'What else' do you notice while rowing???

This have happened to me, or might be familiar to some of you; During rowing (ex. during the middle of 800m), i tend to be thinking 'so hard.. so tired.. i'm burning out... when's it gonna end... when are we reaching the finishing point... when can i hear the word 'Easy'... And gradually our mind starts to think negatively... Fear starts to take over...

Perhaps a little self-psychology to share here... have we ever asked ourselves; why are you rowing in the first place? Is it because you love the sport of dragon-boating? Is it because to come and socialise and make friends? Is it because to look look and see see the beautiful sights (you should know what i'm referring) every weekend at Kallang Water Sports Centre?

If you answer yes to all 3 questions, then we share the same sentiments. But i guess the first question should be the gist... Only if you love the sport of dragon boating. That's the biggest motivation why you are willing to come down every weekend during the hot afternoon of 2pm... That's the reason why you enjoy rotating your body and making the core muscles to move the paddle and get the boat moving... That's the reason why you are willing to challenge yourself to lift up a bit more and get that extra pushing...

Sounds very motivating... although in practice i must say its otherwise... But isn't this true? We tend to let fear take over when all that fatigue comes in... afraid of not catching up with the rest and coordinating well... Our mind just get totally absorbed in negativity...

With all these tiredness and fatigue setting in, can i still tell myself 'i enjoy dragon-boat rowing'... Tiredness and fatigue is inevitable; but do you really enjoy the whole process of rowing? Do you still remember that you are here every weekend because of your love for the sport? Or perhaps; do you smile while you are rowing (perhaps a stupid question; you might not notice your facial experession during the hardcore rowing.. its all huffing and puffing and grunting...) Rather than hating the tiredness and fatigue, can we possibly reverse it and say 'oh that feels good, i'm pushing well indeed!'

Perhaps the next time during rowing, just before we start the rowing set, and when the paddles up command is given, do take a short while to think 'i'm here because i love dragon-boat'!

Some old photos - part 3, gatherings!!

We don't just row! we eat too!!

Some old photos - part 2 in an actual race!

Pushing hard during a race! Pain is momentary!!

Some old photos - part 1 previous races

Uploading some old race photos for remembrance!!

To 'Chin' or not to 'Chin'

There are things that we always take it by 'right'... but in life there are also many times things go by 'left'.... This applies to dragon boat especially... Maybe some of you might have heard rumours regarding some stronger teams that to qualify rowing with them, one of the criteria is to do at least 20 chin ups (or at least this rumour that i heard).....

So somehow, Chin up seems to me like a very important exercise; an important exercise that must be practiced to improve rowing ability (taking into consideration that this is a good back exercise that trains the latissimus dorsi)....

And so i have always been amazed at people who can do 'thunderous' numbers of chin up... I have also gradually improved on the quantity... However, lately i have been enlightened by the fact this does not seem to be important... There are people who can do good chin ups, but when it comes to rowing, they suck (i am one such example... always noticing my coordination problem). Similarly, there are also people who don't do well in chin ups, but yet can excel in dragon boat rowing...

I guess this takes into factors like mental capability and skills.... And mental capability is definitely important... if you have the strong mindset that you do not stop even if you are tired during rowing. And with this, i must intorduce this good team-mate, his pic as below:

- Andrew ... personally i like to imagine him 財神爺(God of wealth, since he holds on to the $$$, and it is good to always be with him... so that wealth luck can pass on to you) ... I must salute him for the explosive burst and great sustainability that he can perform during rowing... During last week's training, with him being the pacer, i can't help gasping for air as i try to keep up with his pace. And i definitely believe he amazed everyone in the team.

So in summary, Chin ups are good exercise.. but are definitely not the determining factor for someone to be good in rowing...

Oh yes... this is the very first posting of pics... finally some pictures to see in this blog... Should get more of the other rowers pic (with permission sought) up here... Managed to snap a pic of another interesting fellow rower here:

- Mingcong... i will personally nickname him 開心果.. Why? Because he never fail to make everyone smile (and laugh)... and cheer you up... If you seldom communicate with him, do chat up with him... you will know somehow...

By the way, Sharen's T-shirt caught my attention (as below)... How very fictional (and yet gross) it looks.. especially the part where the head was decapitated and the brains with juices taken out... appears to me like some factory processing plant making humans as food... But anyway, very interesting...

One More Stroke...

Just a little something to share (from someone that i know of who mentioned; and i think it makes sense):

A race is not well-run unless you've crossed the finish line knowing that you couldn't have kept going for one more stroke. If you could have, then you didn't give it everything you had...

Training video - 13th June 2010

First training video for Sun 13th June 2010 can be found here