Yesterday I tried my first ever SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) and because I’m kind of a “Go Big, or Go Home” person I entered a race without ever being on a board before. Granted the race I entered was only a 1.5K but I thought that would be far enough considering I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand up, let alone go that far!
The weather did not look great, The overcast and chance of rain literally hung over our heads. The lake was choppy and the wind chilly. Luckily for us the water was warmer than the air. The race sponsors provided breakfast and beverages there were vendors there as well. I got a quick lesson from my friend Holly. She had been on a SUP board a couple times before and took lessons. We got on the boards for a mini – get comfortable – session, then waited for the competition to begin.
For the first annual Northern Lights Paddle board event in Forest Lake, there were quite a a few participants. I believe there were 50 or so racers. The wake they created was a little much for my already wobbly self but I was able to get up and steady myself. My friend had a HUGE lead on me. I anticipated a leisurely paddle with lots of chatter, but she. took. off. It took me a while to catch her; I had plenty of time to just think about my participation. Most of the races I had previously done were more about talking and less about coming in first. It fit my non competitive nature. This was very different. Once I caught up to her I had a pretty steady rhythm. A rhythm I did not break.
The choppy water and distance was a lot to endure without training, at the time I was glad I didn’t do a further distance. As I rounded the buoy and headed to the finish line a sense of gratitude washed over me. I was so thankful for the Oxygen Challenge training I had gone through. The weights that I lifted in the previous weeks made me so strong and able to complete this distance fairly easily.
I was the very first one to cross the finish line. That hadn’t ever happened to me before. I mean it’s NEVER happened to me before. When I went home to tell my husband and kids, they didn’t believe me. When I said I’m not competitive I meant it, which is why they didn’t believe me. My family came back to the event with me to enjoy in the festivities and someone recognized me as the winner of the 1.5K, I think without that happening they wouldn’t have believed me!
We ended the day doing Yoga at the beachfront, wanting to do SUP yoga but the boards were always taken. We danced to some reggae music, test drove some fat tire bikes and then I took the kids out on my rental SUP board. They had a blast! I can’t wait for next year and I’m already looking at purchasing my own board!
Much Love,
Jes xoxo
PS: My friend was the second finisher of the day!