The Circle (of Life) Part 1 - Neurological Plasticity and Hebbian Learning

I had an interesting discussion with my coach recently about the effectiveness of technique practice. As I'm sure you know, any learned activity takes time to perfect and will need constant attention to keep the skills reinforced.

(Vicious) Cycle for eternity - A Google Sketch-up document

This is, however, much easier said than done; I usually go through a constant cycle of a) Pseudo-perfect (GROUND): thinking it is excellent when in actual fact bad technique  b) total destruction of technique and re(BUILDING) and finally c) bringing it all together with proper technique and focus all through a continuous cycle of learning and growing towards almost(PERFECTION).

I think of it as Tiger Woods re-learning his golf swing (not the womanizing swing). I found out that even though he already won the Masters' green jacket with his original swing, he wanted to be better/stronger/faster at his chosen sport. After re-tooling his golf swing he subsequently won many more championships and Masters jackets. This may apply to a technique specific sport like rowing...(and swimming or even curling for that matter) For me, in my amateur status, I'd like to think I'm working towards perfection but it seems I'm always going through "the cycle" shown above.


For two weeks in February we had no coach directly observing us and giving us tips. It was a nice time to focus on the workouts without getting the constant patter of technique pointers. I find out now, three months later, that in those two weeks and beyond I have ingrained poor technique which has become reinforced by thousands of repetitions.  Only now am I realizing that it was incorrect technique, so I not only need to get rid of those old habits but re-ingrain new "correct" technique. What is correct technique?

I have been very interested in this line of ingraining physical motions into habit and creating a learned activity.  I opened up my medical text books to refresh my memory on neuroanatomy and physiology. In summary, I this is what I realized:

 Neurological plasticity or Hebbian Learning is a concept discussed in advanced  nerdy circles of psychology, physiology and rehabilitation.  It roughly states that learning takes place when two areas of the nervous system connected together through the interaction of nerve cells and the more often the cells interacted the more solidly something is remembered.  So, applying this to rowing, or any technique sport for that matter, the more repetitions completed with proper technique stronger connections will develop in the nervous system.  With this technique becoming ingrained the motion will be able to be completed on autopilot and more focus can be applied to other areas of competition.  Also, less energy will be utilized in focusing on moving the body a certain way and the energy can be focused on more effective points to win a competition.

The next question I have is: what is the perfect technique for rowing!?

New Group, New Work, New Focus

The new training group at VTC is a section of under 23 teams (U23), Heavyweight Henley Royal Regatta, and the lwt World Championships boats.  There are about 20 athletes training together during the week at Elk Lake and PISE. I'm very excited about the group of rowers that have been included in our training session and very motivated to make the next level.

Training all together in the PISE Erg Centre 

Preparation for a morning row

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I still need to work to supplement my rowing addiction adventure and I spend my time working at the LifeMark Sports Medicine clinic, which is conveniently across the tarmac from the Erg Centre seen above.  I'm a chiropractor focusing on sports injuries with special attention to the soft-tissue (muscles, tendons, and connective tissue) . I feel treating these areas it is the most effective and complimentary technique to best help my patients.
I now work on T/Th afternoons in the LifeMark Westside village next to the Save On More near downtown Victoria.

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National Team Selections: World Cup II (Olympic Qualifier)

So, the official teams were selected for the World Cup (of rowing) II - the last Olympic qualifier in Lucerne, Switzerland on May 25-27. An amazing group of athletes have been put together to represent Canada in the last international race before the big games. Most of the boats have been already qualified for the London 2012 Olympics and I'm damn excited to see both events.  As you can tell, however, from the selection document, the Lwt 4- was not listed. This was the boat I was aiming a spot for - even if it was a long shot.

Now that there is no longer a chance to qualify for this upcoming Olympics I have gone through a bit of a shift in my mental focus. Actually, it has been more of a exploratory mission of what is possible.  Over the past few weeks I have gone through a range of moods from a bit confused, mad, and frustrated to more of an enjoyable feeling of confidence. I think if it now that it is more of a character building experience that I never knew I could get so close to my top goals.  The next adventures I go through I will take away this as a lesson learned, not without struggle, and build upon it. Also, I have made some good friends and connections.

