The skies above Moon Township are now dark as the wind begins to swirl.   

I will we be outside in a storm tonight thinking what a silly girl.  

Thanks to our team for stepping up to be or help find coxswains.  Special thanks to Eva, Joanne and Susan for coxing and thanks to Danielle Millet, Emily Gample and Philip Ferland for signing on to support our events.

-- W. Lomicka

Friday registration

The leaves are quickly falling

The rain soon to be pelting

As the temperature drops

We will add more tops

Thinking " why can't we be in the building."  -- J. Anderson

Just drove through bad weather in Columbus.  That will sure to be in Pgh among us.  High winds, and a hard downpour will test out strength all the more. -- K. Kashmer

From downtown window watch

Race buoys dropped from launch

Wishing hip was now all healed

To take on that wet field

With women who rain can’t staunch.

 

 

Good luck!!  -- J. Meder

Moving to Haiku format because limericks are hard (hats off)…………

Masters women rock

Smiling in the pelting rain

Weather rain or ………..rain  -- S. Mikesic

When HOTO brings rain, wind and hail,
Through whitecaps our rowers must sail.
Despite lack of sun,
When we pull as one,
With teamwork, we'll always prevail!  -- K. Ke

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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!

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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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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!

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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!

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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.

One piece, no buttons or embellishments, found in the bin targeting the Amish rowing community who eschew anything fancy.  Kate accessorized her new dress with a plaid fanny pack (detail below) which we are told are no longer just for the Rockport-wearing, Europe-touring elderly American crowd.  At least according to Kate.  As soon as I see Kim Kardashian wearing one, I'm there.

The day dawned threatening and a little wet and grassy, and only the youngest among us was smart enough to come prepared with kick ass Wellies.  (Rain) hats off to you Jessie, who styles her wellies with a coordinating cox box.  Cutting edge.

Twins separated at birth, Kathy and Kate, happily found each other again through rowing.  So many life parallels and coincidences, it just became self-evident.  But that's a story for another time.  Here we catch Kate whispering to sister Kathy, 'sweetie, those are straps, they go on your shoulders."  Her teammates, however, salute Kathy's innovation--the strapless uni--and look forward to its availability in the Boathouse team store.

Remember, if we can't win, we can at least look good losing.  And really, what else matters?

Finally, many of our younger rowers noted that some of the older women we were rowing against looked rather like, well, men.  Oh you young, nubile girls, you don't yet know that menopause can be oh so cruel.  Case in point, the napping rower below from Carnegie Lake.  My advice to her, hormone replacement therapy.  I'd rather live a few years less than live them looking like her.

Row row row,
Susan

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Having slept in to the decadent hour of 6:30 am, your blogger is feeling refreshed and ready for action.  While the sparkle of a Diamonds is still fresh, here is a recap of the weekend's events.

GOLD at DIAMONDS!!

Our  women's 8+ dominated their  E-J heat and walked away with the GOLD.  To the strains of bagpipe music that surely left the Boston teams crying for their Irish mommies, this team from the Rust Belt took it all.  The team to be reckoned with came out of the gate strong and just kicked it.

Busy cox Jessie kept the boats moving and inspired us all through other events - thanks Jessie, we love you xoxoxo.  Here is Jessie catching some much-needed rest.

This women's 8+ C-D boat did not medal.  It did, however, encounter a pair of bald eagles at the starting line.  With a good row that put in a respectable showing against much more experienced teams, this boat had a memorable race.  As an objective non-rower commented, it didn't look like a spider or centipede.

We were inspired by our coach Megan to reflect on this end of the sprint season and be thankful for what we have gained.  We are a competitive team that calls us to give the best we have to offer - as a group of athletes and comrades.

"There is no 'pride' but awe and appreciation and speaks to what it means to row as one.  Heads bowed and no one stands out as an individual.  We are a people clump!" - Wendy L.

A list of thanks from this weekend:

Megan for her unflagging devotion to the team on top of her other 10000 responsibilities
Sue Cohen for stepping in to cox the men's team
The men's team for trailer monkey prowess
The Anderson's for mad family trailer driving skills
Wendy for words of wisdom and that pastry from Prantls that revived your blogger
All the many hands that made light work ...

Happy Trails until Head Season.

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International Competition at Row Ontario - Updated with new material!

