The Road to Boston 2007

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 26th, 2007, 1:41 am

What a day!!!
It was so great to see so many forum folks...I've got people all jumbled up now but it was so fun to actually talk to you all! I met so many superstars today, it was certainly more exciting than watching the Oscars. I thought the race was very well run by the organizers. The only complaint I can think of was that we weren't supposed to bring in food and water, though water was winked at. We went out to the car so I could have a banana and a granola bar. The stuff the concessions sold wasn't the sort of thing I would ever want to eat before an all out effort.

So much exciting stuff happened that I can't remember it all, but it was so cool to see forum folks racing: Dave Howells, Niall Williams, Jon Bone, Paul Flack, Andras Von Tonder, Fred Dickie, oh, I can't remember everyone, and I missed some people I wanted to see trying to find them since they were racing at the same time!

It was great meeting Will, Bob, TomR, and seeing Rick, Kinley, and Bill Burke again. I didn't get to meet coggs or Ben Rea, sorry!

I taped a post it note to my erg with the av paces needed to meet my old PB and also to hit 7:30, 7:28, and 7:26. It also had on it 3 plans to meet the goal of 7:26: 1:53, 1:52, 1:51, 1:50 ; in case that didn't fly: 1:53, 1:53, 1:52, 1:48 or 1:53, 1:52, 1:51, 1:48. I didn't hit any of them, exactly, but ended up with 1:54.1, 1:53.7, 1:52.3, 1:47.4, enough to get a PB by about 5 seconds. Had no idea I had 3rd place until someone told me after I'd left the floor as I was totally focussed on my own paces. My daughter coxed me and did just what I wanted her to do--kept me steady with a few reassuring remarks through the first 1500 m and then gave me a loud vigorous Power 10 (or 11 or 12) for each of the remaining 100ms. At the end I had to close my eyes and didn't realize the race was over so I rowed a few strokes after the end. Guess that makes up for the stroke I left off at Rick's race!

I'm glad I went...I'm glad it's over....maybe I'll do it next year!

coggs · Post by **coggs** » February 26th, 2007, 1:55 am

>>didn't get to meet coggs or Ben Rea<<

Sorry we didn't meet but I stuck around to watch your heat. Great row Carla. Very impressive.

>At the end I had to close my eyes and didn't realize the race was over so I rowed a few strokes after the end.<
I noticed that. Thinking to myself, God, she wants more?

My cousin was in the same heat over on erg #4. She went out too fast and Tracy's pace rowed her and most of the boats right off the left side of the big screen. When she reappeared after you three Three Amiga's were done smoking the field she was in much better position (eneded up 9th).

I had a great time (strong PB helped!) and am sure to be back next year - but ready for the lakes and rivers to thaw out and get back in the singles ASAP.

whaskell · Post by **whaskell** » February 26th, 2007, 6:40 am

Nice strong race Carla!

I was way off my goal of 6:50. I started where I wanted - 1:43.5 pace - and planned on bringing it down. I did that through about 1000 meters but just never felt quite right. I really lost it towards the end and my pace went all to pieces - very inconsistent and slow during the last 500 m. There was nothing there for a sprint. Disappointed, but it's time to move past it. Now its back to some longer online races - endurance races are more my style. Next year, they should move the Crash B's to December - I think I would do better...

It was nice to meet Tom and to see Carla and Rick again.

big g · Post by **big g** » February 26th, 2007, 6:47 am

whaskell wrote:Nice strong race Carla!

I was way off my goal of 6:50. I started where I wanted - 1:43.5 pace - and planned on bringing it down. I did that through about 1000 meters but just never felt quite right. I really lost it towards the end and my pace went all to pieces - very inconsistent and slow during the last 500 m. There was nothing there for a sprint. Disappointed, but it's time to move past it. Now its back to some longer online races - endurance races are more my style. Next year, they should move the Crash B's to December - I think I would do better...

It was nice to meet Tom and to see Carla and Rick again.

well done matey lookig foward to training with you on row pro

Kinley · Post by **Kinley** » February 26th, 2007, 12:41 pm

Congratulations Carla on a great race. 1:47 for the last 500!

As for myself, I've had motivational and stick-to-itness problems this year. My goal for Boston was merely to row a solid, restorative, feel-good 2000 meters. I set the PM3 to watts so my feeble brain wouldn't get intimidated by the pace, and just pulled. Happy with the result. (I feel good & restored).

Coggs ---- I didn't know until yesterday that Deb was your cousin. She coxed me in my first-ever erg race in 1991. There were 9 lightweight (!!!!) women ---- me against the UNH LW 8, and I won! I didn't know how to prepare for a race, I didn't know how to pace a race, but I had Debbie tearing my ear off, and that was enough.

>>>------> Kinley

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 26th, 2007, 8:01 pm

Hey Kinley,
You did what you planned and that is what you are supposed to do! I saw the race footage of our heat and there you were looking very strong and with good form. You should feel good about what you accomplished, what a great job of negative splitting, starting out at 1:59.9, then nice drop to 1:59.1, 1:58.6, and the plunge to 1:56.8. Congratulations on a good, solid perfomance!

Mary P. · Post by **Mary P.** » February 27th, 2007, 2:21 am

Congratulations, Carla! Bronze is a very becoming color.

Go enjoy the cycling & hope to see you next year.
Mary P.

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 27th, 2007, 8:51 am

Mary P. wrote:Congratulations, Carla! Bronze is a very becoming color. Go enjoy the cycling & hope to see you next year.
Mary P.

Congrats to you too! We match! I was hoping to meet you--you were on my list of living legends to meet. Have a great OTW season!

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » February 27th, 2007, 10:19 am

Joan Van Blom and Mary P earning the gold and bronze medals in the 50-54 lwt division.

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 27th, 2007, 2:42 pm

Great shot! Belongs on the cover of Rowing News. Both look so composed and focused. Any idea how far along in the race it was taken?

Anne · Post by **Anne** » February 27th, 2007, 5:17 pm

I was cheering for all of you throughout Sunday and looking for results. Thanks for the pictures and information. I was so sorry to miss it, but my father in law moved from the hospital to hospice today.

Is anyone from the Road to Boston interested in having a Finale Team Row together using row-pro one of these evenings?

--Just 20 minutes or something...to close the season or it could be considered a "victory lap" for finishing the IP plan.

Anne

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » February 27th, 2007, 5:36 pm

Carla, I watched a fair bit on another bank before I got there, so I'd guess that it is at least halfway along, 900m-1100m or so.

Here is Bob Spenger, looking good, who I had been watching before getting around to the front row:

TomR · Post by **TomR** » February 27th, 2007, 8:46 pm

Anne,

Did 40 mins at recovery pace tonight.

I don't have row-pro so can't do the online business. I am planning to see if I can improve my 5k for the season, but that's a week or two away. At the moment, I'm motivationally challenged.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » February 27th, 2007, 10:56 pm

I did 40 minutes at a pathetic pace today....absolutely the worst.

But, I got a PB doing a 5K on row pro last week...I was fortunate that someone who was tapering for the Crash B's took pity on me and was a perfect pace car!

Somehow, I got piggy and assumed I could get a PB again today...not in the stars!

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » February 28th, 2007, 7:23 am

Ben Rea, in another of my photos that was shot with the wrong settings. Sorry Ben. Live & learn.