This year, the season will start earlier, in April, and end later, in October. We’ll be traveling even more, with some amazing destinations also on the calendar. In addition to these new events, we’re gearing up for another awesome year in Chattanooga, where the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival has been a popular mainstay for six years. Last year, paddlers in Chattanooga raised the fundraising bar by collecting more than $108,000, up more than $30,000 over the amount raised in 2010. It’s amazing to see how a community bonds to support a local cause. The same rings true in Knoxville, where last year Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) received more than $114,000 in pledges. On tap for 2012 is a 10-year event anniversary celebration that will make this huge event even bigger. We are excited to celebrate our charity and unveil a new event name and logo to commemorate the anniversary:

We also look forward to growing the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis this year. In its 2011 debut, 32 teams thoroughly enjoyed the sport and look forward to having more fun and raising more money for the Tennessee Clean Water Network this year. From the big races to first-year feats, we are preparing now for an incredible New Year in dragon boat racing!

Check out the Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing 2012 season. More dates will added soon. Paddles Up!

Even though the racing season is done, and I’m not working any more dragon boat races until spring, it’s really not over for me. I’m working on the 2012 event season now. What a wild ride it’s going to be, also. It looks like Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC will possibly be producing and/or managing 15 events next year, up from nine this year. If I thought this year was incredibly hectic, next year looks even wilder.

I hope it begins the same way it ended. The 2011 Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing season ended in Memphis, on September 24. And yes, I did have to say on the mic one good time, “Thank you, thank you very much.” I couldn’t resist. By the time I arrived in Memphis after driving 12 hours from Cleveland, Ohio after working that dragon boat festival, I was exhausted and ready to get the week finished so that my season would be over. That’s not a great attitude to have, but we had already worked two dragon boat races in September, and Memphis still to go. I was reaching a sort of burn out and very much looking forward to what I thought would be a break after the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis. I was wrong about everything.

It only took about five minutes of getting into a boat and start coaching in Memphis to realize we were exposing new people to a new sport, and it’s time to have fun with this. I was lucky the entire week of Memphis to coach some teams with great personalities, including a motivated all-female team full of boot campers who wanted to win. They did very well on race day, too. The last team I coached had some serious talent, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with them to make them competitive. They won Gold on race day! I used that excitement to sustain me until after the races were over. Plus, since it was a first-year event, I felt like a child before Christmas Day. I actually woke up in the middle of the night feeling quite giddy anticipating race day and all the fun and unexpected surprises that always makes the day interesting. On race day, team members began arriving about two hours before races started, while we were setting everything up and everyone worked like ants to get ready. We started about 15 minutes late and quickly got back on track. We actually finished the day 30 minutes early. Kathy (the Dynamic Project Manager) and I looked at each other around 1:30 p.m. and I said to her what it looked like she was already thinking, “Are we really almost finished? This day has flown.” Except for Kathy not knowing where her cellphone was most of the day, every detail for a smooth race day was followed by the letter. I fell to the ground in a victorious celebratory sort of relief after it was over.

Following the Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Races in Memphis, I thought maybe I could get some rest and relaxation. It had been a long six months of almost non-stop traveling to dragon boat events all over the country and logistical planning, etc. My head was full, my body was tired and I was road weary. But three different potential clients contacted me about doing site visits as soon as possible in order to get moving on their 2012 plans for dragon boat festivals. So, I traveled to three different destinations (one of which was across the country) in October. The nice thing about it – I carried the renewed excitement that got me through Memphis to “sell” dragon boat racing – an awesome sport with major fundraising capabilities – with me on every visit. Toward the end, I was getting tired again. Now, I’m settled – or at least as settled as someone with my energy level can get – and prepping for many more dragon boat adventures. There will lots of them in 2012, and I will be unveiling the dates very soon.

Paddles UP!

The week of practice sessions for the 47 teams competing on race day was more unusual than most practice weeks over the past several years. This time around, we had lightning and hail storms to dodge nearly the entire week. On Tuesday night, during the last practice session, as a black cloud lingered over top of us, all the teams made their way to the docking area – except one. Mine, of course. Someone else was steering, but when it became too much with the 60 mph wind and excessive hail, I took over and began getting us to shore while I watched some of my staff and paddlers from the other teams running with us, to see where we might beach. We had a choice: into some rocks, or no. At this point, it felt like my contact lenses might get blown out by the wind, and I kept turning around with my head down so I didn’t lose my vision. We were already in jeopardy and this was not a problem I needed. Every time I turned around to look past the bow, all I could see was wind-blown hail spitting in my face and human figures running in the woods on shore. As I struggled to look forward, I began inching the boat toward a spot with no rocks by maneuvering the oar. Within a few minutes, which felt like a half hour, we made it to a safe spot and everyone disembarked as quickly as possibly. Thank God it was an experienced team full of people who knew what to do. Following a few more close moments with possible storms during practice week, we finally got through the week with only one 15-minute delay.

It was beautiful on race day – mid-80s and sunny! Everything went as well as planned – from marshaling to loading boats, entertainment and team management – it all fell into place. It went so well, we already have people asking about sponsoring and putting in teams for next year!

Here is a video from the Final race where Rick Cox Construction squeaked out a close one. More info and race recap online at knoxville.racedragonboats.com. Paddles Up!

Starting this Friday the 13th, I will blog every day while I’m in Chattanooga for the Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival until race day, on Saturday, May 21. A lot happens during practices and the week leading up to the event: from coaching teams to final week preps for an awesome race day, it’s a busy and interesting time. Look for photo and video updates, and the blog, of course!

I’m calling the blog Dragons Alive, because that’s how the idea evolved in my head. I’ve been a writer for a very long time. I have several personal and work journals. The journal I found was a personal one I had designated as my grief diary after my friend Karen died more than three years ago. Sadly, I’ve lost two other very important people in my life after Karen passed. One good thing I can say about experiencing death – it teaches you how to live. Something I wrote to Karen in that journal: “You’re always in the back of my head saying, ‘You’re alive. Do something with it. Go for it.’”

Karen and many lost loved ones taught me how to live, and be alive. Part of that is sharing, and giving. Through dragon boat racing, we work together as a team, and through the festivals, we give back as a community. Be part of that journey. The dragons are alive with power – to win – in every  possible way!

Paddles Up!

I’m very relieved the new Web sites are live and making the visitor experience easier overall. Right now, with the way my schedule has been, I wouldn’t have the time to even look at my Web sites, much less edit them. There are a few more things to finish, but the sites are primarily done. We’ll be adding things here and there. It’s a fun work in progress. Enjoy!

It’s good timing since I’m feeling the monkey is now off my back with this huge Web site project out of the way, I’m consumed with work on details for the three dragon boat festivals produced by Dynamic, consulting with current clients, and bidding and prospecting other festivals for the future. It has been a full plate and then some, between traveling and planning. Dynamic has contracted with Project Management Consultant Kathy Willard to help my plate stay full and manageable. I am her most challenging project, of course, but together, we’ll propel Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC to the next level and make even more money for charities all over the country. It’s already great, and will only get better.

I’m excited about the future. It will be a very interesting and Dynamic journey!

Paddles Up!

Penny

Knoxville, TN – Due to immense popularity, the Knoxville Dragon Boat Festival is limiting the number of
teams next year. Registration is open for the 9th Annual Knoxville Dragon Boat Festival, benefiting Knox Area
Rescue Ministries. Read More…