Saved by the wind on the river. Finding my own way to enjoy it, beyond the medals.

I finish my morning coffee and hurry to get ready.

This morning is dragon boat training, which I'm attending for the first time in a while. I'm glad I didn't oversleep and made it in time for this quiet, early morning air.

2023.
The team that kindly welcomed me as a beginner was a strong, powerful, and warm place.

The veteran members taught me, a newcomer, step-by-step with great detail. Thanks to them, I was able to get my hands on gold, silver, and bronze medals—every color—including those from international competitions.

Until last year, I was desperate to win medals.

Days spent practicing without fail and pushing myself to the limit.

But this year, I decided to change my "purpose" just a little.

Rather than winning races, I shifted toward "enjoying the sport itself."

To be honest, perhaps I was a little burnt out.
However, now I just want to simply face the boat at my own pace. That is how I feel.

Looking back, I was saved by this sport.

The very painful and sad events that continued from 2022 to 2023.

Those lonely times when I had to handle chores calmly and face things all by myself.
It was then that a colleague invited me to try dragon boating as a change of pace.

I remember my heart, which had come to a standstill, leaping with joy during just a two-hour trial. I decided to buy a full set of gear that very day, and I've been hooked ever since.

Despite my long absence, everyone on the team welcomed me so warmly.

I let go of the pressure to "have to win" and approached the training with the best I could give right now.

Dragon boat practice always starts with basic movements.
As I repeat them, the "muscle memory" my body remembers is gradually awakened, and my whole body begins to move in rhythm with everyone else's motions and calls.

It's not just about rowing with brute force. That is the deep, irresistible charm of this sport.

Even for form alone, it is not something you can master overnight.

I accept advice from those around me with an open mind and repeat adjustments by the millimeter. I feel that it is precisely because of this "process of refining myself" that I can truly enjoy practicing with my teammates.

Dragon boating doesn't work if only one person is strong.

Twelve or twenty-two crew members synchronize their breathing to the sound of the drum and the movements of the pacer.

The moment the timing and speed are perfectly aligned, the boat begins to move smoothly and powerfully, as if by magic.

A great sense of unity that transcends individual strength.
When I catch that flow, an indescribable sense of exhilaration wells up inside me.

This year, I decided not to obsess over race results but to purely enjoy the sport itself.

In today's practice, which I approached with that decision, I feel like the "sound of the water," the "oncoming wind," and the "smiles of my teammates," which I hadn't paid much attention to before, looked much more vivid.

Two hours spent under the sun that cleansed my soul.

Along with a pleasant sweat, it was a refreshing feeling, as if I had met a new version of myself.

Reliable teammates and a beautiful water surface.
The best weekend starts right here.