so its been several days since the candadian henley Blow Out Party (CHBOP as it will be known) and i was going to blog a blog that would have shattered everyone's world. (meaning it would have been less cool than i made it out to be) but its been several days and I dont feel like doing it anymore. I drank my martinellis and took advantage of the generosity of those less sober than myself. I scored: two bottles of martinelli's, a bag of mint cups, a free beer (which i could/did not drink)and a frosty.
I am home know and i want to leave indiana behind me. I was in airports and traveling for over 12 hours on tuesday and i am throughly practically done. While in transit I got a call from my mom saying i needed to do my sister a favor and work the morning shift. I flew in at 8pm and was at work at 5:30am the next day. back to my regular life. somethings about home have changed and some will always remain the same. I need about two weeks to process the last two months and then i will be able to be rid of it and move on with my life. I read a book about the AT on the way home and that was therapeutic. After I'd finished i decided against reading Vanity Fair or Mere Christianity and just thought about my summer. I learned a lot about myself and the way things worked. In someways it felt like i was subjected to a type of mental and physical torment that i inflicted upon my self day after day in the pursuit of a dream. other times it felt like i was fully in control of everything and the master of my own fate. There was a goal insight and I made it but the journey was not as smooth as i thought and hoped it would be. it was development camp. and thats what happened.
Give me two weeks, the good parts will rise to the surface and the annoying mindkilling parts will fade.
Its already changed me. I went running yesterday. who knows what will happen next?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Oh hey
So. I had a stellar blog planned. which involved my last two days or racing and partying in canada. in which i was the DD and was sober so i definately know and remember what went on. yeah. it even involved my reactions to watching: I Was Pregnant and Didnt Know It marathon on TLC. I now know all the symptoms of people who find out they are pregnant while in labor and giving birth on the toilet. and also my thoughts on the chronicales of riddick which is an awesomely terrible sci fi movie. "If i owned hell and this place, I'd rent this out and go live in hell." so bad its soooo good. plus its like vin diesel. it cant get better. plus he wears goggles the whole time and I was a swimmer so thats like high fashion. almost as good as wearing ballet flats around
anyway. yeah. it was going to be the tell all blog of the summer and my computer got a virus and wont turn on. I have no cell service to call my brother. so I am borrowing a computer to "check email" yeah. when i get home expect something better than the summer blockbuster.
CANDADIAN HENLEY PARTY BLOWOUT!!!!
and they were so hung over that they left most of the food and so i'm eatting cookies and applesauce and anything else left in the fridge.
One hellish day of three people in a bench seat in a stick shift truck and then flying home. barring death or accidents i will be home in TWO DAYS!!!!
anyway. yeah. it was going to be the tell all blog of the summer and my computer got a virus and wont turn on. I have no cell service to call my brother. so I am borrowing a computer to "check email" yeah. when i get home expect something better than the summer blockbuster.
CANDADIAN HENLEY PARTY BLOWOUT!!!!
and they were so hung over that they left most of the food and so i'm eatting cookies and applesauce and anything else left in the fridge.
One hellish day of three people in a bench seat in a stick shift truck and then flying home. barring death or accidents i will be home in TWO DAYS!!!!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Royal Canadian Henley Regatta
Yesterday I had two big races. Quad and Double Semi final.
First up was the quad, 6 in our heat with top three going to the final. we pwnd. seriously. amazing start and we were in front by the first 250 down. then it was cruising (code word meaning extreamly painful and wrecked feeling from energy output) to the finish and come out second in our heat. despite a few problems it was our best race in the quad so far.
Double Semi was two hours later. First off. I hate the double. you have no idea how much i dislike this boat. I feel fear 75% of the time I get into it. my strength is not finesse and form which is what this boat demands. I pop so many supplements that are supposed to help with mental stress, anxiety, to staying calm before i get into the double. I needed to nail this race, I panicked in the first two regattas of the season adding to my weakness and I needed redemption. Even more so since the heat race went well. Top two go to the final.
As i was praying I knew that I needed to go with what i knew. The SPU race plan.
So as soon as the start sequence ended i worked my way down the seats Starting with Savage. thank you SPU teammates for getting me through that, i even remembered your focuses. around 750 or rather 4 seat, we crabbed. dropped from the middle of the pack to the end. we quickly picked it back up, the best rescue ever and hammered it out. I would just like to say that I appreciate people who can stroke so much. I do not enjoy it, its hard. I like the quad because the boat is stable and I get to follow. In the Quad I have Caity's back. In the double she has mine. I have to hand it to my partner she has been very patient with me, doing a wonderful job bowing, as well as giving me as many verbal cues as she can. (I'm still a little to cox dependant) we hammered it at the thousand. and at the 1250 started pulling even on the boat next to us.
I honestly dont remember most of the last half of the race. I remember the coach yelling at me from the shore, and knowing i needed to take it up a notch. my legs ached, my lungs felt like they were useless, but th last 500 we walked back up to our original position. and finished 3rd. and in the lane of the club we walked on. they were not happy we were in their lane. but they obviously didnt need it right then. I have a sneaking suspicion that when we walked they freaked and crabbed, adding to their dislike of us in their lane. So we didnt advance, but it was our best race. Caity was happy with it and i was so brain dead/oxygen deprived that i was gripping the riggers and trying to breathe. It was an aggressive race. Overall we finished 12th out of the 18 in the Semi's. honestly it was a longshot to get into the final. For only skulling 2 months vs most of these girls have several years of experiance I'd say we did very well. I am happy with what i accomplished. I pulled everything together in the last week.
as Caity and I were getting out of the boat at the dock, an official came over and commented, "much better than tuesday night." it was the guy who fished us out. redemption full circle.
tomorrow is the quad final, we're ranked 4th out of 6 with only ten seconds seperating us from 1st. its going to be a race. and its going to be good.
First up was the quad, 6 in our heat with top three going to the final. we pwnd. seriously. amazing start and we were in front by the first 250 down. then it was cruising (code word meaning extreamly painful and wrecked feeling from energy output) to the finish and come out second in our heat. despite a few problems it was our best race in the quad so far.
Double Semi was two hours later. First off. I hate the double. you have no idea how much i dislike this boat. I feel fear 75% of the time I get into it. my strength is not finesse and form which is what this boat demands. I pop so many supplements that are supposed to help with mental stress, anxiety, to staying calm before i get into the double. I needed to nail this race, I panicked in the first two regattas of the season adding to my weakness and I needed redemption. Even more so since the heat race went well. Top two go to the final.
As i was praying I knew that I needed to go with what i knew. The SPU race plan.
So as soon as the start sequence ended i worked my way down the seats Starting with Savage. thank you SPU teammates for getting me through that, i even remembered your focuses. around 750 or rather 4 seat, we crabbed. dropped from the middle of the pack to the end. we quickly picked it back up, the best rescue ever and hammered it out. I would just like to say that I appreciate people who can stroke so much. I do not enjoy it, its hard. I like the quad because the boat is stable and I get to follow. In the Quad I have Caity's back. In the double she has mine. I have to hand it to my partner she has been very patient with me, doing a wonderful job bowing, as well as giving me as many verbal cues as she can. (I'm still a little to cox dependant) we hammered it at the thousand. and at the 1250 started pulling even on the boat next to us.
I honestly dont remember most of the last half of the race. I remember the coach yelling at me from the shore, and knowing i needed to take it up a notch. my legs ached, my lungs felt like they were useless, but th last 500 we walked back up to our original position. and finished 3rd. and in the lane of the club we walked on. they were not happy we were in their lane. but they obviously didnt need it right then. I have a sneaking suspicion that when we walked they freaked and crabbed, adding to their dislike of us in their lane. So we didnt advance, but it was our best race. Caity was happy with it and i was so brain dead/oxygen deprived that i was gripping the riggers and trying to breathe. It was an aggressive race. Overall we finished 12th out of the 18 in the Semi's. honestly it was a longshot to get into the final. For only skulling 2 months vs most of these girls have several years of experiance I'd say we did very well. I am happy with what i accomplished. I pulled everything together in the last week.
as Caity and I were getting out of the boat at the dock, an official came over and commented, "much better than tuesday night." it was the guy who fished us out. redemption full circle.
tomorrow is the quad final, we're ranked 4th out of 6 with only ten seconds seperating us from 1st. its going to be a race. and its going to be good.
Water. Falling. A long Distance.
today was my day off!!!!! which means i went to niagra falls. Not because i wanted too initially. but because i owed catherine a tank of gas. canadians are peusdo europeans and put things in km and liters. i have no idea how much gas 60 liters is. but i bought roughly 30 pepsi bottles full of gas. that is revolting. and it cost a lot too.
so i went to niagra. I now know why this is a honeymoon destination. one look and basically you are done. back to business. I was more excited to be where Wonderfalls the ill fated tv show starring Lee Pace was set.
The rest of the town is a garrish amusment park type place/mixture of carnival. ferris wheel and expensive parking included.
so that was niagra falls. and i know to cross it off my list of places to go to. I think TV and the internet has taken most of the mystery out of nature and tourist traps.
so i went to niagra. I now know why this is a honeymoon destination. one look and basically you are done. back to business. I was more excited to be where Wonderfalls the ill fated tv show starring Lee Pace was set.
The rest of the town is a garrish amusment park type place/mixture of carnival. ferris wheel and expensive parking included.
so that was niagra falls. and i know to cross it off my list of places to go to. I think TV and the internet has taken most of the mystery out of nature and tourist traps.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
"are you going to dance your way to the finish?"
first off. today at the race course i learned that ballet flats equal high fashion. my teammates thought this was the most rediculous/funniest thing ever that i showed up wearing them. I would like to say that sopping wet tennis shoes from flipping or ballet flats? i choose ballet flats. it was a nice distraction from nerves.
Racing:
My double, the team of Pitts/Smith-Staines (yes, its Pitts Staines) made the semifinal!!! we thought we were 5th and we turned out to be third so we advanced! we had a powerful sprint and now i just need to NAIL it tomorrow and I'm golden. we battled it out, attempting to steer straight, not hit the boat in the lane next to us, keeping on it with the legs, we did Not having ANY crabs (a major improvement), coming out with a time 45 seconds faster than our club nationals race. I had the worst case of nerves but I prayed, tried to focus and stay calm and we didnt have our greatest race ever but so much better than Tennessee. With a little determination and LEGS we can hopefully make it into the final tomorrow afternoon.
tomorrow we have the quad race and the semi final. and hopefully it will go well.
