for the past few weeks I have been sculling again. which is what i intended to do when I ended the UW camp mid July. It just took me longer to get there. i ended up rowing a pair with Abby from PLU and together we formed SPLU. Our mascot was A flying Flute (falcon + Lute) and we were not exactly triumphant but we busted out some crazy practices. Poor Abby was stroking for most of the begining and i was terrifying her. "we're going to miss it by like 6 inches...or two." Then there was that day that we nearly ran into a post but that was totally the fault of the replacement coach. and if it wasnt blaming him was/is very convienant. we had fun. or at least some scary times. to my credit i have never flipped this summer.
when the college program ended the first week of august i transitioned into a sculling class. I dont know why i ever thought this was hard. until i start to make technique changes, and nearly flip. Its been really fun. I'm rowing with a mix of the "middle age" I'm the youngest by probably a decade and a half. i've been in a quad, a double, and mostly a single. working on drills. lots of drills. the coach for the sculling 2 class is amazing and i love going to each class. hopefully this will make me more competitive this racing season.
and i've decided to run a half. because i'm going to finally get the legs i always wanted. or genetics cannot be conquered.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Double Trouble Reunited
on sunday Caity came for a visit.
Pitts and Smith-Staines together again!
(my double partner from the last half of Indiana.) we went to Mick Kelly's Irish Pub for breakfast (I recommend this) and caught up on all of our rowing trials, tribulations, and victories. This was the first I've seen of the Indy crowd since it's been officially a year. I was super sad to have missed out on the Club Nationals Reunion but was super stoked to have Caity call me up as she was coming through seattle. She even said they're were no hard feeling about dragging her into the waters of the Canadian Henley. I can now sleep at night.
Best part was when we went to starbucks and were asked if we were basketball players. should have used catherine's line, "we play croquet." but alas it came to me too late.
Pitts and Smith-Staines together again!
(my double partner from the last half of Indiana.) we went to Mick Kelly's Irish Pub for breakfast (I recommend this) and caught up on all of our rowing trials, tribulations, and victories. This was the first I've seen of the Indy crowd since it's been officially a year. I was super sad to have missed out on the Club Nationals Reunion but was super stoked to have Caity call me up as she was coming through seattle. She even said they're were no hard feeling about dragging her into the waters of the Canadian Henley. I can now sleep at night.
Best part was when we went to starbucks and were asked if we were basketball players. should have used catherine's line, "we play croquet." but alas it came to me too late.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Before there was crew there was you, biking
I have all these grand ideas. that usually do not come into fruitition. and are usually quite bad, and its a good thing something stops me from being a total fruitcake. other times i just really want to try, and if i fail well we'll block that one from the memory and chalk it up to a time warp.
There are several awesome things coming this way that i want to do:
Island Aquathon
Lake Stevens Triathalon 70.3 miles
Black Diamond 70.3
Swim Across the Sound. 2.3 miles
High Pass Challange 114 miles
RAW ride around washington 7 day bike trip
Visit TN for Josh's 21st
The levee breaking Century bike ride.
I'm gone for a few of them, not sure if i can get enough training in for the rest half marathons coming from the girl who didnt run last summer? possible but daunting. I really would love to do the High Pass Challange. but its got a 10 hour time limit and the last time i did a century it took me 12 hours and i wasnt messing around. much. its probably time to break out the bike and start riding again. maybe even get those brakes fixed.
There are several awesome things coming this way that i want to do:
Island Aquathon
Lake Stevens Triathalon 70.3 miles
Black Diamond 70.3
Swim Across the Sound. 2.3 miles
High Pass Challange 114 miles
RAW ride around washington 7 day bike trip
Visit TN for Josh's 21st
The levee breaking Century bike ride.
I'm gone for a few of them, not sure if i can get enough training in for the rest half marathons coming from the girl who didnt run last summer? possible but daunting. I really would love to do the High Pass Challange. but its got a 10 hour time limit and the last time i did a century it took me 12 hours and i wasnt messing around. much. its probably time to break out the bike and start riding again. maybe even get those brakes fixed.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Second Star to the Right
i jumped in. i signed up for pocock's colligiate summer program yesterday. The idea of not rowing for the next two and a half months was not something i could come to terms with. I'm doing it for the skill acquisition. I need more skills. single, double, pair, quad. yes please. will take skills in all of those.
First i got to row the dream over at UW, where my rowing roots began in the 40's and now i get to transfer the dream to phase II. My grandfather rowed with Stan and was coached by George Pocock so i'm pumped.
Today i got used to "The Vega" and rowing with Abby from PLU. I hadnt seen her since WIRA so seeing a familiar face was nice. we were put together in a pair, nearly met our doom with a armada of singles. there were at least 20 of them and only one of us. I miss the UW pocock pairs, but i'm excited for what the next two months will bring.
First i got to row the dream over at UW, where my rowing roots began in the 40's and now i get to transfer the dream to phase II. My grandfather rowed with Stan and was coached by George Pocock so i'm pumped.
Today i got used to "The Vega" and rowing with Abby from PLU. I hadnt seen her since WIRA so seeing a familiar face was nice. we were put together in a pair, nearly met our doom with a armada of singles. there were at least 20 of them and only one of us. I miss the UW pocock pairs, but i'm excited for what the next two months will bring.
