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.
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.
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5694205242376192
One percent gains for racing (pre-recorded) - an expert webinar led by Greg Benning, serial HOCR winner, on how he assesses all aspects of his rowing to make small gains in multiple areas.
One percent gains for racing (pre-recorded) - an expert webinar led by Greg Benning, serial HOCR winner, on how he assesses all aspects of his rowing to make small gains in multiple areas.
What are the limits to masters rowing? Can we challenge ourselves more? Is comfort more important than skill? Rebecca and Marlene discuss technical skill challenges and physical challenges as you age. Risk versus rewards.
Timestamps
02:00 are limits being challenged now? Pay attention to how our bodies are changing. A class of masters who are high performance athletes exists. along with newcomers to the sport. Masters handicaps are less accurate for older athletes showing that masters are getting faster.
04:00 Head of the Charles results the top 50 year olds times were faster than 30 year olds and comparable to 40 year olds in recent years. They likely have more experience and more time to train.
Training in your comfort zone
07:00 I see people rowing in a comfort zone of technique, fitness and watermanship. Without coaching, people settle into habits. A good coach develops your skill to meet the challenge to get better. Marlene experiments every session.
11:00 The childlike approach to play and experimentation. Comfort in the boat is the goal. Doing tricks in the boat proves you are comfortable.
Try rowing a circle with oarlocks open
Take your hands off the handle at the finish & at the catch.
Technique pathway
13:00 The pathway of learning technique. Coaches need this to keep athletes interested. Starting with the core skills. Grading in achievable small steps. Be an advanced waterman ship rower or sculler. Get in touch to see our technique pathway.
18:00 Buy the best equipment you can afford. Responsive equipment helps you row better.
3 mini-challenges for you.
Physical and mental limits
For folks going to the Head of the Charles - we have created a stand-alone program which peaks for the October Head of the Charles regatta.
It's very similar to our 5k program, and is based on the race distance 4,702 meters.
Head of the Charles Training Program
This is INCLUDED in any of the monthly subscription programs. No extra charge, Select the 5k training program in our Individual or Crew training memberships and trust Faster Masters Rowing to get you fully prepared to race. Each training plan is designed for masters who row 3 to 6 times per week. It includes "core" sessions which you mustn't miss and optional extra workouts.
The membership also includes land training, rowing and sculling technique, performance and aging well.
Racing a different Head?
We have got you covered.
The monthly subscription programs are customized with training zones to suit you.
Additional Resources
Reflections on head season using Faster Masters programs - Casey McKenna
Getting ready to race takes a lot of practice. Fortunately come head racing season there are a lot of different events where you can practice and improve. As masters we enjoy the challenge of long distance rowing races and accept that we need to plan our training and practice before expecting to be successful racing,
Rowing winter peak event
When reviewing your plan for the season, you will need a winter “peak” event. This is your top priority for your group, crew or yourself. Frequently this event is the Head of the Charles or the Eights Head of the River or the Head of the Yarra. The trouble is that two of those events fall early in the head racing season and that gives you limited opportunity to practice and refine your race plan in advance with practice events. Ideally you want to do a race distance 2 weeks before your main event as a practice. If there isn’t a formal race, plan a local informal one against other people in your club or invite a nearby club to race you in a private match.
Don’t worry, Faster Masters Rowing has you covered. In this article we will cover off the 3 key things you need to have practiced and how to compose them into a written race plan which will see you through any head race event.
4 Elements of your head race plan
All races are the same. All races are different.
You need a plan for each race. All plans go out of the window once the race starts. Yes we know that sounds contradictory.... let us explain.
Exceptionally scary statements. All true and all things you need to learn how to execute to a high level of skill.
Having a rowing coach will help you become an adaptable athlete who can race in ANY situation. Faster Masters Rowing is your coach.
So every race plan has these 4 core elements:
Start
Technique improvement
Speed improvement
Finish
Yes it’s as simple as that. You need to be able to get the boat from stationary up to race pace; you need to have some way to improve your technique; some way to go faster, and a finishing sprint.
How you string these together is where your race experience comes in. The degree of sophistication of each depends on your skill, your personal preferences and whether you are a longstanding or new crew. Because some take more practice than others and you NEVER want to do something different in a race. No. NEVER. Because you’ll likely mess it up. So don’t risk your race result.
Writing a detailed race plan
Let’s figure out some options for each of your 4 elements of your plan. For each of these, choose the version which you think works best for you. Practice them all (at least 3 times) before you select one. There are no wrong answers - your choice is about the one that WORKS. And your skill at executing now may be different next month or next year... so your choice is not fixed for ever. Be open to new things as an athlete. It helps build your flexibility and adaptability.
Start - Do you prefer a standing or rolling (flying) start? And what sequence of strokes gets you up to race pace (rate and speed) the best? Some like to wind to over race rate and then come down onto the race rating you choose. Work out how rapidly you can raise pressure and rate - how many strokes does it take? Do you need 200 meters or can you do it in 6 strokes? How good is your cox at judging distance before the start line? Because you want to be at pace as you pass the start line.... Ideally not more than 2 strokes before and certainly not after the start of a head race - that’s slowing your total time.
Technique improvement - We all come off our technical pattern from time to time when we are tired. What are the top 3 technical things which improve your boat speed? Work this out with a speed meter - could be squaring early, power through mid-drive or a better rhythm and relaxation. Whatever it is, practice how to get it back fast. Practice it together as a crew. Can you get it back in 1 stroke? Or does it take 3 or more? What words summarise what you are seeking? Choose one single phrase which has meaning for you all. It should be snappy so your bow man or cox can say it fast and you can execute it quickly (not losing time over many strokes while having a long-winded explanation). Pick those 3 technique improvements and practice getting the technique back when you lose it. Your goal is to get the rowing stroke pattern back 1 stroke after it’s called. And if you’re in a single scull you can still make those calls in your mind - I find this very helpful when racing - it makes me more decisive to think I have a cox in my head telling me what to do and when.
Speed improvement - A well-drilled crew will have speed lags through a race - when the rudder comes on, when someone has a poor stroke or when your technique drifts off the pattern. Getting a push or a power move in will help maintain your speed. Your goal for a head race is to maintain a robust average speed - try to stay close to your mean and not go a lot faster or a lot slower - it’s most efficient like this. And so when the speed drops on your meter - call a push. When approaching a corner have a push to improve speed before you have to steer and another push when you’ve finished steering and are straight again. Also use your pushes to attack landmarks like bridges or another crew nearby and you are overtaking or being overtaken. Whatever your push is (10, 15 or 20 strokes long) you can make it more effective by doing a technique improvement first for 3 strokes and then following with the power push call. A skillful crew doesn’t slack off after the push ends - they maintain the new boat speed for as long as they can.
Finish - Sprinting for the line takes judgement - how high can you rate? Normally your boat moves one boat length per stroke (further for small boats) and so taking more strokes per minute moves you faster. How high can you rate before losing speed and technique? How long can you maintain a higher boat speed and rate before your technique or fitness fails? My experience is that most crews under-estimate their ability to sprint. If you think you can sprint the last 500 meters - I challenge you to attack your finish 200 meters earlier than you think you should - see if you can last the course. If you can do that, in the next race try going earlier by another 200 meters. You need to find out where you fail in order to judge what’s best. Ideally your final stroke is the worst one of the race as you cross the line. Then you know you couldn’t have raced harder or faster.
Playing it safe versus taking risks
In the description of the finish above I explain the type of risk that you may need to take while doing a head race. You risk running out of energy and power before the finish line by sprinting early. If you don’t take risks, you’ll never do your best race. Your risks can be small and incremental - like choosing to rate a half point higher in the mid-race than you think you want to. Or adding in a push when you sense mental capacity is getting tired in the third quarter. I hope that you are pleasantly surprised by your performance.
But if your risk doesn’t work out, you need a strategy to get back on track and to last the distance. One way to do this is to practice making a strong rhythm at a rate one point below your target race rate. Can you move the boat well at that rate? If yes, then try taking the rate and power up again after re-establishing the rhythm.
Write out your race plan
Look at the map of your race course, divide it up by distance, time, landmarks or all three and then write out long hand down a page what race plan you intend doing. Here’s an example
Start
250 meters hit the race rate and rhythm
Push 10 into 500 meters
Technique 10 - catches
Push 10 into first corner
Push 10 out of the corner
Etc .. you get the idea. This framework allows the whole crew to understand the logic behind each move. Pushes and technique interspersed with the distance / time / landmarks.
Plan variations during the race can happen based on what is actually happening around you. This is where your cox or caller needs to be trusted to judge a situation and select the response which will best advantage your crew. If there’s a crew up ahead which you can overtake, don’t wait for the corner to make your push, go for them early - tell the crew the distance from the crew in front (4 lengths, 2 lengths, overlap) and use that focus to maintain higher average speed. When overtaking, never stop pushing after you are past them, you MUST move away from that crew to prevent them sensing they could attack back and overtake you. If being overtaken, use your pushes to stay in front of them. If you are steering, leave moving out of their way until the last possible moment and then move gradually so you don’t upset the rhythm in your boat. Cut back in behind them at the earliest possible moment. And when you can see the crew behind, focus on your boat rhythm - too often crew members look at the other boat and end up rowing in their rhythm - which makes your boat slow down.
And so you now have all the techniques you need to build a robust race plan, you know how to adjust it based on different head race events of differing distance and also what to do when racing to adjust your plan to take advantage of situations. Now all you need to do is to practice those moves, agree your calls and enter a race.
Reference material
If you buy a subscription training programme from Faster Masters Rowing there is a bonus welcome gift included. In the Performance module article Preparing your head race plan.
Masters Rowing Advocates
Would you like to publish this article in your club newsletter or website?
Join our Masters Rowing Advocates mailing list and we will send you one article a month. Sign up on our Advocacy page.
Months and months of training, and poof! Over in a flash.
Three days back and there’s still much to process. I didn’t update during the regatta because I wanted to absorb the experience–and I needed to sleep at night.
I did make this short video, the 7 Days Countdown to HOCR. I wanted to capture everything that leads up to a race, plus the results.
Thursday
The first half of the trip went off with zero problems: Louisville to Laguardia Airport. Now that airport is a disaster. Poor signage, terrible food choices behind security, and one bathroom for 15+ gates?