Racing:
My double, the team of Pitts/Smith-Staines (yes, its Pitts Staines) made the semifinal!!! we thought we were 5th and we turned out to be third so we advanced! we had a powerful sprint and now i just need to NAIL it tomorrow and I'm golden. we battled it out, attempting to steer straight, not hit the boat in the lane next to us, keeping on it with the legs, we did Not having ANY crabs (a major improvement), coming out with a time 45 seconds faster than our club nationals race. I had the worst case of nerves but I prayed, tried to focus and stay calm and we didnt have our greatest race ever but so much better than Tennessee. With a little determination and LEGS we can hopefully make it into the final tomorrow afternoon.
tomorrow we have the quad race and the semi final. and hopefully it will go well.
sometimes i do fall in the ocean
so. I did it again. for the eighth time this summer. and the second time with a partner. I flipped a double. yeah. there are times like these that there are no excuses. its just a, "yeah i did that..again" moment. this is one of them. Afterwards my coach asked, "so have you flipped on every waterway we've been on?" no actually i avoided the waters of tennesee. but i have flipped with everyone I've rowed long term with. Helen escaped.
canada just gets better and better.
I have a doubles race in 3 hours.
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.
The goals:
keep calm
set a good rythm immediately
stay on the legs
be aggressive
go straight
quick catches
finish top 2 in a tough heat.
canada just gets better and better.
I have a doubles race in 3 hours.
Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me.
The goals:
keep calm
set a good rythm immediately
stay on the legs
be aggressive
go straight
quick catches
finish top 2 in a tough heat.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Picture Post!
These are pictures! of my summer. The last picture is of the guest cottage and the lady who i met who made my summer more enjoyable. I sadly did not get any pictures of the church.
There is the double wide as seen from the gravel road. the bushes cleverly sheild most eyes from the fact its a cedar clad trailer.
There are some pictures of the interior. This was on the day we cleaned. usually it was not that clean and clutter free.
There is a picture of the road i biked/dragged my body by foot to get to practice.
some good memories. some trying times, and a lot of lessons on endurance and preserverance.
There is the double wide as seen from the gravel road. the bushes cleverly sheild most eyes from the fact its a cedar clad trailer.
There are some pictures of the interior. This was on the day we cleaned. usually it was not that clean and clutter free.
There is a picture of the road i biked/dragged my body by foot to get to practice.
some good memories. some trying times, and a lot of lessons on endurance and preserverance.
Another cell service announcement
So. imagine my shock and horror after riding in a car for 12 hours to get from Indiana to Canada to discover that I HAVE NO CELL SERVICE. well. thats sad. but you know i spent lots of time in indiana with out my cell. so hey. one week big deal. even though i have five bars I'm on roaming. whats with that? Being forced off the grid by canadians.
I would also like to point out that canada is NOT the USA. no it is not. I went shopping at a grocery store and tried to check out only to discover that they didnt take VISA. who doesnt take visa? who???? canadians! at least those canadians that were celebrating civic holiday at the No Frills Grocery. Food is expensive here.
This morning when i tried to get on pandora, i found out pandora is not availble in canada due to legal reasons.
and then the mighty internet giant hulu was not avalible because i was outside the US. and my world was shattered. This is how i escape my teammates from time to time. and canada was looking to be very miserable.
But all is NOT lost! Daniel Rupert saw my facebook status and sent me a link which gives you a fake IP address for the US and fools these websites into thinking you are in the motherland. Thus i am listening to pandora as we speak.
This doesnt solve my cell problem. Everyone who I said i would call? yeah thats not happening. Sorry. and due to this fake IP address I cant access my email at the moment.
I miss you America States. I will be back in less than a week.
I would also like to point out that canada is NOT the USA. no it is not. I went shopping at a grocery store and tried to check out only to discover that they didnt take VISA. who doesnt take visa? who???? canadians! at least those canadians that were celebrating civic holiday at the No Frills Grocery. Food is expensive here.
This morning when i tried to get on pandora, i found out pandora is not availble in canada due to legal reasons.
and then the mighty internet giant hulu was not avalible because i was outside the US. and my world was shattered. This is how i escape my teammates from time to time. and canada was looking to be very miserable.
But all is NOT lost! Daniel Rupert saw my facebook status and sent me a link which gives you a fake IP address for the US and fools these websites into thinking you are in the motherland. Thus i am listening to pandora as we speak.
This doesnt solve my cell problem. Everyone who I said i would call? yeah thats not happening. Sorry. and due to this fake IP address I cant access my email at the moment.
I miss you America States. I will be back in less than a week.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Cell Service and internet. and guns.
I have been on count down. I am ready to come home. really really ready. I have 8 more days. So now I am in canada. to finish out racing at the canadian henley.
Back Up:
I finished out the last week of practices, moved out of the doublewide, returned the bike to my friends who own the guest cottage. Missy had made me cookie bars. Unfortunately they didnt turn out but we salvaged part of them and my teammates were glad to see them after a long day of cleaning. I moved into our coach's condo for the last two days (our landlord wanted $500 for the two days in august we would be here) It was nice to only have to share a condo with another teammate and a coach. I am so excited to be out of indiana. so excited.
After a practice 2k on saturday (which i and my doubles partner nailed) we ended up going to a movie, My fourth one of the summer. So far I have seen Star Trek, Year One, Transformers, and The Proposal. Movie addict much?
My coach does not have internet, but after roving around the yard of the condo complex, finding internet, had a deer with antlers sighting, lost the internet, went searching again and thanks to unprotected internet found another connection. Its a good life, even if I look like a complete idiot carrying a laptop around hitting refresh wifi every five seconds.
Sunday:
I was now 9 miles out of unionville but a family offered to help me out if i needed anything. They ended up coming and getting me and taking me to church. I got to have family dinner with them. Their daughter is my age and we hung out playing cornhole with involves throwing beanbags at a board with a hole in it. this may sound lame. it is not. and I throw terribly. after losing we got board with that and ended up shooting guns. hand guns, and bigger guns. in the backyard. that was my first time doing that. I definately like throwing knives better but guns are cool too. Its a little less easy to kill or injure someone with a throwing knive in my opinion. It was such a great time to hang out with a complete family. Kids, Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, the food was the first homecooked food I'd had since i came out here.
I was able to talk to a few people while in town. Amy, Chloe, Parents, Blackhorse, Ellen. I will never take cell service for granted again. until next time.
Not a bad way to leave indiana. I loved the church, the people, disliked the lack of cell service, watched too much tv and hulu, didnt read my books, and didnt write as many letters or send as many post cards as i planned. All in all if i had to rate this trip so far. I'd give it a 7. the guns alone bumped it up a point and half.
Back Up:
I finished out the last week of practices, moved out of the doublewide, returned the bike to my friends who own the guest cottage. Missy had made me cookie bars. Unfortunately they didnt turn out but we salvaged part of them and my teammates were glad to see them after a long day of cleaning. I moved into our coach's condo for the last two days (our landlord wanted $500 for the two days in august we would be here) It was nice to only have to share a condo with another teammate and a coach. I am so excited to be out of indiana. so excited.
After a practice 2k on saturday (which i and my doubles partner nailed) we ended up going to a movie, My fourth one of the summer. So far I have seen Star Trek, Year One, Transformers, and The Proposal. Movie addict much?
My coach does not have internet, but after roving around the yard of the condo complex, finding internet, had a deer with antlers sighting, lost the internet, went searching again and thanks to unprotected internet found another connection. Its a good life, even if I look like a complete idiot carrying a laptop around hitting refresh wifi every five seconds.
Sunday:
I was now 9 miles out of unionville but a family offered to help me out if i needed anything. They ended up coming and getting me and taking me to church. I got to have family dinner with them. Their daughter is my age and we hung out playing cornhole with involves throwing beanbags at a board with a hole in it. this may sound lame. it is not. and I throw terribly. after losing we got board with that and ended up shooting guns. hand guns, and bigger guns. in the backyard. that was my first time doing that. I definately like throwing knives better but guns are cool too. Its a little less easy to kill or injure someone with a throwing knive in my opinion. It was such a great time to hang out with a complete family. Kids, Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, the food was the first homecooked food I'd had since i came out here.
I was able to talk to a few people while in town. Amy, Chloe, Parents, Blackhorse, Ellen. I will never take cell service for granted again. until next time.
Not a bad way to leave indiana. I loved the church, the people, disliked the lack of cell service, watched too much tv and hulu, didnt read my books, and didnt write as many letters or send as many post cards as i planned. All in all if i had to rate this trip so far. I'd give it a 7. the guns alone bumped it up a point and half.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
FREEEDOM! (almost)
I moved out of the double wide and into my coach's condo on friday. I am staying here until tomorrow morning and then i am leaving for the canadian Henley Regatta. Holla! Yes. and I have NINE days until i am at home. I have a longish update for the past few days but i am going to write that when i get to canada. Right now I am sitting outside the condo complex with my laptop using the mickey network. Thank you unprotected internet user. I am being eatten alive by mosquitos but this is a small price to pay after been internetless since friday afternoon. I have taken pictures and here is a teaser of the amazing update that is to come.
Yes. It is real.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Trying to puke? yes.
I have Thirteen Days left until I am on a plane coming home.
I have been on countdown since day 45.
I am so close.
Lanie the weight coach liked her cookies. That I baked her and then taped two paper plates together with athletic tape making a nice carton to carry them in. It was a quirky touch. Athletic Coach Athletic Tape. I'm sure you understand this correlation.
The goal was to try to do our circuit so hard we'd throw up. I came close but no cigar. I frankly was disapointed. I totally nearly threw up the first two weeks. I'd dry heave hardcore. so i probably didnt eat enough before i went, or i just have gotten more fit and remember to breathe.
I have been on countdown since day 45.
I am so close.
