Hookers and Strokers

I'm sure I've had pain like this before. I'm sure of it… I just can't remember when. I mean my toes hurt all the way to my ear lobes. The backs of my legs are covered in bruises as if I'd been pole dancing all night. My arms hang from my side like two giant cement blocks that make it difficult to even write. I am feeling muscles in my back expand, contract and convulse to the point that I fear at any moment I will metamorphesize into The Incredible Hulk.
The cause of all this pain?
Don't tell my parents.
I've started hookin'
Hookin' and strokin'.

It's not as bad as it sounds.

Three weeks ago I joined the outrigger canoe paddle team and three times a week I meet with five other ladies and our coach Joshy for run, paddle, hook and stroke.

Given my primordial fear of getting kicked off the team (post trauma from being an exceptionally clumsy adolescent) I have been pushing myself beyond the confines of my previously identified "woosie" self and hence here I sit on a Friday night with aches all the way down to my mitochondria.

If you have ever gazed at the beautiful paddlers out on the ocean, gracefully floating above the water, paddles in sync, moving along effortlessly you would never guess that they are using every muscle they have.

I am learning this, the hard way.
"You are going to have huge arms Casselle but you wont get anywhere unless you use your legs!" our coach Joshy yells at me. "Twist, push it forward, extend, stab and pull, in together, out together, long and hard Gangey, long and hard! Dig! Dig! Dig!"

Don’t even get me started on "changes." Basically your worst nightmare. Pulling yourself out of the water into a moving canoe by "hooking" (hookin') your leg over the rim and throwing the rest of your body over and immediately begin strokin' (paddling). Sound difficult? Well, it is, hence multiple back of leg bruising situation.

Also learned important lesson regarding appropriate clothing for paddling. Unless you want everyone to see your private parts be sure to wear tight fitting swim wear as the force of the water will take anything less clear to your ankles thereby extending the sexual innuendos of hookin' and strokin' pole dancing analogy.

Right now we are at the beginning of our training which means it is only going to get harder, which means… more pain.

If I am going to avoid Popeye arms I will have to figure out what my coach is yelling about regarding the whole twist, pull, dig, stab rigmoral.

He calls us his "Gangey (Gang-e)."
"In together, out together Gangey"
"Good job Gangey"
"Long and hard Gangey."

I've never been part of a "gang" before much less a "Gangey." And I have to admit it feels pretty cool. Especially to be part of a gang of super strong intense beautiful Hawaiian women

This is why I keep going back despite the aches. I keep going back for the Gangey. That and the ocean and the amazing rush you get when you're stroking in sync, you feel the wave underneath you, you catch it and it pushes you forward gracefully onward.