Today is the "day after" a busy weekend of competing in the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival.  This wasn't only our last festival before we compete in the World Club Crew Championships.  Victoria is also our "home turf" Festival and one of my most favourite festivals of all time.  I've competed in the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival for over 10 years, on several different teams, and every year it's been a great experience as a paddler.

This year, it was really great to once again see so many familiar faces, from the many different clubs around the city, and to race against many of my friends and past crew mates.

The Women's Division did not have a specific division for 50+ or a 60+ teams so both of the Gorging Dragon women's crews heading to the World's in Italy were up against crews with women of all ages.  However, if you know me at all, you know that one of my favourite sayings is: "Age is just a number."  I know from personal experience that, if you stay fit and healthy, you can reverse the aging clock and if you're hit with disease or illness, being fit can bring you back sooner with less residual or lingering problems.  That's why, in my line of work as a bootcamp instructor with Alter Ego Fitness Experience and as a personal trainer, I'm constantly encouraging women (and men) to start their fitness regime sooner rather than later.  It's like an "insurance policy", it will help you when you need it most.

Both of our women's crews did very well.  The Senior B team (50+) finished  4th overall in the Women's Division and the Senior C team (60+) finished 5th overall.  Our Premier Mixed team (men and women, all under 50) placed 3rd overall out of ALL the teams entered.  During our debrief sessions after a race, our coaches praised us for doing the work we needed to do for each race and helped us identify what we needed to do for the upcoming races.  "The 'big stuff' is solid, now let's fine tune",  seemed to be the theme I heard.

After this weekend, we all feel that much more confident going into Italy.  We have our race goals intact, we solidly believe in our race plans and I've been hearing from so many of my crew mates that "We're ready!  Let's go!".

But, we still have 4 more practices before most of us head off on our travels.  The goal this week is all about the 'taper'.  Spending more time on the water keeping those paddling muscles moving and less time in the gym strength training.  As our knowledgeable coach, Tom Arnold, tells us, there's to be no "increase in strength" being done now.  There's more harm than good if you think you can "make up for lost workouts".  He wants us to stretch, do some easy cardio, easy small boat work, stay committed to our dragon boat practices and spend time "denting the couch".

Those of us who actually enjoy our hard workouts will definitely miss the endorphin rush.  This taper will be tough but, as I know from being a trainer and helping clients reach their race goals, tapering properly before your goal event is so very crucial and important.  When I taper before a goal race, I'm chomping at the bit, ready to go at the start line!  At that point, I'm ready - ready!  And, I usually succeed in not only finishing that event but in having a personal best time.  Tapering is very important!  Each of us, committed to doing well in Italy will listen to our coaches and taper properly as we prepare for our goal - the World's in Italy.

Everyone has different travel dates but the goal is to arrive in Ravenna, Italy with a couple of days to get acclimatized.  After that, we'll have a couple of days of easy practices and then BOOM (as Tom said) we'll be racing against the best from the rest of the world!

Before we get there though, my next couple of blogs will take us back, to the beginning of February when I was approached to drum for the Senior C Team, and talk about how much I believe the crews (and I) have improved.

Until then, arrivederci!

NOTE:  Are you a dragon boat paddler wondering, and worrying, about what to do during the fall/winter months to keep up your strength and cross training?  Alter Ego Fitness Experience has outdoor boot camps (you love the outdoors!) and we also offer personal training.  4, 6 and 8 week programs are available.  Please send me an email:  loreli@alteregofitness.ca.  Our next 6-week progressive boot camp starts September 22nd (upon my return from Italy).