I have now re-focused with the rest of the lwt group to the 2012 World Championships - Plovdiv, Bulgaria on August, 15-19.  We will have some selections for the team in the middle to end of June and then solid training up until the Aug. 6th departure.  I hope I have the "stuff" to make it.

Who knew I put in on backwards?  The swirling wind,  relative humidity, and the third race in 24hrs all were contributing factors in the unplanned event of wearing my old club team's colours the wrong way. 

This past weekend the lwt 4- lwt 8+ group headed over to Burnaby, BC for a RCA sponsored Development Regatta.  It was part of the March Radar submission and also a selection for various teams including (but not limited to) U23 Worlds, Hwt European trip, and  World Juniors.  
The time-trial on Friday night was to set up position in the semifinals on Saturday morning. This meant that the Lwt's had a weigh-in on Friday evening AND Saturday morning. This is always a much debated and point of discussion among the best techniques to drop weight. 


Fast forward to the Finals on Saturday afternoon, and everything runs smoothly except the wind direction and my ability to put on clothes the right way.  In the Finals, Jamie Abbass, my rival and most intense competition pulls out ahead - actually 5 full seconds ahead. I ended up 2nd overall and 1st lwt!  I enjoyed myself immensely until I found out I had put my singlet on backwards and walked around the tarmac all proud with a puffed out chest... until Jamie pointed out the wardrobe malfunction.   I did not wear the singlet in the race due to the fact it was a borrowed shirt that had been stretched to the max  by none other than fellow VCRC Richard H. I just wanted something to represent that I originally trained with VCRC before I joined the VTC.

  

The Batteries are Drained

Today we had a triple row session. It involved a technique row sandwiched between two 18km steady-states. It seems a little excessive but it is what coach put forward for today. I feel that a coach is always looking out for my best interest and would only put something on the schedule that would benefit in the long-run.  Sometimes I think that it is hard as an athlete who wants to get better and move forward with training; at certain times in the workout macro-cycle everyone has a period of low energy or injury and it would probably be beneficial to hold off on a training session and recover. But, usually we all push through and have the detrimental effects weigh us down.  I read an interesting article recently about Institutionalized Overtraining with references to the Canadian Rowing team.  I don't feel that my training is too much to handle but I always want to be critical and make sure a bit of overtraining (overreaching effect) and turn into a chronic fatigue syndrome.
 Below is a summary of the rows today. It just looks like a spiders web strung across the lake.

The batteries on both my Garmin and StrokeCoach died on this double steady-state row.  In addition to that my internal energy system were depleted and in need of a re-charge.  I was, however, able to eat some delicious bread that my fiancee made for us - I ate the whole loaf.

Next up is a development regatta in Burnaby Apr. 20-21st.

The Grand Dueling

This spring weekend was the enjoyable classic event held by Vic City Rowing Club called Dueling Over a Grand. It is one of my favorite events because the total amount of racing experience obtained is huge. For example, I had six races in 24hrs!  That almost DOUBLES my previous rowing racing portfolio.  The race itself is only over 1000m, hence a Grand, but in conditions that we had today it felt more like 1500m due to the strong head-cross wind.  The umpires even had a meeting in the morning regarding the safety of sending singles out in the wash because a few boats flipped first thing in the morning.  It is a double-knockout elimination style regatta, so that means I would have to loose twice to get dropped. Oh, and the winner gets $1000 and runner up is $250. Another motivator to not get bumped.  And I wasn't going to loose without a fight. 

Due to the conditions I felt I had a fairly ugly, choppy and all-around scattered racing and rowing technique. But, everyone is racing in the same water so I couldn't blame my (lack of) speed on that. It was my first experience in being able to row through a competitor in the middle of the race and a confidence booster at that. I had a great dogfight, not once but twice, with my pal Jamie Abbass.  He is a classy guy with many stories and always has a smile on his face. We were very close both races and within a few feet it was always hard to tell who reached the imaginary line first. I hope to race him again soon.  In the end I was knocked out (2nd loss) by Steve Van Knotseburg, a heavyweight sculler in my fourth race today.  It was going to be a huge uphill (headwind) battle with SNV and in the end he finished by over a length in front of me. I was spent! What a great event. 

