The title sort of says it all, but let me explain:
After reflecting briefly on the recent inaugural Dragon Boat Races produced by the beneficiary, The Junior League of Tuscaloosa, I couldn’t help put into perspective its impact and other such events regularly have on my life. It is fun to travel the country to produce and manage dragon boat events, but there is much more to it than blowing into town, doing work and then hitting the next stop on the tour. Relationships are made, goals are met and success stories born.
In the case of Tuscaloosa, I started talking with the all-female organization for several months before they signed a contract and hired me for various services, including promotion, team management, race logistics, boat rental and steerer/coaching expertise. I worked with a chair, co-chair and various subcommittee chairs to implement this first-year race. From site visit to race day, it was as if we followed some pre-arranged path to complete all the minute details and tasks to meet or exceed our collective expectations. From the feedback I heard, the answer was overwhelmingly a score! That makes us all happy.
I replay the good times from practices and race day over and over in my mind, from working with an incredible group of people to coaching fun teams, including the Hampton Inn (Team Hampt-On It!) paddlers and their sweatbands, wristband, high socks and endless energy. There was the drummer who looked like Jack Sparrow I saw in the ladies restroom, sure I’d stepped into the wrong door, and I can’t forget steering in the final races. Early in the day, I told Sarah no one should allowed in the marshaling area, except paddlers and she said, “OK, I’m going to plant a big pregnant chick there.” Two minutes later, there was a very pregnant woman and two other women making sure only paddlers entered. It was funny!
Everything fell right into place on race day, exhibiting our hard work in a flow of ease and excitement. We did it – together, in the same innate manner dragon boat racing itself bonds a team. We had a blast, cleaned up, laughed, hugged, left town, reviewed memories of the experience and pondered the wonderment of years to come with the client, the community, the fundraising, every advantage the event has to offer that we all embraced. We’ll be back to do it all over again! What a lucky dragon boat life!
What a year we have planned for 2012! It’s the year of the water Dragon on the Chinese calendar. We have a rigorous dragon boat racing schedule. Featured in this special edition blog, we highlight each event and part of its story for you. Enjoy.
Macon, GA - A growing event in Macon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Georgia produces this event as a fundraiser. Coming up on the fourth race, the event will feature up to 20 teams at Sandy Beach on Lake Tobesofkee.
Tuscaloosa, AL - After hearing about the success of dragon boat racing as a fundraiser, The Junior League of Tuscaloosa took the plunge feet first. This all-female civic organization has landed several sponsors and hopes to attract 30-35 teams to the Black Warrior River in its first showing.
Decatur, AL - Word of mouth spreads quickly when news of a dragon boat race leaks. That’s what happened in Decatur, where more than 60 teams are already committed in its first year. Presented by Toray Carbon Fibers America, the Decatur General Foundation benefits from event proceeds.
Chattanooga, TN - In its 6th year, the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival will likely attract 60 local corporate and community teams. More than $107,000 was raised during the 2011 event for the Children’s Hospital Foundation at Erlanger.
Wilmington, NC - After a great first-year event, the Cape Fear Dragon Boat Festival returns for more fun! Presented by Blue Hand Home, this event is also a fundraiser for Step up for Soldiers and the Sunburst Foundation. The previously announced date will change. A new date is TBA. Check the event website for updates.
Knoxville, TN - A celebration of the 10th year in Knoxville and benefiting Knox Area Rescue Ministries, we have an ambitious goal: To attract 60 or more teams and raise $187,000, enough money to provide 100,000 meals at KARM.
Owensboro, KY - In its second annual event, the city of Owensboro hopes to make big impressions toward growth, with 30 or more teams, at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival at English Park on the beautiful Ohio River.
St. Louis, MO - Friendly competition abounds on the Creve Coeur Lake as these teams take fun to new levels. Proceeds benefit Operation Family Help, a new Signature Healthcare Foundation initiative to assist families of patients with financial challenges by providing services such as therapy, equipment or transportation.
Gadsden, AL - A first-year event and fundraiser for the Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity, this is a build-up for many years of happy paddlers at the perfect location for fun and festivities on the Coosa River in downtown Gadsden.
