To the Bone

I left a sunny, but freezing Ohio to come home to warmer-than-freezing, but raining California.  Nevertheless, it is always great to be back home.  No complaints!

This morning, we had 2 quads and 1 men's double out on the water.  The water was rough, but no white caps.  We knew going out today that we would all come back soaked to the bone either from other people's backsplash, waves coming over the side of the boat, or the pouring rain.  We did a full lake loop of "warm-up."  I am pretty sure no one felt very warm after the "warm-up."  The workout on the calendar was 3x2,000m at rates 38spm for the start and sprint and 34spm for the settle.  Well, as much as Chris is fan of high rates, he was generous enough not to ask for a 38spm and 34spm given what we had--the line-ups, the smaller boats compared to the eight, the headwind, and just the general adverse conditions.  We did two of the three pieces and did manage to race each other in the rain, soaked to the bone.

I have mentioned before what I like to focus on when rowing in rough water.  There are only a few things to add to that list for sculling boats.  First, during rough water and windy days, do not expect a perfect set, but at the same time, do not let the set go to hell.  Think about keeping your body in the center of the boat, hands together coming out of bow, and hands level as you pull in.  It will make your row in a crappy situation less crappy.

Second, even more important in a sculling boat than a sweep boat is getting that blade in at the catch.  In this situation, I do not care if you have a gradual or quick roll-up or whether you are rolling up with everyone else as long as you are squared and buried at the catch.  If you are late or your blade is not square at the catch, in the quad, the boat loses one-fourth of its power compared to one-eighth, in the eight.

Lastly, in a headwind, focus on the swing through the drive.  If anybody differs from this idea, let me know.  I would love to hear what you think about during a headwind.  My logic is that with a strong swing at the finish, you maximize your send.  It also helps to minimize the amount of time your blade is out of the water.  Of course, when it comes down to the sprint like during today's race pieces, you will lose most of the nice, long swing in order to bring the rate up.  A sprint is a sprint, no matter what the conditions are.

When we row in these rainy, wet, cold, windy conditions, I think about what it would be like not rowing in California where we get water time almost all year round.  What would it be like rowing in Boston or Michigan or Ohio or Wisconsin all year round?  Obviously, a lot of erg time during the winter, maybe some time in the tank if you are lucky enough to have a tank, ice or snow on the docks, freezing hands that require poogies, multiple layers of high-tech, expensive gear to keep you warm.  Maybe after being couped up in an erg room for four months, we would not mind being on the water and soaked to the bone!  Then again, four months of erging might be enough for me to quit this sport--regardless of the promises of spring and water time!