A Calm November Morning Row

 Zack and Christian again took a couple of singles out for about an hour. The conditions were just about perfect. The water has cooled to 58° and both stayed dry.

Both started off tentatively, but soon became more comfortable. Below is Christian warming up with just arms and back. After about 20 minutes both guys were executing strokes with 3/4 slides. It will still be a while before we get to full slides with power!

 

A Most Beautiful Thing

 The documentary film is now available for free on PeacockTV.com. After "joining" you have to sit through about 5 minutes of commercials before viewing the film. Well worth your time! Go here:  https://www.peacocktv.com/ to get started. 

If I can get a DVD I'll add it to the collection (currently I have DVDs of The Boys of '36 and Dare to Be, described here and here.)

Boathouse repairs

 The boathouse where we store our shells, oarg, ergs during the season, coach's launch, tools, cox boxes, etc. is in need of a new roof. There is a go fund me account started to help raise funds. If you can contribute I'd urge you to do so. Click HERE for the link. Thanks!

Zach Day 2

 Zach is improving. Sunday he jumped in the Alden, first with the bantam blades and then with the full size blades. Still little pressure but lengthening the stroke. First video is with the training  blades.

Greater boat speed means more engine noise as I try to keep up....

This is with the full size blades.

The Socially Distant Shells in Action

Christian and Zach jumped into singles on a calm October afternoon. Gently working on technique with little pressure was the key to staying dry. The water temperature in the Lafayette River is still about 70 degrees so a swim is not terrible. March will be a different story!

The school owns five singles so we'll try to get more folks sculling soon. There is still no guarantee that sweep rowing will happen in the spring, unfortunately.

We did get news yesterday that the 36th annual Erg Sprints (a huge erg competition held at T.C. Williams high school in Alexandria, originally scheduled for January 31st, 2021) has been cancelled. No word yet on "our" erg pull...

The socially distant rowing shell

It appears we may not be in team boats again in the spring of 2021. If that is the case we need to move our thinking to singles (and doubles if composed of two same sex family members.) The school owns four singles and one double. We may be able to acquire additional singles. 

Watch the following video and start thinking sculling. We do have some history with singles. Last year Charlie was working hard and probably would have taken the men's single state championship title, if the regatta was held. 

We can get there again if that's our only option.

From decent rowing.com

erg technique

                           

                            Another good video from Decent Rowing:

 https://www.decentrowing.com/maximumpowerontherowingmachine-433787.html

A banner year

Recorded yesterday at the boathouse

For this year's novices, there was a post of Charlie in Boston last October, linked here. The video commentator must have been reading from an old scorecard when he read "Bishop Sullivan!"

A video link from Down Under.

A video worth watching:

 https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Bl4B0&m=3ZTMC9KVEuj9YcT&b=rL5eP73PbavW55J8dYOaJQ

How rowers can train at home.

A video post from our boathouse

A short piece about high school rowing, recorded at our boathouse and aired Friday evening,
as shared on my Facebook page. (Sorry about the embed ads and the autoplay.)

Powerlink backstays for Four Mile Run

Four Mile Run is up and ready to go!

What to do for the next two weeks...

So we've encounter a "difficulty." As an old boss of my was found of saying, "There are no problems - just challenges and opportunities." So with organized practices halted for at least two weeks, and possibly much longer, the task of keeping in shape and being ready to start back up again in April falls on the rowers and coxswains themselves. Consider it a challenge and an opportunity!

Here are some of my thoughts:

(1) Fitness. Anyone should be able to improve their cardio fitness by raising their heart rate for a minimum of 20 minutes. Running, jogging, or even brisk walking can achieve this. Of course, if you have access to an erg that would be better since the motions are rowing-specific, but any cardio exercise will help keep the boat moving during that last 300 meters.

(2) Strength. Yes, strength is beneficial in rowing. Building muscles and decreasing fat will make your effort to move the boat more efficient. The traditional strength building exercises are lifting weights. This can be easily done by lifting your body weight. Push-ups and sit ups only require the floor. If you have a chin-up bar you can do pull-ups as well. Some folks may have access to free weights.

(3) Hand toughness. Blisters are not good in rowing. You can toughen up your hands by grabbing things. Try a rake, a hoe, or a shovel (you could be preparing a spring garden!) Try pushing a lawn mower to chop down those spring weeds in the lawn. If nothing else try grabbing a broken-off tree branch. Any thing to toughen hands will be useful once we again grab an oar.

(4) Think rowing. I have two DVDs that I'm willing to drop by your house to view. One is an hour- long documentary based on Dan Brown's book The Boys in the Boat, Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The film is called The Boys of '36 and was broadcast in 2016 on the PBS series American Experience. Here is the trailer. The second DVD is a 90 minute film by Adam Reist called Dare to Be. He describes it as documentary film not only on the sport of rowing, but also a film on the human spirit. It follows a series of rowers ranging from novice girls to women training for the Olympics, as they overcome obstacles and seek greatness. We learn along their journey that greatness can come in many forms and should not always be measured by traditional concepts of success, but rather by individual triumphs. Essentially suggesting that athletes can define what success looks like to them – not coming in last place, beating a rival, medaling for the first time, qualifying for nationals, or winning an Olympic gold medal. Here is its trailer.  If a couple of team mates want to get together one or both, write me an e-mail and give me your address. I'll swing by and drop the discs by your house.

