I got to scull at yesterday's practice in a double. We had a off number of guys, so we put out our San Diego 8+ and the double, and one guy went home. I think I did pretty well considering the last time I sculled was at St. John's, two years ago.
The weather was less than ideal, it rained pretty consistently the whole row, and I got some nice blisters on my left hand, probably because I'm not that great at feathering with my left and I was over gripping as a result. I was glad for the chance to scull though, and I want to get more sculling in this spring and summer.
I feel like sculling gives my body a more balanced workout than sweep rowing. Sculling also feels more graceful for some reason. There's something about coming to the catch with my arms spread wide and then finishing close to the body that feels a bit like I imagine having wings might feel. In addition, I can really feel the boat respond to every stroke when I'm in a small boat, which, when I'm getting good speed and acceleration, feels light and smooth and adds to the flying/floating sensation.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spring, Week 2
I made it to practice today, but it was hard to wake up--fo' sho'. This weekend DST started, and my body still thinks it is 3:30 a.m. when I get up at 4:30 clock time. The change in sleep last week threw me off balance quite a bit. My mood has gone on the up-swing a lot since last Thursday. I'm trying to take it easy and get balanced again.
We were practicing starts this morning. Our start is 3/4, half, 3/4, full--something I'll have to get used to. At St. John's we did a half, 3/4, full start. It was simple and I liked getting longer each stroke. I should ask Peter about start theories. On our second or third start, our 6-seat's keeper on his oarlock broke off and went bye-bye in the river, so for the rest of practice we were a 7 instead of an 8. Needless to say that made rowing a bit less stable, add that to our being in the Chambers, which sits higher in the water than the other boats we've been rowing, and it made for a pretty shitty set. But bad set is just a fact of life sometimes.
I'm pumped about the race in Seattle this weekend. Peter and I are driving up the night before with the trailer, and I get to spend some time with my aunt. It will be good to get to chat with Peter for a while too.
I've been reading Rowing Faster by Volker Nolte. I just read a chapter on designing training programs and really liked it. I think that part of the sport really appeals to me. I often enjoy dreaming up my own training schedule for the week ahead (how often I stick to it is another matter) ;) I was calculating the number of hours a week I would have to train 300 hours a year. It's about six hours a week if I trained that much 50 weeks a year. If I designed my training with particular sections for building my fitness and power, then I have to divide the training volume up with some structure. Developing a training plan is another thing I'd like to ask Peter about.
Yesterday I erged for an hour at a pretty steady and strong pace. I did a little double stair stepped dividing the workout into 10 minute segments: the first 10' at 18spm and 2:30/500m, the second at 20spm and 2:20/500m, the third at 22spm and 2:15/500m, the fourth I went back to 20spm and the corresponding split, the fifth I went back up to 22 with the same split and the last 10' at a higher rate and faster split than the fifth until 8' left when I cranked it up to 26-28 with splits about 2:00-2:05. I felt pretty strong throughout and was definitely tired by the end. I think my cardiovascular fitness is definitely improving since the fall. I feel like I wasn't doing much over the winter, but I was pretty consistent about erging at least once a week. I also made about half a dozen water rows. So I guess I did put some work in.
We were practicing starts this morning. Our start is 3/4, half, 3/4, full--something I'll have to get used to. At St. John's we did a half, 3/4, full start. It was simple and I liked getting longer each stroke. I should ask Peter about start theories. On our second or third start, our 6-seat's keeper on his oarlock broke off and went bye-bye in the river, so for the rest of practice we were a 7 instead of an 8. Needless to say that made rowing a bit less stable, add that to our being in the Chambers, which sits higher in the water than the other boats we've been rowing, and it made for a pretty shitty set. But bad set is just a fact of life sometimes.
I'm pumped about the race in Seattle this weekend. Peter and I are driving up the night before with the trailer, and I get to spend some time with my aunt. It will be good to get to chat with Peter for a while too.
I've been reading Rowing Faster by Volker Nolte. I just read a chapter on designing training programs and really liked it. I think that part of the sport really appeals to me. I often enjoy dreaming up my own training schedule for the week ahead (how often I stick to it is another matter) ;) I was calculating the number of hours a week I would have to train 300 hours a year. It's about six hours a week if I trained that much 50 weeks a year. If I designed my training with particular sections for building my fitness and power, then I have to divide the training volume up with some structure. Developing a training plan is another thing I'd like to ask Peter about.
