IMBA Dragon Boat - team and preparation,1

Two months ago I have never thought I would take part in Dragon Boat race competition. One day my Taiwanese friend Yen-Yu sent me a message whether we (me and Ilman) want to join their Dragon Boat Team for upcoming festival. I thought it would be fun and new experience, so that I agreed.  Later she apologized that I cannot be a member of their team, but I can create my own. I almost didn't know anything about this competition and create the team..? But Ilman didn't hesitate and asked several classmates about that. As a number of them increased I have created an event on Facebook.. That time I still thought it would be just fun and I didn't take it seriously. Agris, one of IMBA students from Latvia, sent me a message about trainings and organizing the team. he had previous experience with Dragon boat, so he took over the team's trainings.From the first moment he took trainings and participation in competition seriously and soon we started to be more and more organized with fixed schedule of ground practices. Our team was assigned in competition as IMBA Dragon Boat team and we started to work more with IMBA office.

Ground and Boat Practices
Our first ground training was on 4th of May (one month before the competition) at 7am on the field in front of Chemical engineering. I remembered how we parked our scooter quite far and then walking around. First we met Steve and then Agris waiting for the rest of team. I admit, it was so difficult to wake up so early, but the air was so fresh and I felt very well. We ran 3 laps and exercise.. I felt weak and almost without stamina, so sleepy, but somehow happy.. Following other land practices, more people assigned, but less came to trainings. .. Sometimes I felt so tired, but Ilman always kicked me in the right moment not to give up and now I'm so thankful to him.. Once I overslept and almost didn't go to the practice, but Ilman persuaded me to come at least for the rest of the training. I was "punished" by team for lateness and ran 1 more lap. I felt ashamed and uneasy, but it helps to finally "wake up". I decided to fight! Suddenly I became so passionate about Dragon Boat team and want to do something more for it!! That time Ruslan (IMBA student) created design for t-shirts and Ilman poster.. I've got some drinks for us from IMBA office.. We had together around 8 land practices and 5 boat practices.. I cannot describe the feelings I had when going for these trainings.. I felt we are becoming team and people are closer..   
Every ground practice came different people, sometimes less, sometimes more.. I tried to motivate and ask some people to come even though it was early morning. After watching the video from last year, I became more serious about the practice. As I so, it's not that easy as it looks for audience. Even though the race takes just around 2 minutes, it's hard and requires stamina.. You cannot just give up because you feel tired and cannot go anymore..

We had 5 boat practices together, in Anping Canal, Tainan. Practice starts usually at 8.30am. Our first practice (19th of May) showed that we don't have stamina at all and we are not synchronized. I remember we spent quite a lot of time from the training just dealing with synchronization and quarrel about drum's tempo- tempo of paddling. After the first training in boat I felt so tired. When got home, I was sleeping for the rest of the day. Second practice took place 2 days later and we showed slight progress. However, we still had a lot to do at least to move a bit faster. Our 3rd boat practice (I'm paddling in the last seat) I specially like the part of stretching:

During our next practices, I could see Agris is disappointed. Perhaps because of members' attendance and our poorer performance. I felt desperate coz I had a felling we will not get even to semi-final and with random attendance by most strongest guys?? On the other hand I was so happy that we are so diverse and there are also girls, because it shows that everybody who really wants- can participate, even though he/she might not be naturally so strong. Of course I wanted to win as well, but I hoped that if we do our best, we don't need to regret anything. We had regular boat and land practices. Last week I noticed most of us became so tired..  Agris hurted himself so much, that he was not sure about going  for competition, but finally he came. When I saw how some people sacrifice themselves, it motivates me even more..Some people like Raps or Steve were so passionate about that and I felt very good atmosphere. I remember Raps told me that she wants to win so much. I must admot I didn't believe it that time, but after she told this with such determinedly, I felt nothing is impossible. I received regular drink support from office and time till competition ran so fast. I felt so happy to go for trainigs - ground or boat and waking up became a habit. Ilman created awesome promotion video of Dragon boat team and boost team spirit and "promote" dragon boat in the class. It became very popular:

These practices and races made me closer to the people and helped to create something which was missing at school.           

Our first race: NCKU IMBA Team, Race #1.
-> We WON!!