Lanie the weight coach liked her cookies. That I baked her and then taped two paper plates together with athletic tape making a nice carton to carry them in. It was a quirky touch. Athletic Coach Athletic Tape. I'm sure you understand this correlation.
The goal was to try to do our circuit so hard we'd throw up. I came close but no cigar. I frankly was disapointed. I totally nearly threw up the first two weeks. I'd dry heave hardcore. so i probably didnt eat enough before i went, or i just have gotten more fit and remember to breathe.
You're so Vain
I rode my bike to the store again. The 10k on the water was a joke of a workout. we got waked out pretty bad. At one point we stopped because waves came up to our shoulders. Hilary had to bail water out with her water bottle because the whole compartment was swamped. speed boats. and Jet skis. When you see people rowing DO NOT WAKE THEM OUT.
so this being said I biked to the store which i thought was 12 miles but could have been up to 16. yeah round trip its 10. google maps. so much for burning mad calories. It was nice to be free, riding down a two way highway. I bought milk, coke, and cookie mix. Got to talk to sarah long. and then as i was biking back my phone rang and it was my mother. YES. i had called them first and they werent home so i got to talk to my mom and the kids. I must have been a strange sight, standing with a bike talking on a cell on the side of the highway. I am so excited to get back home and ride MY bike "The Tank" and go hang out with my siblings. I proceeded to bike back singing You're So Vain and Killing Me Softly. I got back so late that I had to eat in the dark because all my doublewide mates had gone to bed. Speaking of that. I am excited for my own bed. MY OWN BED. in which i can have the whole thing and not worry about thrashing and kicking Cathrine.
Not getting up at 5:20. i realize that if i was at home i would be getting up this early anyway. practice is at 6:30. I used to get up at 5:20, now my alarm goes off then and I get out of bed 20 minutes later. I'm about to start sleeping in my workout clothing so i can sleep longer. If i didnt have to eat in the morning i would wake up at 6. I always ride my bike to practice so i can leave latter and thus get up later.
Weight Room. We have our last day today, then we are unloading for canadian henley. I am baking the weight coach cookies. Our regular coach asked me on monday during weights what my favorite song is and if it was something by Metallica. "No. Its Killing Me Softly" Apparently this is funny. I do not know why. Maybe because its an analogy for my entire weight room experiance. I did get 30 box jumps. Only once. I am going to try to get that same number today.
Crew is all about being on every single stroke. its about being able to push past the point of pain and give it everything every single stroke. Trying to do this day after day and still not completely getting it is wearing. My pair partner (The wonderful Savage) called me to let me know she was taking skulling lessons and felt my pain and that it was incredible difficult. I am getting better, I crab less, my aerobic capacity I think is getting stronger, My leg muscles are more developed. We had a practice 2k this morning. It was horrible, but we started making good changes to get more run. One thing i will not miss is looking down and seeing white flecks of skin on my JL shorts. blisters are nasty problems.
I might miss living in spandex when i return to my side of the country. I basically have three days worth of clothing that i wear and then wash. I could have left half the clothing I brought with me at home. I will miss this simplistic side to life.
We move out of the doublewide in two days. I probably should start packing. I brought way too much stuff. This has just reinforced that I need to ditch more stuff. I can only have stuff I love. I love the feeling that when all my stuff is messy and all over the place my place is still clean because i have HARDLY ANYTHING.
(this day is coming it has not come yet)
well i need to make cookies. and pack and wash dishes. and get out of crew clothing.
so this being said I biked to the store which i thought was 12 miles but could have been up to 16. yeah round trip its 10. google maps. so much for burning mad calories. It was nice to be free, riding down a two way highway. I bought milk, coke, and cookie mix. Got to talk to sarah long. and then as i was biking back my phone rang and it was my mother. YES. i had called them first and they werent home so i got to talk to my mom and the kids. I must have been a strange sight, standing with a bike talking on a cell on the side of the highway. I am so excited to get back home and ride MY bike "The Tank" and go hang out with my siblings. I proceeded to bike back singing You're So Vain and Killing Me Softly. I got back so late that I had to eat in the dark because all my doublewide mates had gone to bed. Speaking of that. I am excited for my own bed. MY OWN BED. in which i can have the whole thing and not worry about thrashing and kicking Cathrine.
Not getting up at 5:20. i realize that if i was at home i would be getting up this early anyway. practice is at 6:30. I used to get up at 5:20, now my alarm goes off then and I get out of bed 20 minutes later. I'm about to start sleeping in my workout clothing so i can sleep longer. If i didnt have to eat in the morning i would wake up at 6. I always ride my bike to practice so i can leave latter and thus get up later.
Weight Room. We have our last day today, then we are unloading for canadian henley. I am baking the weight coach cookies. Our regular coach asked me on monday during weights what my favorite song is and if it was something by Metallica. "No. Its Killing Me Softly" Apparently this is funny. I do not know why. Maybe because its an analogy for my entire weight room experiance. I did get 30 box jumps. Only once. I am going to try to get that same number today.
Crew is all about being on every single stroke. its about being able to push past the point of pain and give it everything every single stroke. Trying to do this day after day and still not completely getting it is wearing. My pair partner (The wonderful Savage) called me to let me know she was taking skulling lessons and felt my pain and that it was incredible difficult. I am getting better, I crab less, my aerobic capacity I think is getting stronger, My leg muscles are more developed. We had a practice 2k this morning. It was horrible, but we started making good changes to get more run. One thing i will not miss is looking down and seeing white flecks of skin on my JL shorts. blisters are nasty problems.
I might miss living in spandex when i return to my side of the country. I basically have three days worth of clothing that i wear and then wash. I could have left half the clothing I brought with me at home. I will miss this simplistic side to life.
We move out of the doublewide in two days. I probably should start packing. I brought way too much stuff. This has just reinforced that I need to ditch more stuff. I can only have stuff I love. I love the feeling that when all my stuff is messy and all over the place my place is still clean because i have HARDLY ANYTHING.
(this day is coming it has not come yet)
well i need to make cookies. and pack and wash dishes. and get out of crew clothing.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Church
I went to church again. I love it there. it is so wonderful. I officially have met the majority of everyone. I went to the potluck afterward and hung out with a girl my age who is joining the Airforce with her husband next month. If she gets assigned to McChord that will be cool, because i will go visit her. I was going to visit the flight attendant i met coming back from dad vail in May when I was in Philly (where she is based out of) a month ago but She was flying into Frankfurt and wouldnt get back until after i left. It was sad.
I also got several offers to be hosted if i came back next summer. I dont plan on returning to Indiana, but if i do...
I made cookies after getting back from church and shared them and eventually ate enough to get sick, while watching the Listener and convincing one of my friends that Smooth Criminal music video has some of the greatest dance moves ever. I think I convinced her. since Michael Jackson's death I have discovered his amazing dance moves and I wish i could dance. between dancing and singing? dancing. dancing and crew? that one is still up for debate. dancing is awesome.
Back to church. I like it and am very sad I didnt get to spend more time with the congregation. 3/4th of them are related, they are very kind, friendly, loving people and I definately picked the right church to go to for the few sundays i have been here. Unionville Church of Christ is where its at.
I also got several offers to be hosted if i came back next summer. I dont plan on returning to Indiana, but if i do...
I made cookies after getting back from church and shared them and eventually ate enough to get sick, while watching the Listener and convincing one of my friends that Smooth Criminal music video has some of the greatest dance moves ever. I think I convinced her. since Michael Jackson's death I have discovered his amazing dance moves and I wish i could dance. between dancing and singing? dancing. dancing and crew? that one is still up for debate. dancing is awesome.
Back to church. I like it and am very sad I didnt get to spend more time with the congregation. 3/4th of them are related, they are very kind, friendly, loving people and I definately picked the right church to go to for the few sundays i have been here. Unionville Church of Christ is where its at.
So this girl walks into a bar...ouch
So yesterday one of the things i planned because i had no plans and life was very boring (except for the fact that i went biking, and then ate ben and jerrys while watching too much tv) was to go to the porthole. the local bar. which everyone asks if we've been to. apparently it is a happening place. I needed to see it for myself.
After trying to convince everyone to go with me and totally failing, I managed to talk Johnna into going today after she finished a soul crushing paper for some online class. The paper wore her down into saying yes. and the fact i baked cookies and shared them and that she is a good person. back to the Porthole Bar. we walked the quarter of mile to there. Lots of motorcyles outside. when there is only one bar in a very big radius i think the bar has to double as the cool place to be.
We went and got carded for our cokes, ordered poppers and mozzerella sticks which probably tasted better if we were inebriated, (we cant drink at this camp so thus the cokes, but i dont drink anyway so thus the coke.) and talked about life. while all the while i plotted how awesome my blog about this was going to be. sadly its fallen a little short of my expectations. The bar filled up while we were chit chatting about life, our coaches, how things were progressing. I'd like to think that as girls who had never been seen there we were the topic of every one's conversation. This probably is not true. we probably had snagged someone's favorite spot at the bar and they were probably not happy about it. the place had lots of nascar flags and stuff and kareokee doesnt start till next month. I know because i asked. yes, thats right, I asked about kareokee even though i cant sing. I was going to bank on them being drunk'ed. I'm pretty sure it was going to be the major event of my summer --even bigger than the chipmonk. most of my summer has been spent on hypothosizing on what could or would have been awesome or what i could do to make my loyal readers of this blog excited to read the drivel that I post.
so yeah. that was my porthole experience, when i was outside leaving I snapped a picture to upload to my blog which i probably wont (because that involves finding my camera cord and I dont want to go look for it.) One of the guys said that since i did that i had to go for a ride on his harley, but he didnt have a helmet so i declined. I probably should have though, for a indianaian cultural experience. but he was old and kind of creepy looking from faraway. Oh well. --What i really am thinking is DANGIT. this would have been PERFECT for my blog. it is all about the blog.
I am now going to go watch more tv until i figure out to do something else blog worthy.
After trying to convince everyone to go with me and totally failing, I managed to talk Johnna into going today after she finished a soul crushing paper for some online class. The paper wore her down into saying yes. and the fact i baked cookies and shared them and that she is a good person. back to the Porthole Bar. we walked the quarter of mile to there. Lots of motorcyles outside. when there is only one bar in a very big radius i think the bar has to double as the cool place to be.