Friday, July 9, 2010
The End Leads to Something New
today was my last day at pair camp. I had a good run of it. hard to believe a month went by so fast. Its sad that i wont be going to Club Nationals. I am dissapointed about that, but i could see it coming for a while. of the top three boats that went they were all UW girls. I knew coming in i'd be at a disadvantage. All of them had rowed together, weather it was during their season or last summer's pair camp. Or they had the advantage of seat racing with pairs earlier this year. however, i believe that if i was truely the supirior rower i could have conquered with whoever i was with. that was not the case. so while i didnt always understand who i got put with or the reasoning behind it, if i had been able to make the boat go fast from the get-go i would have had a better chance succeeding. This camp just cemented in my mind the further technique training I will need if i want to seriously row after college.
but to leave the summer on a highnote. We had an interteam regatta. which means that we did a time trail, were seeded into heats and then top three from each heat went to the grand final. top three boats to go to nationals. I was with #6. we had a pretty horendous time trial. we did not go straight, catch timing has been really hard for me to slow down. and i end up dragging us off course.
Our heat we were seeded forth, it was go time, and we made it in placing second by a hair, the really strong contender ended up pulling her partner around and placed forth. she nearly hit us and we were two lanes over. I had burning lungs at the end, plus the adreneline had kicked in.
The grandfinal we had trouble going straight, and we just didnt race as well overall. We ended up placing fifth. we would have probably had 4th, but that boat was in the far lane and we couldnt see how close it was, in the end we lost to them by two seconds, so really if we could have beat them, we should have.
5th was not a bad way to end it. My partner was the highest ranking freshman there. well technically she's a sophomore now. so that was cool. work with what you've got. and make it happen. she really made the last week and a half enjoyable for me. she was gracious about my bad bowing ability and patiently helped me sort things out.
So after this, i'm looking at sculling at pocock or taking the rest of the summer to cross train. I’ve begun to love rowing again. It isn’t some habit that I cant break. Its almost relaxing. Same with running, its enjoyable and not such a mental game. I’m not sure if I’ve just chilled out from lack of stress or what but its nice. and I'd like to continue it for the rest of the summer. lets hope me borrowing the beamer works out.
but to leave the summer on a highnote. We had an interteam regatta. which means that we did a time trail, were seeded into heats and then top three from each heat went to the grand final. top three boats to go to nationals. I was with #6. we had a pretty horendous time trial. we did not go straight, catch timing has been really hard for me to slow down. and i end up dragging us off course.
Our heat we were seeded forth, it was go time, and we made it in placing second by a hair, the really strong contender ended up pulling her partner around and placed forth. she nearly hit us and we were two lanes over. I had burning lungs at the end, plus the adreneline had kicked in.
The grandfinal we had trouble going straight, and we just didnt race as well overall. We ended up placing fifth. we would have probably had 4th, but that boat was in the far lane and we couldnt see how close it was, in the end we lost to them by two seconds, so really if we could have beat them, we should have.
5th was not a bad way to end it. My partner was the highest ranking freshman there. well technically she's a sophomore now. so that was cool. work with what you've got. and make it happen. she really made the last week and a half enjoyable for me. she was gracious about my bad bowing ability and patiently helped me sort things out.
So after this, i'm looking at sculling at pocock or taking the rest of the summer to cross train. I’ve begun to love rowing again. It isn’t some habit that I cant break. Its almost relaxing. Same with running, its enjoyable and not such a mental game. I’m not sure if I’ve just chilled out from lack of stress or what but its nice. and I'd like to continue it for the rest of the summer. lets hope me borrowing the beamer works out.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Training and Options
Its the last week of development camp. or as gina from syr put it "The last 500" that implies terrible agony and pain. I have to say rowing through the cut and seeing the slogans is inspiring, such as "Its a Pain Contest" or Seattle University's "ScrewU" or "Respect comes at the finish"
Today was the last of seat racing from last week. Since being knocked down to the B flight i think i have won every seat race. The first one that i raced today with the stroke of the freshman 8 was close with a not so convient half crab in the last five strokes. My next race with "Struzie" the Freshman #3, yeah it was a cleaned up. We just move well together, and its easy. We had some rough windy conditions, so that was fun, technical stuff to work on was highlighted, my favorite. I'm not sure if seat racing wins is enough to get me back in the running for Club National boats, but we shall see. You gotta give it your all and not worry about the rest.
Since after this week i will either be done or on my way to Club Nationals I have been trying to figure out what i should do. I can go to pocock if i get ahold of a car and train in small boats. Or i can train on my own either with urban erg workouts on my viking erg, or train for a half iron man triathalon. My instincts tell me training by myself isnt a good idea and the word ironman scares me. five miles is the furthest i have ever run, but i watch the biggest loser so i know a marathon for the overweight and infirmed is possible, there is just a 8 hour limit.
i would need to run 10 minute miles (2 hours and ten minutes) bike 56 miles in about four hours (14 mph which i have done for that amount of sustained time) and swim 3 miles within two hours. I was a swimmer but this is lake swimming and that is vastly different. i dont know if i can string all those things together. i would have to train like a crazy to be ready in a month. HOWEVER i really want to do a triathalon, and to say ironman strikes fear into the hearts of even the most brave and fearless. including myself. I also ordered ERG: 75 workouts for athletes. in either case i will start to get a move on and decide which of my three options will leave me in the best place to take on senior year.
