are my times ok??

[nanagi]

Hi,
Im a 14 year old girl, 5,4 and i started rowing this semester. My coach doesn't really say much about my erg times because there are some kinda slow girls who also row and she believes in equality etc etc..
For 20 mins on the ergs i normally get around 2 20 split. Is this a good time for a beginner?? help would be appreciated.

[Bob S.]

Hi,
Im a 14 year old girl, 5,4 and i started rowing this semester. My coach doesn't really say much about my erg times because there are some kinda slow girls who also row and she believes in equality etc etc..
For 20 mins on the ergs i normally get around 2 20 split. Is this a good time for a beginner?? help would be appreciated.

For perspective, let's take a look at this season's stats. The closest distance that can be found in the rankings would be the 5k. At a 2:20 split, it would take 23:20 to complete the 5k. It seems reasonable that you could maintain that pace for an additional 3' and 20". In the ranking for all women 13-18, both weight categories, that time comes between the 60th and 61st places out of 113 pieces ranked. Not bad when you consider that most of the group are a lot older than you. If the search is limited to just 13-14, that distance would be between 11th and 12th out of 23. The ranked times usually represent an all out effort by the participant to do her best. if you are doing that pace on a regular basis, your best effort would likely rank considerably higher. At 5'4". You are doing very well, especially as a beginner, and there is a good chance that you will gain both height and speed in the next 4 years.

Bob S.

[Gettingold]

Good job Nanagi.
Equality is the last bastion of hope for the desperate and has no place in competition. (said in an Arnie Schwartznegger voice) Your efforts should be acknowledged by your coach. Unfortunately this is the world we live in now and it is sad that someones achievements fail to achieve recognition for the sake of others. For a beginner you are doing well and faster times are ahead. Keep up the good work.
Terry

[fishbust1]

Good job Nanagi.
Equality is the last bastion of hope for the desperate and has no place in competition. (said in an Arnie Schwartznegger voice) Your efforts should be acknowledged by your coach. Unfortunately this is the world we live in now and it is sad that someones achievements fail to achieve recognition for the sake of others. For a beginner you are doing well and faster times are ahead. Keep up the good work.
Terry

They are 14 years old.

[jackarabit]

I suspect your coach has a couple of objectives which explain her silence regarding your current performance and probable potential. She has to encourage participation of all who come out for rowing or she won't have a team. She also has to be wary of letting her better prospects lay back because they can get by on natural ability. She wants all of you to improve. The time of selection will come soon enuf and there will be no shortage of encouragement and enthusiasm for you if you are willing to work hard to build on your potential. It's early days and you have the ability. Jack

[Gettingold]

Good job Nanagi.
Equality is the last bastion of hope for the desperate and has no place in competition. (said in an Arnie Schwartznegger voice) Your efforts should be acknowledged by your coach. Unfortunately this is the world we live in now and it is sad that someones achievements fail to achieve recognition for the sake of others. For a beginner you are doing well and faster times are ahead. Keep up the good work.
Terry

They are 14 years old.

Never too young for acknowlegement of ones achievements. These are the formative years in an athletes development. How old was Nadia Comaneci when she blitzed the olympics? This touchy feely world has gone a little too far and needs to take a good look at itself.

[fishbust1]

Good job Nanagi.
Equality is the last bastion of hope for the desperate and has no place in competition. (said in an Arnie Schwartznegger voice) Your efforts should be acknowledged by your coach. Unfortunately this is the world we live in now and it is sad that someones achievements fail to achieve recognition for the sake of others. For a beginner you are doing well and faster times are ahead. Keep up the good work.
Terry

They are 14 years old.

Never too young for acknowlegement of ones achievements. These are the formative years in an athletes development. How old was Nadia Comaneci when she blitzed the olympics? This touchy feely world has gone a little too far and needs to take a good look at itself.

Right now they start out being part of a team. A little kid learning to be part of a team is much more than being able to row a little faster than a few others and being praised for it. Touchy feely and trying use 1 in a million in an analogy isn't doing it. 1st semester?

Teams win.

But what nanagi is really asking is if her numbers are good because she has nothing to compare them to as this is her first semester. Bob answered her very well.

I am sure her coach knows exactly what he/she is doing prepping the new people.

