This coming Saturday, July 24th, Chicago’s Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and the Chicago Park District will present the 10th Annual Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy http://bit.ly/cGlVY5.
Dragon boat racing has a long and interesting history, if you’re curious, learn more here: http://bit.ly/coP2w7
Over 30 teams will compete on ornately decorated dragon boats propelled by 20 members: 18 paddlers, 1 drummer, and 1 flag catcher. I’m one of the 18 paddlers.
My husband and I were introduced to dragon boat racing by one of his former co-workers. This will be our 3rd year as members of the “Dragon Pirates”; here’s YouTube footage from one of our 2007 races (the team participates in several throughout the day, moving on or not based on wins/losses) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uu8VUdS-5U.
This year I’m proud to be a sponsor of the team through my company, NutriFit, Inc. We’ll display the company logo and website on the back of our shirts, and the team doesn’t know it yet, but I’m leading some warm up drills before we hit the boats. Paddling full throttle the length of the race without warming and loosening up could be a recipe for disaster – and we can’t win with injured pirates!
Upper body, particularly shoulders, chest and back, and core strength are the driving forces that propel us along the race route. Women naturally lack significant upper body strength, but a consistent strength training routine of shoulder presses, lateral and front delt lifts, bent over rows, and lat pull downs are good exercises for creating a strong base to build greater strength from. I’ve upped my routine over the last couple of weeks, adding in some rotational work and rotator cuff exercises.
Combine strength training, teamwork, a will to win, a strong drum cadence, lots of fluid and plenty of energy bars http://bit.ly/9xbJfF (which I’d best get to baking), and we’re set.
If you’re in the Chicago area, come cheer us on! Supporting literacy by racing up and down the Chicago river with a dragon-headed boat full of friends is a fun way to help bring attention and awareness to a cause that’s near to my heart. The ability to read opens minds, possibilities, and windows of opportunity – can you even imagine if you couldn’t?