Race Recap: The 2022 Kumu'Ohu Challenge
On Saturday we kicked off the SUP race season with the Kumu’Ohu Challenge here in DC. It’s the Washington Canoe Club’s annual race that took a temporary, pandemic hiatus. We were so glad to see it back on the calendar this year and to welcome the SUP race community back to our home waters.
We recently learned the history behind the naming of the race. According to Amy Potter, one of the race founders, when the Washington Canoe Club (WCC) started the race about 18 years ago, it hoped to entice a nearby popular bar, the Foggy Bottom Brewery, to sponsor the event, or, at the very least, donate beer for the after party. The club put out a call to a friend in Hawaii. His contribution: Kumu, meaning bottom or base and Ohu, meaning fog or mist. And so, the Kumu’ohu Challenge was born. Sadly, the Foggy Bottom beer never materialized. And with that little history lesson, let’s share our our personal lessons from the race!
Scott’s Race
There’s nothing better than racing in our home waters where we know the ins and outs of the wind patterns and current. I might be biased because we’re WCC members, but big kudos to the club organizers. There’s a ton of stoke in this premier SUP race in DC. My stoke on Saturday, though, felt a little different than usual. Since it was the first race of the season I made the decision to start behind the lead power houses, which is not my typical strategy. It ended up being a big mistake. I had to throw several braces to stay on my board in their wake at the start, losing the lead group and never being able to catch back up. (Of course, it didn’t help that I also stopped to click “start” on my Garmin, as caught on camera above). It was the perfect example of how you can lose a race at the start.
Despite my terrible start, I still deployed all of my typical strategies - solid forward stroke technique, tight buoy turns, drafting, etc. It was frustrating to never be able to catch up, but I kept reminding myself to just race my race. Meaning, focus on what you can control and don’t compare yourself to others. This race really underscored how out of practice and out of shape I am for the season. Although my stoke for the sport is high, I’m lacking motivation to work out and train. I have some decisions and adjustments to make, that’s for sure. But, if there’s a silver lining to this current headspace I’m in it’s getting to smell the wisteria blooming along the race course on Saturday. Did anyone else notice it?
Meredith’s Race
If you remember any past recaps from the Kumu’Ohu, you may also recall the love/hate relationship I have with this race. On one hand, I love racing in my own back yard. On the other, it’s always tough to rip off the band aid for the first race of the season. I’ve also historically performed terribly at this race and have definitely come in last place more than one time.
I woke up Saturday morning with my usual pre-race jitters… but magnified. There was a moment when I felt so physically ill from anxiety that Scott asked me if I wanted to just spectate. I won’t say I wasn’t tempted. Instead, I popped in my headphones and listened to a few Peloton meditations for calmness and courage. With the mantra “I am bold, I am brave, I am buoyant” echoing in my head, I lined up at the start line ready to accept whatever outcome. While I can’t say I performed at my best, I can say I successfully tackled an immense amount of anxiety that almost prevented me from crossing the finish line altogether. I also learned a whole lot about what creates this pre-race turmoil and what keeps me motivated, or not, on the race course itself.
Real talk (and there’s some bravery needed here to even admit this): I put a massive amount of pressure on myself to preform well at these races because I worry about what it will look like if I, someone who helps SUP racers finetune their technique and strategy, don’t pull off my own accomplishments on the race course. Whew, there, I said it out loud. I’m sure this is a form of imposter syndrome and no matter how many times I tell myself that this self imposed pressure will be the thief of joy (because I actually do enjoy racing), I can’t seem to shake the obsessive thoughts. But, I’ve named it and I’m working on it.
That’s the first lesson learned. The second: I work harder when I have someone pushing me to do so. I’m sure I’m not alone in needing this motivation. I knew within the first 5 minutes of the race that a podium placement wasn’t in the cards. But, realizing how hard I worked could result in 4th or 5th place kept me battling all the way to the finish line. I ended up walking away with the 4th place spot, but more importantly, I walked away feeling proud that I competed first and foremost with myself to even make it to the water on Saturday. I predict this year will be one of personal growth and learning and I’m looking forward to using my races this season as benchmarks for improvement on my times and technique.
As always, we’re so proud of everyone who lined up on the race course on Saturday, especially our Team Filthy Flamingo teammates, Laura, Sonia, and Dave.