Kevin Kowalyk boathouse slow-walk 

SNV setting up for race time

Final Results:   Fraser Berkhout edged out Kevin Kowalyk for the win this afternoon.  On the womens side my friend Rosie DeBoef held off Erica Shaw for the top prize. Congratulations.

Perspectives from Above

The time has come for a shift in focus. For most of the Winter training I knew that there was an inevitable boiling point for my goals . Regardless of what outcome it was going to be a fresh change and a concrete target to aim towards. Was it going to be toward the Olympics, World Championships or something else...  To paint a picture of what possibilities lay ahead I have drawn a pictogram web to follow; using classic Microsoft paint!

- - dotted lines have not occurred yet.

*Note: I have to clarify that if everything did work out I would still need to be selected for the boat that is racing at the Olympic Qualifier or World Championships, which is not guaranteed and is a long-shot with my limited experience.

Lately, I have been trying to put everything into perspective. I often have one focal point and try to block out   any external influences to complete the task at hand. It is now time to take a step back and look at the big picture.  Ultimately, I have only a certain amount of energy to focus on each activity and I want it to be 100% effective. When I try to take a birds eye view of my plans/goals and look at where I see myself going in the next 6months, 1year, 2 years, and 5 years out from now, I want to be going in the right direction.

Who knows, really, where our goals take us and if they change over time then that is completely fine. It was nice to have some more clarity these past few weeks with a new coach assigned to the lwt group. There has been increased communication between coach and athlete and I feel more involved in deciding outcomes. For me,  I'm now excited at a real possibility (with a ton of work) for the World Rowing Championships this summer, and possibly more...

The First Day of Spring (but still Winter)

The weather as of late has been anything but nice. For the past fortnight we have received constant gusty cold winds followed by a glimmer of sunshine. There has been no consistancy and it is very hard to predict and plan ahead for what to wear out in the elements. The fact that the storms have brought in lots of wind, the water surface has been more often rough and white-cappy than smooth. 

I know this sounds like a large complaint but I'm ready to move on with winter and get into spring. Today, on the first day of spring I was optimistically ready for something glorious.  Today we had snow and hail coming in from a chilly arctic North wind. I have a stubborness to push through and finish the task at hand but today I turned around and let mother nature win.   Now, a recent trip to the wild-west coast of Vancouver Island, I was able to see true storm watching at its finest. Large waves building up from across the Pacific to crash on shore creating a symphony of power.  Our little Elk Lake has nothing on the shear magnitude and on the might Pacific. Maybe someday I could row across an ocean? Which reminds me - check this out with Adam  Kreek and OAR Northwest and circumnavigating Vancouver Island by row boat. 

A Good Read

I always try to use a good book to occupy my mind while I go through life.  I try to have two books on the go at all times; a fiction or historical adventure along with a self-improvement book.   Sometimes it is nice to get lost in a story or adventure from a time past. I sometimes think I was born 100+ years too late and all the remote locations on earth have already been explored.  With the self improvement book, I like to keep learning from the life experiences of others and what they have described to build a personal success system.

On the side of the historical adventure I have recently been captivated by naval exploration stories. First, the stories of Ernest Shackleton, the early 20th century polar explorer.  I just finished his first hand account of the story of The Endurance, the ship that was locked in sea-ice before it was crushed and the 28 men survived for almost 900 days in the Antarctic to tell the tale.  The second book is the previously un-published history of Sir Francis Drake and his treasure-seeking secret voyage to the west coast of North America - even around Vancouver Island!

Another great adventure book more current and with recent research and developments in the athletics world is Born to Run. It tells a story of a secret tribe of  natives living in the central Mexican scrub-land and surviving by running down their food and also for fun, all while going barefoot! Chris McDougall goes through the science behind why barefoot runners have dramatically reduced injury rates compared to modern stability-controlled engineered $200 shoes.  It is not only educational with comparative examples it is captivating. I couldn't put the book down!  It may be biased toward the barefoot camp in the current running world's argument discussion over barefoot vs. support shoes, but I enjoyed the ride.

On the self-improvement side, I like to think of it as a guideline of how to pursue and fulfill the goals that I have in life. I haven't lived or experience a full lifetime yet so why don't I read about what others have gone through, learn from them, and build a success system that works for me.  I often can only read these books for a few pages or a chapter at most in one sitting. But, I keep them marked and folded pages to the good points that I will revisit at a future time.