We went and got carded for our cokes, ordered poppers and mozzerella sticks which probably tasted better if we were inebriated, (we cant drink at this camp so thus the cokes, but i dont drink anyway so thus the coke.) and talked about life. while all the while i plotted how awesome my blog about this was going to be. sadly its fallen a little short of my expectations. The bar filled up while we were chit chatting about life, our coaches, how things were progressing. I'd like to think that as girls who had never been seen there we were the topic of every one's conversation. This probably is not true. we probably had snagged someone's favorite spot at the bar and they were probably not happy about it. the place had lots of nascar flags and stuff and kareokee doesnt start till next month. I know because i asked. yes, thats right, I asked about kareokee even though i cant sing. I was going to bank on them being drunk'ed. I'm pretty sure it was going to be the major event of my summer --even bigger than the chipmonk. most of my summer has been spent on hypothosizing on what could or would have been awesome or what i could do to make my loyal readers of this blog excited to read the drivel that I post.
so yeah. that was my porthole experience, when i was outside leaving I snapped a picture to upload to my blog which i probably wont (because that involves finding my camera cord and I dont want to go look for it.) One of the guys said that since i did that i had to go for a ride on his harley, but he didnt have a helmet so i declined. I probably should have though, for a indianaian cultural experience. but he was old and kind of creepy looking from faraway. Oh well. --What i really am thinking is DANGIT. this would have been PERFECT for my blog. it is all about the blog.
I am now going to go watch more tv until i figure out to do something else blog worthy.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Afternoon Off
today i made several bad decisions. bad as in: what a way to waste a saturday. well I'll never get that back. I started watching a tv series on hulu i managed to watch 8 episodes today. but then i sorta got sick of it so i probably am done watching it forever. This happens to me everyonce in a while. Freshman year everymorning i ate eggs for breakfast, which are healthy and full of protein. sometime during spring quarter i walked over to get eggs, looked down and could not scoop those aweful things onto my plate. i have since never eatten qwinn eggs. I might have tried but I cant recall that i did. so watching this tv series was like that. OD on something and eventually you cant do it any more. On more interesting tv news all of the listener season one episodes are on hulu so i can watch the remaining five to my hearts content.
In other news The bike that I broke several weeks ago. Was wonderfully fixed today by one of the family members i met after church two weeks ago. I "fixed" the bike and the back wheel fell off. I was going to have to take it into town and pay to get it fixed. so this was an extreamly wonderful blessing.
After hanging around the double wide for far too long I decided to make an ardous journey for junk food. I'm anywhere from 6-8 miles from the nearest store. and I had to go up three miles of hill to get out. and usually i am too tired to go anywhere. or rather I have two work outs a day and dont have time to watch tv, eat food, and take naps. But i made the push up the hill. let me tell you 6 miles is a looooong way. especially if its rolling hills. however i managed to get myself to a small country store and wander around. somethings are cheap like a bottle of pop for 59cents other things no so much. i picked a couple things out with the not guilt ridden conscience because i biked 6 miles to get there. They surprisingly had Ben and Jerry's but not my favorite flavor. Which is cherry garcia. such a travesty.
the feeling biking down the 3 mile hill was a complete rush. the feeling of free falling, going faster then possible on your own. and knowing if you dont take the hill (especially the curves)the right way you could die. its amazing. rushing down the hill at the speed of fast. its also nice to have brakes, if you need to use them.
so that is what i have been up to. biking to the store, eatting to much junkfood, and watching tv.
In other news The bike that I broke several weeks ago. Was wonderfully fixed today by one of the family members i met after church two weeks ago. I "fixed" the bike and the back wheel fell off. I was going to have to take it into town and pay to get it fixed. so this was an extreamly wonderful blessing.
After hanging around the double wide for far too long I decided to make an ardous journey for junk food. I'm anywhere from 6-8 miles from the nearest store. and I had to go up three miles of hill to get out. and usually i am too tired to go anywhere. or rather I have two work outs a day and dont have time to watch tv, eat food, and take naps. But i made the push up the hill. let me tell you 6 miles is a looooong way. especially if its rolling hills. however i managed to get myself to a small country store and wander around. somethings are cheap like a bottle of pop for 59cents other things no so much. i picked a couple things out with the not guilt ridden conscience because i biked 6 miles to get there. They surprisingly had Ben and Jerry's but not my favorite flavor. Which is cherry garcia. such a travesty.
the feeling biking down the 3 mile hill was a complete rush. the feeling of free falling, going faster then possible on your own. and knowing if you dont take the hill (especially the curves)the right way you could die. its amazing. rushing down the hill at the speed of fast. its also nice to have brakes, if you need to use them.
so that is what i have been up to. biking to the store, eatting to much junkfood, and watching tv.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Its not all fun
there are days that are harder to live through than others. Today is one of them. I have decided to not go to "optional" yoga. I am going to take a personal day and try to recover my mental and emotional stability.
This whole experiance has been extremely wearing. I do not know if i would have chose it if i knew how emotionally difficult it was going to be. At the same time, the only way to gain patience is to have it tried. I think having emotional/mental strength is the same way.
I sat on the erg for 36 minutes not holding splits and nearly started sobbing during the piece(this was after a 36 minute frustrating row on the water). Having to tell myself pull it together, Jesus has not left you, you will be done soon. Then after it is over you can not allow the experaince to come back and torment you. I face the fear of having to do that again and failing again. I have to tell myself "No. you are not allowed to go there."
In the words of Lily Allen:
I don`t know what`s right and what`s real anymore
I don`t know how I`m meant to feel anymore
When we think it will all become clear
`Cuz I`m being taken over by The Fear
Fear is a powerful emotion. False Evidence Appearing Real. that is an acronym btdub. In essense its a lie. Maybe even a true fact. Its something that i have been fighting for nearly 6 weeks. i am tired. But i will not give up. You can crush me, but you cant destroy me. this is sparta.
This whole experiance has been extremely wearing. I do not know if i would have chose it if i knew how emotionally difficult it was going to be. At the same time, the only way to gain patience is to have it tried. I think having emotional/mental strength is the same way.
I sat on the erg for 36 minutes not holding splits and nearly started sobbing during the piece(this was after a 36 minute frustrating row on the water). Having to tell myself pull it together, Jesus has not left you, you will be done soon. Then after it is over you can not allow the experaince to come back and torment you. I face the fear of having to do that again and failing again. I have to tell myself "No. you are not allowed to go there."
In the words of Lily Allen:
I don`t know what`s right and what`s real anymore
I don`t know how I`m meant to feel anymore
When we think it will all become clear
`Cuz I`m being taken over by The Fear
Fear is a powerful emotion. False Evidence Appearing Real. that is an acronym btdub. In essense its a lie. Maybe even a true fact. Its something that i have been fighting for nearly 6 weeks. i am tired. But i will not give up. You can crush me, but you cant destroy me. this is sparta.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
the dawning of a new era
It has been quite a while since i have let the world in on the fabulous adventures that has befallen me.
Chipmonk drama:
Miranda had opened the door to the double wide to take things to the car and he the Chipmonk ran into the house, under Helen's chair I screll and run for my bedroom, Hilary ends up on a rocking chair and rachael is on one of the dining room chairs, the chipmonk runs into shay's foot (who is unfazed by the chipmonk) and I think he escapes to under the kitchen sink again. So I'm glad i'm not the only one who reacts badly to it. In my defense, he could have some disease and by climbing onto my bed, I am less likely to get it. maybe.
Tennessee Accomadations:
I am in and have been in tennesee for the past four days. I have traded my trailer for a hotel room. Better than the frat. (I secretly liked the frat because it had character and it was so aweful it was funny--I would be killed if I voiced this opinion to teammates) The hotel is nice, some one changes our bedding, towels, takes out the trash. room service is nice. There are washers available so I did laundry yesterday. I had forgotten my detergent back in Indiana but I being the creative resourceful reader of cheapskate monthly that I am used complimentary shampoo and washed my clothing. AND IT WORKED!! so if you ever do not have detergent try shampoo.
Racing:
Always a favorite subject. The doubles catagory had 36 entries. My partner and I did not have a good race, it was quite frusterating. We came in 25th but we should have placed top 12 (imho). Technique went out the window and we did not preform well. The quad did better we placed 3rd in our heat to garner a seat in the final. The final was today. It was painful. It was hard. I had the feeling of: Why do i do this? I hate this. This is not true but it gets so hard that those thoughts come. Not having a cox is one of the more difficult aspects of switching from sweep to skulling. I like being able to hear someone verbalizing things. I not supposed to talk in the boat but it is so much easier when someone else is. I dont have someone to say words to me.
we were even with third place going into our sprint. Became frantic and when we needed ten good strokes we had ten bad ones and missed third. Defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory. This is the second time I have pulled down a 4th place at an important regatta (dad vail with SPU's eight was the other one) and it is not a pleasent feeling especially when I feel like i HAD it. I have worked so hard to keep calm and not let anxiety take control of my mind and for 1750 meters i had it. and in the last 250 I lost it. It wasnt totally my fault that we lost 3rd. However I definately contributed to it.
I basically have gone through the five stages of grief. from the last ten strokes in denial to now. I am now in acceptance mode. It was a great race. It was my best one yet. I am improving. I am getting better with each race. Hey Jude just came on my pandora. All my SPU team mates especially the Savy know that this song for me is very comforting. Its like a huge inside joke for the crazy four. "Then you can start to make it better" I needed that. Thank you God and pandora.
TV
For the past two weeks I have decended into TV watching idolatry I am up to 13 subscriptions on hulu. That is pretty bad. That needs to stop. I am going to try to read through the new and old testament in the 25 days i have left here. cutting my tv watching down to one show per day. Not like the 4-8 I've been at. I think it is a form of escapism. So now it is time to finish reading the books I brought with me. Faithfulness. It's an easy road to get off and stall on.
So thats it. I will head back to the double wide tomorrow for two more weeks there until I head out to canadian Henley. Two teammates are done tomorrow and we get joined by two new ones. I am excited about new friends. New people are always good.
