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!
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!
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