and life goes on.: lessons learned. →
this was a rough season for me. i didn’t really preseason enough, and got sick for the 2 and half weeks leading up to the first practice. my erg scores started off bad, and that definitely got me down a little. i didn’t make the cut for the V8, and then after the first regatta i didn’t make the cut for my JV4 that i had rowed with for a year leading up to this season. i worked harder than i ever have, too - i pulled 2 a days by myself over spring break, and went running obsessively for a little. it was rough, but i turned it into a pretty decent season. my last race turned out being one of my favorite races ever. and, my hard work paid off and got me a PR.
being in my position taught me a lot more about rowing. i’ve always been in good boats - boats that had a good chance and solid practices. this season gave me an entirely new perspective on rowing, and forced me to realize exactly why i love crew and why i can’t quit.
- ALWAYS be happy to be in a boat - any boat - no matter how shitty the lineup is. i was mad to be rowing in a bad lineup one day, on port. i was wishing i was on land running, until i heard the girl behind me. she was THRILLED to just be out on the water for once, and it gave me a new appreciation for practices in any boat.
- give every race your heart and soul. i didn’t care if i was in the C boat, the JV8, a brand new lineup, anything - i was all out every race, and girls saw and respected that. it doesn’t matter if you don’t have any shot at winning, do it for your boat. you have a massive impact on the boat. it really crushes the hearts of girls in worst boats if they see you not trying - they would probably die to race in that boat.
- practice like you mean it. all out every day. i watched girls with better splits than me walk, not try on body weights, and take off pieces (rather than just off strokes). it crushed me - i was running my hardest and pulling every stroke all out, trying to work my way up.
- don’t complain about seat racing or having too many races. it sucks that you seat raced 3 days, it really does. you know what’s worse? not getting the chance to seat race from your coach. this weekend was the worst, because i only got one race in 2 days, and i listened to girls with 5 or six races complain all weekend. once again, i would love to be in that position.
- never give up. land practice with the JV8 showed me how some of the girls have really given up. you CAN work your way up - it just takes work. if you give up, it’ll keep getting worse.
- don’t be afraid to talk to your coach and ask questions. i asked what i needed to do better, i asked how to do body weights 100% right (aka how they hurt more), i asked her to help me fix my technique, and i asked her to critique my starts. i actually got a lot of good and improvement out it it.
- be your boats motivator. the JV8 started out as my disappointing boat - all i wanted was that V8. after our first race, i realized that we had the heart and drive to do it. we started having great practices. we started to really work it. i got really into it, and i started to be the positive person. i always pointed out our beasting ratio, and gave my 4 seat little high fives when we would do starts and hold up with the V8. i loved pumping up that boat.
- take it one day at a time. so many times i wanted to quit. i cried my eyes out over boats. for me, the focus had to stay on getting through that practice, and getting to the weekend. it ended up flying by.
- find a new focus. if you don’t make the boat you originally wanted, just find something else to drive you. i focus on next fall - on that varsity eight and either the varsity or JV 4.
- stay positive. sometimes you have to cry and be sad for awhile, but you have to get over it and learn to aim for your boats new personal best, and be happy about rowing in general.
- use endorphins and frustration to your advantage. i got really mad about certain decisions this season, and i did more than a few really hard workouts based off pure anger, pain, and adrenaline. i got mad and sprinted 2 mile runs, and did hill sprints like they were nothing. runs became my therapy, and hard workouts turned out to make me happier.
- vent. i ranted about everything on here - as cheesy as it sounds, the rowers on tumblr got me through the season. thank you for all the advice and encouragement :)
i’m ready to kick my own ass into shape this summer. i want long runs, lifting sessions, morning rows and swims, intense bike rides, and a bit of a diet.
re-reading things from last spring going into my 2k tomorrow.