The TRRA MW returned late last night from a successful assault on Row Ontario.  Undeterred by  a thunderstorm delay, your team brought home the bling!  More on results below, but first some notable moments from the Great White North:

Megan and Marie educated civilians on the trip north on the nature of the equipment ("Can you settle an argument for me?  Are those canoes?")


Teammate Rachel saw Niagara Falls for the first time and we got to meet the nice family who gave us Christy Fleck.   A team dinner with million dollar views of the falls (thanks Stephanie!) got us in a festive mood.  If you can't row on it, pose in front of it.

Next day it was on to Welland and the International Flatwater Centre.


The beautiful venue offered stunning contemporary design, port-a-johns with granite floors and a shower facility.  We scored some free reusable water bottles, and after some coaxing, persuaded the Row Ontario staff to sell us some merch.  One sour note (or notes) was the choice in music over the loud speakers - country music and Christmas Carols.  But we had to have something to complain about!


Our Lightweight 4+ delivered the goods with a mix of experienced and novice rowers. The make weight efforts of the boat paid off when the boat edged out the competition to score bronze medals.  

It was Gold for our 8+ (with Jeanne "I'm changing my name to Goldenheimer") who simply crushed it.  Inspiring effort!

No pictures were taken of the bronze-winning 4x with Anderson, Bronzenheimer, Mikesic and Romsaas.  Here is exactly how it looked, probably:

Finally it was silver for this 4+ who gave it their all, and we are very proud of them.

The novices are hard at work and determined to score some hardware.  In the words of our coach Megan, this is a team to be reckoned with!

Next stop - Diamonds.

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Following this season's theme of competing in only the grittiest, dirtiest, urban environments, TRRA MW  followed Stonewall on the Anascostia with Charm City on the Patapsco.  Never have so many rowed in so much . . . garbage.

27 rowers competed in everything from a single (Leslie!) to doubles to 8+.  And much like the old Avis commercial (we're #2 so we try harder), although it was a great effort, we came home with no medals (first place hardware only) but a number of 2nd places.

Highlight of the day (for me anyway, and I'm writing this) was the D 8+.  Looking good off the start on the high twenty, definitely in it, when something went awry and like cows returning to the barn at day's end the boat started a bee line for the launch dock.  Speculation is that something hit the rudder (hmm, my guess, garbage) shortly after the start and jammed it to a perpetual starboard list.  The boat managed to regroup, but had to stop three times in the race to adjust.  Still in all they did manage to pass a boat.

Next stop, that unincorporated area of the United States to our north, Ontario, where we will answer the question--is Canadian garbage any different than US?

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BIG CONGRATS to our team's Marathon runners -- The complete list is Joanne, Vern and Claudia in the full, and Wendy, Jen, and Megan in the half.  Below is a picture of some of them after the race.

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High flow from Hurricane Sandy drove us indoors but we made the best of it:

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2012's HOTO started the same way as last year's: cloudy, cool, windy, rainy but unlike 2011 the day got progressively better, with the sun coming out around mid-day. The river was very choppy in the morning making for some interesting rowing and while it was still somewhat windy by the afternoon the waves were more manageable.

HOTO is an unusual regatta - the team rows on our home river but there is no central gathering place. We don't have to load, unload, rig, de-drig, unload, rig but we are all busy with volunteering. Still we made several unofficial team spaces such as the back of the scullers bay and by the boats in the parking lot and it was fun to make other teams feel welcome.And after experiencing the chaos of the Head of the Potomac the week before, we all appreciated how well our own regatta was run.

MW did well - there were a few races that were not as successful as had been hoped but these were balanced by others that were. Many came away with medals and the women's master's 8+ beat everyone in their field to come away with a silver plate.

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The inaugural Masters National Head Race was held in Cleveland, OH on the Cuyahoga River, one of my favorite head courses. And while there were not a lot of entries this year, there was still some good racing and medals awarded by Olympians, Susan Francia and Margot Shumway, many to TRRA teams. While I know it is an obscure fact it should be noted that the TRRAMW Masters 8+ was the first boat across the finish line of this first National Masters Head Race!

The Head of the Cuyahoga 2011 recap describes the challenges of this curvy course and surprising appeal of the urban post-modern landscape. TRRA MW received medals in every race they entered, although veracity compels me to add that there often were only 1, 2 or 3 entrants. Still our boats were strong and posted good times. Nate's skillful navigating of the course, helped us by cutting corners close and decreasing pressure as little as was absolutely necessary.

