Less than a week until DC Strokes kicks off their spring season with their Stonewall Regatta on the Anacostia River on Sunday, June 2 from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Race line-ups have already been sent and we’re all chomping at the bit to get this thing started.
This morning, I was in a men’s 8 (Katie, I’m counting you as an honorary guy.) practicing race starts, sprints, and our secret weapon. (Don’t ask, I won’t tell you unless you know the double secret handshake.) Not to brag, but I felt as if I rocked my calls this morning. I was on top of my game. My boat flew across the water at unbelievable speeds. From the shore, I swear I heard, “It’s a loon, no it’s a motorboat, no it’s DC Strokes!”
My guys pushed themselves and beyond this morning to give me everything they had. They were pulling high ratings, “curb-stomping” the rest of the boats on the water… even if we weren’t actually racing. My opinion is they were too afraid to try and thus remained in our wake.
I would love to see us take a medal on Sunday. We have the muscle and the skill to crank it and not look back, smoking everyone on the course.  I’ve seen these guys, I’m not being over confident.
Clearly, as much as I’m looking forward to this regatta, the thing I’m dreading the most is the spandex uniforms. To be clear, this is not me fishing for compliments. No one likes spandex, at least not since the 1980s when biker-shorts  side ponytails, and New Kids on the Block (the first time) were cool. Amplified by the fact that I’m uber modest and you get me already plotting how I’m going to stay covered up between races.
Yes, there is the obvious argument that everyone else there will be wearing spandex, too. No one will be looking. (Unless you’re a cute, sporty girl and then look all you want.) In fact, I spent hours trying to figure out which uniform pairing would be the least revealing. Realistically, with spandex, no matter what you do it’s revealing, but I can still hope for the slightest reprieve.
This fear is probably pretty ridiculous of all the things I could worry about. I could run the boat ashore, into another boat, into a bridge, lose count, call too many power tens so my guys are exhausted before the finish line, etc. Clearly, the way I look in spandex should be at the end of this list. But, I’m vane and therefore stress about my imperfections.
I’m glad we don’t have to wear spandex to morning practices where instead, I can focus on what’s truly important like the set of the boat, steering, and maintaining my point.
Come Sunday, I’m sure I’ll have forgotten all about this worry that’s been building in my head over the past eight months. I’ve made a mountain out of a mole hill, both literally and figuratively. Instead, like the rest of the crowd, I will be focused on getting my crew down the course ahead of the other boats, pushing them, and encouraging them to give me their all. Come Sunday, we’ll be called the DC Streaks instead of the DC Strokes.
Even if you’re not a cute, sporty girl who wants to check me out in spandex, come down and support the team! There will be live music, food, and fun. You can cheer us on as boat by boat we cross the finish line.
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