Women's Rowing Diary - Susan Shadle
2/14/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Feb. 14, 2005
Outside, the sky renders darkness with little sign of an approaching sunrise, the bitter air represses all forms of liveliness, and slick icy patches splash the pathways leading to the fitness center. While most of the campus engages in REM sleep from under its warm covers on this Monday morning, the once-racquetball-reconverted erg room inside the fieldhouse booms with noise. The droning fans revolving from two rows of ergs compete with the huffing and puffing from rowers, the yelling of coxswains, and the dynamic music blasting from the stereo. The clock reads 6:35 a.m. and the first group of rowers has already exhorted halfway through their first four-minute full-pressure erg piece. As a team of successful rowers, our groggy minds must quickly snap into reality to compensate for the inevitable lactic acid build-up in our arms and legs. Since the sport of rowing essentially engages the whole body, we must learn the power of mentality in pushing ourselves through completion of each tough workout. Each rower simultaneously pulls her handle, creating a forceful rhythm just like in the boat. As we approach the finish, we slowly ease up to the catch and snap the drive while exploding all of our power. We work together, pushing ourselves and encouraging each other with every new stroke.
I came into this experience my freshman year as an intimidated non-athlete. Through all the exertion and dedication to practices, I survived an exciting novice year. As part of the varsity team this year, I continue to find rowing as an outlet to academics, a growing camaraderie, and a constant discovery in pushing myself and my teammates beyond our limits. Up until now, I've seen many girls come and go, but despite the losses, our team has successfully found a positive level on which to build upon. Whether it be lifting five more pounds on the bench press, improving on a two-kilometer test, or collectively winning as a boat, seeing these girls challenge themselves in a way that others don't causes us to appreciate each others' efforts, ambitions, and companionship.
Although we are not on the water again until March, our erg room emits the mental toughness essential for competitive greatness. Inside of each rower's mind is the desire to succeed individually and as a team. Despite our varying splits, this common goal brings us together inside and outside of practice, provoking a thrill for the upcoming spring season. Just like my teammates, I can't wait to compete in races and prove our hard work. But up until then, we must continue to invigorate these icy winter mornings and afternoons through our united electric pulse beating from the fieldhouse.
-Susan Shadle `07