Today was the last of seat racing from last week. Since being knocked down to the B flight i think i have won every seat race. The first one that i raced today with the stroke of the freshman 8 was close with a not so convient half crab in the last five strokes. My next race with "Struzie" the Freshman #3, yeah it was a cleaned up. We just move well together, and its easy. We had some rough windy conditions, so that was fun, technical stuff to work on was highlighted, my favorite. I'm not sure if seat racing wins is enough to get me back in the running for Club National boats, but we shall see. You gotta give it your all and not worry about the rest.
Since after this week i will either be done or on my way to Club Nationals I have been trying to figure out what i should do. I can go to pocock if i get ahold of a car and train in small boats. Or i can train on my own either with urban erg workouts on my viking erg, or train for a half iron man triathalon. My instincts tell me training by myself isnt a good idea and the word ironman scares me. five miles is the furthest i have ever run, but i watch the biggest loser so i know a marathon for the overweight and infirmed is possible, there is just a 8 hour limit.
i would need to run 10 minute miles (2 hours and ten minutes) bike 56 miles in about four hours (14 mph which i have done for that amount of sustained time) and swim 3 miles within two hours. I was a swimmer but this is lake swimming and that is vastly different. i dont know if i can string all those things together. i would have to train like a crazy to be ready in a month. HOWEVER i really want to do a triathalon, and to say ironman strikes fear into the hearts of even the most brave and fearless. including myself. I also ordered ERG: 75 workouts for athletes. in either case i will start to get a move on and decide which of my three options will leave me in the best place to take on senior year.
Friday, July 2, 2010
And the boat is runnin' runnin'
yesterday i was switched in with the 6th seat of the freshman eight, and i was put in bow for the first time. this was a scary situation. I'm paranoid about hitting other boats, and it takes me a while to figure out what i'm doing. my plan is always to get ahead so i can see them coming and steer off the stern point. I dont advise this.
turns out i follow a whole lot better than i stroke. These girls are later to the catch, and move slower than i do. its better for me to follow them, it helps me match and clean up my form.
Today was seat racing again. I was knocked down to the 'B' flight. I have a week to claw my way in a form filled fashion back up to the top. I needed to dominate all seat races. My first one with the 6th seat was a race, it was going back and forth between three pairs until the last three hundred where we pulled it out. The second one I was back with my original partner 3 seat of the freshman eight and we walked all over the other people. no contest. mission accomplished. That was the best race I had, we were set, we had run, we moved.
A few people had given me advice for pairs, i was trying to row them like eights. Brute Force Power Team. turns out it doesnt work like that in a pair. all about matching, you can go 70% and still win if you match. when it gets heavy focus on catch timing. I was still cutting some 'S' curves but we were out ahead of everyone.
The coach said i had my best day yet. I may have found my way back into his good graces. hopefully this puts me back in the running. we'll see tomorrow during the remainder of seat racing.
turns out i follow a whole lot better than i stroke. These girls are later to the catch, and move slower than i do. its better for me to follow them, it helps me match and clean up my form.
Today was seat racing again. I was knocked down to the 'B' flight. I have a week to claw my way in a form filled fashion back up to the top. I needed to dominate all seat races. My first one with the 6th seat was a race, it was going back and forth between three pairs until the last three hundred where we pulled it out. The second one I was back with my original partner 3 seat of the freshman eight and we walked all over the other people. no contest. mission accomplished. That was the best race I had, we were set, we had run, we moved.
A few people had given me advice for pairs, i was trying to row them like eights. Brute Force Power Team. turns out it doesnt work like that in a pair. all about matching, you can go 70% and still win if you match. when it gets heavy focus on catch timing. I was still cutting some 'S' curves but we were out ahead of everyone.
The coach said i had my best day yet. I may have found my way back into his good graces. hopefully this puts me back in the running. we'll see tomorrow during the remainder of seat racing.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Gratitude Smack Down
This week I have not been focusing on rowing as much as i have on patience, kindness, and humility. After bad seat racing on saturday which i thought was bad, but not THAT bad i was paired up with a freshman. Apparently, it was that bad. This girl is the version of who i was last summer only shorter. since i'm stroking she's bowing and I'm not going to lie, i'm a little terrified. its been nerve wracking to say the least. I am more aware of what I put hilary and caity through last summer and I feel that i should go appologize again.
When i was at NCAAs the inspirational speaker during the banquet had a newsletter you could sign up for. so i did. I got one of them this morning. How Graditude and Victimhood Cant Co-Exist. As i read the article i clued into the fact that i've been walking on the line of victimizing myself. What I need to focus on is what I'm greatful for: i get to row in a pair, at UW, be able to have a forerunner to drive around in and picked up enough odd jobs to pay for gas and parking. I also have friends that live close that let me crash at their house whenever. I have a lot to be thankful for.
Tomorrow is seat racing, the pair matrix, and I'm greatful i get to do it again. In with the good, out with the bad.
oh. and in other news. I was walking back to my car when the guy a few feet ahead of me had a WSU crew bag, so i asked him if he rowed there. Turns out the guys pair camp is 18 guys, four are from other schools and the rest are UW. Had a nice conversation with him. only 17 left to meet.
When i was at NCAAs the inspirational speaker during the banquet had a newsletter you could sign up for. so i did. I got one of them this morning. How Graditude and Victimhood Cant Co-Exist. As i read the article i clued into the fact that i've been walking on the line of victimizing myself. What I need to focus on is what I'm greatful for: i get to row in a pair, at UW, be able to have a forerunner to drive around in and picked up enough odd jobs to pay for gas and parking. I also have friends that live close that let me crash at their house whenever. I have a lot to be thankful for.