Chipmonk drama:
Miranda had opened the door to the double wide to take things to the car and he the Chipmonk ran into the house, under Helen's chair I screll and run for my bedroom, Hilary ends up on a rocking chair and rachael is on one of the dining room chairs, the chipmonk runs into shay's foot (who is unfazed by the chipmonk) and I think he escapes to under the kitchen sink again. So I'm glad i'm not the only one who reacts badly to it. In my defense, he could have some disease and by climbing onto my bed, I am less likely to get it. maybe.
Tennessee Accomadations:
I am in and have been in tennesee for the past four days. I have traded my trailer for a hotel room. Better than the frat. (I secretly liked the frat because it had character and it was so aweful it was funny--I would be killed if I voiced this opinion to teammates) The hotel is nice, some one changes our bedding, towels, takes out the trash. room service is nice. There are washers available so I did laundry yesterday. I had forgotten my detergent back in Indiana but I being the creative resourceful reader of cheapskate monthly that I am used complimentary shampoo and washed my clothing. AND IT WORKED!! so if you ever do not have detergent try shampoo.
Racing:
Always a favorite subject. The doubles catagory had 36 entries. My partner and I did not have a good race, it was quite frusterating. We came in 25th but we should have placed top 12 (imho). Technique went out the window and we did not preform well. The quad did better we placed 3rd in our heat to garner a seat in the final. The final was today. It was painful. It was hard. I had the feeling of: Why do i do this? I hate this. This is not true but it gets so hard that those thoughts come. Not having a cox is one of the more difficult aspects of switching from sweep to skulling. I like being able to hear someone verbalizing things. I not supposed to talk in the boat but it is so much easier when someone else is. I dont have someone to say words to me.
we were even with third place going into our sprint. Became frantic and when we needed ten good strokes we had ten bad ones and missed third. Defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory. This is the second time I have pulled down a 4th place at an important regatta (dad vail with SPU's eight was the other one) and it is not a pleasent feeling especially when I feel like i HAD it. I have worked so hard to keep calm and not let anxiety take control of my mind and for 1750 meters i had it. and in the last 250 I lost it. It wasnt totally my fault that we lost 3rd. However I definately contributed to it.
I basically have gone through the five stages of grief. from the last ten strokes in denial to now. I am now in acceptance mode. It was a great race. It was my best one yet. I am improving. I am getting better with each race. Hey Jude just came on my pandora. All my SPU team mates especially the Savy know that this song for me is very comforting. Its like a huge inside joke for the crazy four. "Then you can start to make it better" I needed that. Thank you God and pandora.
TV
For the past two weeks I have decended into TV watching idolatry I am up to 13 subscriptions on hulu. That is pretty bad. That needs to stop. I am going to try to read through the new and old testament in the 25 days i have left here. cutting my tv watching down to one show per day. Not like the 4-8 I've been at. I think it is a form of escapism. So now it is time to finish reading the books I brought with me. Faithfulness. It's an easy road to get off and stall on.
So thats it. I will head back to the double wide tomorrow for two more weeks there until I head out to canadian Henley. Two teammates are done tomorrow and we get joined by two new ones. I am excited about new friends. New people are always good.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Blessings
Today when I woke up I decided I was definately going to go to church so I walked up a three mile hill and went to a small country church. sat in on of the back rows and quickly met everyone with in handshaking radius. I was new and every one around here knows about the rowing camp, so i was a mini celebrity.
After church (which was wonderful just singing songs and listening to a sermon on being chosen by God was enough to make my day) I started back home down the three mile hill, and was stopped by a van driven by a sweet lady asking if i wanted a ride. She and her family owned a guest cottage, which I and several of the girls stopped by nearly a month ago to ask questions. They remembered me! and had seen me at church. so I climbed in got myself invited to a family birthday party.
So i went to a family birthday party, hung out eatting pizza, cake, & ice cream. On the drive back I got the whole history of the area and mentioned I had wanted a bike but didnt have one. So they gave me a bike and left over cake. When they heard I didnt have cell service and couldnt call my mom? come stop by our house and use our phone anytime you want.
Everything I wanted so bad I got in a matter of hours. a bike, a phone line, hanging out with kids/a family it just HAPPENED.
Indiana country hospitality. what can I say? God is good. He's always blessed me.
After church (which was wonderful just singing songs and listening to a sermon on being chosen by God was enough to make my day) I started back home down the three mile hill, and was stopped by a van driven by a sweet lady asking if i wanted a ride. She and her family owned a guest cottage, which I and several of the girls stopped by nearly a month ago to ask questions. They remembered me! and had seen me at church. so I climbed in got myself invited to a family birthday party.
So i went to a family birthday party, hung out eatting pizza, cake, & ice cream. On the drive back I got the whole history of the area and mentioned I had wanted a bike but didnt have one. So they gave me a bike and left over cake. When they heard I didnt have cell service and couldnt call my mom? come stop by our house and use our phone anytime you want.
Everything I wanted so bad I got in a matter of hours. a bike, a phone line, hanging out with kids/a family it just HAPPENED.
Indiana country hospitality. what can I say? God is good. He's always blessed me.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
keeping on
There is not much to say. I go to practice everyday. Try my hardest. Feel like it wasnt good enough. and then show up for the next practice. repeat repeat repeat. It becomes an act of the will. I will say that it is hard to stay focused all the time. Every move I make is being monitored. On top of it all the time. Its mentally wearing. all the time: Control. Awareness. Intentionality. Power. Technique. Faster.
Today i was told I need a little more crazy.
it is always something.
--Weights is getting easier (i can do more reps per minute). There I am making verifiable progress.
I have the rest of today and all day tomorrow off so i think i will make progress on my book pile because there is only so much facebook/tving one can do before the brain esplodes.
Today i was told I need a little more crazy.
it is always something.
--Weights is getting easier (i can do more reps per minute). There I am making verifiable progress.
I have the rest of today and all day tomorrow off so i think i will make progress on my book pile because there is only so much facebook/tving one can do before the brain esplodes.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
An intruder
And the big news is that prior to today (meaning yesterday) Helen who was sick at home from practice reported to us when we returned that there was an intruder in our double wide. it was a chipmonk. I thought she might have been a delusional from her fever. No one else had seen it.
BUT today Rachel spotted the nasty creature IN MY ROOM and I being brave ran in to get it out and then i ran screaming out when i found it behind my computer case. while it scrat under my bed! Rachel and Hilary declined helping me to smite Alvin The Really Ugly Chipmonk That Has A Tail. I did not know they had tails.(Hilary told me to open a window, as if it would jump out. HA.)
HOWEVER, Miranda came to my aide and we smoked it out (that is figuratively) meaning she found it and i screlled (scream + yell: -a loud deep scream) and hopped the barrier we had created to channel Alvin out the door and into the wide wide world where chipmonks can live free of Emilys. Then Miranda chased it and it bypassed the barrier by crawling into a hole it priorly created and is now under the kitchen sink.
so that was successful. it is out of my room.
More details to follow if anyone opens the doors to under the kitchen sink.
BUT today Rachel spotted the nasty creature IN MY ROOM and I being brave ran in to get it out and then i ran screaming out when i found it behind my computer case. while it scrat under my bed! Rachel and Hilary declined helping me to smite Alvin The Really Ugly Chipmonk That Has A Tail. I did not know they had tails.(Hilary told me to open a window, as if it would jump out. HA.)
HOWEVER, Miranda came to my aide and we smoked it out (that is figuratively) meaning she found it and i screlled (scream + yell: -a loud deep scream) and hopped the barrier we had created to channel Alvin out the door and into the wide wide world where chipmonks can live free of Emilys. Then Miranda chased it and it bypassed the barrier by crawling into a hole it priorly created and is now under the kitchen sink.
so that was successful. it is out of my room.
More details to follow if anyone opens the doors to under the kitchen sink.
Free Stuff
The cool thing about free stuff is: Its free. and sometimes its awesome.
Yesterday I got more gear. So far I have received:
2 pairs of red adidas basketball shorts
3 pairs of adidas soccer shorts
2 Pre-elite shirts
1 adidas shirt
1 pair of JL shorts
a lot of Liquid Gold Organic Energy
so thats really cool. better than a thrift store. meaning its free --but not weirdly awesome and a good deal. like that fugly brown plaid jumper for $2.50.
THIS IS SHAMELESS PROMO
((pay attention))
Liquid Gold is a Rapid carb energy source for endurance athletics. Its organic and its based on blackstrap molassas and Honey. Full of vitamins and nutrients. So if you like goo or gels for training, races, games look in to it at: http://liquidgoldenergy.com/
What I am at is the Liquid Gold Training Center and This company donates money to the camp I am at. The more people buy, the more they donate. The more they donate the less participants will have to pay. so....
BUY LIQUID GOLD.
And I am up to 26 box jumps in a minute. my goal is 30. 4 away. I'm at 2.3076 seconds per jump. I am nearly there. There is progress.
Yesterday I got more gear. So far I have received:
2 pairs of red adidas basketball shorts
3 pairs of adidas soccer shorts
2 Pre-elite shirts
1 adidas shirt
1 pair of JL shorts
a lot of Liquid Gold Organic Energy
so thats really cool. better than a thrift store. meaning its free --but not weirdly awesome and a good deal. like that fugly brown plaid jumper for $2.50.
THIS IS SHAMELESS PROMO
((pay attention))
Liquid Gold is a Rapid carb energy source for endurance athletics. Its organic and its based on blackstrap molassas and Honey. Full of vitamins and nutrients. So if you like goo or gels for training, races, games look in to it at: http://liquidgoldenergy.com/
What I am at is the Liquid Gold Training Center and This company donates money to the camp I am at. The more people buy, the more they donate. The more they donate the less participants will have to pay. so....
BUY LIQUID GOLD.
And I am up to 26 box jumps in a minute. my goal is 30. 4 away. I'm at 2.3076 seconds per jump. I am nearly there. There is progress.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Peace, Be Still
One practice down, one left to go.
I actually was looking forward to practice today. I felt that I had a turning point on sunday/monday. Its time to kick anxiety back to hell.