(5) View short technique videos. There are many about. Here are a few:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chzHtP2SN9I&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=K0kzlODS8QY&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=tE34YYsSD8M&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ofKoueVeII&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=lmfM3EQA7b8&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=DqFZRks9gOA&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5bm3qf_AJHM&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ejp-HJJ1B8

It sounds a little bit "southern Californian" but visualization of you performing at a high level can help make that a reality.

Corona virus impacts the EVSRA event schedule

All:

As a board member, I received this Thursday evening from Denise Thomson, the president of the EVSRA.

Team,

Parent Orientation is cancelled for this Saturday.  With policy announcements coming out today, we need to take a step back and reevaluate how we move forward with our spring season.  I’m in discussion with the Board tonight and we are leaning toward canceling the March 21 regatta.  Paul will send an “official” statement in the next day or two.

Policies are changing day-by-day so my suggestion is to make a decision early next week regarding the March 28 regatta and possibly future regattas.  Based on feedback from most teams, after school practices are cancelled.  What is the policy on weekend events?  Bryan S. sent an email tonight from his principal and sports teams can’t compete in out of  area events - outside of VAB, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News; events within these areas are approved.

Please keep me updated as to what you are hearing and how your team will be moving forward this season.

Thank you,
Denise

Stay tuned as the days progress. As of Friday morning I have not received any direction from the school about practices, etc.

The Coxswain's clinic and the US Rowing Referee clinic have both been cancelled for this coming weekend.

Colonial Erg Sprints 2020

The William and Mary Club Rowing program hosted the Colonial Erg Sprints on Sunday 23 February at the College's student recreation center. Zack Bromley participated and took 1st place in the Men's junior heavyweight event pulling a P.R. of 7:05.5, beating fourteen rowers from James River Crew, Williamsburg Boat Club, and Cox High School. Zack had an impressive final sprint pace of 1:40/500m , grunting past the second place finisher from JRC by half a second. Zach's average pace was 1:46.2/500m. Quite a performance!

Thanks to Coach Turner who coxed Zack during the event, and no Zack, Coach Turner cannot be a coxswain when we get in the boats!

This event wraps up the erg season and CHS has impressive results: 

    Great Bridge Erg Pull:  1st Place

    HRRC Erg Pull:  1st Place

    Colonial Erg Sprints:  1st Place

We'll start on-the-water practices on Wednesday. Don't forget the parent meeting tonight at 7:00 in the forum.

HRRC Erg pull 2020

    Catholic High School was the host for the 22nd annual Hampton Roads Erg Pull Indoor Rowing Challenge held on Saturday February 15th. One hundred fifty-eight rowers completed in 16 individual events. Among the participants were nine CHS students.  A highlight was a win in the Men's Junior event by Charlie T. with a personal record of 6:30.4 for the 2000 meter distance. 

    Other P.R.s were recorded by Matt R. (7:25.8) also in the Men's Junior event, Christian G. (7:40.1) in the Men's Junior Lightweight event, and Richelle F. (8:30.7) in the Women's Junior Lightweight event. 

    Notable is the fact that both Matt and Richelle are novices and finished ahead of most of the competitors in their respective events (Matt finished 8th out of 22 entries in the Men's Junior event and Richelle finished 5th out of 22 entries in the Women's Junior Lightweight event.) Christian finished 10th out of 34 entries in the Men's Junior Lightweight event.

This event also saw four of our coxswains pull to help appreciate what they ask of their crews on that final sprint to the finish. The coxswains pulled 1000 meters and definitely showed their grit. Congrats to Olivia H. (4th), Maria R. (6th), Mia F. (9th) and Nina L. (13th) for finishing their event.

  There was also a fun event for middle school students (only 500 meters) and Patrick G. (Christian's brother) finished 3rd. 

Thanks to all who participated, to the parents and the Crusader Club who helped with concessions, and to Michael Le who took the photographs.  

Parent meeting postponed until the 25th

I am postponing the parent informational meeting until next week on the 25th. Still 7:00; still in the Forum.

Erg Pull registration is open

Please register for the erg pull. As of Tuesday morning we only have three students who are on the rowing team registered. Don't let First Colonial, Cox, Hickory or Granby show us up.

You'll need a Regatta Central account (it's free to get one) but to compete you'll need to pay the $16.00 registration fee. The team does get a kick-back from HRRC (last year it was $500.)

Younger brothers and sisters can pull for free but still need to enter (500 m for middle school students; 250 meters for elementary school students.)

Since we don't have school Monday, this will be one of the last three days available to make a qualifying time for the team (I'll be available next Tuesday and Wednesday after school but team cuts will be made Wednesday night.)

