2K Time coming up again

[TheXe]

Hi everyone,

I'm back typing after a long hiatus on this forum. Session went alright, got my first actual win in a 1X (after narrowly losing the last races) so that's really cool (even though I thought the euphoria would hold up longer). I kind of relaxed a bit with the training (mainly because school messed up my schedule a lot) and am now trying to desperately cope with it coming up tomorrow. I'm not really a competetive athlete (more like a recreational one, as such I don't have to do 2Ks too often) so although Coach doesn't have actual requirements for me as I'm not planning on rowing on the International Regattas.

My issue is that I really feel unprepared (like always for 2Ks) and even though I'm still laughing about it, I got the feeling that I won't be able to really perform super well tomorrow. To be fair, the thing that annoys me the most is that the 2K times are listed on a board which I find super annoying as it shows everyone else my (comparably) not super good time (I assume it'll fall somewhere between 7:40 and 7:50). Any tips that help me neglect this? I know that the 2K as a recreational athlete is more just to showcase how you're progressing in your sport but for some reason thinking about it too much makes me feel quite bad about myself (certainly better than half a year ago but that might also be because I'm a lot more relaxed now).

Wish me luck! (Maybe I'm lucky and theres no 2K afterall )

[iain]

You are comparing yourself to very fit rowers (all too easy on the forum too!) Remember that most people struggle to row even 1k at a decent pace. If you can win in a 1x your technique must be pretty good. Also the erg is not representative as there is no handicap for being heavier, so some of those above you would sit lower in the water and so have a slower relative performance. Almost all of us have to accept that there are people out there significantly better at almost everything than we are. I assume that you don't have a problem knowing that the National team are faster than you, so why worry about some of these faster athletes (at least OTE) being in your own boathouse. Also remember that a 2k is highly mental, no sane person would put themselves through the pain required to get close to your absolute max. However the motivation for those fighting for seats is greater than you doing it solely for pride, so you could probably go faster if you had the motivation anyway. Also if they have done more 2ks they will have a better idea of where there limits lie. At your age people improve in spurts and so can sometimes smash what they thought they were capable of. That requires motivation and the rare phenomenon of remaining positive in the face of what appears contrary evidence (ie when their body is screaming at them their head is telling them that they are going faster than they can manage!)

Best of luck and remember that you are only competing against yourself. Also pity the person at the top as they have nothing to gain and everything to lose!

[Elizabeth]

Hey kid. If it makes you feel better, I can offer a different perspective. I have the fastest erg scores on the team when we test, and it always amazes me looking at the scores because there are some people who are further down but I just want them in the boat with me. For example, one teammate, it just feels like when she's in the boat it just stays set and runs and feels great. Seeing everything listed out is a good reminder that ergs don't float and I need to continue working on my technique. It may be different with you in a 1x, but if your teammates know that you can make the boat go, they are probably judging you less than you're judging yourself. Best of luck.

[JaapvanE]

To be fair, the thing that annoys me the most is that the 2K times are listed on a board which I find super annoying as it shows everyone else my (comparably) not super good time (I assume it'll fall somewhere between 7:40 and 7:50). Any tips that help me neglect this?

Looks like you are a huge step in front of your team mates. Going fast is cool and all, but requires a huge dedication to results. And in the end, it might not earn them anything but a cool time on a board. You are making different choices, which is fine!

There is nothing wrong with being a recreational athlete that just enjoys the sport regardless of his achievements. In fact, for the far majority of sportsmen/women, that should be the case. By the sounds of it, you are doing a good job in balancing your school and your sport, and you take decissions that gear you up for a professional future. These are your choices for your future. Perhaps training 40+ hours a week might make you faster, but there is a lot more pressure to perform and it will very likely not earn you your living a couple of years down the road.

Just keep enjoying your sport in your way and the friendships it brings. Hopefully you keep enjoying it for the next decades and it will keep you healthy and fit.

[Dangerscouse]

Any tips that help me neglect this? I know that the 2K as a recreational athlete is more just to showcase how you're progressing in your sport but for some reason thinking about it too much makes me feel quite bad about myself (certainly better than half a year ago but that might also be because I'm a lot more relaxed now).

Can you provide some context? Are your colleagues taller? Heavier? Stronger? Planning on focusing more on rowing?

It sounds like you've got the dreaded erg fear. This is a mind game, mainly dictated by your ego and to some extent a fear of failure. Is there any chance that you're telling yourself you're 'just' a recreational athlete* as a form of protection? That way you've already got your excuses prepared if it doesn't work out? I'm talking from experience, so don't worry if it is true.

What you need to do is change your perspective. As Thoreau said, "it's not what you look at, it's what you see". Your 2k may seem comparably slower, but the detail matters, and hearing that you don't feel totally comfortable with it, gives me reason to say you should try and use this slight discomfort as fuel to improve. Having said that, if you're giving 100% effort, you should feel good about yourself and focus entirely on that.

Elizabeth is a world class erger, and her insight is a very valuable comment to how perspective can be either positive or negative. Always challenge the bad inner voice with the counter argument. It doesn't always work, but it's always worthwhile.


*absolutely nothing wrong with this, for the avoidance of doubt