So today was better it really well. There were a couple moments that were not so good, but i chanted "Peace, Be Still" and this helps. So when the anxiety threatens to rear its ugly head i just talk myself through it and I was able to stay calm. Hopefully form with follow soon. out of 15 3minute sets I'd say a third of them were good.
Improving, keeping my peace, staying strong. Conquering.
this is where its at.
---I also kind of miss the philly frat house. Well I miss the cell service. and the shops so close down the street. and the cheaper food. and the vespoli mens boats, and thats about it. its back to the sticks for two weeks until oakridge.
I actually was looking forward to practice today. I felt that I had a turning point on sunday/monday. Its time to kick anxiety back to hell.
So today was better it really well. There were a couple moments that were not so good, but i chanted "Peace, Be Still" and this helps. So when the anxiety threatens to rear its ugly head i just talk myself through it and I was able to stay calm. Hopefully form with follow soon. out of 15 3minute sets I'd say a third of them were good.
Improving, keeping my peace, staying strong. Conquering.
this is where its at.
---I also kind of miss the philly frat house. Well I miss the cell service. and the shops so close down the street. and the cheaper food. and the vespoli mens boats, and thats about it. its back to the sticks for two weeks until oakridge.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Racing.
I know people will want to know so i will talk about it.
IT WAS WORSE THAN I COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED.
Actually I have an overly active imagination, so this is probably not true. (We did not flip.) We DFL'ed and it was bad. Two show stopping places that were verifiable terrible. I actually thought to myself during the sprint, I have got to make this better and I was unable to rescue it. But I was in control of everything I did, so I probably could have done something different.
There is one positive thing to come from this. The first thousand was relatively good. I kept wondering why was it the first half that i was okay. and the second half that I usually rock, why was that so bad? Then I realized All my other races I always have my faith very involved. But today as soon as we hit a rough spot around the thousand My faith was out of the boat and anxiety took over and I accepted it and went with it. I cant row from anxiety, not well. Every erg test i have ever taken that anxiety was allowed to linger in my mind resulted in things bad.
This race was so bad that afterward I went crying to God asking if I was really supposed to be here. Yes. Yes I am supposed to be here. This summer isn't about rowing as much as it is about learning peace. I have got to learn to live life centered in peace. Why are there so many mental disorders? Why are so many people on anti-depressants? I think it has to do with the mental battle we all face. Where the mind goes the man follows. I have been fighting against fear, anxiety, doubt, worry, feelings of failure, hardcore failure. I have allowed my body to follow my mind. I re-read a blog posting I wrote shortly after finishing crew with SPU. How as a team we rowed from a place of peace and confidence in each other. When I lose this base my performance slips it is because the body has followed the mind.
So what am I going to do? I am going to get ready for it. This is war.
The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5b-7
Once during an erg test I started to mentally lose it and I said in my head, "God I dont think I can do this." and I heard the following words: I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. and i heard this two more times during that test and I got my best erg score ever. Because when the Lord is at hand I do not have to be anxious for anything. He's here. Its going to be okay. I have experienced this.
This is what I know this is what I will do. Next time in the double the coach will never tell me it looked like I stopped racing.
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
0 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Walk through the competition. --Amy Burns
IT WAS WORSE THAN I COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED.
Actually I have an overly active imagination, so this is probably not true. (We did not flip.) We DFL'ed and it was bad. Two show stopping places that were verifiable terrible. I actually thought to myself during the sprint, I have got to make this better and I was unable to rescue it. But I was in control of everything I did, so I probably could have done something different.
There is one positive thing to come from this. The first thousand was relatively good. I kept wondering why was it the first half that i was okay. and the second half that I usually rock, why was that so bad? Then I realized All my other races I always have my faith very involved. But today as soon as we hit a rough spot around the thousand My faith was out of the boat and anxiety took over and I accepted it and went with it. I cant row from anxiety, not well. Every erg test i have ever taken that anxiety was allowed to linger in my mind resulted in things bad.
This race was so bad that afterward I went crying to God asking if I was really supposed to be here. Yes. Yes I am supposed to be here. This summer isn't about rowing as much as it is about learning peace. I have got to learn to live life centered in peace. Why are there so many mental disorders? Why are so many people on anti-depressants? I think it has to do with the mental battle we all face. Where the mind goes the man follows. I have been fighting against fear, anxiety, doubt, worry, feelings of failure, hardcore failure. I have allowed my body to follow my mind. I re-read a blog posting I wrote shortly after finishing crew with SPU. How as a team we rowed from a place of peace and confidence in each other. When I lose this base my performance slips it is because the body has followed the mind.
So what am I going to do? I am going to get ready for it. This is war.
The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5b-7
Once during an erg test I started to mentally lose it and I said in my head, "God I dont think I can do this." and I heard the following words: I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. and i heard this two more times during that test and I got my best erg score ever. Because when the Lord is at hand I do not have to be anxious for anything. He's here. Its going to be okay. I have experienced this.
This is what I know this is what I will do. Next time in the double the coach will never tell me it looked like I stopped racing.
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
0 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Walk through the competition. --Amy Burns
Friday, July 3, 2009
Holding on To Joy
I keep thinking this to myself: My joy cannot be dependant upon circumstances. Joy must be held onto even when things suck. This is a difficult thing to learn. Today practice was not good. Wind, current, bouts of anxiety and fear (there are bridges to hit and oars to lose)you know...circumstances. Just because the circumstances change that does not mean rowing form can change or that it should go bad. This could be an analogy for life.
I have the rest of the day off so I am going to go do the most important thing to do in philly (besides go to trader joes which is what I did yesterday). I am going to see transformers! Because one thing that can cheer me up is explosions. Nick the rower who is also living at the frat house said that the only good thing about Transformers is Megan Fox and Explosions and because I dont care about Megan Fox, explosions are now where its at. but i love Shia Lebouf so that should be a close second.
i would also like to announce that mental training is a big deal. and that if your mind isnt disciplined life is going to be rough. shooting down evil crazy thoughts one by one. Because the fear and the anxiety do come, but ultimately its what you do with it. Hold on or kick it out?
I have the rest of the day off so I am going to go do the most important thing to do in philly (besides go to trader joes which is what I did yesterday). I am going to see transformers! Because one thing that can cheer me up is explosions. Nick the rower who is also living at the frat house said that the only good thing about Transformers is Megan Fox and Explosions and because I dont care about Megan Fox, explosions are now where its at. but i love Shia Lebouf so that should be a close second.
i would also like to announce that mental training is a big deal. and that if your mind isnt disciplined life is going to be rough. shooting down evil crazy thoughts one by one. Because the fear and the anxiety do come, but ultimately its what you do with it. Hold on or kick it out?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
uuuuugh.
I just did video review, the coach sent us back to the frat with the video camera of practice today.
It was not pretty.
I have a lot of work to do.
a lot.
good thing there is tomorrow.
and 40 more of them.
It was not pretty.
I have a lot of work to do.
a lot.
good thing there is tomorrow.
and 40 more of them.
A Good Row
SUCCESS!
I found a penny today, and a penny yesterday on the way to work out. This is a sign. Pennies are change. Change is good. Good is what I need.
This is day 17. Or rather I have 40 days left. Today after flipping a double (it is one thing to flip a single and get yourself wet, it is another matter to flip with someone else and get someone else wet. –it was my fault) I came here to learn how to skull not drag someone into the water with me. After that mishap we had a fairly good day. For some reason things just started clicking. I guess I hit bottom and it was time to start coming back up. YES. Finally.
In my brain this is what is sounds like trying to incorporate everything I have learned (especially rowing with the legs not back or arms.): legs, Legs, LEGS!!! Horizontal arms, shallow blades, swing with the back, AFTER the legs, sloooooooow up the slide, finesse the blades, DRIVE Impulse with LEGS LEGS LEGS. Rate. Keep on the rhythm. Hard on port, hard on starboard, and so it goes. Its one thing after another.
So today it clicked and it was good and hopefully tomorrow will be a repeat. Giving up and quitting has never been an option, although at times I wanted to really really badly. However I tell my emotions where to get off, its not the other way around. So it’s nice to have a good day after 16 days of hoping and believing for one. Perseverance will take someone a long way.
Box Jumps and More Determination
I would also like to report that my bruises are starting to fade, and that my fear of box jumps is diminishing. I hate jumping. I do not like it. But first day at weights they pull out the box jumps. A minute of as many as possible. Two sets. I really really wanted to FREAK out and refuse. However I can’t just refuse to not do things. Box jumps are getting a little less frightening. I still do not like them, it’s the idea that I if I don’t jump high enough I will catch my feet on the box and fall face first over the top of the box. I have found that will power, not thinking too much about it, and just doing it makes it easier. My goal is 30 in a minute.
BOATHOUSE ROW
I am rowing out of the Penn Boat House. It is an hour walk from the frat house. We walk in the mornings (two hours of walking, estimated 2 hours of workout ) Since we practice later in the day we have the opportunity to tan so much better than in indiana. I am golden brown.
We get to row vespoli men’s doubles. Amazing big boats. So nice to row in. Its on the skugal river. Its not spelled that way. SPU came out here for the Dad Vail Regatta in May. Its nice to be familiar with the river and how it is set up before coming. Its not a straight course, there is a bend. It makes me miss Annie the coxswain and her amazing steering ability. There are also bridge pilings, and other boats, and the shore. Wonderful things to try to avoid. Being in bow was a constant panic attack. Thankfully I was moved to stroke. I think the previous sentence was the reason.
So tomorrow the goal is to go out on the skugal and do it again. Better than today.
I found a penny today, and a penny yesterday on the way to work out. This is a sign. Pennies are change. Change is good. Good is what I need.
This is day 17. Or rather I have 40 days left. Today after flipping a double (it is one thing to flip a single and get yourself wet, it is another matter to flip with someone else and get someone else wet. –it was my fault) I came here to learn how to skull not drag someone into the water with me. After that mishap we had a fairly good day. For some reason things just started clicking. I guess I hit bottom and it was time to start coming back up. YES. Finally.