The regatta hosted  morning and afternoon award ceremonies during which Susan Francia and Margot Shumway placed medals on each rower and posed for photos. Earlier in the day when the two women were first spotted by MW, Susan Francia let those who asked to wear her gold medal from the 8+ for photos (and she never noticed Marie trying to see if she was the same height). Both women were unassuming and gracious.

A photo of TRRMW 8+ made it into US Rowing's write up of the regatta. It comments that "On the water, Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Rowing Association won nine gold medals to lead the way,..."

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Coach Alyssa summed up this race well in her email to the team:

Hey folks,
This is a bit delayed because work is crazy but I did want to let the group know that we had a really good (and long!) day of racing at Potomac. Ha, I was a bit cranky at the race because it was the least organized regatta ever (thank god for Megan) but we did get to go up against a lot of strong boats which is always good.

Most folks felt in control of their races and I certainly saw some exhausted rowers coming off the water. The masters 8 took third and passed 3 or 4 boats! The club 8 put placed right with the collegiate crews. The four had a solid row and enjoyed a great borrowed coxswain (don't worry we'll try to recruit her for Occoquan). Nate dodged every kayak, canoe, motorboat and cox some great races. Eva, Toby and Anne Jane each rowed a casual 27K total and Jaclyn survived her first race ever!

Good tune up before HOTO.

Note - not only was the river not well policed (there were kayaks in the race lane!) but there were too few officials around the docks making the launching and landing chaotic at times. There was also limited space for trailers and boats although Joanne and Jeanne got there very early and made sure we had a good spot! Parking space was also scarce and people had to find parking in paid garages nearby.

But the day was sunny and bright and the upper end of the course quite scenic making up for some of the other drawbacks.

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This year the US Rowing Masters National Championship Regatta was held on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA. The lake has a reputation for changeable weather and it did not disappoint. TRRA sent three teams: Evening Mixed Masters, the Masters Men and the Masters Women meaning a very full trailer. Despite an unexpected trip to an Emergency Room for the trailer driver to get stitches, the boats made it safely there. Parking was not available at the main lot so TRRA set up at the Donahue Rowing Center across the Lake. In some ways it diluted the Nationals experience, particularly since we were far from the finish but as the days went by people figured out how to quickly get to the finish and began to appreciate the luxury of the extra space as well as the less frenzied atmosphere.

TRRA MW rowed hard but had some tough breaks - in several heats we missed making it to the finals only to be one of the faster boats overall or the boat was just fractions of a second behind third place. The weather also played its part - on Friday many of the finals were cancelled due to storms and the water continued to be rough the rest of the weekend as storms blew through. Still as the days went on MW began to find our rhythm, started to win some medals and row some fast times! Overall the team brought home a silver in the Open A 4X event, a bronze in a nail-biting final for the Club C 8+ and a bronze on the last day for the Open E 4+ boat.

There were lots of firsts for this regatta - first Nationals, first singles, quads, and doubles and the wining E 4+ boat had never rowed together before. And there were memorable moments,  many punctuated by Alyssa's wild cheering from the sidelines - a great encouragement to pull as hard as you possibly could. This was also the race that Chris Ryan took a bow ball in the back! Someone called it rowing camp and for this first timer it was that and more!

Nationals

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Despite the positive tone of last year's post, Diamonds last year was a difficult regatta for TRRA MW - too hot, stressful scheduling, some disappointing results. This year turned dreadful Diamonds into delightful Diamonds. True it was warm and it threatened to storm throughout the day but the schedule was not compressed and we saw both results and times that were encouraging. While we did not have a shady spot for the trailer like last year - there was plenty of room for the team to rest under the trees.

The day started out with a bang when the E-J 8+ not only took first in their heat but had the best time overall wining a trophy along with medals. This success was quickly followed by a first in the AA-C 4X. After a little lull there was another medal for the A 4+. And the day ended with a thrilling first place finish for the AA-B 8+ boat as they pulled hard to move ahead of their competitors at the finish. There were also satisfying  times posted by non-medalling boats as well as some racing firsts for others.  The team had many reasons to celebrate when we gathered for our own awards ceremony just before leaving.