Tomorrow is seat racing, the pair matrix, and I'm greatful i get to do it again. In with the good, out with the bad.
oh. and in other news. I was walking back to my car when the guy a few feet ahead of me had a WSU crew bag, so i asked him if he rowed there. Turns out the guys pair camp is 18 guys, four are from other schools and the rest are UW. Had a nice conversation with him. only 17 left to meet.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The latest in Viking training.
So that garage sale was pay dirt. I had called someone else on craigslist about an erg and he wanted 400 for an erg with no monitor, a concept II model B, yeah...no.
So i hopped in my car to go take a look at this "Profession Grade Rowing Machine"
what i found should be in a museum. its like what the vikings trained on before rowing to america. or maybe ben hur. and the galley slaves. I need to get one of those horned hats to wear while i row. The fly wheel is has a fan like covering, there is a moniter but its got to be one of the first ones. and the foot stretchers are wooden. but it works. and I got it for the awesome price of 20 bucks. thats right TWENTY DOLLARS for a CONCEPT II. the only thing that could make this better is me wearing gold spandex and a viking hat while rowing it. which i totally plan to get. The batteries for the moniter cost me about half the price of the erg. so now i have my own erg, so doing urban erg workouts is a possiblity. however it doesnt have an ajustable fly wheel or it does but you manually have to move the chain. it feels like i'm rowing at a ten. yay for me and my soon to be arnold back.
have i mentioned i've already started training my 13 year old brother and 9 year old sister? legs, back, arms, SLOOOOOOOW up the slide. if i cant be a champion i'm going to create one. or two. I'll soon be known as the beast maker.
So i hopped in my car to go take a look at this "Profession Grade Rowing Machine"
what i found should be in a museum. its like what the vikings trained on before rowing to america. or maybe ben hur. and the galley slaves. I need to get one of those horned hats to wear while i row. The fly wheel is has a fan like covering, there is a moniter but its got to be one of the first ones. and the foot stretchers are wooden. but it works. and I got it for the awesome price of 20 bucks. thats right TWENTY DOLLARS for a CONCEPT II. the only thing that could make this better is me wearing gold spandex and a viking hat while rowing it. which i totally plan to get. The batteries for the moniter cost me about half the price of the erg. so now i have my own erg, so doing urban erg workouts is a possiblity. however it doesnt have an ajustable fly wheel or it does but you manually have to move the chain. it feels like i'm rowing at a ten. yay for me and my soon to be arnold back.
have i mentioned i've already started training my 13 year old brother and 9 year old sister? legs, back, arms, SLOOOOOOOW up the slide. if i cant be a champion i'm going to create one. or two. I'll soon be known as the beast maker.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Pair matrix: I took the "I sucked" pill
pair matrix. I'm going to translate this as: Emily needs to work on her seat racing and matching up abilities. welcome to last place.
While i did not like Indiana because i was stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but row. I miss the fact that I had nothing to do except row. I've come to terms that i need to buy a concept 2, but the knowledge that i'm going to shell out for an instrument of torture isnt the way I want to spend a couple hundred bucks. I probably should just sell some of my luxury handbags and have at it.
i have just checked the craigslist and it appears there is nothing for under 500, i could/should trot down to this garage sale and look at a "profession grade rowing machine".
While i did not like Indiana because i was stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do but row. I miss the fact that I had nothing to do except row. I've come to terms that i need to buy a concept 2, but the knowledge that i'm going to shell out for an instrument of torture isnt the way I want to spend a couple hundred bucks. I probably should just sell some of my luxury handbags and have at it.
i have just checked the craigslist and it appears there is nothing for under 500, i could/should trot down to this garage sale and look at a "profession grade rowing machine".
Friday, June 25, 2010
steering and veering
Another day down. Well sort of, I have to still do this erg piece. Its 6 1k’s and after practice I decided to do it then so when I got off work I would be done. No such luck, after 1k I was dead, I tried to do the next one I fought it for about 250 meters and I just stopped. Having only ate a banana I wasn’t going to be able to pull a two workouts with that turnaround on that and do well. I also had to be to work at 10 and shower so it was a no go. Now I have to find an erg. There is one downtown so now I have to figure out a way to trek back and use it. Without paying a ton for gas and parking. I think I just coordinated a halfway solution.
I am now with the port of the pair that I and Kelsey beat yesterday, Kelsey got put with the starboard from that pair. The girl I’m with now is fairly technically, which may have been frustrating for her, but I am improving quite a bit. The whole reorientation to suspension, and carrying the power up through my entire body. So basic, and so not mastered. I have a lot of technical stuff to work out, leading with hips, slowing the slide, aggressive send. hopefully I can get it down in the week or two I have left.
We were making good ground, I tend to go up the slide a little too fast, the top quarter gets rushed. However unlike last summer I’m not having anxiety issues. I also learned how to toe. “hard you” means second position for feet in ballet--heels together, “hard me” means I point my toes together. Of course my kindergarten grasp on which is right, left, port, and starboard doesn’t make toeing easy and my over correcting ability can be compared to a three year old trying to color in the lines. Your motor skills have been weighted in the balance and found wanting. At least we haven’t hit anything. My strategy is get ahead of everyone and stay there. That way the only thing you can hit is EVERYTHING except other pairs.
