Dev Squad Introduction

[[old] mag]

Hi all -<br /><br />I am still not sure why I was invited to join the dev squad but am looking forward to whatever it can give me and whatever I can give back.<br /><br />I am a 58 (59 in rowing years) year old rower and have been rowing shells for 5 years. I began my rowing "career" in an 8-woman whaleboat, racing around the San Francisco Bay and switched to shells when I moved away from the ocean. I currently live in Boston and compete with Boston's Community Rowing. My Master's 8 was soundly beaten at the 2005 Crew Classic - those iceflows on the early-spring Charles river makes for some dicey early season training.<br /><br />Living in Boston affords me access to two rowing meccas - the Charles river and the CRASH B's. Last year was my first CRASH B race and although I rowed what I consider a personal worst, I won a hammer (very soft age group.) Now I bear the burden of the hammer and intend on defending it to the best of my ability (with a lot of coaching help.) That's where the DevSquad comes in.<br /><br />Being a pre-Title9 baby, my athletic background did not begin until well into my adulthood. The 60's were not conducive to discovering my athletic side, except for muscles built by carrying protest signs and cardio exercise achieved during protest marches. First came 10K's followed by a dozen marathons. I discovered that I wasn't a natural athlete but I was tenacious and could complete anything I put my mind to. I also discovedred that I didn't have great speed but had pretty good endurance.<br /><br />Marathons were followed by some bike road racing, cross country skiing, open water swimming and mountaineering - all before rowing. Achievements of note include a trans-France bike ride, an English Channel swim and a climb up Kilimanjaro, all complex, mostly solo events. <br /><br />I view rowing an 8 as the ultimate team event - everyone has to be in sync - there are no individual heros. Erging, on the other hand, is the ultimate solo event - no excuses, just you, your muscles and your mind. I hate it and I love it. If I could excel on the water without the erg, I would - but I can't.<br /><br />I row on the water 3 days a week - 2 hours per workout. We also have 3 erg workouts and 3 weight workouts per week. That doesn't leave much time for walking the dog. My best recent 2K time is 8:26. We do a 2K test about once a month and my times continue to come down. I believe I can achieve an 8:15 before the 2006 CRASH B's. My biggest obstacle is my mind.<br /><br />I welcome this DevSquad opportunity and look forward to meeting other members on the water (Masters' Nationals 2005 in Wochester) and at the 2006 CRASH B's.