Bigfork, MT - They like to go big in Montana, and it shows! Gaining lots of traction already, the first Montana Dragon Boat Festival will feature U.S. and Canadian dragon boaters racing for glory! Local and club teams will take part at a scenic venue on Flathead Lake, hosted by the Kalispell Convention & Vistors Bureau and benefiting Save a Sister, a breast cancer charity.
Cleveland, OH - Club and local teams enjoy a 500-meter race on the Cuyahoga River in the histroric Flats, in downtown Cleveland. Event proceeds benefit The Gathering Place, providing services to individuals and families touched by cancer free of charge.
Memphis, TN - In its second year, the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races will likely attract more than 60 teams. Thanks to supportive sponsors, this event will be huge! Proceeds benefit the Tennessee Clean Water Network.
Nashville, TN - Historically held in August, we switch gears to fall, and add pledge-raising to help the Cumberland River Compact enhance the health, and enjoy the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education, cooperation and action. We expect 50 or more teams on the Cumberland River, downtown.
Bloomington, IN - Details are taking shape for the first race this year in Bloomington, where Solution Tree and the local rowing association will join forces to bring the community together for a great team building experience!
I keep writing and thinking a lot about legacy. Sometimes I feel like I’m preaching it – mostly to other dragon boaters/friends, or in clinics and team building things. They are quite powerful, largely because of the energy we all bring to the experience. The synthesized energy is apart of the intrigue of dragon boating, also.
Sharing our legacy helps communicate where we’re coming from in relationships with other people. We all look at the world from different eyes. When we seek to see what others view from their own perspective and life experiences we listen and respond better to one another.
I’ve wondered why I feel like I’m in such a hurry to impart this concept to others until I realized your legacy sometimes changes in correlation with life occurrences. While I’ve worked hard and enjoyed watching my clientele grow as does Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing, adding new races on the 2012 calendar, it’s been a tough year personally. Actually, the past four years have been marred with loss, starting with the death my friend of 14 years, Karen, who had Stage IV breast cancer. After a wrenching two-year medical battle and then her death, and when I felt like sufficient time had passed and I wasn’t as heartbroken, we lost my husband’s Aunt Karen whom we loved dearly just before 2011. She had suddenly fell ill on Thanksgiving Day, with a high heart rate. She died a week after we returned home from the holiday trip. It developed and happened so quickly, we hadn’t really coped with it when a little more than two months later, we lost again. On the anniversary of our friend Karen’s death, I had a very nice time catching up with our mutual friend, Scott, from college. I loved him like a brother; he couldn’t believe how many people he knew our age were dying too young of various causes. He died in a car wreck four days later. He was the type to take care of people. Everyone he cared about, as a matter of fact. Both Karens were opinionated, but difference makers. I called my friend Karen “Bossy Rossy,” and that trait cut short a promising teaching career. Aunt Karen, we learned from her obituary, pioneered research that led to a growth tissue for burn victims at Akron Children’s Hospital. When she was alive, we didn’t know the extent of the impact she had on people. We knew she was making a difference, but we didn’t know how far-reaching and lasting until she was gone. She often wanted to know more about us, or have a pleasant discussion, which left its own legacy.
We make choices every day, and those ultimate decisions or actions lead to our legacies. Sometimes that may not entail making life-changing advances. Our legacy includes the way we make others feel about themselves, how we work together. I’ve lost three very close people in my life the last four years, with other deaths and loss in between as well. I obviously hope this fate changes very soon. I focus on my life, the people in it, and my work. It’s not only about dragon boat racing and the spiritual passion it evokes in almost everyone. It’s also the inherent community surrounding raising money for charity, making a difference; for me, it’s very fulfilling to show people they can make a difference – it gives me hope. Little by little our combined legacies will gain momentum, so much that we’ll never know the true impact.
Planning for the 2012 season has been a long and evolving process, but it’s coming together and nearly complete. It will be a busy year, with some exciting first-year races on the schedule. Bringing this sport to a community for the first time is always special. Nothing quite compares to a look of giddy accomplishment like the ones of participants who get their first experience paddling in a dragon boat race.
