I have found that there are two kinds of rowers in this sport, those with nerves, and those without. I was always the nervous type. It would begin about a week before the race, that sinking feeling in the bottom of your stomach, the inability to concentrate, loss of appetite and a long restless nights with out sleep. All of these would symptoms would increase exponentially as race day approached. It would get so bad that Kate would be afraid to talk to me for about the last three days before a race. What would make it worse would be seeing some of my team mates sitting back stuffing their face laughing and having a good time. I just couldn’t understand how any one could even think about eating and laughing at a time like this. As I got older and a little wiser I came to realize that it wasn’t that those guys weren’t ready, they just handled race days a lot different. I would try to relax enjoy myself and have a little fun but it would always be to no avail. I don’t know exactly what it was that made me so anxious, I knew I couldn’t win the race on my own, and that the world would not come crashing down if we lost. Yet I still would get about 2 hours sleep the night before race day. After I stopped rowing I figured that race week would be a breeze. I assumed I would have to focus more on keeping my guys loose than getting myself to calm down. I figured wrong. Less than a week to Head of the
Categories: Memories, Rowing, Regattas, Coaching
13 comments:
I am pumped to see how our whole team stacks up against the rest of the competetion. It is nice to think that is the fall. We can go out on Saturday, pull the best piece we can. then know we have the next six months to make it perfect.
On Saturday we set our baseline for the rest of the year. Let's set it high.
I'm worried that everything will fall apart.
I would like nothing more than to be there.
Jesse-
Just wanted to let you know that I had a 25:55.55 at 2:09.6
not a bad first 6k Kahn.
Anonymous said...
I'm worried that everything will fall apart.
Tue Sep 27, 02:16:52 PM EDT
Like religion, this sport is based on faith. Faith and trust.
Have Faith that everything will work just as planned. We've all worked way too hard for it not to.
Trust the man in front and behind you. Know that they are pulling all they can for the boat.
Band of Brothers isn't some cliche that we stamp on everything. Band of Brothers is a fellowship. A fellowship in which all members trust one another. All members, varsity or novice, heavy or light, need to trust one another, and support one another in every possible way. Band of Brothers isn't something you inherit. Band of Brothers is something to strive for. In order to create a Band of Brothers, you must be able to rely on everyone considered in every way. You must be able to look your comrade in the eye and say "this is for you," knowing that he will in turn say it to you, and to another brother, until everyone knows that they are doing it for one another. When we can trust each other with all of our hearts, all of our strength, and all of our minds, then we can really act as one unit. One superior being. One Band of Brothers.
This is the best sport I've ever competed in, because I know that come race day, the only person that I will have to worry about is myself. I know that I can always count on the other guys in my boat to be there, and my concerns are never that anyone else will let me down, but that I will let my teammates down.
That is a reason (I believe) why we mentally train so hard. To know that we are fully capable of and will go all the way. To be able to believe that we can beat anything or anybody that comes our way.
A Band of Brothers believes in each other. Don't forget to believe in yourself.
Hey man it will be alright. I do not know what you are talking about, you were always the one person that looked composed and ready to race. It is good to be intence the week be for a race because it makes you focus on the race and have a clear plan of action. Hey Jess you all do great and your guys will pull there ass's off. I wish that I could be their for the team.
Love, Brian
Guys, you don't have to worry. I know that the experienced guys are the most dedicated people on earth and the rowing novices know, early on, how to kick some ass. Show everyone there who's the Band of Brothers and I wish I could be there with you guys.
As novices last year, we pulled an extremely marginal race at HOTO, even being beat by the likes of Winchester Thurston. Look at the season that followed it. As big as this race may be, it is not the be all end all of races for the novices who don't know. You should always go out and pull the best piece you possibly can, but there are bigger races out there. That being said, don't slack! That is no reason not to win. Once again, this season I believe we will have intense compition between the men and women's teams. This would be a great place to come out and take the upper hand. Let's get it done on Saturday!
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was about to have a breakdown before a race or something. My bad.
My concern that I might let my boat down is very small, thanks to the intense preperation and training that we have done. I was trying to emphasize the fact that I know I can always count on the other guys in the boat.
I completely understand Foxbat.
I always get the most nervous when they call you up to the start.
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