and i was asked to be prepared to take part in the race rowing on the right.

And it really turns out on the race day that i am rowing on the right. The club paid $50 to get me in to the race. It felt like a blessing that i got a chance to row in the race. Thanks to coach Lele and Ivan for getting me to be in this race, being able to experience the thrills of working together with the rest of the team to qualify into the semis, and subsequently into the minor finals. This is one of the best feeling that i have never experienced... to acheive something with the rest of the team...

As i reflect on this whole episode, i realised that encouragement can really make positive things happen. If not for Ivan's positive encouragement, i could have given up totally on Dragon Boat. If not for Coach Lele spotting my rowing on the right side, i could have missed the thrill and excitement of rowing in the race and ultimately making into the minor finals.

We should encourage each other here; dragon boat rowing is not easy, and i believed there might be others who also experienced frustrations like how i did previously... If you do happen to notice someone getting lost and experiencing difficulty with rowing, do give him/her some encouragement and a pat on the back. It can really pull him/her back to pull strong and get motivated.

(once again to Ivan, thank you so much for those encouraging advice and words...)