December's Top 10

It's that time again; the first Monday of the month. That means it's time for another top 10. We all know that no rower truly enjoys the tasks that are ahead of them for the winter season (erging, running, lifting, erging....) so I figured I'd make this month's top 10 humorous in attempt to lighten the mood. December's topic?


THE TOP 10 FASHIONS ONLY ROWERS WOULD APPRECIATE:

10. Dirty knee high socks. You know, the ones that are soaked from the river/lake by the end of the day.
9. The ball-of-socks-inside-your-spandex look. Commonly referred to as “the leg tumor.”
8. 1000s of t-shirts that feature the “I’m On A Boat” saying.
7. A (most likely short) individual sporting a gold medal around his or her neck, soaked from head to toe.
6. The all-mighty spandex tan. Period.
5. Socks and flip-flops. Tennis shoes are just too inconvenient when launching on race day. Yes, we all know toe socks would make it that much easier, but that would look weird!
4. Coxswains: Half pale, half tan forehead. Need I say more?
3. Torn up, blistered and calloused hands. Smooth is overrated.
2. High-quality velcro shoes that don’t velcro. It’s all the rage.
1. ONE WORD: UNI!!

I think it's safe to say the aforementioned ten are quite fashionable, but the common public will never really understand unless they join the sport of rowing. I guess you can say it's an inside joke of sorts.

Well, that's all for today. Stop by on the first Friday of January for a brand new top 10. Be sure to start your new year off right!

Today, I leave you with a secret:

If it weren't for the uni, you couldn't do the following. Here it is. If you ever have an extreme need to go to the bathroom, but there is a really long line, take your shirt off, thus revealing your uni, and claim that it is an emergency that you cut in front of everybody to go to the bathroom, because you must launch for your race in less than two minutes. I'm serious, it works.

(Picture courtesy of vespoli.com)

November's Top 10

So far I'm feeling good about the future of this blog. I know I mentioned in my first post that followers should check back every month for updates, but obviously I have been posting much more frequently. Sorry to say that after this post, I won't be posting nearly as many stories. Finals week is slowly creeping upon us students at OU, and unfortunately, it's time to buckle down and get some work done. So for now I leave you with the first of what will be a series of monthly top 10's. November's topic?

THE TOP 10 WORST THINGS TO HAPPEN TO YOU DURING AN ERG TEST:
  
10. Your headphones fall out, and you're forced to listen to the sound of the erg, and the painful grunts from the people that surround you.
9. Your I-Pod switches to a slow song in the middle of your test.
8. Your I-Pod cord gets stuck in the slide during your recovery; possibly multiple times.
7. One or both of your straps come undone, keeping you from pulling full pressure every stroke.
6. You breathe through your mouth instead of nose, which eventually makes it really dry. What makes it worse? You know your water is sitting right next to the erg, but you can't stop.
5. Your erg screen starts to malfunction, and your stroke rate and split start to fluctuate at random.
4. Your hands slip off of your handle, and depending on the severity, either you lose your pressure for a few strokes, or your handle flies to the top of the erg, forcing you to stop completely for a stroke.
3. You fall off of your seat. Self-explanatory.
2. You cramp up, or get a charlie horse. Either you finish in more pain than normal, or you are unable to finish.
1. YOUR ERG RESETS ITSELF.

We all know that experiencing one or any combination of the above is the worst- especially when those terrible enough to earn a spot in the top 5 occur.

Please, feel free to comment if you have a story relating to one of the top 10, or you have an additional "worst thing to happen during an erg test." Stop by on the first Friday of every month for a brand new top 10.

Today, I leave you with a BONUS:

*Although less common, I'm guessing everyone agrees when I say that the following statement is one of THE worst things that can happen during an erg test, or even a race. Drum roll anyone?

Bonus: Your coxswain calls you by the wrong name. Now that's just downright frustrating...

*Picture courtesy of Kyle Stanley