#crash-b's

[zap-of-gay-jock-love]

t minus 17 hours until crash bs

[zap-of-gay-jock-love]

Anybody else going to Crash-B's?

I'm competing in the womens junior lightweight and on top of the fact that I'm very much not at lightweight right now, I won't have actually done 2k by then and I'm freaking out a little bit. 

[rowrunlive]

Love your blog so much! I am also a rower and I am going to crash b's soon, do you have any advice?

Hi!!! Thank you so much! Ergo competitions can be really really horrible but if you go in with the right mindset I think you can really achieve something.. and it if goes well, albeit painful at the time, it’s almost (almost) like a reward for all the hours you put in over winter training. Anyway, have you been before?Obviously it’s hard for me to really say anything without knowing a bit more about you.. However I’d say try to know your goal split/time and stick to it, like don’t fly and die however tempting it is in that race scenario- go off hard then settle after ten and find your rhythm and pace and stick to it then review at the 1000m mark, see if you can take it down one, then go crazy in the last 500, insane in the last 250. The middle 1000 will ovbs be really tough so I’d do whatever it takes you personally to stick to your splits… If, like me, it means going a bit cave-man style then go for it.. But yeah do whatever it takes: bore your eyes into that projected finish, count tens, put in bursts/pushes, think of some specific words to go around you head like ‘legs’ ‘heels’ ‘hips’ ‘finish’ ‘take’ ‘go’ ‘stronger’ ‘harder’ you know the such, one of my friends likes to spell out little sentences in her head every stroke like ‘I-c-a-n-d-o-t-h-i-s’ (**this doesn’t really work for me as I tend to forget how to spell things mid erg tbh)Also, final point (sorry I’m rambling a bit, I could talk forever), I am a strong believer in the mentality of rowing.. particularly ergs… particularly erg racing. I think it helps loads if you’re psyched up for it. Be prepared, be ready, listen to that psyche up music, or the inches speech (lol), stretch loads, be warm and in the zonee, be ready for 6/7/8/9 minutes of self annihilation, know what you’re capable of, believe in yourself even if no one else does, be ruthless, take no prisoners, and go for what you can- go for what you deserve.

PS. Good luck!!!!!! 

[getting-faster]

CRASH-B's.

I did it. Holy shit, man. I can't believe it. I went to CRASH-B's and PR'd.

I have never been so nervous for anything. This entire past week has been nerve wracking as I was just waiting for it, and the last hour leading up to it felt like an eternity. Waiting to walk out on to the floor for my heat was probably the worst, I was talking to myself and jumping up and down and shaking like a leaf I'm sure.

Once I got out there the race started so fast. I came out of the gate hard and thank god for my teammate/mentor who coxed me or I would have flied and died within the first 250m. I'll be honest I actually don't remember much of the race, especially in the last 700m where I all but blacked out. I just remember hitting 350m and then counting down the last ten strokes and then being done.

I didn't quite hit a 2:05 like I wanted to, but 2:06.2 is still a major PR for me and I gave it everything I had. Just ask my coxswain, she was carrying at least 90% of my weight trying to walk me off of the floor. I have never hurt so bad after an erg test and was about this close to passing out. For a good twenty minutes afterwards, as soon as I tried to put weight on my legs they collapsed beneath me. I thought I was going to die.

But let me tell you right now, it was totally worth it. I'm now right with the best lightweights on my team, and put myself high up on my coach's radar. I went out there and proved that I can perform under more pressure than I will probably ever have to face again, or at least for a long time. I'm happy, I'm proud of myself.

And now I get to spend the rest of the week down in Florida, finally able to relax. The only reason I'm online right now is because I figure I'd write about this while it's still fresh in my mind and because my brother is making me listen to a bunch of songs by mac miller. Don't worry though, I'll still be training, running on the beach and such... I want that 2:05 by our next 2k.

[kierakegz]

2k 2k 2k..

Crash-B's this Sunday! First time actually racing at it and I'm so nervous but I will destory this 2k grrr! #letsfuckinggoo 

I got this in da bag. 1:58.5 boom bitchezz WOOO! 

[getting-faster]

One week until CRASH-B's.

I'm trying to keep myself from getting too nervous, and at the same time stay focused. This is an opportunity for me to succeed, to show everyone how determined I really am. All I have to do is go in with a cool head, stick to my race plan, and unleash the beast. I've trained for this. I want this. I can do this.