My flight from Laguardia to Boston was cancelled. Not delayed. Cancelled, due to poor weather. The plane never left Boston. Luckily I saw “CANCELLED” flash on the screen before the gate attendant announced it. I rebooked on the app, getting the next flight out before it filled up, then scrambled to make sure my gate-checked luggage would be re-routed. Then I started wondering if the next flight would also be cancelled. How would I get to Boston before 9am? I started researching train and bus, just in case.
What a hot mess! Mom brain is real and I swear I’m losing it. In between this chaos, I temporarily lost my wallet. It happened when charging my phone. I guess my backpack wasn’t zipped all the way. When I put it on the counter, it flipped out over the sill. I didn’t see it, but neither did anyone else. 15 minutes of sheer panic once I realized it was gone. I could get to Boston–but how would I get home? How would I get money to eat? But I found it, the next plane did arrive (even if late) and I made it to Boston and my cousin Maggie’s about 9 p.m. Rode the bus with a youth team from Great Britain.
Friday
After a poor night’s sleep, I was excited to get to the racecourse. This time I rode a bus with Newport Aquatic Center youth. Their cox talked about heading to Vespoli, also my destination, so I followed them from the stop to the river. At that point, it was easy to figure out. Just follow all the other rower-type peoples heading for the water.
And holy bananas. Six docks? Streams of boats? Official merchandise? Yes! And I soon as I saw my friends from Florida, I teared up a little. For real, but out of joy. I’m here and this is happening!
Our practice row happened thanks to a sub from CRI, a lovely woman who was so encouraging and helpful. Thank you Sarah for stepping in so we could row!
Two doubles collided under Elliot and a men’s single flipped in front of Cambridge. And that was all in the first two minutes of our practice!
Conditions were windy and chilly, but not terrible. Hands tore up on the grips even with light hands. They happened to be my least favorite Concept2 grip, so I expected it. Overall, it felt like a solid row and it was nice to get the jitters out.
My Mom came to watch the races. We met up after practice, sipped some hot cider and walked around the venue scoping out the scene. It was nice to have her there to cheer us on and I got to wear my rowing nerd hat while explaining everything. “That’s HOCR headquarters, this is the last bridge, etc.”
Mom and Maggie, with signs for our race! So sweet.
Saturday: the Race
A beautiful, clear blue sky day. We never had the chance to row our 4+ line-up until race day.
We were hopeful for a top 11 finish. It seemed reasonable to me that we could be close to 11.
I am super proud of how well I did mentally. There were some moments of jitters. In the morning, at my cousin’s place, getting ready. Laying out the uniform. Seeing a fellow rower on the transit. Standing by the river watching the other boats coming down. Hands on. Some dry mouth while rowing up. Hearing the announcer calling boats onto the course.
But overall, I didn’t lose it like I have in the past. I felt focused. Excited. I let go of the unknown and welcomed the experience. I was happy to be there, in that boat, with four other ladies who I knew had my back. It will be what it will be.
My hands were a big concern. I had the worst hot spots on the right hand bandaged, but worried about their staying power. Sure enough, one slipped off on the way up. But it turned out the bigger problem was the outside palm of my left hand. I The rotation had rubbed a section raw it was doing me no favors. n the rush to leave, I’d left my tape behind. Luckily 2-seat, Caitlin, had some surgical tape. It stayed on the whole race and saved my hand, I swear.
The race happened so fast, what I have left are fleeting moments.I was so dialed in during the race I didn’t see the crowds on the sidelines, the banners on Elliot bridge, the enclosures, my family by Weeks.Here’s the rundown of what I remember:
Laughing at Hunting SZN. Because it actually is.
My fellow starboard telling me I was responsible for powering us around those starboard turns. Me telling her if she left me hanging I’d feed her gluten. You’re welcome, Gallie!
It can be tense before a race starts so I came equipped with Halloween-themed jokes to tell right before our event started.
Where do zombies like to row?
The Dead Sea!
The announcer for the Men’s Naval Academy entry, event before ours: “U.S. Naval Academy: you are on the course. Have a good race and thank you for your service.”So nice!
On our way to the start…taken during an Elliot Bridge traffic jam.
Seeing boat 21. Radcliffe Alumni. Um, yeah, those women are for REAL.
Start was so organized and the marshals were the nicest I’ve had for a head race.
Getting chilled. Goosebumps on my legs from the wind, but not nerves. Proud of how calm I felt.
I heard her say Sarasota Crew, but I can’t say if she said good luck or have a nice race. Just water rushing under the bow, breathing.
Radcliffe, 21, charging right on us under the first bridge. I expected it. Not demoralized. Us yelling at Sarah, our cox, to yield over. Their cox yelling for us to yield. A moment of chaos and finally we give way.
Focused on 22. Holding them off. Sometimes it seemed they were moving, then holding. Slowly creeping.
Cox yelling at 14 to yield. Excited to pass.
22 finds a second gear. They work their way by us. Using their momentum to push harder.
Getting internally mad at cox for asking for spilts from bow. Bow is busy. Bow is rowing. And it doesn’t matter!
Bridge.
Bridge.
