CRASH-Bs 2023--The Other World Championship

[Yankeerunner]

CRASH-Bs went in-person again on March 5th. CRASH-Bs, for the longest time THE World Championship of indoor racing. And now, with World Rowing's decision to throw everyone over 75 under the bus by eliminating their age groups from World Rowing's championships, CRASH-Bs is once again the only World Championship for age groups 75 and up. Count me in.

A bad omen greeted the day before the competition when my carpooling buddy texted that he was sick and wouldn't be going. Uh-oh. Given that we were in the midst of a snowstorm that meant that I couldn't wait until getting home from Boston to shovel out the car. Took it slow and in little shovelfuls though, and didn't seem any worse for wear when I declared the car good to go on Sunday morning.

Up at 6 AM Sunday morning and on the road by 6:20. Clear streets (thanks, road crews) and clear sailing all the way. Found on-street parking only two blocks from the venue, checked in, weighed in (155 lbs fully clothed and carrying gym bag), and met people. First Don Tanhauser, who I'd known by only name for years and saw rowing OTW last summer on the internet in the National Masters Championships. Don weighed in ahead of me, tipping the scale at 147 lbs. Other familar lightweights were Andrea Loew, 2-seat of a Quad that I rowed in last October, Tom Phillips, and Dave Spector.

Headed to the warmup ergs and met up with CRI teammates Paul Farrell and Franklin Schwarzer. Eventually coach Theresa Welch came by to say Hi. She was volunteering, and nearly had a heart attack when she saw signage that read "Volunteers" with a sign underneath reading "Weigh In." At first glance she thought they were one sign and that she wouldn't pass the test. Old friends Carla Stein and Anne Hird came by as well for a quick hello before we all settled down to some serious warming up. Steve Krum strode into the warmup area too and I mentioned that he would be easily the first finisher in the first heat. For more than two decades he's been at or near the top of his age group.

Finally, 9 AM and time for the first heat, and I'm on machine #10. Beside me is CRI teammate Hugh Scott, who stroked the Quad in October that Andrea and I were in. Krum is at one end of the line and Tanhauser at the other. Paul Farrell agreed to cox me, as he often does OTW in our Eights and Fours, and asked me about my goals. "As with every other race and time-trial this winter, stay under a 2:00 pace through 1500m then kick it in. And this time actually do it." SIT READY...ATTENTION.........GO! and we were off. Only Hugh and I were in the 75-79 lwts, so we were the only ones I could see on my screen. Probably a good thing since most of the guys in our heat were younger and/or heavier. Got through the first 500m at 1:59.7 pace at 33 spm, right on target and feeling OK. Paul had called for me to settle quickly and gave me gentle reminders to fully compress and to relax the shoulders. The second 500m took 2:00.2, keeping the average just under my target. Then it got shaky. When a 2:03 popped up on the screen the average went above 2:00 and it was gut-check time. A 1:59 stroke was followed by a 2:00, then 2:01, then back to 1:59. The third 500m took 2:00.6 and the average pace was 2:00.2 by then. Can't break 8:00 that way! A couple of hard pulls showed 1:58 on the screen, but the average wasn't moving. Then another 2:00, Crap! Finally in the final 200m to 150m I managed a bit of a kick down to 1:53 and finished up with 7:58.1, 0.8 second faster than in Toronto last weekend. It seems I should be faster, but the monitor is telling me NO. Damn monitor! Satisfied though to at least break 8:00 (there's something about big round numbers--Sub-6, Sub-7, Sub-8, Sub-9) and to win the World Championship in my age group. It wasn't a great time, but it wasn't chopped liver either. It would have won 9 of the previous 21 World Championships for 75-79 lwts. Steve Krum crushed the first heat at 6:40.4 to win the 65-69 Hwts, Hugh was second to me at 8:50.7, and Don Tanhauser won the 85-89 lwts at 9:34.5. There's New Goal #1 for me today....stay within 96 seconds of today's time over the next 10 years to match Don.