In my brain this is what is sounds like trying to incorporate everything I have learned (especially rowing with the legs not back or arms.): legs, Legs, LEGS!!! Horizontal arms, shallow blades, swing with the back, AFTER the legs, sloooooooow up the slide, finesse the blades, DRIVE Impulse with LEGS LEGS LEGS. Rate. Keep on the rhythm. Hard on port, hard on starboard, and so it goes. Its one thing after another.
So today it clicked and it was good and hopefully tomorrow will be a repeat. Giving up and quitting has never been an option, although at times I wanted to really really badly. However I tell my emotions where to get off, its not the other way around. So it’s nice to have a good day after 16 days of hoping and believing for one. Perseverance will take someone a long way.
Box Jumps and More Determination
I would also like to report that my bruises are starting to fade, and that my fear of box jumps is diminishing. I hate jumping. I do not like it. But first day at weights they pull out the box jumps. A minute of as many as possible. Two sets. I really really wanted to FREAK out and refuse. However I can’t just refuse to not do things. Box jumps are getting a little less frightening. I still do not like them, it’s the idea that I if I don’t jump high enough I will catch my feet on the box and fall face first over the top of the box. I have found that will power, not thinking too much about it, and just doing it makes it easier. My goal is 30 in a minute.
BOATHOUSE ROW
I am rowing out of the Penn Boat House. It is an hour walk from the frat house. We walk in the mornings (two hours of walking, estimated 2 hours of workout ) Since we practice later in the day we have the opportunity to tan so much better than in indiana. I am golden brown.
We get to row vespoli men’s doubles. Amazing big boats. So nice to row in. Its on the skugal river. Its not spelled that way. SPU came out here for the Dad Vail Regatta in May. Its nice to be familiar with the river and how it is set up before coming. Its not a straight course, there is a bend. It makes me miss Annie the coxswain and her amazing steering ability. There are also bridge pilings, and other boats, and the shore. Wonderful things to try to avoid. Being in bow was a constant panic attack. Thankfully I was moved to stroke. I think the previous sentence was the reason.
So tomorrow the goal is to go out on the skugal and do it again. Better than today.
Monday, June 29, 2009
I am learning to abound and abase
This week I am learning to abase. Its only for a week. We were told we were staying at someone's house and they were gone. We expected to have a fulling functioning house, with sheets, kitchen items and other house things. No. Not really. Not here. We are in a Frat house with hardly anything of use to us in it. Which is sad, because had i known I would have brought my coffee mug, sheets, and a few other items. I packed too light. Another Rower has been living here for the last 18 days and has used the same plate and fork for the entire time.
But God always provides. One girl lives in Jersey and was able to borrow a lot of things from her apt and her neighbors. When you show up somewhere and you have to bring your own toilet paper it puts a different spin on things. Even in this dirty frat house with its sticky beer residues on counters and floors, cockroaches, no air flow, and foul smells I am still living better than most of the world.
I had to go shopping today for items. The only item I could justify buying was a towel because there is no way that even if I find a frat towel that using it would be a good idea. I've started living on the edge Thinking Do i really NEED this? or do i just want it? I have found that most thing are things I just WANT. But am I able to live this way because I know its only for a week?
But God always provides. One girl lives in Jersey and was able to borrow a lot of things from her apt and her neighbors. When you show up somewhere and you have to bring your own toilet paper it puts a different spin on things. Even in this dirty frat house with its sticky beer residues on counters and floors, cockroaches, no air flow, and foul smells I am still living better than most of the world.
I had to go shopping today for items. The only item I could justify buying was a towel because there is no way that even if I find a frat towel that using it would be a good idea. I've started living on the edge Thinking Do i really NEED this? or do i just want it? I have found that most thing are things I just WANT. But am I able to live this way because I know its only for a week?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Frat heaven
Today we got into the car and emerged 12 hours later in Philly. Traveling from what has become our beloved doublewide to our new accommodations. The Theta Xi frat house. I didnt know there could be a step down from a doublewide but the frat house is it. Its more of a stuffy town house frat house with no air conditioning. The places we stay seam to leave off important parts of the name. such as Trailer and Frat. Always an adventure.
The rooms we are staying in have their former occupants possessions in them. Everything from vodka in the freezer to other frat items. The most exciting part is each room has a fridge, and we have upgraded tv to hundreds of channels!
There is joy to be found in each trial. This should be awesomely terrible.
The rooms we are staying in have their former occupants possessions in them. Everything from vodka in the freezer to other frat items. The most exciting part is each room has a fridge, and we have upgraded tv to hundreds of channels!
There is joy to be found in each trial. This should be awesomely terrible.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
More trials and some bright spots
This is very long. be forwarned. It may go on forever.
I have been having a hard time adapting to skulling vs sweep rowing. Each day I get in the boat and I think, "Today will be the day that it clicks. Today I will get better." So far I come home each day a little dejected and email my mom my progress. Today she emails me back:
Only 45 more days left . Cross them off one at a time. Remember Joseph had to spend 13 years in prison. You only have to spend 2 months.
It does put it in a bit of perspective. If I know I only have 45 days I might as well enjoy them as much as possible. I do not want this to be a grit your teeth a bear it experience. I've done that in other places of life. I want to enjoy my summer of developing into a skuller. It is difficult knowing that since I am in a double I put another person through a rough practice. That is difficult.(I was exiled to a single and was getting good, flipping every other practice --improvement! but we are back to an even number [see below]) I am having to learn to be patient with the person it is hardest for me to be patient with. Myself.
I also think I try to do things with out God. "So this is the plan? Okay, when it doesnt work I will check back it." This never works. Its like having a glimpse of a blueprint and from memory recreating it, and instead of being a carpenter being an exposives engineer. choas ensues. I need to get back to my roots of having fun and remembering who I row for.
At times It does feel like I have been thrown to the wolves. The trick is learning to dance with them. (good for all of you that understood my play on words) I have always said about rowing, "I do not have to be the best. I just have to last the longest. THEN I will be the best." So far two girls have quit. So far I am better than two people. What If by the Plain White T's explains it well. Learning to let go of the expectations I have put on myself and just being able to relax and flow.
Enough of that, here are severals tales of adventure... or not.
Fools Gold
My friends know that I dont run. Ever. Not even in cases of fire. Maybe for pennies, but that is it. Our coach assigned a 30 minute easy workout. our choice: erg or run
I got permission to bike On the mountain bike.
Now the post office is 3 miles away up a HUGE hill. But cell service is avalible. I get permission to ride the bike. The back wheel had the brake rubbing. So I fix it. 9/10s up the huge hill the wheel starts rubbing again. So I fix it to the point of breaking it. meaning the back wheel is being held in place by the gearing system. that is all. Completely unrideable. However I am determined to get to cell service so I jog for 12 minutes (okay more like ten) and walk for five and make it to the post office. Success!! the cell service is terrible the 8 phone calls i had with my mom consisted of me saying, "can you hear me now?" until I lost her.
I then have to run back to the top of the huge hill. get the bike out of the bushes and walk back to the double wide. I get gyped out of zooming down the hill. The reward of climbing hills is flying down them i feel robbed. AND i had to run on top of it. (it wasnt really running, i think walking would be just as fast) BUT I have proved that I can run 10 minutes twice in one day. and that was my hour and half workout that was supposed to only be 30 minutes. mission accomplished.
More Weight Room Pain
I believe I forgot to mention that at weights on wensday I was stung by a creature with wings on the back of my thigh. It climbed up my shorts, and when I tried to stretch out my hamstrings it didnt like getting pressed into the matt and stung me. This bug bite did not start big it was quite small. It is now larger than my hand. It has swelled up to half the size of the back on my thigh. So i win largest bug bite. It has been 3 days and no signs of diminishing. Oh and I do have bruised knees. just incase you wanted to know.
Indiana Hospitality
Not to let you think that everything in Indiana is terrible, I think something must be very exciting, I just hadnt found it yet. until tonight. The rowing club that rows for fun on lake lemon invited us to a bbq at one of the member's houses. We all happily showed up and were treated to a full bbq spread by complete strangers, the only thing we had in common was that we row. Apparently most people on the lake know who we are. In unionville news we are it. That was very wonderful to have grilled hamburgers and enjoy new company.
I will be leaving for a ten hour ride to philly tomorrow I still need to pack and get my stuff ready for departure. I am ready to be within walking distance to a cinema, trader joes, cell service, and civilization.
I have been having a hard time adapting to skulling vs sweep rowing. Each day I get in the boat and I think, "Today will be the day that it clicks. Today I will get better." So far I come home each day a little dejected and email my mom my progress. Today she emails me back:
Only 45 more days left . Cross them off one at a time. Remember Joseph had to spend 13 years in prison. You only have to spend 2 months.
It does put it in a bit of perspective. If I know I only have 45 days I might as well enjoy them as much as possible. I do not want this to be a grit your teeth a bear it experience. I've done that in other places of life. I want to enjoy my summer of developing into a skuller. It is difficult knowing that since I am in a double I put another person through a rough practice. That is difficult.(I was exiled to a single and was getting good, flipping every other practice --improvement! but we are back to an even number [see below]) I am having to learn to be patient with the person it is hardest for me to be patient with. Myself.
I also think I try to do things with out God. "So this is the plan? Okay, when it doesnt work I will check back it." This never works. Its like having a glimpse of a blueprint and from memory recreating it, and instead of being a carpenter being an exposives engineer. choas ensues. I need to get back to my roots of having fun and remembering who I row for.
At times It does feel like I have been thrown to the wolves. The trick is learning to dance with them. (good for all of you that understood my play on words) I have always said about rowing, "I do not have to be the best. I just have to last the longest. THEN I will be the best." So far two girls have quit. So far I am better than two people. What If by the Plain White T's explains it well. Learning to let go of the expectations I have put on myself and just being able to relax and flow.
Enough of that, here are severals tales of adventure... or not.
Fools Gold
My friends know that I dont run. Ever. Not even in cases of fire. Maybe for pennies, but that is it. Our coach assigned a 30 minute easy workout. our choice: erg or run
I got permission to bike On the mountain bike.
