Women's Rowing Journal - Kim Weaver
1/18/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Jan. 18, 2007
As friends traveled to exotic locales, the Bucknell Women's Rowing Team ventured to Elberton, Ga. My friends teased me that I was being sent to boot camp, and being a freshman, I had no idea what to expect. The night before leaving home my friend was reading over our itinerary, which included three rowing practices each day and running almost six miles on top of it. She asked why I would ever want to do something like that, and then I too questioned myself, but realized I was surprisingly excited for the challenges that awaited me. Never before had I pushed my body to these limits, and I wanted to see what I was capable of. Another not-so-physical challenge was learning how to cook. This was quite the task as we were each responsible for two dinners for our other nine cabin mates during our stay in Georgia. I would say that we pulled it off.
As other rowers were packing up and heading to the beaches of Florida for training, initially, I felt a pang of jealousy. However, after arriving here and practicing without any distractions, we have been able to accomplish much and stay focused on our goals. Every rower's goal on this trip was to improve her own stroke and to get the most out of the precious water time that we have been given. Ever-changing lineups, learning a new side, and the countless drills have made us more flexible and better rowers. And even without a weight-training facility, we were able to increase or maintain our strength by means of a picnic table. No, I didn't think it was possible, but thanks to the genius who devised these strengthening exercises, I'll never look at a picnic table the same way again.
I feel the bond between my teammates strengthening as every practice comes to a conclusion with an "Eat `em up, Bison!" Cabin life has allowed us to form our own little "dysfunctional" families for the two weeks, taking turns preparing meals and sitting around the table talking and laughing for hours. As the training trip draws to a close, and soon the thoughts of warm weather and being on the water will be replaced by snow and erging in Gerhard Fieldhouse, the hard work and lessons learned will not be forgotten. Through all of the blisters, aches, pains, and fatigue, we have become a stronger, more cohesive group. As a member of the freshman class, we aspire to lead from within and start establishing our legacy before it's too late. On this trip I believe we have discovered that this is truly a plausible goal.
- Kim Weaver '10