Yesterday I erged for an hour at a pretty steady and strong pace. I did a little double stair stepped dividing the workout into 10 minute segments: the first 10' at 18spm and 2:30/500m, the second at 20spm and 2:20/500m, the third at 22spm and 2:15/500m, the fourth I went back to 20spm and the corresponding split, the fifth I went back up to 22 with the same split and the last 10' at a higher rate and faster split than the fifth until 8' left when I cranked it up to 26-28 with splits about 2:00-2:05. I felt pretty strong throughout and was definitely tired by the end. I think my cardiovascular fitness is definitely improving since the fall. I feel like I wasn't doing much over the winter, but I was pretty consistent about erging at least once a week. I also made about half a dozen water rows. So I guess I did put some work in.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Good Morning
Yesterday's row on the Willamette was one of the best I've had with Station L. To begin the weather was really good. The temp was in the mid-40's, and the sky was broken clouds. So when the sun came up it illuminated the clouds and shone through a bit. I was part of a mixed 8 rowing in Blind Faith, the club's new boat. We rowed pretty well together. Part of the reason for this was that we had a good stroke, Devin. He has a strong, clean catch. He puts the blade into the water aggressively and cleanly and then starts the drive. It was good to row with him because he was giving me a good example of something I am trying to work on. The other reason the row was good, other than that it seemed like we were together, was that we had a good cox, Kate. She has a really good presence in the boat. She knows the right things to say, and when she says something, I feel like it's not just one of those things that she's saying because she has heard it from someone else, but that she knows what it means and is saying it for a purpose. She was good.
In related news, I think getting up on Tuesday and Thursday, which I was able to do, really messed up my brain balance. I've been feeling up since about Thursday. So we will see where that goes. On top of it, Daylight Savings Time starts this week to the detriment of all early a.m. rowers. So instead of getting up at 4:30 a.m., I'll be getting up at 3:30, effectively.
I also just got two rowing books from the library that I'm excited to read. Maybe I'll go do that now.
In related news, I think getting up on Tuesday and Thursday, which I was able to do, really messed up my brain balance. I've been feeling up since about Thursday. So we will see where that goes. On top of it, Daylight Savings Time starts this week to the detriment of all early a.m. rowers. So instead of getting up at 4:30 a.m., I'll be getting up at 3:30, effectively.
I also just got two rowing books from the library that I'm excited to read. Maybe I'll go do that now.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Four-Thirty In The WHAT??!!
Weekday rowing starts tomorrow. My alarm is set for 4:30 a.m., uuhhhhggggg. We'll see how I feel when that alarm goes off. We kicked off the season this Saturday with a post-row brunch and a dedication of the new women's boat, Blind Faith. Widmer Ale was poured over the bow, quite an appropriate welcome to Portland.
My fitness this winter has not necessarily improved. I don't know if it has declined. I know that I have gained a few pounds since the fall, but on the other hand I think my erg times might be better. I haven't actually done another 2k test, which would be the real measure, or at least an objective measure, but I feel like my erging is better. I pretty much maintained at least one erg session a week some times two. My water workouts were sporadic. The big achievement of the winter was attending the USRowing Level I Coaches Clinic. I'm really looking forward to teaching some learn-to-row classes this spring.
My first regatta with Station L will be on March 15 at Green Lake in Seattle. I'll be rowing in an 8+ and 4+. The races are 1k. Next Saturday we are going to scrimmage with some other Portland clubs in the Holgate Channel behind Ross Island. That will be a 3k race.
Wish me luck on waking up.
My fitness this winter has not necessarily improved. I don't know if it has declined. I know that I have gained a few pounds since the fall, but on the other hand I think my erg times might be better. I haven't actually done another 2k test, which would be the real measure, or at least an objective measure, but I feel like my erging is better. I pretty much maintained at least one erg session a week some times two. My water workouts were sporadic. The big achievement of the winter was attending the USRowing Level I Coaches Clinic. I'm really looking forward to teaching some learn-to-row classes this spring.
My first regatta with Station L will be on March 15 at Green Lake in Seattle. I'll be rowing in an 8+ and 4+. The races are 1k. Next Saturday we are going to scrimmage with some other Portland clubs in the Holgate Channel behind Ross Island. That will be a 3k race.
Wish me luck on waking up.
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