...We're going to find out!
I have never been a team sport chick. Okay, not never. When I worked for the provincial government, I joined a Corporate Challenge volleyball team that was extraordinary because the people were fun AND we'd win! Huzzah! But until now, I haven't really been part of any ongoing team.
Now I've joined a dragon boat paddling team! And I'm 50! Really, the only reason I considered it was because it is a team made up of breast cancer survivors. Different ages, shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. My age, shape, size, and fitness level had to fit in there somewhere!
Tonight was my first dry land training date. 45 minutes in weight/aerobics training, then 45 at the side of the pool just paddling. As if we think we can move the pool over a few feet if ten of us sit at the edge and put our backs into it. That being said: it was super fun to sit at the edge of the pool and just put our backs into it. I can't wait for May when we can get onto the Glenmore Reservoir and into the actual dragon boat!
The other great thing about this team is the fact that we are all breast cancer survivors. All these ladies have been where I've been. Some decades ago. Some a few years ago. One I think is still in the middle of chemo. (Bravo to her, by the way! I heard about this team a few months after I had finished chemo and radiation and that was still too early for me to have even heard about it!)
But the point isn't the breast cancer. We aren't sitting around talking about our experiences and our challenges and rehashing old temperature spikes and sweaty wigs. It's there in the background for all of us, but we're there to strengthen our bodies and train so we can win some races! Knowing we have that backstory in common makes us kindred spirits on an experiential level. If we want to share, there's a willing ear. But the point of our gathering is to work together for something that has nothing to do with any of that - when there was a time (not too long ago for me) where everything was about that. I wasn't expecting to feel such a connection with women I barely know because of something no one is necessarily talking about.
This bodes well for my joining this team, me thinks. I'll keeps you posted.
I have never been a team sport chick. Okay, not never. When I worked for the provincial government, I joined a Corporate Challenge volleyball team that was extraordinary because the people were fun AND we'd win! Huzzah! But until now, I haven't really been part of any ongoing team.
Now I've joined a dragon boat paddling team! And I'm 50! Really, the only reason I considered it was because it is a team made up of breast cancer survivors. Different ages, shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. My age, shape, size, and fitness level had to fit in there somewhere!
Tonight was my first dry land training date. 45 minutes in weight/aerobics training, then 45 at the side of the pool just paddling. As if we think we can move the pool over a few feet if ten of us sit at the edge and put our backs into it. That being said: it was super fun to sit at the edge of the pool and just put our backs into it. I can't wait for May when we can get onto the Glenmore Reservoir and into the actual dragon boat!
The other great thing about this team is the fact that we are all breast cancer survivors. All these ladies have been where I've been. Some decades ago. Some a few years ago. One I think is still in the middle of chemo. (Bravo to her, by the way! I heard about this team a few months after I had finished chemo and radiation and that was still too early for me to have even heard about it!)
But the point isn't the breast cancer. We aren't sitting around talking about our experiences and our challenges and rehashing old temperature spikes and sweaty wigs. It's there in the background for all of us, but we're there to strengthen our bodies and train so we can win some races! Knowing we have that backstory in common makes us kindred spirits on an experiential level. If we want to share, there's a willing ear. But the point of our gathering is to work together for something that has nothing to do with any of that - when there was a time (not too long ago for me) where everything was about that. I wasn't expecting to feel such a connection with women I barely know because of something no one is necessarily talking about.
This bodes well for my joining this team, me thinks. I'll keeps you posted.
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