This year, the season will start earlier, in April, and end later, in October. We’ll be traveling even more, with some amazing destinations also on the calendar. In addition to these new events, we’re gearing up for another awesome year in Chattanooga, where the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival has been a popular mainstay for six years. Last year, paddlers in Chattanooga raised the fundraising bar by collecting more than $108,000, up more than $30,000 over the amount raised in 2010. It’s amazing to see how a community bonds to support a local cause. The same rings true in Knoxville, where last year Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) received more than $114,000 in pledges. On tap for 2012 is a 10-year event anniversary celebration that will make this huge event even bigger. We are excited to celebrate our charity and unveil a new event name and logo to commemorate the anniversary:
We also look forward to growing the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis this year. In its 2011 debut, 32 teams thoroughly enjoyed the sport and look forward to having more fun and raising more money for the Tennessee Clean Water Network this year. From the big races to first-year feats, we are preparing now for an incredible New Year in dragon boat racing!
Check out the Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing 2012 season. More dates will added soon. Paddles Up!
It’s hard to fathom that the long, successful and tremendously busy 2011 season is over, because in a way it’s not.
Even though the racing season is done, and I’m not working any more dragon boat races until spring, it’s really not over for me. I’m working on the 2012 event season now. What a wild ride it’s going to be, also. It looks like Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC will possibly be producing and/or managing 15 events next year, up from nine this year. If I thought this year was incredibly hectic, next year looks even wilder.
I hope it begins the same way it ended. The 2011 Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing season ended in Memphis, on September 24. And yes, I did have to say on the mic one good time, “Thank you, thank you very much.” I couldn’t resist. By the time I arrived in Memphis after driving 12 hours from Cleveland, Ohio after working that dragon boat festival, I was exhausted and ready to get the week finished so that my season would be over. That’s not a great attitude to have, but we had already worked two dragon boat races in September, and Memphis still to go. I was reaching a sort of burn out and very much looking forward to what I thought would be a break after the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis. I was wrong about everything.
It only took about five minutes of getting into a boat and start coaching in Memphis to realize we were exposing new people to a new sport, and it’s time to have fun with this. I was lucky the entire week of Memphis to coach some teams with great personalities, including a motivated all-female team full of boot campers who wanted to win. They did very well on race day, too. The last team I coached had some serious talent, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them to make them competitive. They won Gold on race day! I used that excitement to sustain me until after the races were over. Plus, since it was a first-year event, I felt like a child before Christmas Day. I actually woke up in the middle of the night feeling quite giddy anticipating race day and all the fun and unexpected surprises that always makes the day interesting. On race day, team members began arriving about two hours before races started, while we were setting everything up and everyone worked like ants to get ready. We started about 15 minutes late and quickly got back on track. We actually finished the day 30 minutes early. Kathy (the Dynamic Project Manager) and I looked at each other around 1:30 p.m. and I said to her what it looked like she was already thinking, “Are we really almost finished? This day has flown.” Except for Kathy not knowing where her cellphone was most of the day, every detail for a smooth race day was followed by the letter. I fell to the ground in a victorious celebratory sort of relief after it was over.
Following the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis, I thought maybe I could get some rest and relaxation. It had been a long six months of almost non-stop traveling to dragon boat events all over the country and logistical planning, etc. My head was full, my body was tired and I was road weary. But three different potential clients contacted me about doing site visits as soon as possible in order to get moving on their 2012 plans for dragon boat festivals. So, I traveled to three different destinations (one of which was across the country) in October. The nice thing about it – I carried the renewed excitement that got me through Memphis to “sell” dragon boat racing – an awesome sport with major fundraising capabilities – with me on every visit. Toward the end, I was getting tired again. Now, I’m settled – or at least as settled as someone with my energy level can get – and prepping for many more dragon boat adventures. There will lots of them in 2012, and I will be unveiling the dates very soon.
Once the dragon boat season got going, it feels like it’s flown by faster than a dragon boat race. But here we are at the end of the racing year with only three events remaining. It’s been a very rushed, busy and fun spring and summer filled with new and existing events that have been incredibly successful. More than $250,000 has been raised for charity and thousands have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The last two races have been big fun in two different great cities.
