January Testing

We are heading into the late January testing sessions. On Monday this week we went through the lactate step-test and later this week is the 6km and 2km erg tests. It will be a good to see how our training has come along over the past few month and progressed to now. I previously completed the lactate step test on my own before I was invited to join the LWT guys.  Below is a shot of the lactate step testing (Rares was stuck in Vancouver from the ferry cancellation). We are waiting for the official results, but I know that I was able to push through one more step keepin my lactate below 0.4 mmol before I made the final push. (more info on this later)

Above: Travis getting the finger-stick to take a blood sample. He may have a secret weapon that allows him to push harder than most!

Snow Day

Snow day in Victoria! Rowing training is cancelled. The Pacific Insitute of Sports Excellence (PISE) is not open and my office is now closed. I took a wonderful walk (yeah, walk, I never walk anywhere) for over an hour to walk Amber to work and pick up some groceries for a day of hanging out at home. The picture above is out from the boathouse onto Elk Lake in the early AM the day before. Below is from my deck in the afternoon today.

The snow is peaceful because it has a kind of calming quietness to it. It may be that nobody is venturing out with their cars and the road near my house is quiet with only foot traffic.  But, still, the crisp whiteness and soft sound creates a feeling of warmth.  I grew up in the mountains and this always one of the times that I feel a strong nostalgic pull back. I'm hoping to go sledding this afternoon - just need to find a slippery object to slide on and a decent hill. I was thinking about a cafeteria tray and Cedar Hill golf-course. Too bad there isn't a ski-hill nearby or set-tracks to cross country skate-ski.

Winter Rides On

Winter on the west coast is here to stay. I mean wet and sloppy days out in the dark are here. This morning there was even some snow around shore and on the dock. And again we have adapted our training to increase volume & intensity, this includes 3x/day workouts (most of them on the water). And, as with every change, it has brought with it aches and pains, frustration and complaints, along with tired and sore muscles. I like to think of it like building up the tolerance for activity and who knows how far you can go! I was certainly tired during the last workout this week. 

I keep coming back to the discussion I had with my lady-friend, Amber, on choosing to do an activity (see Simpsons reference below).  Every time I come home after a long wet workout, I catch myself complaining about the bad conditions/getting washed down/blisters/cutting corners/ etc etc ad infinitum.  I get  reprimanded and reminded that I CHOOSE this activity and how can I complain if I have the full choice to quit or not show up. I try to keep my negative-thoughts at a minimum but somewhere there is a life lesson in all this. 

 I have been extremely lucky this week by getting out on the water in the 4- and 2x with prior Olympians/World Champion rowers. Proper and efficient technique is my greatest challenge and by being able to get pointers and replicate the stroke of the more experienced (best in the world) I hope to move the boat more effectively.  This should all help in the near future where some time-trialing will be completed for seat selections and carding etc. 

Something Brilliant

I have been mulling over what I should call this next stage of my adventure in the sport of rowing.  The humble journey from a beginner to now has been a roller coaster ride. Sometimes physical and other times mental. I know I have millions of things to learn and perfect including simple things like how to rig a boat all the way to neuro-muscular feedback training for a proper executed stroke.  This process of constant learning is what keeps me coming back for more.   I want to bring everything together I have learned and combine it with some motivation and confidence to make...something......................... 

something brilliant. 

Interesting fact is that I did not think of this title on my own.  It was suggested by the exact people that I work towards associating myself with everyday; Rowing Canada Avirons.  Recently, it was pointed out to the lightweight men's group, who are trying to qualify the 4- for the London 2012 Olympics, that something brilliant needs to happen to enable the boat to qualify for the the Olympics. Actually, I agree with other rowers' opinions that the boat would need to show enough speed to medal at the Olympics to be considered for entry to the Lucerne qualification regatta in May.

The way I understand it the quality and quantity of training both need to increase to bring the erg times down and boat speed up. All this while not getting injured; a paradox that is hard to balance.  So, I'm somewhat on the outside looking in. I have been trying to keep a rational mind about the long-shot of even being considered to compete in the four (4-).   The goal is always to move toward the overall challenge; Olympic Competition. I don't want to sway my focus away from that, even for a minute, because it lets in thoughts of not having to work as hard or giving up.  Not that going to non-Olympic international events is any less competition or prestigious, for me it is just a different realm.

I spent some time at the NHL hockey hall of fame in 2009, just weeks before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  While touring through the halls of trophies and memorabilia, I found a large room dedicated to  the Olympics.  For some reason, as I always somewhat knew, this collection captivated me. Each display case contained a short description, photos, and every bronze, silver and gold medal from each (modern) Olympic games from 1896 onwards.  I spent over an hour looking at each quadrennial celebration of athletics; I was captivated. I knew then that I wanted to pursue a way to experience this athletic festival first hand (athlete, coach, or chiropractor).

With all this pressure to learn how to perform a sport perfectly in a very short time frame the question I often come back to; why put myself through it?   I think this is a question I will re-visit in my own mind a thousand times over this year, but I have pieced together a framework;  I do it for the goals I have set for myself, the competition that I crave, and the confidence it gives me. Hopefully something brilliant arises in the next few months!

First Day Back

Today, Jan. 2nd, 2012 was the first day back to training in Victoria. Mondays are going to be a regular "case of the Mondays" story with a long day of erging, rowing, weights and erging again.  Today is the first step of the march towards London 2012 and it will be a long up-hill battle and a bit of a long-shot. The premier day back on the water involved 2x40minute pieces. The stroke-coach (rowing pedometer) logged 1931 strokes in 89minutes. Below, you can see my hands afterwards. Lovely blisters in the early phase on route to callouses.

I'm more excited, confident, and enthusiastic about my goal of pursuing athletic excellence than ever before!

2012 Is it! 

Outdoor Pursuits

Happy New Year! I have a very strong feeling that 2012 is going to be a great year. I know I say that every year but I like to look optimistically at each new beginning and build on what gains I had from last year. This holiday season's plan was to keep fitness levels at the same level, but get away from rowing/erging everyday (twice a day) for a mental break. I tried to do 1-2hrs of activity each day but I found some days it hard to get to with holiday feasting/celebrating along with cold weather.

I spent 11 days in the winter wonderland of Fernie, BC where I grew up and my parents still live. Though this year was low on snow we still got out and explored the many outdoor activities in the area. One great thing for going back to Fernie is that my parents have a full set of everything to utilize the outdoors its fullest potiental. From xc skis, snowshoes and skates, skidoos, to downhill skis, sauna/hottub, and ice fishing gear.

 

 

 

 

Other good info I follow monthly is the Fernie Fix Magazine