A boat is creeping up on us.Cox yelling at boat ahead of us. But this boat is trying to cut to our port. I’m listening for Bow to tell our cox about it. I hear nothing, but it’s loud. Noise from people, noise from the boat, noise from our cox. She is still yelling at someone else, and at us for power and steering. So much happening. Bridge is imminent. We’re turning, but we’re turning into the boat! Crap! Will they slow? No, they’re not!
Panic! We’re going to hit! We’re under a bridge! Cox’n is yelling, and I’m screaming too, “POWER! POWER NOW!” and jamming it with everything I got, eyes glued not on stroke but the white bow surging forward and the sunglasses of their cox. I think stroke is yelling too, and we are standing on it—
Swoosh! Inches, they change course cutting to starboard and we cut to port. (Apparently, says our cox, the same thing was happening in her bow, which is why she was also yelling.)
I was looking forward to row2k’s pictures to see how close this almost-collision was, but they posted nothing. Only one picture of our boat at all.
Chaos is through. Cox is yelling about a boat 17. I tell Holly, “Come on, you and me, let’s go get ‘me.”
Steel drums from headquarters.
We don’t seem to be closing on 17, based on what I hear from cox. She’s demanding they yield, but it’s been a while.
Telling Holly-You and me. Let’s get 17.
Elliot Bridge. Let’s go, Holly, let’s get 17 before the line. Speed coming up.
Rounding the bend. Hearing oars off the starboard. Cox yelling yield, yield, yield, at 17.
Two strokes.
And over. Turning to look. I was at 17’s stern. 16 was right behind them. Two passed us, we passed two, closing on two more. Relief.
The Aftermath
About fifty meters past the finish, we’re on the paddle when our cox’n says, “Hey, Texas, do you know Felicia?” Holly and I whipped our heads around, thinking about the same thing–”Oh my god, our cox’n did not just ‘Hey Felicia’ that boat”– but she quickly followed up with how she used to cox with some girl there and to say hi. Relief. Holly and I chuckled at that.
REPORT THIS AD
REPORT THIS AD
My right hand: as soon as we went on paddle and the race adrenaline wore off, I felt the damage. Light pressure on the right hand all the way back home. Strangers asked if I was in an alumni about because clearly I don’t row enough. I also turned down the offer of alcohol from the first aid station. Not a glutton for punishment.
Someone looked up the results. I don’t think it was me, but maybe. We were all disappointed to find ourselves at 17. A general, “really?” The row felt decent for a composite 4+, maybe a little messy near the end, but it came back together. If boat 17 had yielded, we probably would’ve been 16, as it was a 0.2 second difference.
I hoped for a better end, but the goal was experience. That we nailed 100%. It was an awesome race. I enjoyed every second. I felt strong, I know I made a solid effort by how my muscles felt at the end, and I conquered those pesky inner demons. Triple win.
HOCR Impressions
Wow! Talk about people! Never have I seen so many people at a rowing event: not World Championships 2017 or World Masters 2018. It was incredibly cool to have that many people packing the venue, the bridges, the riverbanks.
Steel drums at a rowing festival? Mixed feelings about that.
My Mom and cousin Maggie came to watch us race.
Those bridges–loved the challenge of rowing through them! It broke up the course nicely.
The only good collision I saw was a Princeton 4+ hitting a bridge, but I was pretty far away when it happened. We sat on Weeks for a long while and everyone expertly navigated through it.
I know we lucked out on weather. What an amazing weekend to be outside, on and by the water!
The warm-up erg section was seriously lacking in ergs. It may need a different system or maybe two stations by different dock areas. It seemed to be taken up by all youth when we were waiting to warm-up–but aren’t most youth events Sunday? We waited half-an-hour before giving up to run for warm-up.
The food choices were slightly better at Weld than the Athletes’ Village. They need more diverse, less greasy options.
I am disgruntled about a row2k article which referred to the morning races as, “When the under-card races were finished…” as in the Master’s and Alumni races. But that’s a topic for a different blog.
What’s next?
No rest for the weary. The Head of the Hooch is less than 10 days away and I’ve got three races including the single. I landed home Monday and
picked training back up on Tuesday.
It’ll be my second race ever in the 1x, the first being over six years ago. With the HOCR out of the way, there’s nothing to stop the mental wheels burning about the Women’s Master 1x, but I’ll save that for another time.
It's the Head of the Charles 2019 - my bucket list rowing event. Months and months of training, and poof! Over in a flash.
Three days back and there’s still much to process. I didn’t update during the regatta because I wanted to absorb the experience–and I needed to sleep at night.
I did make this short video, the 7 Days Countdown to HOCR. I wanted to capture everything that leads up to a race, plus the results.
Thursday
The first half of the trip went off with zero problems: Louisville to Laguardia Airport. Now that airport is a disaster. Poor signage, terrible food choices behind security, and one bathroom for 15+ gates?
My flight from Laguardia to Boston was cancelled. Not delayed. Cancelled, due to poor weather. The plane never left Boston. Luckily I saw “CANCELLED” flash on the screen before the gate attendant announced it. I rebooked on the app, getting the next flight out before it filled up, then scrambled to make sure my gate-checked luggage would be re-routed. Then I started wondering if the next flight would also be cancelled. How would I get to Boston before 9am? I started researching train and bus, just in case.