  The first book is In Pursuit of Excellence by Terry Orlick, a classic straight-forward guide for living successfully. Defining what makes someone successful is all in the perspective of each individual but in every case it involves hard work and determination to get there.  This book may be fairly common sense but it has excellent real-life examples from many of the top athletes from many different sports.

The second is a little known book by the personal chiropractor of Lance Armstrong during his seven consecutive Tour de France wins.  Dr. Jeff Spencer is now a "life coach to the stars" and public speaker but is a bit cocky about it all. He has put together a book about how to perform at your highest level all in an easy, concise and readable way. I was able to see him during a talk he did in Portland and was impressed how simple he explains to create a winning plan. Mostly straight forward step by step goal setting ideas he gives many useful tips on how to clear out clutter in everyday life while saving time and removing yourself from toxins.   

The third book is a classic first written in 1937 by Dale Carnegie. It is every bit as effective today as it was almost 80 years ago. In my mind, it should be read by everyone and has very common conversational tips to keep people interested in effective communication and not loosing interest.  To me, it means more about influencing people but everyone can take away different things with it. For example,   the simple way of remembering someones name and birthday may be the biggest things you can do to brighten someones day.  

The Value of Training

A recent trip to Royal Roads Univeristy to watch the Hatley Castle 8k running race I spotted an interesting "motivational message" posted on a huge billboard in the old military college gym. In my mind, it describes the process and benefit of everyday consistency in training.... and that is the true victory to carry forth into the future. It keeps my head up during the long hours of training that goes into the dark and wet times of the year.
Our training schedule was set out before us and we have to follow through with confidence that this will get us in shape for the summer racing series. A big part of this winter work is keeping the motivation and positive atmosphere going.  The past two weeks our coach(s) have gone to a training camp in California and we were given planned workouts each day but it is our own ambition to complete it with vigor.  To the most part the work was completed with excellence due to the fact the group of athletes I train with are very individually motivated personalities.
 I have felt after some long hard and wet workouts like I just want to crawl up in a ball and sleep for three months. I, however, often realize I need to quickly shower and go to work because I have patients booked long into the evening. At the end of these long days when I get home from work I realize I'm f#%*ing exhausted that I have a smile on my face for all the things I was able to accomplish. Luckily, I thoroughly enjoy my job!  So, in the end of it all, I hope I'm getting faster and more technically proficient at rowing.

The next important time-frame to work towards is the third week of March with the RADAR erg testing sessions and an on-water time-trial in early April. Till then, we will get true value for our training.

Shawnigan Sessions

I spent a few days last week at a mini-training camp up at Shawnigan lake as a heavyweight. I was in the bow seat of the "heavy hudson" 8+ and trying to hold on. I think it was a dual purpose trip; I got more experience on starboard side and the other guys were able to head out in a full 8+. See map below of the logged course using my garmin GPS watch for one row (of 3) during the day.

See some shots below of the times between rows.  Other than rowing or talking about rowing, time is spent eating, sleeping, stretching, texting, and more eating. 

Walking to lunch at "hogwarts" cafeteria

Post-lunch siesta 

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." Albert Einstein 

Over the course of the past year I have tried to put down a solid effort. This is both physical and mental and I find those long days of grinding out the sweat, blood and tears builds up confidence in my strength and conditioning for the next round of training. This can be similar to a periodized training plan with a rowing twist on it.

Every once in a while an opportunity arises that allows everything come together and creates a synchronized symphony of opportunity and productivity.  It makes my whole body tingle all over when it happens - everything I have been working towards comes together exactly as planned.  To date, it has only happened five times in my life.  The first experience was more of a coming-of-age story and  I was 16 years old.

