A Rowing Start to 2024

At the end of 2023, I met an Elizabeth Laws Fuller 骆怡蓓 at an event and through our conversation, I got convinced to sign up for a learn to row course. Over a course of 5 weeks from Jan-Feb, I learned to row.

Now, you would think row coaches would be yelling instructions like ‘Pull harder!’ or ‘Drive harder with your legs!’  Instead, I been told to "RELAX" more than I have had in a spa.

Five weeks later, I graduated. I am a rower (well…that label is debatable).

I did enjoy myself immensely though and made some new friends along the way.

Couple of weekends ago, the coaches took a few of us out on singles and to also teach us how to get back up on the boat if we ever flipped. The steps were simple enough.

1. Hold on to the oars with one hand.
2. Heave yourself over the boat - be a seal.
3. Throw the legs back into the boat.

And yes, never let go of the oars in the whole process. I flipped. Again and again and again and again. Right off the bat, off the pontoon, I flipped within seconds. Then probably 6-7 more times after that. I did managed to get back up a few times and rowed a bit before flipping again.

My legs and arms were bruised from heaving and dragging my body back into the boat. Blood from the cuts on my legs and hands stained my clothes. But more so, my confidence was hurt by the ‘failure’. I was so sure I would do ok and I probably flipped the most and rowed the least. I went home, curled up in bed, started second guessing myself and regretted again on all the time lost in my life that I wish I could have done more.

A couple weeks on and the bruises have faded, I have gone out twice more since, once on a quad and once on a double. The quad of Daniel, James, Jess and myself did not have the most successful day. We struggled with the boat (blame the boat) and ourselves and we managed to flip a quad. Was it me - I am afterall the common denominator in the whole equation. No time for shattered confidence this time, we gathered the floating waterbottles, got back into the boat, had a laugh and continued rowing. I also found the guts to go back out the next morning in a double....AND WE STAYED DRY!

Fitness has been such big part of my life in the last few years and a huge part of the journey is novelty. I love that I have picked up so many things - road cycling, spinning, lifting, erg-ing and now rowing. Im not sure if I ever master any of these sport but I sure love picking these new sports up.

I've had a misconception my whole life about the term "life long learning" and have always thought it had to mean something academic like going back to school mid career to pick up another degree or post graduation. Or it meant picking up another certificate to upskill on the work front.

Inadvertently, I think this rowing journey has opened up my mind. Life long learning is simply discovering new elements of life. If you have never cooked in your life and learn how to boil an egg in your forties...that part of your life long learning. It doesn't have to be big gesture or comes with a certificate.

For me, its learning how to be a seal, get back on the boat and keep rowing.