Just like everyone else, I have lost many things in my life. There are the everyday, mundane things people lose and there are very important, life-changing things people lose. This particular event I'm about to share is neither mundane nor life-changing. I'm not entirely sure why, but it just sticks out to me. It was a rowing race. It happened a couple months ago, in April, at Long Beach, California. I lost, and I guess, it made a deep impression because I'm a fierce competitor and I strive to win. It was a clear, sunny day and the water was nice and calm. Good rowing conditions. I got into my single shell and headed out to the starting line. I rowed to the warm-up area past the bridge and got my first taste of the competition. Big guys, but not too big. This didn't look too bad. I'm a little smaller, but my technique is solid. The boatmaster calls up the race and we all head to our respective positions on the start line. I look back at the course, only a 1000 meters. However, this would be a tough sprint. I hear the dockmaster, "We have alignment. 3, 2, 1, Row!" I head out, my heart racing. Right off the bat, I miss 1 or 2 strokes. Not good. But, I recover. With about 250 meters to go, I'm tied for 3rd. I look over, trying to pull ahead, but the other guys are going too strong. They start to pull ahead of me. As we pass the beach area, I see the 500 meter mark above me. I start to feel the exhaustion and fatigue in my arms. I know I'm not taking good strokes. I fix my technique, but now my legs are burning up. It feels like forever till it ends. Another guy passes by me. I still have one rower behind me, though. Not in last. I hear my team cheering for me, it gives me a boost. I row hard, sprint it out at the end. I pass someone at the end. I hear the horn. I've passed the finish line. I look behind. 3 out of 6 boats have finished. I came in 4th. I head back to the beach area to dock. I hear encouraging words from my teammates. I'm disappointed, but I know it's going to be okay. I'm young and I still have plenty of opportunities to win races. This isn't the last one.
Nice work, Aashay. I love all the details you include about the physicality of racing--the strain on your muscles, etc. That's the kind of detail readers love, because most of us haven't raced. You are so fluid and effective on the page. A pleasure to read.
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