What a hot mess! Mom brain is real and I swear I’m losing it. In between this chaos, I temporarily lost my wallet. It happened when charging my phone. I guess my backpack wasn’t zipped all the way. When I put it on the counter, it flipped out over the sill. I didn’t see it, but neither did anyone else. 15 minutes of sheer panic once I realized it was gone. I could get to Boston–but how would I get home? How would I get money to eat? But I found it, the next plane did arrive (even if late) and I made it to Boston and my cousin Maggie’s about 9 p.m. Rode the bus with a youth team from Great Britain.
Friday
After a poor night’s sleep, I was excited to get to the racecourse. This time I rode a bus with Newport Aquatic Center youth. Their cox talked about heading to Vespoli, also my destination, so I followed them from the stop to the river. At that point, it was easy to figure out. Just follow all the other rower-type peoples heading for the water.
And holy bananas. Six docks? Streams of boats? Official merchandise? Yes! And I soon as I saw my friends from Florida, I teared up a little. For real, but out of joy. I’m here and this is happening!
Our practice row happened thanks to a sub from CRI, a lovely woman who was so encouraging and helpful. Thank you Sarah for stepping in so we could row!
Two doubles collided under Elliot and a men’s single flipped in front of Cambridge. And that was all in the first two minutes of our practice!
Conditions were windy and chilly, but not terrible. Hands tore up on the grips even with light hands. They happened to be my least favorite Concept2 grip, so I expected it. Overall, it felt like a solid row and it was nice to get the jitters out.
My Mom came to watch the races. We met up after practice, sipped some hot cider and walked around the venue scoping out the scene. It was nice to have her there to cheer us on and I got to wear my rowing nerd hat while explaining everything. “That’s HOCR headquarters, this is the last bridge, etc.”
Mom and Maggie, with signs for our race! So sweet.
Saturday: the Race
A beautiful, clear blue sky day. We never had the chance to row our 4+ line-up until race day.
We were hopeful for a top 11 finish. It seemed reasonable to me that we could be close to 11.
I am super proud of how well I did mentally. There were some moments of jitters. In the morning, at my cousin’s place, getting ready. Laying out the uniform. Seeing a fellow rower on the transit. Standing by the river watching the other boats coming down. Hands on. Some dry mouth while rowing up. Hearing the announcer calling boats onto the course.
But overall, I didn’t lose it like I have in the past. I felt focused. Excited. I let go of the unknown and welcomed the experience. I was happy to be there, in that boat, with four other ladies who I knew had my back. It will be what it will be.
My hands were a big concern. I had the worst hot spots on the right hand bandaged, but worried about their staying power. Sure enough, one slipped off on the way up. But it turned out the bigger problem was the outside palm of my left hand. I The rotation had rubbed a section raw it was doing me no favors. n the rush to leave, I’d left my tape behind. Luckily 2-seat, Caitlin, had some surgical tape. It stayed on the whole race and saved my hand, I swear.
The race happened so fast, what I have left are fleeting moments.I was so dialed in during the race I didn’t see the crowds on the sidelines, the banners on Elliot bridge, the enclosures, my family by Weeks.Here’s the rundown of what I remember:
Laughing at Hunting SZN. Because it actually is.
My fellow starboard telling me I was responsible for powering us around those starboard turns. Me telling her if she left me hanging I’d feed her gluten. You’re welcome, Gallie!
It can be tense before a race starts so I came equipped with Halloween-themed jokes to tell right before our event started.
Where do zombies like to row?
The Dead Sea!
The announcer for the Men’s Naval Academy entry, event before ours: “U.S. Naval Academy: you are on the course. Have a good race and thank you for your service.”So nice!
On our way to the start…taken during an Elliot Bridge traffic jam.
Seeing boat 21. Radcliffe Alumni. Um, yeah, those women are for REAL.
Start was so organized and the marshals were the nicest I’ve had for a head race.
Getting chilled. Goosebumps on my legs from the wind, but not nerves. Proud of how calm I felt.
I heard her say Sarasota Crew, but I can’t say if she said good luck or have a nice race. Just water rushing under the bow, breathing.
Radcliffe, 21, charging right on us under the first bridge. I expected it. Not demoralized. Us yelling at Sarah, our cox, to yield over. Their cox yelling for us to yield. A moment of chaos and finally we give way.
Focused on 22. Holding them off. Sometimes it seemed they were moving, then holding. Slowly creeping.
Cox yelling at 14 to yield. Excited to pass.
22 finds a second gear. They work their way by us. Using their momentum to push harder.
Getting internally mad at cox for asking for spilts from bow. Bow is busy. Bow is rowing. And it doesn’t matter!
Bridge.
Bridge.
A boat is creeping up on us.Cox yelling at boat ahead of us. But this boat is trying to cut to our port. I’m listening for Bow to tell our cox about it. I hear nothing, but it’s loud. Noise from people, noise from the boat, noise from our cox. She is still yelling at someone else, and at us for power and steering. So much happening. Bridge is imminent. We’re turning, but we’re turning into the boat! Crap! Will they slow? No, they’re not!