On August 13, we supplied boats, race production and staff for the Gateway Dragon Boat Festival in St. Louis. We drove through a highway just blocks from the Arch during our drive to the hotel and venue. Paddlers from the 25 teams participating were fun and competitive. The losing team from the year before had to wear pink shirts on race day this year in a two-team rivalry/smash talk session on the water. The losing team from this year promised to take the other team out for steak dinner this time. But this year a different team beat them both – Y-Knot from Monroe County, Illinois.
From St. Louis to Nashville, where we finished racing on August 20 in 100-degree heat by 1:30 p.m. Central Standard Time and had eight boats, equipment and gear loaded by 4:30. But before that, we raced 35 very fun corporate and community festival teams. Everyone had a blast and can’t wait to return to the Music City. The Nashville Rugby Club took the Grand Champion prize and everyone won on the water – as usual!
The St. Louis and Nashville events went smoothly because the race organizers were experienced and prepared. We also had an incredible officiating and steering staff for both events, including my husband who coached all week in St. Louis, and in Nashville. In both cities, paddlers I steered for on race day told me that he said to them, “You’re proud, beautiful people.” He tells every team he coaches that. He tells me that. Some paddlers ask him if he does wake up calls, too. He probably would. It’s all about boasting their confidence, of course. Coaching positive and keeping people excited is easy with such a great sport. We have fun with it, as well. The saying is so catchy that in Nashville, when the teams were lining up at the start line, a team next to me in Lane 2 started chanting loudly in short, choppy bursts, “Proud, beautiful people; proud, beautiful people; proud, beautiful people” over and over again. After a few times, someone in the boat I was steering said, “Hey, he said that to us, too!” I laughed and said, “He tells everyone that. But you are proud, beautiful people. He’s right.”
He is right.
Another nice thing about these two races – from the volunteers to the spectators, people were cheering for each other for a job well done. Teams were shouting, “Hip, hip, hooray” for each other. That is a beautiful thing.
There’s nothing like coaching a dragon boat clinic and getting some family time. It was great, and was my agenda recently during a visit to a breast cancer survivor team I’ve coached in clinics for about three years now. For this most recent clinic, the team asked me in advance to come up with some team building exercises as well. After giving it some thought and building on some of my experiences, I arranged the following for the team:
In the morning, we gathered and some paddlers shared what pieces of the stroke they’d like to improve. Then, just before we loaded the boats for the first session, I told everyone that at lunch we would “build our team” by each of us sharing what we’d like our legacy to be, what do we want to be remembered for in this life. I shared in personal detail what my legacy is, and why. In a word, my legacy is giving and all the experiences I’ve had in life brings me back to that. The work I do in producing and managing dragon boat races also raises a lot of money for charities (so far nearly $250,000). I told everyone to think about what their legacy should be while we paddled in the morning session, and then we would share at lunch.
After the sharing started, I was surprised to hear how many women had never given that much thought about their legacy, especially considering I was in a room full of breast cancer survivors. It was amazing and refreshing to see how many women wept through their legacy presentations. It was equally as touching to see women standing beside them make a move to hold and comfort their teammate. A number of the women said the dragon boat club had given them something to live for, and in ways they’d never before imagined. Most of them said they wanted to give in some form – whether it be to help someone, to be a friend or to be a great family member. It was an amazing exercise in why and will – the why of what we do every day of our lives and the will to carry on, for whatever reason. We all leave a legacy. Make yours count to someone.
This blog was originally published in 2007, and gives an insider perspective of what it’s like to paddle in a dragon boat on race day
Paddling a dragon boat is unlike paddling any other water craft. Even though it is very similar to an Outrigger canoe, it isn’t exactly the same. Practicing in a dragon boat is much different than racing in a one of these 46-foot long boats. One coach said, “Racing is controlled chaos.” And it is, really. Especially when the adrenaline is pumping through your veins and you think about the potential of your team beating everyone else to that last buoy.
When the coach says “Paddles Up,” a rush of excitement, fear of failing and drive to paddle your heart out consumes you all at once. Then, you start paddling those deliberately long strokes and you’re reaching as far as possible, clinching teeth, straining, not even feeling the energy of the boat until it feels like you’re gliding. You realize someone is counting and you are operating this lightweight paddle through the water. You’re actually not doing so badly. Through your rush of adrenaline, your brain recalls that the process involves following the person two seats in front of you on the opposite side. Watch for the paddle in the air, hit the water with it when they hit. Listen to the count the coach yells; listen to the beat of the drum, unless you’ve tuned out everything except your own heartbeat. Reach so far you’re nearly out of your seat, hanging out the side of the boat giving it every atom of energy in your being. “Give the best you can give on this day,” good coaching advice.
