This weekend's Dogwood Invitational in Oak Ridge marked the last race I will attend as the President of Tennessee Crew. It's surreal to think that this marks two years of learning and self development my post at office has brought me.
I'd be lying if I said it was easy, that I'd done a great job, or that I feel like I got a lot accomplished. On the other hand I can assure you that I have learned a lot, more even than I could have learned in any class. I have made great friends, good acquaintances, and pissed off a few I'm sure.
The team has not grown drastically or stacked up medals. We still struggle to make ends meet, and people often ask, "who's running this crap shoot?". Alternatively I think I am partly responsible for a lot of added intrinsic value. In these two years over 45 different people have been club members, we have traveled to 21 races in 8 states, we won the Club 8+ at the Hooch, sent boats to National Championships, and started our own Head Race. Best of all, I only had to file one injury report in two years: a toe that lost a fight with a steel door. Can't win 'em all.
As for races this weekend: 1st place in the open men's pair with Ande; we remain undefeated. I am much more excited about the time than the place (only two other boats in the race). With the 7:34 we pulled I look forward to USRowing college nationals with a little more optimism.
The mixed 4+ and 8+ I raced with Master's Coaching where also great races (1st in both). It was also great to see the other ORRA and Tennessee Crew boats that raced. Ande & Bailey had a great row in the mixed 2x, and Sam & Brett also in the 2x. both with raw time wins but Master's age adjustment pushed them back. JJ & Ande also looked good in their 2x. The ORRA mixed 8+'s, men's 4+, women's 4+s, mixed 4x, and men's 4x also made good showings. Special kudos to the first-time racers this weekend.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Concept2 WRC and SIRA's
Not much is new in my training. The crew of Big Blue recently formed a team and competed in Concept 2's 'World Rowing Challenge'. Thanks mostly to the wonderful meters logged by Steve and Charlie, we finished in 13th place based on average meters per team member; and would have been higher if not for me. Nigel was also up there with around 1/3 of a million (about what I had including water meters), but only erg meters counted for this challenge, and while I did hit the machine a few times, I have been fortunate to enjoy plenty of rowing outdoors over the last few weeks.
Props to the 10 men of Albion Correctional Facility who averaged 1.3 million meters a piece over the 30 day challenge. Steve placed 73rd overall in individual ranking. With gumption like that on the crew, I think we've got a lot to look forward to as we near the end of summer when training will ramp up. I don't feel too bad about all the water meters I'm getting; Steve, Nigel, and Charlie, along with 3 other members of the crew are Canadian; it's their choice to live up there. I think 'Canada' is Native American for "Land where you ice fish during spring race season"
As for the sane down here in the South, last weekend saw the second biggest college Sprint race in the country come to Oak Ridge last weekend. SIRA (Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association) went off without a hitch. Major props to the volunteer force at Oak Ridge, especially those that help me and the Tennessee Crew team with the coarse install over the last few months.
The 60+ teams at SIRA did leave me with one question; what are so many teams from the mid-west and north doing at the Southern Regionals? I raced in our Open Mens 4+, and enjoyed some tight races in my last SIRA at UT. We missed A finals, and ended up in 4th in the B final, with a fair 6 seconds between 2nd and 5th. A friendship forged with the guys from Central Florida grew when they edged into 2nd in the heat over us by just a few feet. We saw them again Sunday and held off their strong sprint at the finish, so our standing over all fell short of my hopes, but it was fun non the less. Why would we do it if we won them all?
Props to the 10 men of Albion Correctional Facility who averaged 1.3 million meters a piece over the 30 day challenge. Steve placed 73rd overall in individual ranking. With gumption like that on the crew, I think we've got a lot to look forward to as we near the end of summer when training will ramp up. I don't feel too bad about all the water meters I'm getting; Steve, Nigel, and Charlie, along with 3 other members of the crew are Canadian; it's their choice to live up there. I think 'Canada' is Native American for "Land where you ice fish during spring race season"
As for the sane down here in the South, last weekend saw the second biggest college Sprint race in the country come to Oak Ridge last weekend. SIRA (Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association) went off without a hitch. Major props to the volunteer force at Oak Ridge, especially those that help me and the Tennessee Crew team with the coarse install over the last few months.
The 60+ teams at SIRA did leave me with one question; what are so many teams from the mid-west and north doing at the Southern Regionals? I raced in our Open Mens 4+, and enjoyed some tight races in my last SIRA at UT. We missed A finals, and ended up in 4th in the B final, with a fair 6 seconds between 2nd and 5th. A friendship forged with the guys from Central Florida grew when they edged into 2nd in the heat over us by just a few feet. We saw them again Sunday and held off their strong sprint at the finish, so our standing over all fell short of my hopes, but it was fun non the less. Why would we do it if we won them all?
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