Henley through the eyes of a Newbie

Am I a Newbie? I can't remember life before Dragon Boating to be honest yet I have only been doing it since June. I managed to totally mess up Worcester but people were so kind about it. Helen Weaver and Sally Ryan pretended it didn't matter. (I hope I remember to be that kind when a new Newbie does the same next year). Then Milton Keynes. Ugh, rain, rain and more rain. But a developing taste for competition and being in a fast boat! Then the Nationals; what an experience. 1000 metres. So far! So much hard work! (hold your mirth oh seasoned Dragons!) Ok, Summer racing over, winter training commences. So what's the difference? Talk of breaking ice, having to wear life jackets at training. Even up until last week there has been no rain on the river in Worcester since June. Always sunny, like the personalities! The differences must be exaggerated, surely. 'Henley' next. What does this strange phrase mean. Should I sign up? Why not. Can't be that bad! Ok, 7.5km, half an hour of paddling. The rate must be slow. No-one can paddle at a high rate for so long so it must be like a leisure paddle then. So, I put a 'yay' into Max's reply box. Such a simple thing to do. (Note to self: check first, sign up later!) Training for Henley: Oh My God! 10 minutes without stopping. I think I am going to be sick. The following week? 15 minutes each way, no stopping on the turn. I dehydrated. The following week. 5x7 minutes. This was the hardest. Each time we had to start again, my arms wouldn't work. Poor Debbie, sitting behind me. Do I owe you a new paddle? Is it still intact? A huge bleeding blister on my finger (little did I know this would not be the only one!) The first Henley is next week. What have I done? It's here. So am I. It's quite a relaxed affair. Bacon sarnies, cups of tea, chatting, put the boat out. Warm up. Adrenaline builds. Not just mine. Team talk. We need to beat last year's time. We are good enough to do better. (Have they remembered they put me on the back?) Time to get on the boat. We have a bit of a paddle to warm up then an emotional 2 minutes Remembrance Day silence with a water-borne congregation. The strangest church I have ever been in but probably the best. Then teams disappear one by one. Almost unnoticed. Eerie considering what's at stake. We line up, officials watching their stop watches. Time slows. How long can a 45 second gap feel like? 'OK, Go!' So we do. Gently at first, building over the next 20 strokes then we're off, full steam ahead. Why am I grinning? This is fast! 100m in and I am out of breath! The rate will slow in a minute. Did no-one hear my telepathic cry? Ok, let's think about finding that rhythm they all kept talking about. OK, we're not even half way up the first stretch and I am so knackered I need to pull my paddle in, but I can't. I am part of a team and I can't let them down. Somehow, I keep going. I know I am keeping up because I can feel the water with each stroke. That helps. Then there it is. The rhythm. The body doesn't matter. WHOAH!! A boat! Passed it! That feeling is amazing. Oh My God, another!! Then another! The first corner, 2 more boats in sight. We can get them! Surely there must be one close behind to take us. Forget that, let's chase those others. We only go and get them too! A bridge. Someone shouts "1000m to go!" Why does this now seem like a treat? Where has this energy come from? The last island!!! Turn! 200m snap. Ok, this bit really didn't have much help from me. The water kind of moved by itself! But no-one overtook us. We did it! Listen to the crowd, I can hear my 11 year old using his newly found whistle to spur us on. Then the horn. I am no longer a Henley Virgin. I can't remember getting off the boat, just the kissing, hugging and grinning. The warm down hurt a lot. It didn't matter. Boat off, hot (ish) shower, out to wait for the results. They don't mean much to me yet really but when the Dragons smile, it must be good. They seemed happy so I can't have held them back too much. Should I sign up for the next one? Hell yay, I want another piece of that! Helen Rutherford Seasoned Newbie