Now the post office is 3 miles away up a HUGE hill. But cell service is avalible. I get permission to ride the bike. The back wheel had the brake rubbing. So I fix it. 9/10s up the huge hill the wheel starts rubbing again. So I fix it to the point of breaking it. meaning the back wheel is being held in place by the gearing system. that is all. Completely unrideable. However I am determined to get to cell service so I jog for 12 minutes (okay more like ten) and walk for five and make it to the post office. Success!! the cell service is terrible the 8 phone calls i had with my mom consisted of me saying, "can you hear me now?" until I lost her.
I then have to run back to the top of the huge hill. get the bike out of the bushes and walk back to the double wide. I get gyped out of zooming down the hill. The reward of climbing hills is flying down them i feel robbed. AND i had to run on top of it. (it wasnt really running, i think walking would be just as fast) BUT I have proved that I can run 10 minutes twice in one day. and that was my hour and half workout that was supposed to only be 30 minutes. mission accomplished.
More Weight Room Pain
I believe I forgot to mention that at weights on wensday I was stung by a creature with wings on the back of my thigh. It climbed up my shorts, and when I tried to stretch out my hamstrings it didnt like getting pressed into the matt and stung me. This bug bite did not start big it was quite small. It is now larger than my hand. It has swelled up to half the size of the back on my thigh. So i win largest bug bite. It has been 3 days and no signs of diminishing. Oh and I do have bruised knees. just incase you wanted to know.
Indiana Hospitality
Not to let you think that everything in Indiana is terrible, I think something must be very exciting, I just hadnt found it yet. until tonight. The rowing club that rows for fun on lake lemon invited us to a bbq at one of the member's houses. We all happily showed up and were treated to a full bbq spread by complete strangers, the only thing we had in common was that we row. Apparently most people on the lake know who we are. In unionville news we are it. That was very wonderful to have grilled hamburgers and enjoy new company.
I will be leaving for a ten hour ride to philly tomorrow I still need to pack and get my stuff ready for departure. I am ready to be within walking distance to a cinema, trader joes, cell service, and civilization.
Day 10 Update
****This was written several days ago in the hopes that i would reread and edit it.****
Day 10
I am in day 10 of rowing. Its been a hard 10 days. I have bruises. Lots of bruises. On day 4 or so my computer cord gave out. It had frayed and I gave it an electrical cord fix and got about 5 extra days out of it. Before my computer totally died I purchased a new cord on ebay. In the 5-7 days I had limited computer use. (I was able to borrow a charger a couple times but my computer looses charge fast) Not having cell service is bad. Not having internet is bad. Not having both is worse. But my charger arrived today and it was a day highlight. My mom also sent me a package in which she had made me snack packs –pieces of home! My siblings had written me letters which I love getting. I have discovered that the post office which is up several LARGE hills is only three miles away. So I think biking may be an option. Then I will have cell service.
We’re Not In Seattle Anymore:
I was told it was hot here. That is an understandment. I am already a golden brown. I get tan at 6:30am practice. I drink as much water as I can to stay hydrated. Hot weather can be gotten used to, but working out in it is a different type of fun.
The workouts are getting easier. By easier I mean I am getting better at skulling. I was in the single yesterday and I did about a 6k and DID NOT flip. This was good. Very good. This morning at practice we did some higher stroke rate pieces and that was wonderful (what I was trained with). Power per stroke is becoming my friend but for the last ten days we have been frenemies.
The weight coach came to afternoon practice yesterday and decided we didn’t work hard enough (6k day) so we got assigned more weight stuff this afternoon. I have no idea where they come up with these exercises. Pushing 45lb plates across the floor. It’s resistant mountain climbers? The trick is to move your legs fast or you will end up crashing your knees into the carpet. I learned this in a trial and error method. I will probably have bruised knees tomorrow.
My mom sent me this verse from 1st Peter 4:
12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
This is what I am in. A fiery trial. I want to come out victorious.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
An Overview
INDY
I am Officially in Indiana! We didnt get internet until last night, and I have no cell service, except in town. I live 10 miles from civilization. The only transportation I have is my feet and a mountain bike. I am now a country kid. my only link with civilization is the internet. I miss you Seattle.
I am living in a house with 8 other girls, the most inconvenient part is the fridge. Food falls out of it continually, I have already spilled blueberries. we have two bathrooms, so that is a bit easier. our house is actually a double wide trailer. its pretty amazing. we also have no dishwasher. Fun Times at the Double Wide. I will try to post pictures.
We are from all over, From Oregon to New Jersey. going from 1 roommate to 8 has been an interesting change.
I have found that i packed some very wonderful items, which have turned out to be very important. such as a mug, and sunglasses. and forgot some important things. rain gear. apparently it rains here. I didn't think it would, (I dont know where I put my brain while i was packing)
WHAT I DO
Its been three looong days. my schedule is as follows:
5:20am awake
6ish leave for practice
6:30-10:30 practice and technique practice (half hour break between)
11 get back and eat food/shower
12-4 meditate, read, email, or sleep
5-6:30 second practice
7 eat food and read more/internet
9:30-10 go to sleep
it feels like eat, row, sleep, repeat.
The workouts have rocked my world a bit. I think that's the point. I have never been this sore. I actually consider if i really want to get out of chairs/bed because my legs hurt. especially my back, and arms. I think the only place that didnt hurt was my feet, and then i got heel blisters.
SLOWLY BUT SURELY
I am slowly learning to skull, this camp is like college athletics on steroids. The first day was a sensory overload: two oars, no cox, keeping a point, nearly hitting the coaching launch because i didnt keep the point... I have new respect for coxswains. The second day I was in a single. I flipped. FOUR times. The first time I learned. DO NOT let go of the oars. The 2-4 times I dug deep past the point of no return. The water was warm and by the 3 time I became quite speedy in getting back into the single. The goal for next time is to stay dry.
I have officially gotten over socks and sandals. I still think it is terrible life decision but I am now not without sin. I wear socks....with reefs. I look like a ninja turtle because my reefs are green. its sorta epifalicus. (epic + fail / by latin ending) I decided to sacrifice style for the comfort of not rubbing on my blisters. I am done confessing.
This is where I feel I am supposed to be, but it definately a trial in dealing with anxiety, peace, patience, and grace. As I go through each day I realize how many things I take for granted. How blessed I have been. I have a new found appreciation for my team, Christ, and my parents, and cell phone service.
I am Officially in Indiana! We didnt get internet until last night, and I have no cell service, except in town. I live 10 miles from civilization. The only transportation I have is my feet and a mountain bike. I am now a country kid. my only link with civilization is the internet. I miss you Seattle.
I am living in a house with 8 other girls, the most inconvenient part is the fridge. Food falls out of it continually, I have already spilled blueberries. we have two bathrooms, so that is a bit easier. our house is actually a double wide trailer. its pretty amazing. we also have no dishwasher. Fun Times at the Double Wide. I will try to post pictures.
We are from all over, From Oregon to New Jersey. going from 1 roommate to 8 has been an interesting change.
I have found that i packed some very wonderful items, which have turned out to be very important. such as a mug, and sunglasses. and forgot some important things. rain gear. apparently it rains here. I didn't think it would, (I dont know where I put my brain while i was packing)
WHAT I DO
Its been three looong days. my schedule is as follows:
5:20am awake
6ish leave for practice
6:30-10:30 practice and technique practice (half hour break between)
11 get back and eat food/shower
12-4 meditate, read, email, or sleep
5-6:30 second practice
7 eat food and read more/internet
9:30-10 go to sleep
it feels like eat, row, sleep, repeat.
The workouts have rocked my world a bit. I think that's the point. I have never been this sore. I actually consider if i really want to get out of chairs/bed because my legs hurt. especially my back, and arms. I think the only place that didnt hurt was my feet, and then i got heel blisters.
SLOWLY BUT SURELY
I am slowly learning to skull, this camp is like college athletics on steroids. The first day was a sensory overload: two oars, no cox, keeping a point, nearly hitting the coaching launch because i didnt keep the point... I have new respect for coxswains. The second day I was in a single. I flipped. FOUR times. The first time I learned. DO NOT let go of the oars. The 2-4 times I dug deep past the point of no return. The water was warm and by the 3 time I became quite speedy in getting back into the single. The goal for next time is to stay dry.
I have officially gotten over socks and sandals. I still think it is terrible life decision but I am now not without sin. I wear socks....with reefs. I look like a ninja turtle because my reefs are green. its sorta epifalicus. (epic + fail / by latin ending) I decided to sacrifice style for the comfort of not rubbing on my blisters. I am done confessing.
This is where I feel I am supposed to be, but it definately a trial in dealing with anxiety, peace, patience, and grace. As I go through each day I realize how many things I take for granted. How blessed I have been. I have a new found appreciation for my team, Christ, and my parents, and cell phone service.
Friday, June 12, 2009
The saga begins
Tomorrow I will fly out to Indiana to participate in a U23 pre-elite camp with 8-10 other female collage rowers. we're all around 6 feet tall. so it will be good competition. Did i mention we are all living in a 6 person house? its going to be great.
Trial and Tribulation #1
being from seattle and packing for indiana.
-seriously. what am I dowing? i have managed to shove all of the clothing/items i am taking into a huge suitcase, and a carryon. due to weight restrictions all of the heavy things have gone into my carryon. (books -14 last count, two pairs of shoes, CDs and anything to make my other bag less than 50 pounds) I still really do not know what to expect weather wise in indiana. I am told its hot and muggy. I roped ellen into helping me pack and I have been wearing her clothing ever since we got the suitcase zipped. I am under strick orders not to open it back up because if i do we may never get it closed again.
I am going to bed to sleep in it for one last time. in 15 hours I will be on a plane and on my way.
Trial and Tribulation #1
being from seattle and packing for indiana.
-seriously. what am I dowing? i have managed to shove all of the clothing/items i am taking into a huge suitcase, and a carryon. due to weight restrictions all of the heavy things have gone into my carryon. (books -14 last count, two pairs of shoes, CDs and anything to make my other bag less than 50 pounds) I still really do not know what to expect weather wise in indiana. I am told its hot and muggy. I roped ellen into helping me pack and I have been wearing her clothing ever since we got the suitcase zipped. I am under strick orders not to open it back up because if i do we may never get it closed again.
I am going to bed to sleep in it for one last time. in 15 hours I will be on a plane and on my way.
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