Tomorrow is Pair Matrix which is like a cool non threatening way to say SEAT RACING.
I am now with the port of the pair that I and Kelsey beat yesterday, Kelsey got put with the starboard from that pair. The girl I’m with now is fairly technically, which may have been frustrating for her, but I am improving quite a bit. The whole reorientation to suspension, and carrying the power up through my entire body. So basic, and so not mastered. I have a lot of technical stuff to work out, leading with hips, slowing the slide, aggressive send. hopefully I can get it down in the week or two I have left.
We were making good ground, I tend to go up the slide a little too fast, the top quarter gets rushed. However unlike last summer I’m not having anxiety issues. I also learned how to toe. “hard you” means second position for feet in ballet--heels together, “hard me” means I point my toes together. Of course my kindergarten grasp on which is right, left, port, and starboard doesn’t make toeing easy and my over correcting ability can be compared to a three year old trying to color in the lines. Your motor skills have been weighted in the balance and found wanting. At least we haven’t hit anything. My strategy is get ahead of everyone and stay there. That way the only thing you can hit is EVERYTHING except other pairs.
Tomorrow is Pair Matrix which is like a cool non threatening way to say SEAT RACING.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
heads of pairs.
LPR. Long Pair Race. basically a 5k in a pair. no biggie.
So kelsey and I rowed up to the finish line behind waaaay behind everyone. I refuse to let this bother me. Kelsey and I chat, about rates, how we're liking pair camp, that i know she'll do her job of bowing to the best of her 1.5 weeks of training at it.
We were seated 5th. This kind of irritated me. fifth? but it really doesnt matter unless you can bring it on the water. I also remembered from airplanes "get another hand soon after you fold" yeah, i dont do that fold thing. So i show up in game day spandex. my neon zebra stripped confidence killers. anyone who wears those is asking for it.
We went out there and ROWED. we were with in a boat length of second and our steering when wild and we lost it, a big part of head races is the ability to row the shortest distance meaning the straightest line.
well,,,, we sort of got waked out by a yaht, kind of ran into or rather scraped the side of the cut with my oar, which took off a stroke or two and nearly ran over the coaching launch at the end, i think i was messing up steering with the toe. another thing to work on. we didnt mess with it and did strickly by power. brute force power team, getting it done anyway but pretty.
it paided off, we placed forth. and were 19 seconds behind 3rd. which wasnt good but a lot better than i thought it was going to be.
So kelsey and I rowed up to the finish line behind waaaay behind everyone. I refuse to let this bother me. Kelsey and I chat, about rates, how we're liking pair camp, that i know she'll do her job of bowing to the best of her 1.5 weeks of training at it.
We were seated 5th. This kind of irritated me. fifth? but it really doesnt matter unless you can bring it on the water. I also remembered from airplanes "get another hand soon after you fold" yeah, i dont do that fold thing. So i show up in game day spandex. my neon zebra stripped confidence killers. anyone who wears those is asking for it.
We went out there and ROWED. we were with in a boat length of second and our steering when wild and we lost it, a big part of head races is the ability to row the shortest distance meaning the straightest line.
well,,,, we sort of got waked out by a yaht, kind of ran into or rather scraped the side of the cut with my oar, which took off a stroke or two and nearly ran over the coaching launch at the end, i think i was messing up steering with the toe. another thing to work on. we didnt mess with it and did strickly by power. brute force power team, getting it done anyway but pretty.
it paided off, we placed forth. and were 19 seconds behind 3rd. which wasnt good but a lot better than i thought it was going to be.
Nothing is as it seems
Here are snippets of the past three days. I have a lot to say about Pair Head but must go off to work!
Monday: I walked into practice to discover the 6k had been moved up from Friday to tuesday! So that’s exciting.
Tusday: 6k test. I went out aggressive and steadily my split went up through out the whole thing. It was a very sad affair. My goal was to place top five. I managed to put myself into second. An extreamly fast girl quit half way through otherwise I would have taken third. I was two splits off my PR, which was a little disappointing but for where I’m at right now, it’s okay. I had a hard time pacing and pulling up, music is hard for me to erg to I start wanting to go for it instead of listening to my body.
Wensday: we are put into pairs to get ready for the pair head race tomorrow. I am with Kelsey, an Oregon girl. It was hard. One of my spandex legs rode up and I started chafting my leg on the side of the boat as I went up and down the slide. You know what this means, this hull ain’t big enough for the hips of us. Time to lose weight. The coach actually talked to me today, as in he yelled at me to stay to the left, and to be aggressive. After a few silent days I was starting to worry.
Other interesting points:
I was asked where I was from Seattle Pacific, “Ohhhh, we thought it was south pacific and we wanted to know why you weren’t tanner.”
I now am the owner of four luxury handbags. One of which is called The Over Achiever. I haul that thing around as a silent testament to my prowess. Okay, that’s maybe a little of an exaggeration. If i'm not careful that thing will throw out my shoulder.
I’ve wound up in a starboard stroking boat each day, and am extreamly greatful.
Monday: I walked into practice to discover the 6k had been moved up from Friday to tuesday! So that’s exciting.
Tusday: 6k test. I went out aggressive and steadily my split went up through out the whole thing. It was a very sad affair. My goal was to place top five. I managed to put myself into second. An extreamly fast girl quit half way through otherwise I would have taken third. I was two splits off my PR, which was a little disappointing but for where I’m at right now, it’s okay. I had a hard time pacing and pulling up, music is hard for me to erg to I start wanting to go for it instead of listening to my body.