[Gettingold]

Fishbust.
You must have read a different post. There is no mention of team...just a young girl seeking validation for her efforts. Something she is not getting from her Coach. There is nothing wrong with that. If she seeks to be exceptional...that is a great thing and more power to her. We get hounded with the mundane everyday. There will always be teams, yet somehow we always seek out the individual efforts as highlights. In sports where individual efforts and team efforts exist...the exceptional choose individual. Who really cares who won the Wimbledon mixed doubles? Most can tell you who won the singles. People know Xeno Muller, but who was number three in the English 8s?
I think it was Winston Churchill who said "If you strive for mediocrity....you will achieve it"
I'd rather say I was Michael Phelps than a member of the mens relay team. Without google I couldn't even think of another member.

[jackarabit]

If payday was Monday, how many noshows on Tuesday? A lot of coaches, teachers, and bosses will tell you that a good a$$kickin often produces better returns in focus and effort than a big facelickin. Insecurity concerning the ratio of reward to effort and level of performance is understandable and coaches do exploit that uncertainty by rationing heavy praise. They apparently also let in the light of reality by allowing their athletes to compare objective performance data such as average split times. I think it's great that Bob puts those results in a larger context by comparing folk's performances with an international database of their chronological peers.

Remembering and celebrating the cups and ribbons, trophies and swag of early efforts is the duty of parents and friends. Too much encouragement is said to sometimes go to the head making it impervious to the stuff that needs to enter the brain. I assume the coach in the current discussion probably knows that. Jack

[nanagi]

Kinda don't understand the long words/sentances but regarding teams, the rowing team has some of my best friends and I understand why the coach hasn't been separating people by merit because racing crews came out last week and caused alot of fights/upset.

[jackarabit]

Lots worse things than being a singer in the band, Nanagi! Can't always be pulling our little oar like we're the only person that counts and the only measure of value lasting fame and celebrity. You'll figure it out. Jack

[fishbust1]

Fishbust.
You must have read a different post. There is no mention of team...just a young girl seeking validation for her efforts. Something she is not getting from her Coach. There is nothing wrong with that. If she seeks to be exceptional...that is a great thing and more power to her. We get hounded with the mundane everyday. There will always be teams, yet somehow we always seek out the individual efforts as highlights. In sports where individual efforts and team efforts exist...the exceptional choose individual. Who really cares who won the Wimbledon mixed doubles? Most can tell you who won the singles. People know Xeno Muller, but who was number three in the English 8s?
I think it was Winston Churchill who said "If you strive for mediocrity....you will achieve it"
I'd rather say I was Michael Phelps than a member of the mens relay team. Without google I couldn't even think of another member.

Nope. Correct post.

[fishbust1]

If payday was Monday, how many noshows on Tuesday? A lot of coaches, teachers, and bosses will tell you that a good a$$kickin often produces better returns in focus and effort than a big facelickin. Insecurity concerning the ratio of reward to effort and level of performance is understandable and coaches do exploit that uncertainty by rationing heavy praise. They apparently also let in the light of reality by allowing their athletes to compare objective performance data such as average split times. I think it's great that Bob puts those results in a larger context by comparing folk's performances with an international database of their chronological peers.

Remembering and celebrating the cups and ribbons, trophies and swag of early efforts is the duty of parents and friends. Too much encouragement is said to sometimes go to the head making it impervious to the stuff that needs to enter the brain. I assume the coach in the current discussion probably knows that. Jack

There you go. Well said, Jack. Something not everyone is hearing.

[Gettingold]

Fishbust
If you care to read my original comment and evaluate the Arnie input you will note an element of "tongue in cheek" but ultimately I am in favour of individual brilliance. Teams allow the other kids to participate as well and that is a good thing. There will always be those however who choose to say "I've got this...I don't need someone else's help". Their reward is greater than trophies / titles and it comes at a cost of greater effort and quite often greater disappointment as there can only be one winner. But at the end of the day it is those who stand alone that earn true independance and a greater understanding of self worth. This doesn't mean they can't be an integral member of a team...quite often it is the individual who makes a team...and how often does a team struggle when an individual leaves. I applaud the efforts of those who strive to be better. Call it selfish if you will......

[AnimalNige]

Let's not get off the point.

nanagi, just worry less about others. Do the right thing. Train hard, eat right, have fun! Do not validate yourself by comparing yourself. Don't worry about your times being OK.