Meet Margot Zalkind as she shares her views on how many Head of the Charles Medals are enough to satisfy your competitive instincts.
Timestamps
00:45 Welcome Margot Zalkind a competitive masters rower and US Rowing administrator This question started with a team mate who’s a psychologist who asked “We stress out and work hard – how many times is enough to win at the Head of the Charles Regatta?” This first time was our easiest row in the event as there were only 5 crews, now there are 87 crews!
04:00 For Judy Greer of Concept2 it was often sweeter if she won in the single scull because it was only her effort compared with the team effort of a crew boat. Does winning translate to your confidence off the water? Compare with another crew who enjoy the experience more than winning – we passed someone and we didn’t flip – it was a fabulous race.
Rubini Jewellers will make your Charles medal into a belt.
07:00 Is it bragging to show your medals?
When I show my credibility it’s important to show your medals. But a colleague who wore her medals around the boathouse was seen as bragging. Could I race the Charles in a non-competitive crew?
10:00 Is winning important?
Coaches look for “the pull gene” for winning crews. Often it’s from people who are ferocious and competitive who think they aren’t quite good enough – it’s more than erg scores and seat racing. The Charles has a special niche – you have pride in it. It’s a rowing destination for your bucket list. Does this translate to your life – do you feel more confident having won a gold medal? Hook people on rowing, not the podium. You have to enjoy the process of learning (and improving) your rowing.
15:00 What if we always lose?
Does it matter? Could I come in last and still feel I had a good race? And what if you’re the only crew in the event? This often happens when you’re older. Handicaps help adjust for times. It’s not as sweet if there’s nobody next to me who’s my age. I don’t rule out racing again – but you have to decide for yourself.
18:00 Friendship rows
When you get to race with people who are less good than yourself. What are the motivations here? Giving back to the sport when you enable someone else to achieve their rowing goals. Can you both enjoy the competitive race and also the team vibe of helping someone else achieve their goals?
A friend who raced in a “rolodex” crew for a couple of years – they won races but missed the community feeling and went back to racing with their club. Giving to the universe. Women are more inclined to do this than men – what is the psychology?
24:00 Would you return your medals?
A regatta asked people to recycle their medals a year later – by switching the ribbon it was repurposed. Some folks did this. Masters rowing is a broad church of people with different motivations – we accept anyone, we try not to be judgemental about people who do not race.
As we age, one year can be very different from the prior year for injury or health reasons or life commitments. So your decisions are different from year to year. This has to be our motivation – ask others how they see things and how they make choices (and are allowed to change your mind).
29:00 The psychological profile of a rower
They are type A and ferocious strivers. Mark de Rond did a study about rowers – it’s a balance of individualism and team motivations. These situations can be advantageous for business as they are complementary as well as competitive.
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Further resources
Turn by turn video guide to steering the Head of the Charles by Jim Dietz
Head Racing for Masters – FREE ebook download