Heat 2 saw the big Texan Ken Gates win another at 6:31.5 in the 60-64 Hwts. He was also OTW at the National Masters last summer and seemed to be rowing a race every 45 minutes to an hour, his age group, younger age groups, doubles, whatever. Down the line Tom Phillips matched his 7:05 from Atlantic City last month to win the 65-69 lwts, and Dave Spector got silver behind him (also as at Atlantic City) in 7:25.0.

After a couple of minutes on a cooldown machine I saw new friend Susan Brahaney (met her in Toronto last week) looking for a machine and let her have mine, which she quickly turned into a warmup machine. I headed off in search of my son and his wife. It didn't take long because they were on their way to look for me. We moseyed over near the award stand to find out that 10:45 was when the bling was to be handed out. While standing there with me explaining the origin of hammers as prizes, Elizabeth Gilmore came by with her husband to say Hi. I got to introduce Pete & Katya to the best all-around indoor rower in the world! Elizabeth proved that last week in Toronto at World Rowing's brutal Versa Challenge. This day she would be doing the Open 500m, then anchoring a 4 X 500m relay.

The 10 AM heat not only had several friends, but also the Star of the Day, Dottie Stewart. At age 101 Dottie was looking to become only the second Centurian to win a 2K major erg championship. England's John Hodgson was the first in 2010 at the British Championships in Birmingham, England. Nancy Cook led the heat in winning the 55-59 in 7:27.9, followed by the Carlas in the 60-64, Dropo winning in 7:43.1 and Stein third in 7:50.1. Those two are long-time duelists. Anne Hird took silver in the 60-64 lwts with 8:31.4. Both she and Stein were coming off of recent health issues. Susan Brahaney improved on her silver medal at the Toronto worlds last week in winning the 65-69 lwts in 9:01.6, followed by Andrea Loew at 10:04.7.

As competitors finished up their races and grabbed a few gulps of air, they began walking down the line toward Erg #15 where Dottie Stewart was stroking away at 28-32 spm. Rhythmic clapping and occasional shouts of encouragement grew as the meters wound their way toward 0. By the time Dottie pulled her 495th stroke she was surrounded and the entire stadium was cheering ecstatically. She stood and gave a hearty wave, to the delight of everyone. Who wouldn't want to encourage such things? Oh, that's right, World Rowing wouldn't. They don't think that Dottie and many others deserve an age division.

The next heat saw Ante Kusurin lead the way in winning the 36-42 age group in 6:09.3. Closely behind came the familiar Toby Ayer, winning the 43-49 in 6:12.1. Ayer just did manage to hold off the remarkable Ivan Milan, who did 6:13.2. Milan wowed everyone in Atlantic City by entering about 20 or 30 events and winning most of them. OK, I exaggerate, but he did indeed do the Triathon, and win it, and a 2000m, and a 500m, and I think even a second 2000m (one Open and one age group?). He came dressed in camouflage cargo shorts looking like he was ready for a backyard volleyball game and blew away all but two of the best rowers that were on hand. Super fit! I hope he sticks with the sport. It's fun watching him. Also in the heat was my CRI Military/Veterans Crew Captain Franklin Schwarzer. Franklin got off to a good start then held steady 1:47/1:46s until a final kick got him in at 7:03.4. The best of our crew.

At 10:45 we headed for the awards ceremony, and again Dottie was the main attraction. A suggestion was made that she could probably make a killing by setting up a booth and charging $5 to have a photo taken with her. What a delightful person, much like I remember John Hodgson being. Perhaps getting that old confers such niceness on a person. Or maybe it is that being nice enables one to reach that age. Something for all of us to strive for, and New Goal #2 for me....get as old as Dottie and be as nice as her.

When my turn came Franklin told me that what I had to do was to strike a superhero pose on the podium. Well, he's my captain, I do what he says, so after Howie Schmuck (we have an Eight at CRI named for him) put a medal around my neck and handed me a hammer, and shook my hand, and told me to hold the hammer high for a picture, I did. Then I asked Franklin if he was ready. He was. Down on one knee with the hammer raised high overhead in my best Thor impression. Photos were taken. The fans went wild. At least the fans who were part of the crew I was with.

