Anyone who rows in a major rowing city knows that regatta madness is in full swing. Forget basketball, in Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River is churning with high school and college crews. One local high school starts their practices at 5:30 in the morning, making sure that masters getting back into their singles are not lulled into thinking that the water will be flat.

I could write paragraph after paragraph about weather and water conditions, and I won't guarantee no future rants about both, instead I'll focus on spring training, masters style. After a winter of mind numbing steady state rowing, it's time to start focusing on technique and ratings. That means getting back in my single. There's no better way to find out what kind of shape you're in than rowing a single. If the boat isn't running out it's because you're not moving it. Lots of times we may row in team boats when adverse weather conditions are too risky to row a single (hypothermia is a bad way to start the day). It's very difficult to find four people that are on the same rowing/life schedule, and that have the same attitude about rowing. Someone may need to be off the water at a certain time, someone else is always late, another person may be too serious, and someone else may be half asleep.

You get the picture. If you manage to find four people with the same attitude and schedule, make sure no one ever moves away or gets injured. I know that this is possible. In my boathouse, I know of two quads that have been rowing together for years. One guy even makes breakfast for his quad every Saturday morning after they row. That's what you call incentive!

So I've been plugging away in my single, in the dark and in the cold, like every spring. What amazes me is that I feel out of shape! Every year it gets harder to feel truly fit and ready to race. Every year I wonder about my winter training program; maybe I didn't push hard enough, or maybe I didn't let my body recover from the head race season, or just maybe my body is changing regardless of what I do. It's difficult to accept the inevitable physiological and hormonal changes that occur with the aging process. I just don't bounce back like I used to. Simply put, I get tired. Work is insanely busy, the garden needs work, the house needs spring cleaning, and suddenly everyone wants to socialize. Makes me want to wear a shirt that says "“old but in training."

At this point my family understands, my friends understand, but my boss hasn't a clue. People that work in health care are often incredibly unhealthy, and it's easy and encouraged to become a workaholic. We're supposed to put patient care before self care. I prefer to put both on the same level. I think that training and staying fit makes me a better physical therapist. I understand pain and muscle fatigue, and commitment to sticking with an exercise program. I know that the days I row, I'm a less cranky PT. So what if I yawn a lot?