Since I've last posted, I've experienced a lot more in the world of rowing. Since January I've been co-novice coach of Ohio Women with my friend Betsy, and it's been a blast. It's always been my dream to be able to coach, and being able to do it at age 19 is awesome. I feel like I get a entirely different view of the sport, from an entirely different perspective.
The most important thing that I've realized while coaching, is that it helps me with my stroke. Yeah, I can dictate the stroke to people, and tell them what they're doing wrong, but can I hop on an erg and do it myself? During my practices, I now resort to a different way of mentally pushing myself through an erg test. I think to myself, what would I tell my novice? It's half way through my 2k and I'm getting tired, so I can let my split go up a little bit.. No, I would never want my novice to do that. I would tell them that it's this point that they break through the wall, this point that they must be aware that they are sitting up tall, and letting oxygen flow through their lungs. So, at that half way mark I push harder, and I make ;sure I'm sitting up. I'm so much more self-aware now than I have ever been on an erg.
I only hope to transfer this way of thinking to the water. It's 2 days until judgment day, OK not really. But 2 days until I'm on the water with Betsy, teaching our girls how to take what they've learned on the erg this winter season, and apply it effectively on the water. Am I nervous? Yes. Do I think Betsy and I can do it? Definitely. Do I hope that our novice four becomes one beastly group of girls that kick their competition out of the water (no pun intended)? You can count on it.
I've done my homework. I've learned all about anaerobic training, aerobic training, and the differences between the latter and endurance training. Who knew there was so much to learn? We tested our girls on the last week of training, measuring their anaerobic threshold and the like, and man, can these girls pull. Words cannot describe how excited I am to apply it on the water. I'm hoping that since I have previous experience with coxing, and a little bit of coaching in high school, things will go smoothly. As long as I re-learn how to drive the launch that is!
In the beginning, it's all going to be about the basics. Legs-body-arms-arms-body-legs. I'm sure the girls will find it pretty monotonous when they find out we're starting from scratch, but on the water, it'll be a whole new world for them. And I am going to make sure, with every chance I get, to make it an unforgettable and fantastic experience. I owe it to my high school rowing coaches. They are the ones that helped me develop the love for the sport, and now I want to be the one to do that for others. I want others to be passionate about their rowing, and it's an unbelievable feeling that I have the chance, right now, to do it.