Wensday: we are put into pairs to get ready for the pair head race tomorrow. I am with Kelsey, an Oregon girl. It was hard. One of my spandex legs rode up and I started chafting my leg on the side of the boat as I went up and down the slide. You know what this means, this hull ain’t big enough for the hips of us. Time to lose weight. The coach actually talked to me today, as in he yelled at me to stay to the left, and to be aggressive. After a few silent days I was starting to worry.
Other interesting points:
I was asked where I was from Seattle Pacific, “Ohhhh, we thought it was south pacific and we wanted to know why you weren’t tanner.”
I now am the owner of four luxury handbags. One of which is called The Over Achiever. I haul that thing around as a silent testament to my prowess. Okay, that’s maybe a little of an exaggeration. If i'm not careful that thing will throw out my shoulder.
I’ve wound up in a starboard stroking boat each day, and am extreamly greatful.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Cox, cane included
We were in 8’s today to practice going hard and fast since we have been trying to get the hang of pairs this last week. Unfortunately the Revered Coach (Bob) could not get three cox only two so this lady that showed up to watch us who is from the master’s camp coxed. Meaning she steered, usually towards the other boats. She even took her cane in the boat with her. Classic. Best part of pair camp so far. Her in her Jessica simpsonesque sunglasses with a cane and a feather in her brimmed hat. I was sadly not in her boat.
I totally chicked out and did not go through the lost and found in the locker room and swipe myself some UW gear. It’s a big rolling box with a bunch of shoes but I think there could be a uni or at least a JL down on the bottom. I need to man up and do it. Swiping gear is rowing culture. I have an SPU tank that is up for grabs if anyone wants to trade me a Penn AC tank. I want a shiny blue tank. If it could be a men’s lightweight and have Light across the back that would even be better. I would totally rock it even though I do not even qualify as a men’s lightweight. Sweet irony.
www.urbanerg.com is the new best website I’ve found and as soon as I’m done with pair camp I’m doing ERG: 75 workouts for athletes.
I totally chicked out and did not go through the lost and found in the locker room and swipe myself some UW gear. It’s a big rolling box with a bunch of shoes but I think there could be a uni or at least a JL down on the bottom. I need to man up and do it. Swiping gear is rowing culture. I have an SPU tank that is up for grabs if anyone wants to trade me a Penn AC tank. I want a shiny blue tank. If it could be a men’s lightweight and have Light across the back that would even be better. I would totally rock it even though I do not even qualify as a men’s lightweight. Sweet irony.
www.urbanerg.com is the new best website I’ve found and as soon as I’m done with pair camp I’m doing ERG: 75 workouts for athletes.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Brought to you by the Letter S
Erg Practice = hardx2 divided by more hard 6k pace 10’ 8’ 6’ with 2 minutes between each, twice through.
Water drills = good. Steering is coming along. Trying to make it happen and avoid weeds.
I need to come up with a title for the coach. I want to refer to him as The Great Coach or something but that sounds too North Korean. By the end of the month I will have thought of something.
We have tongue depressors here with our names on them. While looking at these tongue depressors today I noticed that some of them have ‘S’ or ‘P’ written on them, obviously designating which side that person rows. Some, however had a star drawn. I was one of those people, I was very excited! I like stars! Especially gold ones not just black sharpie! So I asked about it, what does it mean? Star is just a symbol for STARboard. Kind of felt like an idiot. S can also be for Stupid.
Water drills = good. Steering is coming along. Trying to make it happen and avoid weeds.
I need to come up with a title for the coach. I want to refer to him as The Great Coach or something but that sounds too North Korean. By the end of the month I will have thought of something.
We have tongue depressors here with our names on them. While looking at these tongue depressors today I noticed that some of them have ‘S’ or ‘P’ written on them, obviously designating which side that person rows. Some, however had a star drawn. I was one of those people, I was very excited! I like stars! Especially gold ones not just black sharpie! So I asked about it, what does it mean? Star is just a symbol for STARboard. Kind of felt like an idiot. S can also be for Stupid.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
(Day) Three is a magic Number
When I woke up this morning I was not feeling the neon zebra striped spandex. Obviously this was the hand of God interceding. I was late to practice. 15 minutes late. I had to go back to my house to get my phone, it would have been okay except I took the wrong freeway exit (15 minute detour) and Seattle drivers decided since it was raining 50mph was an acceptable road way speed --I can’t be safe! I have a pair camp to get to! And to add insult to the injury of having to pay $7 to use the parking lot the bill machine would not take my dollars and I had to mess with it. I conquered and made it take my money.
Today a 6k Erg test was announced. !!! I may be the only one excited about this. Erging for me is nice, there is no danger of flipping an erg, I can monitor my progress with the help of numbers, and I am very confident in my erg skillz. I could even be considered cocky. In the end its about boats so an erg score is just a number. But I will take good numbers. So I’m pumped. After this test the 27 of us will be stratified based on boat skill, and current level of fitness, so its kind of important. Just a little bit
Drills on the water: I can so go around in circles pretty well when the boat is being set. Although I nearly tangled with lilly pads twice. I had awful flashbacks to Canadian Henley when I flipped with the help of sea grass. Caity, I am still sorry about that.
Rowing and Working is a nice combo. Stress is almost nonexistent. None of this school stuff.
