Sunday, October 05, 2014
HOTO 2014
Through whitecaps our rowers must sail.
Despite lack of sun,
When we pull as one,
With teamwork, we'll always prevail! -- K. Ke
Friday morning dawns soft and warm,
the Allegheny in beautiful form.
Saturday's HOTO brings wind, rain and cold
is not just a myth that is frequently told.
For this regatta it's the norm!
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 . . .
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)
The Gang's All Here!
We had a lot to celebrate today.
End of Sprint Season and reunited after a 2 week break.
Potential new tam members joining us for Open Row.
Welcome to our new assistant coach, Daniel Goldblum.
Some of it was bittersweet - we sent our Cassie off to pursue her Master's degree at The University of Minnesota. Cassie has been our coach, cheerleader and friend for a over a year now. She was with us at zero dark thirty for practices through the long, cold winter, and she saw that training pay off for us in sprint season. She introduced some of us to a workout called Teti's Trauma - and yes it is as traumatic as it sounds! She always had a word of encouragement and a smile to keep us going.
Thank you Cassie!
Thanks were also given to our super coxes Jessie and Allura - these are two young ladies who will take the world by storm. Have a good school year girls - and come back anytime (PLEASE!!!).
We also acknowledged the contribution of our teammates who coxed at races - Rebecca, Joanne, Toby, Zuzana and Vern (and anyone I may have missed).
Here are some photos from Maureen (who did such a nice job that she will definitely be asked to be photographer for future events).
Enjoy!
O Megan! Why hast thou forsaken us? Why are we left to aimlessly wander the water? Rowing in singles, in doubles, the occasional quad, rudderless, directionless, coachless . . . O Meg! Do you not know that idle oars are the devil's workshop? Why are we left to consider a row through the locks of the Allegheny (really Zuzana??), or to drift downstream through the right hand arch of the 40th St. Bridge (so wrong, so wrong, we can hear Megan, "downstream through the center arch, THEN cut over if you have to go in the top of the channel")? And for what, I ask, for what? For biking? Time for yourself, with your husband, to recharge and refresh?? Megan, oh Megan, what are you? European?? Some of us, we won't name names, have begun to look with envy on EMM and covet their coach Nate. Yes, it's come to that and it is scary. We are here, Megan, on the erg, in small boats, lifting weights to make our muscles scream as we would scream for our coach, if only she would hear. O Megan!
Read More...Diamonds starts each day of the regatta with the plaintive wail of Scottish bagpipes--incentive to row faster to flee the funereal tone set by the music.
Once our ears stopped bleeding and we'd recovered from our music-induced depression, team members noted how just about everyone had embraced the 'kicky little skirt' suggestion from the start of the season. Kate took it to a new level by introducing the 'kicky little dress' option.