Thursday, November 03, 2005

Stroke

Latest Crew News

That's me, Stroke. 8 seat. First to row, last in the boat (minus the coxswain).

I like my current position in the boat. It's a little more responsibility than most of the other seats, since everyone is following my move. "Do exactly what Zach is doing, even if it's wrong." - Coach Steve. Haha, nice. Follow me then as I jump off this bridge. No? Fine then, follow me as I move to 32 strokes a min. With 7 people depending on my perfection, it gets a bit tense sometimes, because if I fail, the boat fails. No pressure.

Our first competition, I believe they are called 'regattas', or maybe 'meets', is going to be next weekend (Nov. 12) in Augusta, GA. Currently, I am bit worried we may not be prepared in time. We may just run out of time, as we have not yet moved to rowing with all 8 rowers at the same time. That's important. We have made it up to 6 w/o having too much of a problem. With less than 8 rowing, those stationary keep the boat keel (level, stable) while the rest row. With all 8, the only thing keeping us keel is a bunch of rowing oars, a lot less stable. The more the boat rolls from side to side, the harder it is to row due to inconsistencies in the height your oar's blade is off the water. So...hopefully we can move up to all 8 soon, since we won't come close to competing at all with only 6 going at it. Today we did a 5k on the ERGs (rowing machines). That was a blast. It brought back feelings I haven't felt in a long, long time, not since my CC days. The feeling in your body that is essentially a lack of feeling. Your body is moving, but all you are really doing is telling your brain to go faster, no longer telling it where to put arms and legs. It's a high that is hard to cherish at the time. We need to keep out 500m splits as low as possible. Today the lowest I could get was 1:42 @ 30spm, but not everyone was in 'sync behind me, so it really meant nothing. Some guys in the back of the boat (actually, the bow of the boat) are having a hard time with endurance, not so much their Power endurance, but their Form's endurance. When your form breaks down, everything else is for not. Form, comes before Power, a new concept for some. I fear some will just drop out half-way through our 5k next Saturday. That would be a total embarrassment. We've worked to hard to fail now. I am hopeful that it will all come together in time. This next week we will just have some long, hard practices to get it all down. Since this is the Novice's only race of the fall season, it's feeling pretty big. After Saturday the fall season is pretty much over, resuming when we get back from winter break, I believe, for the spring season.

I will post the results of the regatta, good or bad, when we get back. Maybe even some pictures of us in our spandex unis as well (uni has two meanings here, not just uni as in uniform, but also uni as is one piece). Spandex brings out the 'dead sexy-ness' in all of us, not to mention the previously unknown level of 'cool' that we will bumped up too. w00t, I can't wait.

"Is it raining? Is it snowing?
Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Not a speck of light is showing,
So the danger must be growing.
Are the fires of Hell a-glowing?
Is the grisly reaper mowing?
Yes, the danger must be growing,
For the rowers keep on rowing,
And they're certainly not showing,
Any signs that they are slowing!"

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Onesie. The description of your uniform sounds very similar to the description of a onesie. Coooper wears those and he likes `em.

Good in your meet wearing your onesie!

zachary said...

yea, i would say it's very similar to coop's onesies, only no little booties for the feet.

Nathanfooism said...

i have a few questionns -

1. do they have beer stands at these events, and if so are you allowed to drink before the boat leaves port?

2. if someone falls out of the boat can everyone keep rowing and still win?

3. are you allowed beverages in the boat?

4. is the team tested for roids?

5. last but not least. what does the winner get?

zachary said...

1. uh, no. actually, no alcohol is to be consumed during the season. unfortunately, the season runs almost the whole year, in some form or another.
2. no, have to pick 'em up, or get a DQ'd or time penalty (not sure which)
3. yes, i suppose so, but you won't have time to drink them as both your hands are occupied the entire race.
4. we were told yes, but i have yet to hear of anyone being randomly tested.
5. PRIDE from yourself, RESPECT from everyone else.

Anonymous said...

I wish I could come watch with your parents but my mom planned a kitchen shower for me and I have my dress alteration appointment. Maybe in the spring. Good luck though!