Today a 6k Erg test was announced. !!! I may be the only one excited about this. Erging for me is nice, there is no danger of flipping an erg, I can monitor my progress with the help of numbers, and I am very confident in my erg skillz. I could even be considered cocky. In the end its about boats so an erg score is just a number. But I will take good numbers. So I’m pumped. After this test the 27 of us will be stratified based on boat skill, and current level of fitness, so its kind of important. Just a little bit
Drills on the water: I can so go around in circles pretty well when the boat is being set. Although I nearly tangled with lilly pads twice. I had awful flashbacks to Canadian Henley when I flipped with the help of sea grass. Caity, I am still sorry about that.
Rowing and Working is a nice combo. Stress is almost nonexistent. None of this school stuff.
Have: Rockstar on erg, Had: Wreck on Water
If this was an erg camp I would be a platinum selling album rockstar right about now. I think I’m in the top five erggers, by my guesstimation of what I saw today. Which means nothing when I get into boats, and not taking strength to weight into consideration. Nothing is safe, nothing is sure. but currently I feel pretty good about it. Our work out was 4x10’ again, 10k pace. 10k pace? I’ve never officially erg tested a 10k. I don’t know what my pace is. And our ratings are open? I’m in the habit of matching sr and split so this is new and confusing for me. I did 10k for fun once and averaged a 1:55 so that’s what I tried to do, and I was on target for most of it.
We lined up ports in a line and starboards in a line facing each other. Like cowboys in the wild west waiting to beat each other to the draw. Or getting assigned partners for boat handling review. Basically the starboards are huge compared to the ports, everyone 6 foot or over is on starboard. Hopefully some of these smaller girls are f.a.s.t or there is going to be crooked steering for everyone. There are officially 27 of us. And we have like maybe 10 pairs at most so we will be spending part time on ergs until the UW coach finds us some more.
I got paired with the girl from Wellesley. She is really cool. if you don’t count getting into the infamous water lilly weeds and having enough of them wrapped around my oar so that every time I took a stroke the weeds dragged us off course, running into another pair, running a partial inch up on the dock, and failing at steering (I was stroking so it was not as much of my fault as it could be, maybe like 50%) and out pulling my partner on the swing (Indy will forever ring in my head “Just because its paddling doesn’t mean you slack off PITTS!!”) it was a good yet nerve wracking day. I have learned to be very patient with myself. And getting into a pair before I came was a very good idea.
Tomorrow I am going to have to officially meet some of these UW girls and make my presence known. Which shouldn’t be too hard seeing as I’m going to wear my LOOK AT ME NOW neon zebra spandex.
In other news:
• UW Men’s Pair camp = tall beasts
• 3 pairs will go to club nationals
• UW Coach made it sound like secondaries are mandatory.
• The parking issue deserves its own entry
•I was so stiff this morning I crawled onto the floor into the stretch that looks like you are bowing to a sultan or someone equally as important and twice as ugly.
•Funfetti is not a good lunch
We lined up ports in a line and starboards in a line facing each other. Like cowboys in the wild west waiting to beat each other to the draw. Or getting assigned partners for boat handling review. Basically the starboards are huge compared to the ports, everyone 6 foot or over is on starboard. Hopefully some of these smaller girls are f.a.s.t or there is going to be crooked steering for everyone. There are officially 27 of us. And we have like maybe 10 pairs at most so we will be spending part time on ergs until the UW coach finds us some more.
I got paired with the girl from Wellesley. She is really cool. if you don’t count getting into the infamous water lilly weeds and having enough of them wrapped around my oar so that every time I took a stroke the weeds dragged us off course, running into another pair, running a partial inch up on the dock, and failing at steering (I was stroking so it was not as much of my fault as it could be, maybe like 50%) and out pulling my partner on the swing (Indy will forever ring in my head “Just because its paddling doesn’t mean you slack off PITTS!!”) it was a good yet nerve wracking day. I have learned to be very patient with myself. And getting into a pair before I came was a very good idea.
Tomorrow I am going to have to officially meet some of these UW girls and make my presence known. Which shouldn’t be too hard seeing as I’m going to wear my LOOK AT ME NOW neon zebra spandex.
In other news:
• UW Men’s Pair camp = tall beasts
• 3 pairs will go to club nationals
• UW Coach made it sound like secondaries are mandatory.
• The parking issue deserves its own entry
•I was so stiff this morning I crawled onto the floor into the stretch that looks like you are bowing to a sultan or someone equally as important and twice as ugly.
•Funfetti is not a good lunch
Monday, June 14, 2010
First things First: unisuit up!
its the blog you've all been waiting for. all four of my faithful blog followers. anyway. First day of UW pair camp. I was expecting something different, maybe a little more intense, maybe a little more...indiana.
however i can also do low key and chill. with recommended second practices. That kind of floored me. what? Recommended? seriously? it looks like if i put in the work I can possibly take some of these kids to the cleaners. there are only four to be seniors and only one of them looks like a rowing vetern. She is slight and serious looking. slight, shorter girls always intimitade me, its that whole strength to weight ratio. I can see power eminating from them like the virgin mary's halo in medival art. I would not classify myself as vetern, more like rowing consentration camp survivor.
there are like 22 girls here. 7 or 8 of us are not from UW and everone else is. There was definately a divide today. I wore my maroon and gold SPU ATHLETICS shirt as a "hello world I am not a dawg." I and the syr girl are now facebook friends.
