Congratulations to those MW who participated in last Saturday's Masters' Mix Up.  It was just for fun and it seems those involved had had enough.  Plenty of other activity going on among those of us not mixing it up.  Nothing like a free morning to highlight the diversity of our team.

Outdoor activities were prevalent.  Some went . . .

While others took the opportunity to do some additional rowing.  Including up to the dam . . .

. . . but maybe not this one.

Others took to the ergs and punished themselves with a 4x2k (oh freakishly strong little woman who shall remain nameless  . . . why, oh why . . . ) and . . .

We attended conferences . . .

. . . and planned celebrity studded galas.

(Yes, they were there.  They are everywhere.  They put the "YOU" in ubiquitous, the ME in the "It IS all about . . . ")


There was apparently a day-long whining event in Oakmont . . . (and Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, and Forest Hills although Forest Hills probably sucked it up better than most)

 . . . and a swim meet in Philadelphia (that's our team member, second from the right, the one with attitude).

One of our team members spent the day catching up on her DVRd coverage of the death of Joan Rivers because nothing says R&R like coverage of someone going to THEIR final rest.

Several "rode quads."

which was kind of a surprise as they didn't seem like 4-wheelin' kind of gals.  Oh, wait . . .

And that's what we were doing as the Masters Mixed it up.

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Masters Mixup is a good time for reflection ...

New boats were christened - the Steve Irwin, Shawnee and Rev. Jon O'Brien, SJ.  We row in the shadow of those who came before us, from the Shawnee tribes who first rowed the Allegheny, to more recent club members and national champs, to professional "triple threats" (clergy, lawyer, doctor).

The races are made up of color coded teams with members from each of TRRA masters' teams.  There are two sprint heats and a head race around the island.

Progression of events/corresponding thoughts:

Before the start - weather looks bad, never rowed with these people, it's just for fun, no big deal.

At the start, Heat #1- 3 seat never raced, doesn't know what a starting sequence is.  Going to be a long day.

500 m of choppy hard rowing, one seat off track, one crab.  DFL.

Heat #2: row to starting line feels worse than Heat #1, is that even possible?

Crisp start, neck and neck ... What is going on here?

Mid point still close?!

Miracle happens, timing good, swinging together WALKING UP THE LEAD BOAT.

FIRST PLACE!!!!

Aaaaaannnd ... The medals (cue Lets Make A Deal Fail Music)

It was just for fun after all!

Some random shots 

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