This is an overwhelming weekend I must say… And as I’m writing this, various parts of my body are sore and aching. Ouch!
Saturday afternoons are now for Dragon Boat, and yesterday was my 2nd training with the team. I’m in this with Nessie and Big Bird, Debster was the one that started it all. It’s great fun doing team sport with friends, and the bunch in Austcham are pretty cool people. And the best part of the deal is, at the end of each training, we get to chill out with some Golden Ale from Brewerkz… I’m sure by now you’d have guessed why we joined the team… Hehehehe…
Yesterday’s training was at least 3 times more taxing then the first. Paddle, paddle, paddle almost non-stop, and we, the newbie boat, had to race against the 3 regulars boats. Newbies get basic training by a coach – the technique and strokes for about 5 weeks before getting moved to the regular boat with the other season paddlers.
Nessie and I put forward our first step of commitment to the sport, we signed up for the team membership. $50 per year, and each week, we only pay $10 instead of $15. Plus we get a Austcham cap and jersey. So you’ll be hearing more of Dragon Boat…
After training yesterday, I came home for a shower and rushed to see my mum at her 1st opera performance. She has always been interested in Cantonese Opera, and in the recent years started to take lessons. Last night was her 1st performance, so we had to be there for her. My sister and I, with no less than 15 relatives and friends were there to support her. According to the others, my mum’s performance was the best of the 6 songs. :)
The Austcham people are a bunch of crazy peeps, that’s what we like about them actually. The team is not just about trainings, but also having fun, social gatherings. Last night was Annual Steak Challenge. 14 men, 1kg of meat each. I missed the whole fun, only to join them when some were already mabok… The 2 hours and 2 Guinness Draughts were good time spent. Got to know the other paddlers better, still trying to remember their names… Heh!
Now, the toughie, this morning’s Saucony Passion Run 2009. My first race of the year, with NO TRAINING, 15km. I’m glad I finished the whole distance, I contemplated dropping out halfway actually. Think I finished the race in about 2hrs 10mins. Gotta wait for the official timing, cuz the phone died on me half way at 9.35km.
This is Passion Run’s 3rd year, I’m rather impressed with the whole event, very well-organised. Especially the very orderly race pack collection at Novena Square, to the Race Tag that has our details nicely printed on the back, and the first time we’re seeing race chip straps instead of the conventional race chips. I think we’re going to see more of these race chip tags, makes sense to have these disposable ones, and these days RFID tags are getting cheaper.
Alrighty, that’s all the updates for now, gotta go grab an early night to prep for the week ahead!
