Thursday, December 27, 2007
The last day.

Today, at 630pm, i will be carrying my paddle and life vest to sch. For prob the last time in a long long while. It started off as the craziest thing ever.

When i first registered, i half thought i was out of my mind. After spending quite abit of effort to opt out of too many physical activities in the army, i'm actually joining an activity meant for fit ppl only. The fit here refers to those of a different level by the way... It felt like a cruel joke to myself.

The first training i went for, small scrawy me did not keep up with the rest of the yr1s at all. It was a struggle to finish 2 of the 3 sets. Afterwhich, i could not take it and juz sat at the sidelines "observing" the rest. I then had great difficulty trying to write the next day. From the moment that some of them saw me, they were already betting when, in terms of number of trainings, would it be before i quit the club. (This was what many ppl told me, and anyway it's not surprising lah...) Somehow, i was thick skinned enough to stay.

The journey would be nothing short of an ardous one. I often took my own weights, not being able to lift even the lightest of weights used by the rest. I am really thankful that although alot of ppl (rightfully) think i cmi, they did not discourage me and ask me to "go home". Along the way, many ppl quit. My faci who joined together with me and was my main motivation quit after he had injured his shoulder as he did not what to risk having to go for another operation. Friends whom i had introduced to the club also quit after some time. Some of the ppl that motivated me along the way also quit. I wont deny that i felt sad when these ppl quit. But along the way, i also made many new friends!

The first race that came along was the River Regatta 2006. The team won 3rd for the men's category. I was really happy that day, so much that i could not hold the camera properly and the video that i tried to take of that race was very shaky. The first time i rowed was during the second race, MR 500, in mar 07. But fate had it that something wrong happened, and thus i did not row but had a very rare chance of sitting on a competition boat doing nothing other than keeping my butt to the seat and not falling off. June race came, and i finally rowed. I think June race was pretty disappointing, and we should not have lost so badly. River Regatta 2007 came and the race was really really close. Actually, i think i screwed up that race quite badly. I am still pretty confused abt it, but it's a past event. Nothing can change it.

Dragonboat is really like a big family. There are many different kinds of ppl. Very interesting mix. And the only thing that they all have in common? They are all stronger than i am, even till now :) I have truely enjoyed this 1.5 years, and i am sure i am gonna miss it. The team has been a really great one, and everyone's really nice.

I started off really weak physically. i think i have improved quite a bit since then, and would like to thank the club and the team for all this - the friends, the experience, the fitness, the wonderful memories, and many many more...
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