Panic! We’re going to hit! We’re under a bridge! Cox’n is yelling, and I’m screaming too, “POWER! POWER NOW!” and jamming it with everything I got, eyes glued not on stroke but the white bow surging forward and the sunglasses of their cox. I think stroke is yelling too, and we are standing on it—
Swoosh! Inches, they change course cutting to starboard and we cut to port. (Apparently, says our cox, the same thing was happening in her bow, which is why she was also yelling.)
I was looking forward to row2k’s pictures to see how close this almost-collision was, but they posted nothing. Only one picture of our boat at all.
Chaos is through. Cox is yelling about a boat 17. I tell Holly, “Come on, you and me, let’s go get ‘me.”
Steel drums from headquarters.
We don’t seem to be closing on 17, based on what I hear from cox. She’s demanding they yield, but it’s been a while.
Telling Holly-You and me. Let’s get 17.
Elliot Bridge. Let’s go, Holly, let’s get 17 before the line. Speed coming up.
Rounding the bend. Hearing oars off the starboard. Cox yelling yield, yield, yield, at 17.
Two strokes.
And over. Turning to look. I was at 17’s stern. 16 was right behind them. Two passed us, we passed two, closing on two more. Relief.
The Aftermath
About fifty meters past the finish, we’re on the paddle when our cox’n says, “Hey, Texas, do you know Felicia?” Holly and I whipped our heads around, thinking about the same thing–”Oh my god, our cox’n did not just ‘Hey Felicia’ that boat”– but she quickly followed up with how she used to cox with some girl there and to say hi. Relief. Holly and I chuckled at that.
My right hand: as soon as we went on paddle and the race adrenaline wore off, I felt the damage. Light pressure on the right hand all the way back home. Strangers asked if I was in an alumni about because clearly I don’t row enough. I also turned down the offer of alcohol from the first aid station. Not a glutton for punishment.
Someone looked up the results. I don’t think it was me, but maybe. We were all disappointed to find ourselves at 17. A general, “really?” The row felt decent for a composite 4+, maybe a little messy near the end, but it came back together. If boat 17 had yielded, we probably would’ve been 16, as it was a 0.2 second difference.
I hoped for a better end, but the goal was experience. That we nailed 100%. It was an awesome race. I enjoyed every second. I felt strong, I know I made a solid effort by how my muscles felt at the end, and I conquered those pesky inner demons. Triple win.
HOCR Impressions
Wow! Talk about people! Never have I seen so many people at a rowing event: not World Championships 2017 or World Masters 2018. It was incredibly cool to have that many people packing the venue, the bridges, the riverbanks.
Steel drums at a rowing festival? Mixed feelings about that.
My Mom and cousin Maggie came to watch us race.
Those bridges–loved the challenge of rowing through them! It broke up the course nicely.
The only good collision I saw was a Princeton 4+ hitting a bridge, but I was pretty far away when it happened. We sat on Weeks for a long while and everyone expertly navigated through it.
I know we lucked out on weather. What an amazing weekend to be outside, on and by the water!
The warm-up erg section was seriously lacking in ergs. It may need a different system or maybe two stations by different dock areas. It seemed to be taken up by all youth when we were waiting to warm-up–but aren’t most youth events Sunday? We waited half-an-hour before giving up to run for warm-up.
The food choices were slightly better at Weld than the Athletes’ Village. They need more diverse, less greasy options.
I am disgruntled about a row2k article which referred to the morning races as, “When the under-card races were finished…” as in the Master’s and Alumni races. But that’s a topic for a different blog.
What’s next?
No rest for the weary. The Head of the Hooch is less than 10 days away and I’ve got three races including the single. I landed home Monday and
picked training back up on Tuesday.
It’ll be my second race ever in the 1x, the first being over six years ago. With the HOCR out of the way, there’s nothing to stop the mental wheels burning about the Women’s Master 1x, but I’ll save that for another time.
I just finished my final workout on the training plan. Tonight I pack the bag and tomorrow I’m on an airplane to Boston. I realized about four minutes into the piece that this was it. My final erg session before the big day. Wow. It snuck up on me.
There is nothing else I can do but eat well, sleep well, have a good practice run Friday, and stay calm.
The taper week
All smiles for last training row.
My final four training days started with a Sunday row. You couldn’t ask for better conditions. Brilliant sunshine, bright blue sky, a balmy high 50-degrees. It’s about the same as the Saturday afternoon forecast for Boston.
We were visiting family, so I rowed on Owsley Fork. The reservoir is the lowest I’ve ever seen it, resulting in a tighter course. I also forgot I changed the poppers at the end of my last row. That threw me for a loop the first minute. [Poppers are adjustable height oarlock washers.]
The workout was steady-state with some higher rate work. The first piece it seemed like all the high rate work fell when I had to steer, but I figure good practice for HOCR, right? All-in-all a solid afternoon of work.
I dragged the machine outside for more weather conditioning on Monday’s erg session. I felt good about the work. I had an epiphany about relaxing the stroke and pulling through to the release.
Tuesday, I started feeling energized around 2 pm, which is exactly what I wanted to achieve with afternoon training. No energy slump for race time! I also received my coaching notes from the video I sent it. The little extra jolt of positivity was exactly what I needed. The reminder to keep working on my body positioning at the catch helps, too.
And finally today. The final taper workout. Some HOCR video and a push-it-out session. Tapering always makes me feel nervous. You get off the horse thinking, “Is that it? Shouldn’t I do more?”