Elizabeth and her husband came by again and I talked to Mr. Gilmore (Sorry, I stink at remembering names. He was introduced but I forgot) about her. He says she is totally immersed in the sport and loves it, and the only concern he has is that she doesn't do so much that she injures herself as she did as a runner. It's been great following her progress up to now, and I hope it continues. She went out and did 500m in 1;31.1 to win that, and an hour later anchored the relay team to a win with a 1:32.9. Wow!

A group of us then walked across the street to American Flatbread and had pizza and drinks. I got to talk quite a bit with Dave Spector and enjoyed every bit of it. I saw photos of when this lwt (under 165 lbs) was a 200 lb bodybuilder and good friends with the great Al Oerter. Dave is psyched already to go to Prague next year for the World Championships. Hmmm. Prague? I've been to Prague. Maybe I could finally see the castle that I passed up for a chance to meet Emil Zatopek. I told the tour guides in 1986 that, "Heck, the castle will probably always be here. Zatopek won't."

Till we meet in Prague!

Renegade Rick Bayko,
Cub Reporter

[Cyclist2]

Great reporting, Rick! And great erging, too! Way to empty the tank to get sub-8.

I saw your medal photos on row2K this morning - I like the Thor pose!

[TomR]

hey rick--sub-8 and a hammer!

[Dangerscouse]

Great post, Rick and huge congratulations for going sub 8

[Elizabeth]

Rick, you always write such detailed race reports - I love it! Congratulations on the sub-8 finish and on the hammer, that's fantastic!

Dottie Stewart was very much the highlight of the day. I cheered her on during her race, as did I think everyone -- the crowd energy was great. I would have gladly paid $5 to have a photo taken with her.

And you are just too kind. I'm glad we got to connect this time - you caught me at WRICH just as we were being called off for a Versa Competitor's meeting to learn Event 3 and discuss what to do about the failed Elimination Challenge. My husband Jeff is really supportive. I have indeed broken a number of bones when running, but (1) I've gained some weight which helps, and (2) rowing is lower impact so my body seems to tolerate high volume much better.

My original planned day consisted solely of a 2k. I added the 500m about an hour before the registration window closed last Sunday (post-WRICH celebrations made it seem like a good idea), and then hopped into the team 2k the day-of to fill in for Henrietta Hogberg, who was feeling under the weather. I wasn't sure how I'd fare when I saw the schedule with the Open 2k at the end of the long day. I surprised myself with PBs in the Open 500m (my first event) as well as in the Open 2k (last event) - 6:53.3, with splits that make me wonder what I could have done if I were fresh and paced it more evenly (1:44.3 - 1:44.3 - 1:44.0 - 1:40.7). No regrets though: I'm stoked about the earlier 500m events, and about the opportunity to row with some pretty awesome women for Team Unaffiliated (New Zealand). Nicola Goss registered so I think the affiliation followed her, and we went with it!

I'll see you in Prague!

[Dangerscouse]

I'll see you in Prague!

I'm making progress on my wife to go to Prague. She's never been, and I've been twice, but I don't mind going again.

It's still TBC, but I might give it a go. Someone needs to make up the numbers!!

[Cyclist2]

Elizabeth, congrats on all your wins and one hammer! (What would you do with a bunch of hammers, anyway?! ) You are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with on the indoor rowing scene.

Our daughter lives in Vienna, so maybe Prague is not out of the question.

[Yankeerunner]

Thanks Mark, Tom, and Stu. I thought I'd be a lot older before I'd have to settle for sub-8 being worthy goal, but here I am! As Joni Mitchell sang, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone." I'm trying to appreciate going sub-8 before that becomes and unreachable goal too.

Elizabeth, when Dottie heard about the suggestion for a photo booth she chuckled, and with a twinkle in her eye said, "Don't go giving me ideas!" And darn, I'm sorry to have missed your 2K. Silly me, I was looking for it in the 36-42 age category, not the Open. Another PB, as with the 500m; they just keep coming. You're clearly doing something very right. Hope to see you and Jeff in Prague, if not sooner.


P.S. At 11 AM this morning I posted a picture of Dottie on the medal stand with her hammer on the Masters Rowing International facebook page, and it's already had 327 'likes' and counting. There is even a 12-second video of her rowing, in the comments section by Rich Whalen.