 I really wanted to repair my fathers' old Saab 900 that was parked out back behind the house under a large evergreen for the previous 10 years.  When I had my learners license (at the time it was only took one month) I begged my Dad to let me drive the Saab as my first vehicle. We pulled it into the garage and had to do some repairs due to a decade of sitting had taken its toll.  After we changed the oil, spark plugs, fan belt, air filters, stereo etc. all it needed was a new muffler.  So, I spent one afternoon driving to Cranbrook to get a new exhaust system put on.  I waited for the muffler man to finish up and I paced the waiting room with anticipation.  I got the keys and drove back on the highway towards Fernie and in the first minute of driving it happened. I turned the volume up on the new stereo and I felt the smooth rumble of the finely tuned engine  and my whole body just melted in a waterfall of emotion. I was so happy, a smile ear to ear - I was tingling all over. In my 16 year old mind, I felt that I had really made it. Everything I wanted had come together and I was driving my own personal freedom in the direction I wanted it.

The second and third time were with other exceptional life experiences. I received the letter that I was accepted into UBC for my undergraduate degree. The third is when I made (the right) decision to hold-off attending Chiropractic college for a year to see about a girl, who is now my fiance.  The fourth time was in July 2011 when I called my Dad after finding out I was invited to train at the VTC leading up to the Pan-Am Games.

This last time was just a few days ago. I'm not sure why this was a feeling of things coming together for opportunity but it happened. It felt like I had stepped up the game and ready for the next challenge in rowing. I was invited to train with the heavyweight 8+'s Olympic group at Shawnigan Lake for Friday and Saturday. They needed a fill-in to have a complete boat and for some reason I was their guy.  It was an opportunity to get some feedback from Mike Spracklen and also get some experience rowing with the decades worth of experience that the other guys bring to the boat.   So after I found out I was driving home and one of my favorite songs came on Over the Hills and Far Away, by Led Zeppelin.   It started small and then I couldn't contain it. I had a giant smile and I felt like the past 4-5 months of hard work were paying off. Even though there is no real benefit or selections from going to Shawnigan Lake to me, in my mind, it is a step forward.

Shawnigan Lake Sessions

On Thursdays we are now heading up to Shawnigan Lake to utilize the 7km long lake for the "extended" rowing sessions without having to turn around. This past week was my first time to the location at the Shawnigan Lake private school boathouse. What an experience!  It is a fully stocked boathouse with excellent views of the lake.  Along with showers, erg/meeting room and large deck to lounge in the sun there are 4 boathouse bays and two long docks.  There are many years of alumni making rowing history coming out of Shawnigan, and many Olympians learned how to row at this location.

After three long rowing sessions I was fully exhausted but excited for the next visit. 

January Testing Revealed

The week of testing revealed a few interesting aspects of training that I didn't expect.   First, it gave me some objective training heart rate (HR) zones to hit for different training sessions.  Next, it gave me quality data that I could compare between this time and the last times. And thirdly, and most important, it gave me the confidence that I had the training effects from the previous 6 months of hard work to show that I have (in theory) the ability to pull off a top-level test.
The first session this past week we completed was the simple heart-rate step test à la Kenny Wu. With a step wise incremental increasing of intensity for a 1000m distance on the erg we are able to compare HR from the previous sessions (Dec and Jan).  We recorded our HR at the end of each 1000m. Starting at 2:05 min/500m split on the erg and increasing to 2:00 Split, then 1:55, 1:50, 1:45, and finishing with 1:40. We then could see how at least our HR has decreased over the past few months with rigorous training. There is more information to be read into this test but the instant look is that my HR had reduced by 5-10 bpm for each intensity since the first session 2 months ago.

The second session was Lactate step-testing. With the use of the sport-physiology lab we were monitored every 3min on the erg (progressing intensity) with HR and blood lactate levels. Comparing the results from last time in a direct lactate threshold curve I have become more efficient at lower intensities before lactate shoots up.

*Image by CSC Pacific 

Within this lactate step-testing session the physiologists were able to reccommend training intensities with HR where optimum training effect can take effect. This will help out with future training goals. See below:

*Image by CSC Pacific

With the results from the HR and lactate step-tests I felt confident I could (again, in theory) complete the 2k and 6k erg tests with real improvements. Turns out that is exactly what happened. At least in the 6km I improved 20 seconds on my last attempt and 8 seconds off my last previous personal best. The 2km test stayed exactly the same at 6:16. I'm happy with both of them but I know they can still improve.

The next step was bringing this quality physiological and psychological training to the water this week with a double session of time-trails; the 2x2km in the single (1x) and the 2x2km in the pair (2-) with John Sasi.  And, in my mind, they were both a success! More on this later

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