How do I feel about the training now that it’s done? Part of me wishes the numbers were better, but doesn’t everyone? I keep reminding myself there is nothing else I can do at this point. I’ve done what I can with the time I have to prepare for this race.
I really enjoyed the workouts in this month’s training plan. I have to trust in the work and in the taper plan.
The Mental Preparation
As race day nears, I’m getting more texts from the girls. We’re all getting nervous. You’re going about your day when suddenly it hits you: “I’m buying airplane snacks for Boston,” or like today, “This is my last workout!”
I think asking a rower if they are nervous is dumb. Does a rower face backwards? Of course, we’re nervous! Asking just draws attention to it, even makes it worse. Maybe instead ask, “How are you feeling?” and let us fill in the gaps.
Today I’ve been working hard to reframe how I’m feeling. Just little notes like:
I have full faith I have done what I can to be ready, and so has my crew. I know they will be giving 100% and so will I.
I am going to have an awesome experience. It’s my first HOCR. It’s not about winning or racing for a certain time. I can’t control those things. I can control my experience. If we happen to make time or place well, all the better.
My objective is to make sure the things I do don’t slow the boat. I don’t know if I’m saying that right. I got it from Marlene. Somewhere she talks about before you go fast you have to know how not to slow down. I liked it.
I have to let go of my fear of the unknown.
What I’m Looking Forward To
Head of the Charles is the event that every rower who’s into the sport talks about. There’s an interview somewhere where someone says, and I paraphrase, “HOCR is the event ever rower is either at or wishes they were at.”
I’m looking forward to experiencing that for myself. What is like being surrounded by superfans? Hooch and the 2017 World Rowing Championships are probably the closest comparisons I’ve had. I want to soak it all in, from the vendor village to the banners.
I can’t wait to row under the bridge and see the banners.
I want to see a crash firsthand–as a spectator, not a rower!
I can’t wait to cheer in person four of my rowing friends out to defend their bow #1, two on Saturday and four on Sunday.
I want to watch the Women’s Championship 1x.
And I have a date with alcohol and ice cream/some other form of sugar high Saturday around 5 pm.
All was well. The house, quiet. Lights, dark. Bed, cozy and warm. Alarm snoozed.
Out of the darkness: “Next week this time, you’ll be heading to Boston.”
I blinked. Crap. In my mind, HOCR was nine days away, but I hadn’t thought about it like that. Who’d have thought one simple sentence would be a sucker-punch of adrenaline?
Five weeks down, one to go!
Comparing week 1 to week 2 of the October 5k training plan, I made gains almost every day. It was interesting because the priority workout I struggled with last week I crushed, while the one I loved absolutely ran me over. Those two twelve-minute pieces picked me up and body-slammed me hard four times, adding an elbow for good measure, screaming, “How do you like me NOW?”
This workout didn’t see an average spilt improvement, but it also didn’t see a significant loss.
Erg practice
It’s funny how that works–great workout experience one day, horrible the next.
All-in-all, a good training week. A little stronger at the start, but I think that has to do with sleep trouble. For the last four days, I’ve struggled to get a full night’s rest. I keep waking in the wee pre-dawn hours for no good reason. No crazy dreams, no nerves, no crying kid. Just, “hey, it’s 4 am, let’s lie awake in bed for the next two hours. Sounds like fun!” I took a sleeping pill last night and somehow still woke up at 5 am.
I ended Week 5 with a five-day training week, taking Saturday off. Early weather reports had rain and wind on Saturday, so I thought Sunday would be the better rowing day. I think the switch will work out better, too. Four final days of training: Sunday-Wednesday, then off Thursday for travel. Then bam! It’s showtime.
The taper & recovery
Rowing’s still been charging ahead, but weightlifting started the taper. I think I find tapering hard because I feel guilty. After pushing and building for months and months, now go easy? It seems counter-intuitive.
Now that a have a little extra time, I tried to spend more time on a better recovery. I’m guilty of the same thing other adult athletes are: not giving time to the post-work cool-down. When I train at the Y, I have a two-hour clock in child watch. I try to squeeze it all in, but that usually means sacrificing the tail-end of training. I might say, “I’ll do my core later,” or, “I’ll put on some yoga at naptime,” but let’s be real. It never happens.
Early steps to prepare for HOCR
At the sub-10 days out, I decided to start shifting training to the afternoons. I hate racing late in the day. I’m always worse, but I suspect that’s true for a lot of people. For me, I always seem to hit an energy lull around 3-4 pm. And when’s the race? 3:16 Saturday.
Mommy is a rower
I’m hoping training later conditions my body to get used to making a large physical effort later in the day.
I started adding some land-based warm-up before all the rowing sessions, just like I do when I race. Again, just practicing the routine. Trying to normalize everything.
I watched more HOCR race videos on a recovery day, but I realized they weren’t really going to do me, the rower, any good familiarizing with the course. I’m not a coxswain! My butt goes over the line first, not my feet. I did find two videos shot from rowers wearing Go-Pros. Besides the shakiness, that was actually helpful. On the second one, I saw a building and remembered a bridge was coming up.
And I added Boston to my weather app. That’s a sure sign it’s soon!
