Boo ya

So, while I thought the last weekend of sprint season was a huge coup for our SFOCC novice women's crew, turns out THIS weekend, the first of the long distance season, was an even bigger score.

Last in our last long distance race in Monterey, we went on to place FIRST this time around. On our home water (the bay) and in our home weather (cold, grey and foggy), in front of friends who braved the temps to come down to Chrissy Field, we got off to an electric start trailing a close second to the women's boat ahead of us until our 2nd turn (of 4) when our steerswoman, Jessica B, deftly maneuvered us to the inside as we picked up the pace and swung around in first, holding on through the finish.

As we crossed the finish line, the rest of the club cheering on the beach, pride and awe welled up inside me as I considered how our embattled crew had worked so hard for this moment through disappointment and frustration. 6 mostly beginner paddlers for whom enthusiasm had initially outpaced ability. Slowly, steadily, the gap is shrinking. It was euphoric.

To top it off, I got to race again right behind my great buddy, Jessica, in the open women's race that swung us from the GG Bridge to the Bay Bridge in the longest straight paddle we'd done to date. Boo wha? Boo ya. All credit to Jess for tabbing us as the "whitest haoles." Straight up.

(all pics courtesy of Rick Gaston)

The rest of the weekend was spent feasting on delicious and healthy fare while watching Ironman (so good!) at Film Night in the Park, heading back out on the water for a couple of hours of 1-man practice, and a trail run/birthday celebration at Rodeo Beach followed by more fruity and savory delectables. By the time I stumbled home to nap late afternoon on Sunday the sun had finally emerged in an otherwise grey, overcast weekend. Doh!

It occurred to me in my vegetative state on the couch later that night, as I embark on a search for a new apartment - where my rent will double if not nearly triple what it currently costs now - that to justify the costs, I'll have to curtail my extracurricular outdoor activity. The fact that I spend perhaps 30 hours of a 48 hour weekend outside does not bode well when paying a couple of G's for a crashpad. That makes for a fairly steep hourly at-home rate. Need to log the couch hours to justify the costs!