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I got an e-mail from someone from the boathouse yesterday afternoon, asking if I'd be interested in rowing in a quad in the morning. For the sake of getting to know who's who, and what sorts of inclinations the different rowers have, I figured, what the heck. It sounded more fun than the single anyway. I stick by the motto that "The best rowers are the ones who can get into any boat and row well."
As it turned out, one of the other rowers wound up bailing, so instead we took out a single and double (with me in the double). Within 30 seconds of getting out on the water, I was glad I had suggested that I sit in the stern seat. Over the course of the row, I became highly aware that I really have not had very many opportunities at all to scull with rowers who are more skilled than I am. On top of that, coaching has been few and far in-between. So I have some bad habits to iron out, and the morning's row was a lot of work, from a mental focus and technical standpoint. Good. I like a good challenge.
I am so, so grateful whenever more-skilled rowers are willing to put up with me, especially when the dynamic is such that they can point out areas for improvement and help me make those changes. This is one of those realms that can be dodgy under certain circumstances, because not everyone is open to feedback (but I definitely am, especially when it's so spot-on and helpful!). Hopefully they'll think of me again the next time they gear up to get out on the quad, and I will have shown enough signs of improving that they won't get tired of dealing with me. Quads are fun, and slightly more forgiving of sloppy technique (not that they're an excuse for it!).
So, it was a good morning.
Edited to add...
For some reason, at this stage of the hand-toughening process, I have a whole bunch of blisters on my right hand, in various stages of blister-to-callous, and no major blisters on my left hand, but good progress towards callouses. The worst is a large one on my right thumb. But that's rowing for ya.
As it turned out, one of the other rowers wound up bailing, so instead we took out a single and double (with me in the double). Within 30 seconds of getting out on the water, I was glad I had suggested that I sit in the stern seat. Over the course of the row, I became highly aware that I really have not had very many opportunities at all to scull with rowers who are more skilled than I am. On top of that, coaching has been few and far in-between. So I have some bad habits to iron out, and the morning's row was a lot of work, from a mental focus and technical standpoint. Good. I like a good challenge.
I am so, so grateful whenever more-skilled rowers are willing to put up with me, especially when the dynamic is such that they can point out areas for improvement and help me make those changes. This is one of those realms that can be dodgy under certain circumstances, because not everyone is open to feedback (but I definitely am, especially when it's so spot-on and helpful!). Hopefully they'll think of me again the next time they gear up to get out on the quad, and I will have shown enough signs of improving that they won't get tired of dealing with me. Quads are fun, and slightly more forgiving of sloppy technique (not that they're an excuse for it!).
So, it was a good morning.
Edited to add...
For some reason, at this stage of the hand-toughening process, I have a whole bunch of blisters on my right hand, in various stages of blister-to-callous, and no major blisters on my left hand, but good progress towards callouses. The worst is a large one on my right thumb. But that's rowing for ya.
