I’ve been involved in sports practically my entire life. I’ve dipped my finger in almost every sports pie that has been served. That is why it is ironic that the sport that has changed my life the most is the one that I never considered getting into.
Until I joined Team Hilera, I never imagined myself paddling on a dragon boat!
Being part of a dragon boat team has given me an entirely new perspective as an athlete. While I am no stranger to training and competing, the unique dynamics of dragon boat racing has altered not only my life as an athlete, but my life as a whole.
Dragon boat racing is a physically-demanding activity. It is a sprinting sport that requires sustained strength, precise timing, and intense focus.
More than that, dragon boat is a team sport. It calls for mutual respect between and among teammates, and a constant awareness of each other so that all 10 or 20 paddlers in the boat can function as one powerful unit.
Once part of a dragon boat team, there are no ifs and buts about commitment.
Over a week ago, our coach Bing Valbuena and I were talking about the importance of each member’s commitment, and how vital it was to the team’s success.
It was a particularly stressful time for the team; we were preparing for two major races within weeks of each other, and at that point, it was crucial for every one of us to be able to rely on each other.
While discussing the team’s issues, I couldn’t help but question my own dedication to the team and to the sport. In that brief moment of introspection, I realized that I was, indeed, well and truly-committed. Without my noticing it, the hundreds of hours I had spent training with the team had transformed me not only into a focused and disciplined athlete, but also into a better- centered individual.
How has dragon boat changed me? Let me count the ways.
One, it has made me an effective team player. Up until I began paddling, I was an athlete who was responsible for myself alone. I trained when I needed to, chose the events I wanted to participate in, and raced with a pace I was comfortable with. Knowing that I could get a point in the game or reach the finish line was enough. I did as much as I could — which was never adequate — and then I would cross my fingers and wing it. It worked all the time.
Everything changed when I joined dragon boat. It was no longer about me. In fact, there was no longer a “me.” From the very first time I paddled, I understood that I paddled with the team, and my job was to be part of the team. Everything I do in the boat affects the people around me. If, for example, I paddle out of sync, the person behind me will not be able to keep the timing himself lest our paddles crash into each other due to our uncoordinated paddling. This problem will trickle on down the boat, and the resulting unsynchronized movements will ultimately cost the team.
These days, my outlook in dragon boat is as it is in life: I rely on my team, my team relies on me. I give my best for the benefit of the team, not for myself. The team, not any individual, is the ultimate winner.
Two, I have become a listener with the intent to learn and understand. As a person with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), I am often guilty of simply hearing someone and not actually listening. There are so many thoughts in my mind at any given time, and paying attention requires conscious effort.
In dragon boat racing, listening is key. Listening to the beat of the drum that guides us, to the commands of the drummer and steerer to change our stroke or adjust our speed, and to the officials who shout out the start-line commands. For the duration of the race, we block out all distractions and just listen.
In training, I listen and pay attention to everything our coaches and trainers say. I make sure I understand each drill, each explanation of a technique, and the purpose for each exercise. I listen to feedback and explanations, even when it is not directed at me. I absorb. I internalize. It is a rare moment now when I tune out.
Three, I am physically and mentally stronger than ever. Dragon boat racing is physically and mentally exhausting. A 300-meter sprint that lasts a little over a minute will push paddlers to the threshold of their strength as the drummer shouts for us to go faster, to dig deeper, and to give our all in the final distance. As our muscles burn, and our breathing turns shallow, we rely on our mental strength to force our bodies to obey our will to push ourselves to the limit.
We train as much as we can — twice daily when preparing for a race — to reach a competitive level of fitness. Sea training alone isn’t enough to keep us at a competitive level so we complement our program with land training that consists of strengthening our upper body and core, endurance, and stamina. We groan, we ache, we get exhausted, but still we keep up with the training regimen. For that we are stronger individually and collectively. All for the benefit of the team,
Four, I am even more disciplined. Being an athlete develops a discipline that transfers to all aspects of your life: work life, home life, and social life. While I have always been disciplined, dragon boat has trimmed down my lifestyle excesses even more. My desire to give my best to the team has given me the restraint and self-control to persevere and avoid things that might not help my improvement.
I take care of my body. I sleep early to wake up early. Waking up at 4am is not so easy after a stressful day at work and training. I recognize and respect my body’s need to rest and recharge. I now make sleep a priority. I watch what I eat. I watch when I eat. I make sure I eat during mealtimes and avoid snacking in between. I eat until satisfied, not full. I have given up junk food and processed meat. I drink coffee occasionally and soda rarely. I make time for physical therapy sessions to loosen tight spots that limit my mobility, and massages to relax my tired muscles.
I show respect for my teammates’ time and effort. I make every effort to show up to training on time, or I give notice if I am coming late or not at all. I stay focused for the duration of the training, and I give 100 percent even when I am not in the mood. I give importance to my teammates’ efforts to get to practice, and I would be so embarrassed to waste their time waiting for me, or by fooling around and not giving as much as they were.
I persevere. As the oldest in the team, I show by example that age, gender, and circumstance are not excuses for mediocre performance. I don’t give up. I stick with it no matter what. I keep pace. True commitment calls for me to move forward from any personal problem or team issues, and to encourage the team to do the same.
Five, I now look at photos and videos of myself. Funny but true. I have never been comfortable having my picture taken, or looking at photos of myself. But since joining dragon boat, I carefully study photos and videos of myself and of the team. I check my form — my reach, my arm positions, even my head position. I check my form to see if I am blending with the team. Whenever I see something that I need to improve on, I work on it immediately, and again check photos or videos in succeeding practices or races to check my progress.
These are just a few of the many ways that dragon boat has changed in me. Dragon boat racing is transformational. But it has not been an easy ride. If I add up all the time I’ve spent racing in the events that Team Hilera has participated in, it would not even come up to an hour.
But I have put in hundreds of hours training for that hour. Dragon boat racing is really a long-term sport that is more about the process and the journey than the racing itself. It is about the time spent learning and bonding with your teammates. It is about the collective growing pains of the team. Dragon boat racing will test the level of each paddler’s commitment.
Teammates come and go. Some are merely involved, while others are solidly committed. For those who stay, I know for sure that dragon boat has changed their lives as much as it has changed mine. It will continue to change us as we continue to paddle hopefully for many more years to come.
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Maru Rodriguez runs Southdale International School. She also does taekwondo, swimming, mountain biking, road biking, ultra-running.
