OTW Update

[Edward4492]

Haven't posted since this time a year ago. Pretty much totally committed to the boat at this point and transition to the erg right around now strictly for training. I raced the Center City Slam last February which I won over four other 60+ competitors with a time which was a mere shadow of what I was doing several years ago (7:28). I chalk it up to several things, it's been five years since my best erg time in competition (7:05.3) and my gym PR of 6:59. So I'm five years older. I only train on the erg seriously from December until March. And most importantly, I just don't have the desire to do the brutal sessions necessary to get the fastest times possible. Going fast on the erg just hurts too much. The water is a different animal. The pain is there, it's just in the background because there's so much going on. Lots to think about. Reminds me of bicycle road racing.

I made a solid leap to another level this season. My two best sprint (1000m) races were:
Independence day Regatta 3rd of 6 4:12 1x
Quaker City Regatta 3rd of 5 4:10 1x

Head races (4000m time trials, launch on 10s intervals):
Navy Day Regatta 12th of 14 18:35
Head of the Schuykill 16th of 18 18:27

One of my goals was to break 18:30 on the Schulykill, my previous best was 19:10. Getting two honest 3rds in a quality field in the sprints was satisfying. I missed second by 2s and 3s; so definitely in the hunt. There's really only two local guys that are currently totally out of my reach in 60-65 class; Mark Malone and Alex Cook. And of course at the national level there's plenty of guys like Tom Darling. I've been racing in the open class as there's not a lot of guys racing the LWT's; and OTW LWT class is 160lbs. I'm in shape, walking around weight is 168, I got below 160 twice last year and it wasn't any fun. It speaks to the quality of the competition how far back I finished in the head races even though I had two solid times. My navigation has improved greatly compared to last year (although clipping two bouys at HOS cost me 20s and two places). All told I did (10) races this season.

Marianne left the mixed double to devote her time to a women's quad. I ended up rowing a composite quad and double with Whitemarsh. Me and Amy McBlane had some decent results (best was 3rd) in the double. And we had a mixed quad that was flying (sub 2:00 splits, heading for a sub 16min time) at HOS when we picked up a bunch of debris with 1500m to go that killed us (bulled our way to 17:30 and 5th of 7). This was a real problem later afternoon on Sunday after a heavy morning rain. Lots of boats got jammed up.

This was my third full season racing OTW. I seem to be taking another step forward each year. The old timers I race against are really, really good. My hope is that I can continue to close the gap and get a little better each season. Next season I'll be looking to break 18min on the Schuylkill. I'll be 64 for next season, one more year until I age up to 65!

[G-dub]

Nice to hear Ed! I was wondering how your racing was going. Sounds like you are making great progress - well done!

[jackarabit]

Hey Ed! Also had a thought as to your “How you doin?” after you (wisely) bailed on the Diamond State Masters couple yrs. back. Good to hear you’re doing well and making strides on the H2O. Wondering when I’ll get to see you (and Dub) race? Have to get my sorry butt up to Camden or Philly next yr.

[Cyclist2]

Hi Ed! I figured you were in the boat a lot this summer. Good job on your progress!

I raced in a mixed double this year. The gal is pretty new at it, but is strong and has been doing sweep for a few years, so she knows the basics, just needs more single/double time. We signed up for three races; the first was cancelled due to weather, #2 was Tail of the Lake on Lake Union and by the time we were on the course, the wind came up and a seaplane taking off waked us pretty good, but we survived it. Number 3 was a pretty solid race, but she was rowing bow and didn't see one turn buoy until almost too late, so we messed around for a minute correcting and getting back up to speed. (She rows bow so that she can follow my strokes since our styles are, currently, pretty different. We're working on that and I think I'll be rowing bow next year).

I didn't do any single racing in my Aero, but am actively seeking a racing single for next year. The club has an older Empacher that I've finally gotten rigged as close as it's going to get. Rowed it this morning, not too bad. I'm not comfortable enough in it to be competitive in the rough conditions inherent in a sprint race scenario, maybe by next spring (since we can row virtually year round here). I'll be ready for the head races next fall.

Anyway, glad to see your post. Don't forsake those painful erg sessions (and races), it only makes you faster in the boat!

[Edward4492]

Good to hear from you guys. Jack, Diamond States has been frustrating. Two years ago we got shut down due to a brutal storm that came through. This past season they canceled due to excessive heat (?). So not necessarily wise on my part; I would have been dumb enough to do either race. I'll post my OTW schedule next spring and maybe we'll hook up. I'll be on the erg in a week or two, don't plan on doing any events except possibly Center City Slam since I won it the last two years. Going to work on building my aerobic base over the winter. Plan on doing a mixed double again with a new partner from our club, Maureen Higgins and also with Amy McBlane from Whitemarsh. Amy's a great bow and likes being back there, Maureen likes to stroke and she's very experienced; should be fun. And of course the 1x. I have a new (purchased last season) Wintech 1x that I really like, Fast enough and very stable. Glen, I assume you're still hitting the sweep, boats hard. Good to hear everyone is still at it. I'll post from time to time, just to stay in touch.

PS- Jack, we also did Christina in downtown Wilmington where me and Amy finished 3rd of 4. Tricky course with lots of turns and weird tidal currents to contend with.

[G-dub]

Yup. Still rowing 4s and 8s. I have a men’s 4+ that has been lots of fun and is making progress. I want to shift gears a little and do more sculling. May do a mixed double next year. Eventually I will have to brave the single in a race environment. I did a stretch of 200K in 40 days in a single this summer which helped me make progress but still a ways away from feeling confident enough to take the rate up to where it needs to be.

Anyway, now it’s dark outside and and getting chilly....