Practice and Race

Friday evening - Rowing Practice Masters Mixed 8

This is the first time this boat has practiced as a team. There have been subs every practice, so the rhythm has not been consistent. It's the day before the race. The boat is still leaning to starboard. My friend (who I rowed with in college and asked me to be a sub) is having a hissy fit because the boat doesn't feel the same as when we were college. People are there just to have a good time. He's there to win. You just have to laugh throughout practice because the engine room (middle 4 of the boat) are all guys. They bitch the whole time! The girls bow pair and stern pair just sit there and are enjoying the scene. The coach (who's rowing in the boat) never has a plan. The coxswain is always asking, "So what do you guys want to do now?" It is the biggest shit show. On Monday I asked "Hey, what's the race plan?" No one knew. It was bizarre.

Saturday afternoon - Raced Masters Mixed 8

My friend (fellow rower) is all excited an anxious to race. He loves race day. He's erging to warm-up. He insists that I hop on the erg to get a few meters in. I'm like that's alright. We're only racing a 1000 meters.

Our race plan -
Start - half, half, 3/4, lengthen, full
High 20 - at 36
Settle 10 - at 33
500 meter mark - Power 10
750 meter mark - Increase the rating 2 beats and power it out

We won! We won by open water! We beat the 2nd place boat by 17 seconds.

Yet my friend (fellow rower) is still not happy. The boat was rushed, not set and we were spinning our wheels. Man nothing can make this guy happy.