COMMENT: Rowers impress at regatta

I love the water.

From the moment I first plunged off the high dive during one of my swim lessons until now, I’ve been drawn to the pool.

Growing up, my parents called me their “Little Fish,” because I spent hours in the water. They practically had to drag me out of the pool when it was time to pack up and go home.

But, although I’ve swum more laps than I care to imagine, I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to water sports, aside from swimming, I haven’t expanded my horizons.

I’ve never been scuba diving — much to my husband’s dismay — water skiing, rowing, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing, sailing … well, you get the idea.

However, despite my lack of personal experience, I’ve been fortunate enough to get a glimpse into what it takes to be proficient in some of the others, particularly rowing.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to attend several Southeast High rowing club practices, a fundraiser for the Sarasota Crew and most recently the Sarasota Invitational Regatta.

I’ll be the first to admit that when I pulled into the parking lot at Nathan Benderson Park this past Saturday for the high school section of the Sarasota Invitational Regatta, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sure, I had been back to the park before and had seen the lake and site plans for what it eventually will become, but I had never actually been back there for a race.

So, as I made my way back to the water, I couldn’t help but notice the amount of effort that goes into preparing for a race. First, you have to prepare your boat — making sure everything is tightened down and secure. Then you have to warm up — stretching, jumping jacks … you name it.

Then after that’s all done, you can finally carry your boat down to the launch dock to begin your 1,500-meter trek down the lake and back. It’s exhausting just watching the teams prepare for their respective races — all 74 to be exact.

I wasn’t able to stay long, but I did get a chance to catch the finish of several races. To watch them row in unison and see the enthusiasm and dedication they put into the sport is something that often goes unnoticed.