On Saturday, April 23rd, we were fortunate enough to piece with Loyola University Maryland's men's team. It was a gray and early morning when we met their two 4+s in the basin to run seven minute pieces towards the Baltimore Harbor. We capped the rates for the first six minutes, three minutes at a 30, three minutes at a 32, and then open rate for the last minute.
We had no idea what to expect and so we tried to push the pace from the start. We managed to create some separation from the crews within the first few minutes and push away from both crews, who appeared evenly matched. We completed the piece by bumping the rate a few beats and tried to stay clean while increasing the pressure, extending the margin.
Thanks to the Loyola men and Al for making the scrimmage happen!
It was a treat to finally race against another crew, as watching a clock quickly becomes monotonous day after day. A few things have helped break up the consistency: we obtained the 4-, we're still tweaking the line up to find the optimal arrangement, and we now have to watch out for other boats on the water now that the BRC competitive program is rowing full time. I have actually woken up with a sore neck from whipping my head around checking for other boats in the dark.
Now for the fun stuff. A clip of us rowing at pressure near the end of a workout. Rob and I have no idea how the heavies could go shirts off in that temperature. It must be the height.
Thanks to Finish Line Boat Repair and CJ for taking this awesome photo!
We have been training on the water for about a month now and have learned quite a bit about the 4+ and the individuals within it. To mix it up, we sometimes row 2Xs or a 4X when other commitments require a member to miss a practice. I personally am most excited about the incoming 4- that Hudson is us to demo, which should arrive at some point this week.
Observations below (no order of importance):
- We thrive in warm weather. One boat member even claims personal peak performance around 100° F. I personally disagree but we will monitor performance as the temperature rises.
- Props to any bowman brave enough to bow in the early mornings in the Baltimore harbor. Lights reflect off the water making it quite difficult to discern if there is an incoming boat.
- We are starting to adjust the lineup and are trying to figure out which coalesces. Nothing is public yet, but the rumors range from port stroking to throwing a bucket in the boat.
- We prefer low rates (under R20) or higher rates (above R30). We are not quite skilled enough to row as well the middle rates efficiently.
- Rob's "prime" study time is between midnight and 3 AM. He has sacrificed many prime studying hours to make morning practice.
- Paige is a champ. She puts up with our requests (demands, more or less) and even treats us to what I have named: "The musing of Paige".
- Stories of how one of her university coxswains would steer towards the geese swimming in the river, ruining the boat's course.
- Enlightening us on how long one can stay wet in the current air temperature before showing signs of hypothermia.
- Telling us that we can say literally anything in the boat as she cannot hear anything because her numerous jackets muffle the noise.
- The two ex-collegiate heavyweights despise when the two ex-collegiate lightweights discuss the lightweight league. It happens at least twice a practice.
- The five individuals exhibit sufficient rowing IQ when rowing issues arise and have been able to quickly identify and adjust technique to compensate for the issues. However, we are still working on ingraining some of habits as that requires time.
- John owns a liquor cabinet that will make any middle aged professor weak in the knees. He also makes a killer Old Fashioned.
- Alex is a man of many talents. Rumor has it that he can change a diaper faster than he can erg 1K, re-rig any boat to reduce a split per 500 meters (guaranteed), and continue to lead his start-up to unprecedented growth. We do not know how he finds the time to hone all these skills.
Now onto the fun stuff. A short clip of us doing midrate work in a headwind (my least favorite combination):
On March 19th, the 4+ headed down to UVA to join the Bucknell/Hobart/UVA scrimmage and finally touch race cadences for extended distances. The morning began similar to most Saturdays, with a dark, early wake up, except this time we had a slightly longer commute to the boathouse.
Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by our hosts, given a space to camp in their erg room, and allowed to toy with the boat's rig in preparation for the pieces. It was my first visit to UVA's boathouse and was impressed by the venue and facilities. Championship posters hung from the boat bays, trophies adorned the walls, and sleek shells glistened in the morning light. It was also the first boathouse I had seen where a varsity and a club team share the facilities and was thus surprised at the divide of certain equipment's use, such as the medical supplies. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my alma mater, Yale University, had sent their women's crew team to race UVA later that afternoon and was able to see some familiar faces and yell "Go Bulldogs!".
The day's pieces were 4*1000 meters, with two pieces as the first 1000 meters of the race and the other two as base 1000s. Our opponents both hailed from UVA, one 4+ being their lightweight 4+ (who placed 4th at the 2015 Head of the Charles in the Lwt 4+) and a novice 4+. We were piecing on on their 2000 meter course and conditions were decent, with moderate chop and a decreasing tailwind through the course.
We traded pieces with the lwt 4+, taking two from them in fast conditions. We attempted to hold a planned base cadence but rowed slightly higher than we had planned, in part thanks to the tailwind. UVA planned a BBQ for all crews that we raided before making our way back to Baltimore. John even managed to catch Josh and Rob taking a nap:
