Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Rowing Journal - Emily Gladstone
10/17/2011 8:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Oct. 17, 2011
When I heard the news over the summer that we were trying to take a boat to the Charles, I told myself that should be me in that boat. I worked hard to stay in shape while at home and even harder once I was back on campus to give myself the best shot at making the boat. I was really disappointed when there was only a week left before the final list of competitors was announced and the Bucknell Open Eight was still on the waitlist. I could only pray that some miracle would happen and our boat would be entered. I was speechless when I received the email on Friday afternoon telling us that our boat got a second chance and made it off the waitlist. Our erg test was the next morning.
After being lonely in a single for most of the fall, I was excited to get back into an eight and row with my teammates. There was now one less lonely girl on the team.
I have never raced a head race before, so I was uncertain of the race strategy. I was shocked to hear that we would be planning on racing down the Charles at a stroke rate of 31. That was how fast my boat raced our 2k races last year, which is less than half of the Head of the Charles. But I told myself that we could handle it and to never say never. We had to throw our doubts overboard and commit ourselves to bigger and bigger presses.
Staying on campus for fall break provided me a great opportunity to bond with my teammates. The weather was so beautiful; it just made you smile as soon as you walked outside. I tried to stay stuck in the moment and cherish the time spent with my teammates.
- Emily Gladstone '13