As a side note the Hampton Inn in Elkton, MD was comfortable and the team dinner Woody's Crab House was surprisingly enjoyable. The vegetables were not overcooked, the crab cakes were tasty and the staff was helpful.

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Inspirational words from Coach Alyssa:

Hey ladies,

I realized that I may not have told most of you that I'm going to be out of town for the next two weeks starting after tomorrow's practice. I'd imagine like most of your kids, I suffer from an inability to look at calendars and didn't realize that my trip was the two weeks before Diamonds. 

As my parting message (which I am sending now because I won't have a chance after tomorrow's practice), I want to call attention to the critical point in the season that we've reached. We've had a long good summer of rowing and our team break is seemingly just around the corner. We're at the point where it's a little bit harder to wake up in the morning, people roll into practice a little bit later, and one end of the boat inevitably stops hearing the coxswain's calls to split to shoulders or get out of the boat.

I like to think of this point (in the spirit of masters rowing) as the last 300 meters of our 1000 meter season. We're at the point where it hurts but something much better is just around the corner--as long as you're willing to commit to eachother, keep your head forward and enjoy the hurt.

I expect that over the next few weeks, we will bring back the focus we started with, that you will make the changes we've been asking for and you will realize that the boat moves better with sensitivity than frustration.

Like Diamonds and Nationals, I expect that this is the point at which you get on the water with such a calm, serious focus that the other crews are embarrassed before you even start the piece. So brace yourself for the last 300--this is where we crush the competition. 

Get excited for practice.

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While it was a hot and dusty weekend there was some good racing to be had at IDR this year. A small but strong group of MW braved the heat, many for two days, and came back with a few of the Schuylkill Navy watches.

According to the race organizer there were 1,200 boats registered, last year there were 1,000 boats. This was an unanticipated 20% increase for IDR. We could tell: Megan had to park the trailer in the middle of the parking lot when they arrived on Friday afternoon because there was no room. The next morning she greatly impressed the race organizers as she deftly backed the trailer into a small spot made for us! We also had boats tucked away in all sorts of places on day 1 since those arriving before us had taken most of the prime spots. Surprisingly,MW did find a shady spot to gather and rest between races.

Racing was hard and fast but also satisfying. The 8+ won a first in an all out battle with the second place boat. It was the first time I had heard Jackie, who kindly agreed to cox, growl and it worked! On the second day Toby took home a first in her single and then another first along with Zuzana in their double. Other boats placed well in their various flights. 

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Back to Stonewall for the first regatta of 2012. The venue continues to be developed - a new walkway has been added that connects to additional parking. Sally and Susan conducted a well-orchestrated race, as always. With no other TRRA teams participating, it felt very streamlined.

We were lucky with the weather, lots of sun and not too hot. It was windy which caused some choppiness (we are spoiled by the flat early morning water) plus there was  debris from recent big storms but these were minor complaints.

The team did well bringing home 3 first places:
4+  Open
4+ A/B
8+ D/E)
and several 2nd and 3rd places. It provided motivation to keep working hard at practices!

Here are some interesting statistics from the race organizer:

20 clubs (counting unafilliateds) and 424 athletes comprising 180 Crews in 48 Events
A first was a tie after handicap for 2nd place in the Womens 1x (this was Joanne Anderson!)

Clubs with the most entries: Capital (35), Baltimore (19), DC Strokes (18)
7 Adaptive Events: Capital Adaptive with 7 entries and Athletes Without Limits with 11
Clubs with the highest win percentage of their entries: Potomac (81%), Capital Adaptive (43%), Baltimore (37%)
First place stats:  percentages are first place finishes per # of that club’s entries
Scullers (%): Potomac (63%) Baltimore (50%)
Scullers (#): Potomac (5) Baltimore (3)
Sweepers (%): Potomac (100%) Three Rivers (43%)
Sweepers (#): Potomac (8) Capital (7)
Women (%): Baltimore (42%) Rock Creek/Washington Rowing School (33%)
Women (#): Baltimore & Capital (5)
Men (%): Potomac (87%) Baltimore (40%)
Men (#): Potomac (13) Baltimore (4)

Congratulations to Chicago Rowing Union for the distance award.
Contratulations to Three Rivers Rowing Association for the distance award for trailering.

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