The head coach's flight got cancelled so we were indoors on ergs. I'm okay with that, I'm an erg monster. as for the work out I did hard prep work to make sure i didnt show up out of shape, so this was easy: open ratings and doing 4x10' with 3 minutes off in between. I totally kicked it. well half it. It is always reasuring to know that you can understroke the person next to you and still be much lower than them. why did i ever stop core? what lies did i believe? i fell off an exercise ball constantly. and pushups... well i got down easily(as i body slammed into the ground), up needs some work.
Its going to be a good summer. if for no other reason than i'm about to go make funfetti!! and work it off tomorrow morning.
however i can also do low key and chill. with recommended second practices. That kind of floored me. what? Recommended? seriously? it looks like if i put in the work I can possibly take some of these kids to the cleaners. there are only four to be seniors and only one of them looks like a rowing vetern. She is slight and serious looking. slight, shorter girls always intimitade me, its that whole strength to weight ratio. I can see power eminating from them like the virgin mary's halo in medival art. I would not classify myself as vetern, more like rowing consentration camp survivor.
there are like 22 girls here. 7 or 8 of us are not from UW and everone else is. There was definately a divide today. I wore my maroon and gold SPU ATHLETICS shirt as a "hello world I am not a dawg." I and the syr girl are now facebook friends.
The head coach's flight got cancelled so we were indoors on ergs. I'm okay with that, I'm an erg monster. as for the work out I did hard prep work to make sure i didnt show up out of shape, so this was easy: open ratings and doing 4x10' with 3 minutes off in between. I totally kicked it. well half it. It is always reasuring to know that you can understroke the person next to you and still be much lower than them. why did i ever stop core? what lies did i believe? i fell off an exercise ball constantly. and pushups... well i got down easily(as i body slammed into the ground), up needs some work.
Its going to be a good summer. if for no other reason than i'm about to go make funfetti!! and work it off tomorrow morning.
Friday, June 4, 2010
you either love it oar you hate it
I am reading rowing blogs of my friends and one of their boyfriends.
I am so ready to go. i want it so bad. Its been five days since i've been on the water and a day since i've been on the erg. the withdrawls are terrible.
the paradox i find myself in continually
I hate rowing, but i hate not rowing.
or rather the more accurate slogan should be:
I love rowing, but i also love not rowing.
soon a third of my life will be wiped out and i will just row and work
while devoting myself to the pursuit of the awesome blog and the perfect stroke.
hopefully it will be as great as i think it will be.
OR BETTER.
I am so ready to go. i want it so bad. Its been five days since i've been on the water and a day since i've been on the erg. the withdrawls are terrible.
the paradox i find myself in continually
I hate rowing, but i hate not rowing.
or rather the more accurate slogan should be:
I love rowing, but i also love not rowing.
soon a third of my life will be wiped out and i will just row and work
while devoting myself to the pursuit of the awesome blog and the perfect stroke.
hopefully it will be as great as i think it will be.
OR BETTER.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
This will be a better come back than Britany's
Hello blogosphere. Its me and I'm back for another crazy summer rowing experiance.
This time I'm going to be on the west coast hammering it out at a pair camp.
I've got 12 days until i show up.
Things i have learned from the summer that was last year:
Do not show up at development camp out of shape.
-worst mistake of my life. never again. 10k'd yesterday.
Not having cellphone service or a car sucks.
-being in seattle solves the first problem my dad is currently working on the second. Otherwise the bike with no brakes, the lightrail, and I will become great friends.
The right mindset and knowledge base is key.
-I seriously had NO idea about the intensity of what I was about to do. This time I have an idea and while i might not be out for blood I definatly am out for victory. Plus this time i am going to try rowing the type of boat i'm in for the summer before showing up and being thrown to the wolves or the hoosiers or what ever the people that wear red are.
Dragging a lot of stuff with you is not fun.
-last summer i needed four sets of clothes, three to work out in and one to wear while i washed the other three. I will remember this when i am packing up my apartment.
Have fun
-sounds like a no brainer, but under pressure it gets really hard this time i'm going to consentrate on enjoying life while rowing.
so now i'm going to bust out a few finals, a few presentations, and get ready to go. I've been reading some other summer rowing blogs and I'm ready to do this.
This time I'm going to be on the west coast hammering it out at a pair camp.
I've got 12 days until i show up.
Things i have learned from the summer that was last year:
Do not show up at development camp out of shape.
-worst mistake of my life. never again. 10k'd yesterday.
Not having cellphone service or a car sucks.
-being in seattle solves the first problem my dad is currently working on the second. Otherwise the bike with no brakes, the lightrail, and I will become great friends.
The right mindset and knowledge base is key.
-I seriously had NO idea about the intensity of what I was about to do. This time I have an idea and while i might not be out for blood I definatly am out for victory. Plus this time i am going to try rowing the type of boat i'm in for the summer before showing up and being thrown to the wolves or the hoosiers or what ever the people that wear red are.
Dragging a lot of stuff with you is not fun.
-last summer i needed four sets of clothes, three to work out in and one to wear while i washed the other three. I will remember this when i am packing up my apartment.
Have fun
-sounds like a no brainer, but under pressure it gets really hard this time i'm going to consentrate on enjoying life while rowing.
so now i'm going to bust out a few finals, a few presentations, and get ready to go. I've been reading some other summer rowing blogs and I'm ready to do this.
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