A Little Blurb About Sculling and Winter Training

Today I woke up, and put on my old HS crew hoodie. I took one glance at the ripped front pocket and automatically had a strong desire to go scull a single, but then I realized two things.
(1) It's winter, and the water around me is either frozen, or too cold for rowing.
(2) I don't own a single.

With that, I've decided I should really get cracking on my goal to save up 4,000-some dollars to buy a single, so next time I get such a desire, so long as it's the proper season, I can fulfill it.

I really do miss sculling. I plan on getting myself a membership to my old boathouse over the summer so I can scull once again, AND keep in shape. Once you scull a few times and get the hang of it, it becomes addicting. My preference quickly went from sweep rowing to sculling. When you scull in races, you feel just that much more victorious when you get a medal. Why, you may ask? It's because when you cross that finish line knowing you won that medal, (when rowing a single) you know it was all you. You were the one that kept the shell set, and all the power that propelled your shell across the finish line came from you. The same thing goes for rowing a double, except for you know it's just you and one other person controlling the same amount of oars as a 4+ boat, and that takes chemistry. Also, the fact that you don't have a coxswain goes to show just how focused you have to be on your stroke, as well as where you are navigating. I give it up to the bow in a double- having to turn around to steer the boat in the correct direction while following their stroke at the same time? That takes mad talent, something I hope to be able to conquer over the next few years.

With that said, I'd like to briefly mention a little about winter training. For all of you current rowers out there, I hope your winter training is going well. Keep toning that core and building that muscle! Come spring season, it will surely pay off.

I'm finally starting to get back into the flow of winter training. The first couple weeks were rough, but I'm already starting to see myself improve, and I feel just a little more in shape every week. I miss being the "in-shape" that I was during spring season of my senior year. Thanks to winter training, I was erging and rowing some personal bests, especially for being mainly a coxswain. My sculling partner Taylor and I got fourth at a Michigan regatta after being in a double together only three times before that. We only missed third by ten seconds! We also got second at a regatta in Indiana. That was the second time we'd ever been in a double together. Hopefully this summer, we'll improve.

Winter training has to be taken day by day. It's obviously the least favored part of rowing, but it is definitely one of the most important. Come spring season, I hope to be back in shape and ready to win some hardware. I have also learned from my lessons. I'm going to keep with rowing and erging over the summer, so I stay in shape, because it sure is easy to get out of shape, but getting back in shape is a different story.

Today, I leave you with this:

Now's the time to get in shape, so prove to yourself you own ability and work hard. When spring season arrives, you'll have the chance to show everyone else.  :)

January's Top 10

First I'd like to start of by wishing everybody a Happy New Year! It's 2010, so maybe we should really try to stick to our new year's resolutions not only to start another year off right, but a brand new decade! You can read through a countless number of news stories and websites, and get the same top ten results for what people want to do this year, give or take a few. Number one is always something along the lines of losing weight, or quitting bad habits. This can prove to be a difficult task for those who don't know how to go about doing so. The first thing that comes to mind is dieting, but for the average person, they're really hard to stick with, and it's the same with working out. People may not know what machines to use at the gym in order to be successful. Without crew, I sure wouldn't have a clue. So here's to a new decade; a brand new top 10!

THE TOP 10 REASONS WHY ROWING IS A GREAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION:

10. You'll no longer be one of those people on the ergs at a community gym that rowers laugh at. (You know...because of your incorrect form!)
9. It can help you with about seven of the top ten most common resolutions in some way or another.
8. If you're one of those people who sleep the day away, rowing will definitely help. (Morning practices, anyone?)
7. It helps relieve stress in the long run.
6. It'll give you something to put your mind to!
5. It will force you to get outside more, instead of staying cooped up all day. (I mean, you can't exactly row races in a swimming pool..)
4. It is a great way to make new friends.
3. With it, you gain a sense of teamwork (read my older posts). You learn how to work with others; a skill that will help you in all your future endeavors.
2. A lot of people want to learn something new. What better than rowing?
1. Of course, it will help you get in shape. However, not only will it help you get in shape, it will help you stay in shape! :)

Rowing is a great sport to pick up, not only because it will help you meet new people and help you stay in shape, but unlike most sports, you don't have to have any rowing experience! You may not even know what crew is, but you could still join, and in no time you'll be telling people the same thing.


Today, I leave you with a quote:
"Cheers to a new year, and another chance for us to get it right."- Author Unknown