My focus is all...brokus.

Big moves, big moves. What a difference a few short days makes. When I came back from Haiti, I hadnt been out on the water paddling in weeks. I wasn't really sure if I was going to do it at all this season. I'd been going back and forth on the idea of spending my summer paddling and surfing or taking lots of trips to mtn bike. The bike was winning.

I still hadnt paid my club dues for HanoHano an hour before practice on tuesday, but after a little talk with my friend Jen I decided to go for it and just do it. Well...that was a good choice.

Somehow this week, all of the effort I've been putting into exercise and diet since september finally came to a head, and I've been put on notice that if I put in some solid time paddling this week there might be a spot on the fast boat for me at the first race of the seaon, Crystal Pier.

Wait, what? (a little background.) Our team has a lot of boats. There are six men in a boat. For the races, they try and put the six strongest paddlers in one of the boats, and that's the fast boat. Now I'm nowhwere near one of the best paddlers on my team, not by a long shot. I lack the experience, the refined technique, and most importantly, I haven't paddled at a high level before. However, for some reason they think I may have a shot at a seat in the boat.

As it stands right now, I'm both excited and nervous. Paddling with a fast crew is so much fun, and during practice when your boat blends well, it's a totally different sport, in that it's more fun than it is work. I really worry about my ability to blend with the boat (all about timing and technique). I have one week before crystal pier. I'm going to go out paddling with Coach Chris in a two man boat this week to work on technique, and I['m going to have to do a lot of what I do worst when I get into the zone: focus on being present. I'm so good at tuning out everything when I get into a rythm, but I'm going to have to be all there for this.

So wish me luck this week, and if you can make it down to mission bay next saturday, come cheer on the whole team HanoHano. It's our home race, we put in on, and there are so many hard working paddlers out there who'd love to hear you cheering them on.