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row2k 2011 Worlds Blog
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Everyone has a different method for coping with the restless energy and anxious excitement that thrives in this prerace atmosphere. Some rowers find outlet through cerebral pursuits, and spend their hours reading books or solving crossword puzzles. Others become rowing aficionados, and eagerly watch the live feed in the hotel lobby, offering their opinion on all matters of technical advice and racing strategy.
But for many of us, these pre-race hours witness an unusual (and often hilarious!) regression into childish distractions. A prime example: at the 2009 Worlds in Poland, my roommate and I spent hours creating an elaborate “tapestry” with the hotel stationary and a deluxe box of Crayola crayons. Juvenile? Perhaps. But did it keep the pre-race jitters at bay? Absolutely!
The past few days in Bled have seen some similar antics. The evening after our heat, still a bit loopy from our postrace nap, we spent an entire bus ride bedazzling ourselves (and several unsuspecting athletes!) with “Happy 4th of July!” stickers. Several boatmates delightedly grew a crop of sponge animals in the bathtub. And last night, Esther’s collection of rubber duckies made an appearance during our ice bath in the alpine stream, much to the amusement of chuckling onlookers. As for myself, I find myself enthralled by the vintage children’s movies on Slovenian cable: I sat captivated for almost ninety minutes as I watched a ten-year-old Elijah Wood discover the meaning of “family” under the guidance of Bruce Willis in a pink Easter Bunny costume. (I think the movie is called “North”… definitely Oscar-worthy! ha).
In twenty-four hours, this waiting game will be over, and we’ll go back to the educated, sophisticated, and mature young women we are. But until then, we’ll do what we can to stay sane, even if sanity requires that we resort to childlike pastimes.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Disney movies to get back to…
Go USA!
Jamie
www.jamieredman.wordpress.com
- “You have the morning off tomorrow. You get to sleep in.”, Coach will tell us.
- “Ok”, we reasoned, “that means an hour run when we wake up, right?”
- “Nope, I want you to stay off your feet. Recover.”
-“ Ok, ‘recover’. So I guess that translates to thirty minutes or so of light erging, right?”
- “No, it means rest.”
- “Wait… we aren’t supposed to do anything?”
- “That’s right. A morning off.”
- *baffled silence*
To the rational side of my brain, tapering makes prefect sense. We’ve already done the hard work—there is no more strength to be gained, no more fitness to be achieved. It’s just a matter of sharpening our fast-twitch muscles and perfecting our final race plan. But to the athlete’s side of my brain, the idea of a “restful morning” is totally and utterly puzzling. After all, it’s in our nature to work hard; it’s how we got to where we are today! (Take a strong work ethic, mix in a few physiological gifts, add some height, and voila! you’ve got all the trappings for an elite rower!)
This is the moment when we just have to trust Coach, trust the training plan, and trust the work of last ten months. So this morning, instead of going on a run around Lake Bled, or a vigorous hike up to the Castle, or even a leisurely tourist stroll through town, I’m going to stay off my feet, sip my tea, and calm that inner voice telling me to go workout.
And because we trained—and tapered!—intelligently, the Americans will arrive at the starting line with fresh legs, a reenergized spirit, and no fitness lost.
Go Team USA!
Jamie
www.jamieredman.wordpress.com
Hello from Munich!
This week, the American women joined a few of our heavyweight and lightweight men’s boats for a pre-Worlds training camp at the 1972 Munich Olympic Course. Rowing in Munich provides an excellent opportunity for us to overcome jet lag, acclimatize to the conditions, and prepare our game-faces for Slovenia. Aside from a few small boats from Chile, Japan, and Azerbaijan (as well as Munich’s recreational kayak-polo league!), we have the entire course to ourselves, a true blessing when compared to the crowded conditions we’ll probably encounter on the Bled course!
We arrived Wednesday morning, and almost immediately headed down to the course to rig and row. Sunny skies, clear water, calm wind… perfect conditions for our initial post-airline workout! We took a hint from the sunbathers along the lake, and as soon as our practice was over, we all dove, cannonballed, or bellyflopped our way into the water. Glorious! (If it wasn’t for all the “Team USA” workout gear, we could’ve been just any random group of young people, enjoying a summer dip… all that was missing was the Ultimate Frisbee and the barbeque!)
Energized by our row, refreshed by our swim, and caffeinated by the handy-dandy espresso machine in the hotel lobby, we kept the worst of our jet lag at bay. By the next morning, we were ready and rarin’ to go!
When not rowing, we’re either eating, or napping, or preparing for the next practice. The Ibis Hotel has been more than accommodating--- many a concierge might run for cover when several dozen tall, muscular, and hungry athletes pile out from the minivans and make a beeline for the lunch buffet. However, the hotel staff has risen to the challenge, and no one bats an eyelash when the crazy American rowers eat their way through several bread baskets, or hang their clean laundry to dry out the windows, or camp out in the lobby to take advantage of the complimentary wi-fi.
We only have a few practices left in Germany, then we’re off to join the rest of Team USA in Bled. T-minus seven days until racing begins!!
Finally, a huge congrats to all the winners of Pan-Am Trials! Woohoo, you’re headed to Guadalajara! Good work!
P.S. The 2012 Power & Grace Rowing Calendar is ALMOST READY! I’ve seen some of the photos, and believe me, it will be even *more amazing* than last year! We are soliciting corporate sponsorships this year; if you or any brand you know is interested in supporting our fundraising efforts, then please contact me! Go USA!
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