I Wanna ROW!

After seeing the masters' rowing competition today in Sarasota, at Benderson Park, I've decided I'm definitely going to looking into rowing! Thousands of rowers have descended upon Sarasota for the 2013 US Rowing Masters National Championships. Sarasota is grooming and on the fast track for  developing and finishing Nathan Benderson Park, where the nationals are being held, in a bid for the 2017 World Rowing Championships, one of the biggest events after the Olympics. The park is not quite completed, but it's well on its way to being a top notch facility for such events. For the next four days, the events start at 8:00 AM and are done by the heat of the afternoon, 2:00 PM.

The park is absolutely gorgeous. They've done a fantastic job of getting mature palms in there, along with beautiful flowering bushes and plantings. There are little tiki umbrella/chair setups on a little beach in front of the raceway for a few lucky ones who manage to claim them early in the day.

They had a huge airconditioned tent if you got too hot. There were plenty of places to sit under shaded awning and tents. They even had misters going in the corners of the shaded bleacher stands to help with the heat. Lots of concessions available along with ice cream! Lots of specialty booths about rowing and one about Sarasota tourism. I could have easily volunteered at that one! A win-win situation for everybody there today, spectators and race participants alike.

The governor of Florida was there, Governor Scott, to promote Nathan Benderson Park, tourism, and the great city of Sarasota and all it has to offer.

They even had a camera attached to the top of a Smart car to show close up shots of the rowers on a Jumbotron. The little car followed the racers for the beginning to the middle of the race, then it would make a quick little turnaround halfway through the race and head back to the starting line.

Rowing really fascinates me....It's fantastic exercise....

And it looks like fun! I like to kayak, I like to be on the water, I love to paddle, so this is right up my alley.....

The boats are so lo-o-o-o-n-g! And so close to the water!

Stopped by the Sarasota Rowing Club stand, talked to a young lady, and she's going to contact me about coming out to their practices at Casey Key to find out what it's all about. I LOVE to row! Granted, this kind of rowing is totally different, but I'm still wanting to check it out. Especially after hearing about the 81 year young retired teacher who started rowing at age 62. If she can do it, I can do it!      Maybe....  :-)

The next event scheduled is coming up next weekend. Stand up paddleboarding races at Nathan Benderson Park! That's something else I want to try.....I think I'm going to have a more active retirement than I thought I would!