There is a coxswain's event (only 1000 meters) and events for parents as well (the full 2000m). This year there will be some adaptive events for rowers who are physically or mentally challenged.

If not pulling, you can support the effort by assisting with concessions or the bake sale.

Counting down - A Day of and for Grace

What happens when you set the distance to 380,000 meters and start pulling? With a 500 meter pace of 1:45 or so, the projected finish time is a little over 22 hours....

Anyone in the area is encouraged to drop by the ODU Women's Rowing Center at Lakewood Park and cheer on the rowers and they complete their "Day of and for Grace." The final meters should be pulled sometime tomorrow morning or mid-day. Stay tuned for an update!


The Go Fund Me drive to support the Crusaders of the College of the Holy Cross in memory of Grace has exceeded the initial $25K goal but more contributions are welcome!

The erg life

Two items of note, one of joy and one of sadness. First the joy: Charlie participated in the Erg Sprints this weekend at T.C. Williams high school in northern Virginia. This indoor race is the largest in the mid-Atlantic region, this year attracting 1391 entries from 126 clubs.

Charlie T. participated in both the 20 minute row and in the 2000m meter sprint and finished well in both. In the 20 minute row, starting at 8:30 in the morning, Charlie finished 4th out of 53 entries with a distance of 5681 meters and an average 500m split time of 1:45. Later in the afternoon the 2000 meter sprint race was run. Charlie finished 3rd of the 41 entries with a personal record of 6:32.9. Well done Charlie!

Interestingly, Charlie's Dad rowed at TC Williams "back in the day," and Charlie attracted some attention wearing an old school warm-up as he showed off his medal.

Catholic High has done very well at this indoor race in the past. In 2017 Reilly Schindler won the Lightweight women's 2000m race topping a field of 38 with a time of 7:50.6. It was this performance that helped Reilly win a 4-year scholarship for rowing at St Mary's college in California. 

Reilly has now transitioned as a tri-athlete for team USA with the support of the St Mary's rowing program.

Now the sad news: 

On January 15th, 20 year-old Grace Rett, a rower for the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders, was killed in a automobile accident   while the team was in Florida for winter training. 

Grace was also a remarkable athlete, having just recently in December set the world record for the longest continual row indoors. 

To honor Grace's memory, the ODU Women's rowing program will have an event at the ODU rowing center on February 7th and 8th where an erg will continuously spin for 37 hours by hosting a “day of and for Grace.” The goal is to cover 383000m, the distance that Grace rowed during her recent world record.

The ODU Rowing team has opened the undertaking to any and all students and athletic staff members to help keep the machine spinning. Rowers will trade off as they need to - no one person will attempt to duplicate Grace's individual effort. 

More information is forthcoming. I plan on dropping by Friday evening and Saturday morning. If anyone wants to attend, please contact me and I'll coordinate with Coach Garbutt at ODU.

Here is more about Grace to help understand the "Day of and for Grace."

“She had a work ethic second to none and inspired others to ‘love the fight’,” her family wrote. Grace Rett immersed herself into the Holy Cross community. She was an active participant in campus ministry and attended Athlete Bible Study weekly. She also worked in the Office of Admissions where she loved to give tours of the “beautiful campus” and “share her love of the college” and worked in the Sports Media Department where she operated the live stream camera, the obituary reads. Selected to be a Monserrat leader, Rett mentored freshman, was a member of the Liturgical Choir, spent time as an RA and most recently joined the club basketball team.

Inside the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex, flowers were left at Concept2 indoor rower in memory of Rett. She had recently set a new world record for the longest continual row in the individual heavyweight women 19 and younger category; She rowed the equivalent of almost 9 full marathons in just two and a half days.“Grace made the very most of her 20 years on this earth and was beyond proud to go from being an OLV Angel to a Marianapolis Golden Knight to a Holy Cross Crusader,” her obituary said. “She worked hard and took advantage of every opportunity afforded to her.”

Regatta schedule posted - Tryouts continue

The 2020 spring sprint regatta season has been posted (see the sidebar to the right.)

Tryouts continue after school in the gym mezzanine. A qualifying 2000m erg time must be posted by Wednesday February 19th. Note the school is again hosting the HRRC erg pull on Saturday the 15th and this is a great time to try for a personal record. Registration info for the erg pull is here.

We plan on starting on-the-water practices on Wednesday February 26th.

There will be a parent information meeting on Tuesday night February 18th in the Forum at 7:00 p.m. Transportation details about riding the 3:30 big bus to practice will be disseminated at this meeting.

There is a link to a time lapse of last year's erg pull on the HRRC.net site. Plan on joining the fun this year. Link here

Winter conditioning begins; two new P.R.s set

On the first day back from winter break we started winter conditioning in the gym mezzanine . Two new 2K personal records were set: Zach Bromley with a 7:32.6 and Charlie Turner with a 6:34.1. The HRRC erg pull is six weeks away and registration is now open on Regatta Central. The team selection will be made on February 19th, four days after the erg pull. Cut times are posted in the erg room.