Women's Rowing Journal - Colleen McKeown
5/12/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
May 12, 2005
The sun is shining, the days are warm, and the river is calm. It is a picturesque day out on the river, and we'll take it! But beyond the aesthetics of the scene lies four rowers, their coxswain, and their coach, all of whom are nervous each time their boat shoves off the dock.
This nervousness became apparent when our 8 became a 4 and we got into a new boat. That very first day we rowed, or shall I say attempted to row in the 4, took me back to memories of fall when we feared tipping! But we soon got it together, we had no choice. Only two practices in and we were competing in a pair of races - and we took first in both. This strong showing was impressive for the shaky start we had, but what I think really brought the boat to victory was the unity of all of the members. We were in this together and we're prepared to do whatever needed to be done to prove that we could take on this new challenge!
And what a challenge it was mentally. Squared and ready at the ¾ catch waiting for the call to row, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It suddenly dawned on me that all I would see during the race as stroke seat would be the other boats and the river. There was not going to be a coxswain making commands straight to my face and I would have to listen to her without seeing her. But there was no time to dwell on this because the race began! Taking an early lead and keeping it, we came out victorious. Upon finishing the race, I knew I had reached a new level of what the coaches call "mental toughness." Sitting stroke, there was nothing to fixate on but what my own body was doing. I had to push myself on the premise that the other girls behind me were pushing just as hard, and all I could hear in my head was what Coach Vi had been telling me during practice about trusting that they were all behind me, entering and moving with me. I knew that that's what I had to do, trust that the others were sliding, catching, and driving with me. And after finishing the race, I knew we had rowed as one. It was a great feeling to have after our first race as a four. Then to see all of our other Bucknell boats take first place in their races as well was amazing.
I no longer fear getting into this boat, in fact it is quite the opposite. I look forward to practices and cannot wait for Dad Vails! I would have never thought that I would say I like sitting in the stroke seat, but I have been converted since we have entered the four. It is a new challenge, one that I'm glad I got to take on. And with this group of girls behind me, who wouldn't like this job?
Colleen McKeown `08