Rowing…Ballet on the Water

 

rowing5
morning row…newport bay

Mention that you’re on a women’s masters rowing team and the questions ensue.

“Why rowing?”

“Oh, did you row in college?”

“Do you go out in cold/rainy weather?”

“What time do you get up?”

I started rowing when I was 47.  I’ve always thought of myself as a ‘water’ person.  I was on the swim team growing up and have always felt a certain pull towards, and energy from, the water…whether it’s looking out upon a crystal clear lake, a mesmerizing waterfall, the vast beauty and majesty of an ocean or just our backyard pool.  On a side note…I also drink over my required 48 oz of water a day.  There’s just something that I LOVE about water!

2012 long beach
2012 long beach regatta…before the storm

So, when I realized I needed to “get a life” I happened to see an article in the local newspaper about a women’s masters rowing team not far from my home.  I took a few private lessons, went to the “learn to row” camp and was then invited to join the team.  I’ve also always been a morning person, which definitely helps.  Yes, it was hard at first getting up at 5 am to be down at the boathouse by 6, but eventually it just became my normal waking time.  ….and the sunrises, oh the sunrises!!  It is honestly hard to put into words the awe, excitement and energy I get from sunrises.  Most of the time I arrive at the boathouse in the dark, with the boat bays barely illuminated from within.  The wash deck starts to come alive as the sun starts to rise above the mountains in the distance….and if there are clouds involved it is spectacular!  Just this morning I said to everyone, “Think of all the poor people still sleeping right now and we get to, not only enjoy the sunrise, but also the magnificent water!”  The purples, oranges, pinks reflected on the glassy water is something I cannot adequately describe in words…so here are a few pics.

rowing2
nac sunrise
rowing3
nac sunrise

Okay, back to rowing!  Yes, it is great exercise, but more than that I like to refer to it as ballet on the water.  Eight people moving in unison, working together to propel a 200+ lb shell through the water, making it look effortless….ballet!  There are a multitude of things you have to remember when you’re rowing….relax the slide; square up sooner; chin up, chest up; arms, body legs, legs, body arms; tight core; you’re skying; the dreaded ‘crab’….I could go on & on, but I’ll leave that up to the coaches out there.  I rowed for 4 years until it was pretty clear that I didn’t have the mental toughness to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable” as we’d been instructed.  My time on the erg (the rowers term for that machine you use at the gym) was always slower than most, I’m only 5’ 1” and most of my team members are over 5’7”, and I just couldn’t get past that mental part of going & going when you wanted to throw up, which some have done after a race.  But I loved everything about rowing and our team really needed coxswains, so 2 ½ years ago I switched to the role of coxswain.  I still work out on the erg a couple of days a week for exercise, but mostly I sit in the stern of the boat, Madonna mike attached to my head, and, with instruction from our coach, steer and guide the team through practices and ultimately races.  I may not have the mental toughness to get through the physical part of being a competitive rower, but line me up next to a row of competitors and I get a fire in my belly.  Just imagine being lined up at the starting line, looking left and right at your competition, the starter yells “ATTENTION”, blades lock in the water and the flag goes down.  The adrenaline is indescribable, as we battle other teams, hearing the shouts and encouragement from the shore as we all accelerate towards the finish line.  I get excited just envisioning it!!

rowing
after practice boat washing

Again, I literally could go on and on, but this would be a ridiculously long post and you’d get bored…but, suffice it to say that if you’re ever with me and I happen to be with or meet another rower, we will talk incessantly about a sport that we love and the feeling we get from a good morning row.  If you want to try it yourself, find a local boathouse at USRowing.org

me cox …to be continued…there will be more rowing posts!

 You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!  

9 Comments

  1. and read “The Boys in the Boat”…a beautifully written book about the 1936 US Olympic rowing team. Not only a great historical treatise but a fabulous insight into the sport of rowing. Made me a little envious of you, Jeanine!

  2. Ahhh I’m guessing you’ve read Boys in the Boat? Absolutely loved the book, and was such a wonderful look at rowing. So inspiring that you took it up later in life!

  3. I don’t row, but I remember watching Amy compete at Bologna Creek – very exciting! Those photos are incredible. I like getting up early and seeing the sunrises here in CT too.

Leave a Reply to Rhonda Longmore-Grund Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.