Blisters appear
Those pesky nerves
You know when you’re giving a speech for the first time, and someone says, “everyone else is just as nervous as you,” as a measure of comfort?
It doesn’t help.
Maybe everyone else is just as nervous head racing, and especially head racing at the Head of the Charles, but that knowledge does nothing to stop those adrenaline jolts.
The first round of nerves hit with Alan’s innocent little remark Thursday morning. The came again as I drove to the YMCA to work out. The sweaty palms. The tumbling rocks in the stomach. Dry mouth.
I’ve also had checklists running through my head. What to pack, what to buy, what to do this weekend.
Nerves and the mental game are two rowing demons I struggle against I am my worst enemy. The bigger the boat, the less I struggle, but the panic is always there. I put a lot of pressure on myself. Sometimes I don’t feel worthy of being in the boat I’m in.
In my spare moments, I’ve been reading on strategies and approaches to help stay calm and focused. If you have the Faster Masters program, there’s a section on head race planning. I liked this image from this morning’s research:
“One major cause of race-day stress is the unknown… How fast will you run? Will you finish? Will you be the last person across the line? Will you qualify or break that personal record? What will your finish-line photo look like? The key to calmer waters is to race with what the day gives you and surrender to running your best on the day.” Source
The idea of surrendering resonated with me. It will be, what it will be, right?
ONE WEEK.
One of my boat mates texted about her on-water training that morning and said, “What’s it, like, 17 days now?”
“16. Get it right,” I answered.
My little reminder.
It’s getting real. I bought this sticker at last year’s Head of the Hooch, when I decided going to the Charles was the goal for 2019. HOCR seemed far away and beyond reach when I taped over my work desk at eye level. It’s been reminding me for eleven months of the objective. Now HOCR is 12 days away.
All this training is coming to a head.
Training Plan Update
This week started on the tail end of a head cold. I had to take it a little easier the first two days. Tuesday’s workout was the epitome of starting the workout feeling crappy and ending channeling a rowing diva. That’s how I knew I’d recovered enough to attack it 100%.
New workouts from Faster Masters for the month! The theme is getting accustomed to speed. Feel the burn. Embrace it. Push through it.
I loved the anaerobic work, which is saying something since usually I struggle. I’ve had this weird dichotomy of being decent at laying down low-rate steady state meters, decent at high-rate sprint work, but sucking at the “middle.” All that AT work seems to finally be showing some results.
My favorite workout had the training note to “pretend you are practicing passing” during one of the burn sections. A lovely visual for the press and shift back to base.
My notes were sprinkled with positivity from Tuesday on. “Powerful.” “Press harder next time.” “Feeling awesome.” All good words to have as the countdown plows through the teens.
For the recovery work, I watched YouTube videos from prior Head of the Charles. This may not have been the smartest choice because as the coxes made moves and the vocal tension swelled, the rate crept up. Whoops.
Still, a fun way to pass the time and “visualize” while getting in precious meters.
Strength training maxed out this week. I finished the build with a 1-rep strength test on Thursday. My shoulder press remains as miserably weak as ever, but the deadlift and squat improved since last assessment three months ago.
Now land training goes on taper. The rowing workouts will follow.
Kettlebell deadlifts.
I can’t believe I’m throwing around “taper.” That makes it even more real.
One rowing friend shared a Head of the Charles memory, calling the regatta “Charlesmas.” Merry Charlesmas everyone!
A tiny vacation in training
I executed only five training sessions this week. I mentioned last week having scheduled travel over the weekend. Our wedding anniversary is Monday after HOCR. Usually we go camping, but I’ll be in Boston. We can’t go the weekend after because the Head of the Hooch is two weekends later, so I’ll be training some more.
Whoa! A cave!
So here’s our camping weekend! Mammoth Cave National Park, one of our Kentucky bucket list items. The river running through the park is too low to safely row with our current drought. The boat stayed home, so I banged out an erg and land session Friday before we left and took two days “off.” With our hiking and chasing a toddler, it was an active rest period.
I know some hardcore people will probably ding me for taking a “vacation” right before such a big event. Taper’s coming right? Maybe this vacation is a small step towards the taper.
Head of the Hooch
The deadline crept up on me. I’m in an Open Women 4x and a Masters Women 8+, but had nothing on Sunday. I didn’t actively seek anything out, nor did it help that the Open 4x was moved to Saturday. By the time I realized I had two days to deadline, I couldn’t find anyone looking for a rower to fill a seat. Sunday’s schedule isn’t conducive to a lot of racing anyway with two hours of singles.
After consulting with three people, dredging up my courage, I did this.
First race in the new boat. Right now most of my mental focus is on succeeding at the Head of the Charles, but I’ll be real nervous about this one after October 18.
What’s up this week?
I’m a little concerned the head cold turned into a sinus infection. It seemed okay until our trip this weekend. I’ll be jumping on top of that as I don’t need antibiotics or breathing trouble during the HOCR.
I have another week of pushing the rowing, while strength training is now about maintenance. I’m looking forward to challenging the sessions to see some gains from the first week of the new workout.
Join our community and get our exclusive Faster Masters Rowing Magazine, packed with tips, techniques, and inspiring stories. Includes four new articles monthly.
PLUS get the Rowing Fundamentals bundle (US$279 value).
