Thoughts on Rowing

The title of my post is shamelessly stolen from a bound--what even is it?  A pamphlet?  A guidebook?  A novel?  Anyway, it's about 10-20 typed-up pieces of paper that were bound together and given to my rowing team by our coach. "Thoughts on Rowing" by Mark Rothstein.  Amazing stuff, as always.

Yesterday it was suggested that I write the mgoblue blog about rowing.  Well, I am not sure if that will come to fruition or not, but I can still make it happen via my fancy non-mgoblue blog.  Sure, probably 300 less people will see it here than if it were on the "Official" Michigan Rowing home page; nonetheless I am doing my duty as a 1-credit taking, English majoring rower to write an amazing blog about my amazing team.

Today we did a level one on the water.  For those of you unfamiliar with our training plan (which, let's face it, will be very few of you because who really reads my blog other than my teammates--love you guys!), a level one is basically high intensity, all-out, hard-as-you-can-go bursts of speed.  I love doing level ones on the water because they're challenging and fun, and most importantly they make us better.  Today we did 5x750 meters, and I was supremely encouraged all around by this practice.  We got our butts kicked by Ohio State last weekend, plain and simple.  Losing can be a tough pill to swallow, but at the same time I think it provided us all with a necessary wake-up call.  I don't think anybody thought we were just going to waltz into every race this season and come out a winner, but at the same time losing to OSU reaffirmed to EVERYBODY that complacency will get us nowhere.  We need to come to practice every day and work really, really hard to get better.  Some days (like today) will be harder than other days, but each day is a chance for us to gain speed, and we really need to take advantage of that.

Anyway, back to today's practice.  Yes, I was supremely encouraged.  The theme of this week has been making changes and getting uncomfortable on many different levels.  For my boat, that means redefining full pressure AND be efficient while doing so.  And yes, that means that the workouts are going to feel harder, but if your legs aren't burning at the end, you aren't doing it right!  Meanwhile, the technical changes which are being demanded are not always going to feel "good", but they have to be made, and so we have to accept being uncomfortable until it becomes the new comfortable, and the old, "bad" rowing is the uncomfortable rowing.  So essentially--discomfort and pain is key until it becomes the new standard.  And then we push for more pain and discomfort.

While today's practice was by no means perfect, I think that we really embraced that theme.  We got out of our comfort zone, rowed differently (hopefully better) and pulled harder.  Every single person went out there and strived to make the changes demanded of them.  At our team meeting on Saturday, Mark asked every single rower to come back on Monday and be 100% coachable. I know for a fact that this demand has been met.

This weekend we have a double-duel (dual?) against Clemson and UVA--two very competitive rowing programs to say the least.  I'm pumped.  These races will be a great measuring stick for us as we start out our spring season.  In the last few years Clemson has come on as a real power in the ACC and cannot be overlooked.   And UVA, well, what do I really have to say about UVA other than that they're the defending national champions.  In my 3 and a half years on the Michigan rowing team, I have never once beat them.  Came close a few times, but couldn't quite close the gap.   One of my goals as a senior is to kick their ass--defending national champs or not.

Another theme of the week:  nobody gives a shit what you did yesterday.   Yeah, you could say I'm really embracing that one.  ;)

Well, it's getting close to bedtime for me now.  Until next time, beloved readers.

Row Blue,

Lauren