The next piece of the race technique is an intense adrenaline ride. These are the fast strokes. It is the controlled chaos. You are paddling faster, and you think for a quick second if you get any more rocket on that power you could lose your paddle in the water. Listen to the coach or drummer shouting the count to you and move the paddle with the count. Keep looking up, again spot the paddler on the opposite side, two seats up and watch for the paddles up. Your paddle should be up at that moment. Coming out of the count and into the gradual extension to longer, deeper strokes brings you closer to the finish. These strokes win or lose a close race. Reach, and keep reaching, maintaining the paddles up everyone else has perfected, with the beat of the drummer in front, move your body with the person in front of you. Reach farther, spear your paddle into the water like a warrior, like the Chinese statesman who inspired the sport, explode with your final burst of energy until the coach finally yells, “Let it run.” You wonder if you remembered to breathe. Breathing is important. You are breathing now, fire through your veins, like the dragon.
You are experiencing the boat… You are getting the race experience.
After a week of wildness and hail having no fury, we had an incredible 9th Annual Knoxville Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2011!
The week of practice sessions for the 47 teams competing on race day was more unusual than most practice weeks over the past several years. This time around, we had lightning and hail storms to dodge nearly the entire week. On Tuesday night, during the last practice session, as a black cloud lingered over top of us, all the teams made their way to the docking area – except one. Mine, of course. Someone else was steering, but when it became too much with the 60 mph wind and excessive hail, I took over and began getting us to shore while I watched some of my staff and paddlers from the other teams running with us, to see where we might beach. We had a choice: into some rocks, or no. At this point, it felt like my contact lenses might get blown out by the wind, and I kept turning around with my head down so I didn’t lose my vision. We were already in jeopardy and this was not a problem I needed. Every time I turned around to look past the bow, all I could see was wind-blown hail spitting in my face and human figures running in the woods on shore. As I struggled to look forward, I began inching the boat toward a spot with no rocks by maneuvering the oar. Within a few minutes, which felt like a half hour, we made it to a safe spot and everyone disembarked as quickly as possibly. Thank God it was an experienced team full of people who knew what to do. Following a few more close moments with possible storms during practice week, we finally got through the week with only one 15-minute delay.
It was beautiful on race day – mid-80s and sunny! Everything went as well as planned – from marshaling to loading boats, entertainment and team management – it all fell into place. It went so well, we already have people asking about sponsoring and putting in teams for next year!
Here is a video from the Final race where Rick Cox Construction squeaked out a close one.
We returned today from Wilmington, where the 16 teams racing had a blast.
A team I coached – Velocity Dragons/Lear won Gold and Silver with its two teams after clocking an amazing time of .53 in a 250-meter race. Their talent and the tidal current helped nudge them to that impressive time. They took me for quite a ride and beat their race day rivals – the Steel Dragons.
I think I had as much fun hoisting four of our dragon boats up using the huge marine lift at Bennett Brothers Yacht Club there. The lift operator and I had some great team work going to safely load the boats on our triple-axle trailer. I had to stay in the boats and push each one through the slings on the lift. I got to ride on the last boat on the way up – it was the only way to get me on land!
Other than hanging out with some of the greatest people from Pawleys Island, SC – cancer survivors who are part of a recreational dragon boat club team I’ve coached, or trained to steer over the last four years (which was a sweet reunion!) I also had the pleasure of having a fairly young soldier – Ivan – who was recently blinded in the war in Afghanistan – race with one of my teams on race day. The awesome dock volunteer, Bob Bilby of Myrtle Beach, and I helped Ivan into the boat, and then I gave Ivan a quick paddling lesson. He was one of the best paddlers I’ve seen! He’s very funny, with a sweet personality. He said to his friend who paddled next to him after we crossed the finish line: “You were really into it. I saw you going strong!” It proves no matter how much we get blinded – whether it be literally, or by our own doubts, fears and challenges, we have a choice in dealing with it. You can be bitter, or you can smile.
