Erg...Row...Flip...Race!

It's been a while since I've written anything here on Wild Escapades, and a lot has happened since my last post!  An entire season of winter training has gone by!  As have several eventful practices and even the first race of the season!  Let me catch you up...

The 2022 fall rowing season went really well!  With three different regattas and several events at each, we were seeing some great progress and had a great time!

2022 Music City Head Race...I'm 3-Seat!

But alas, cold temperatures and poor water conditions soon came around and pushed us into the winter training season...a series of on-land training sessions, many with our worse enemy: the erg! 

Running, squats, weightlifting, and rowing on the erg were just a few of the "fun" things that Coach made us do during this past winter season!  Each day was guaranteed to be painful, but for some reason, I always enjoyed going to practice.  I think it was seeing the progress that I made and knowing that I was coming one step closer to becoming the competitor that I want to be!

Personal bests were the highlight of the season!  Oh, and a day where we played "tire ball" was really fun too!

And though on-water rowing in what my team typically trains for, this past winter we were working towards competing at the Tennessee Indoor Rowing Championships.  There would be relays and individual events, and we were all set on accomplishing a personal best!  

We would all race in an individual event, with most of us competing in a 2k.  As for the relays, at practice we each did a 500-meter test to find out who would participate in them.  Since at CrossFit I have to wear a mask during practice, my time wasn't good enough to qualify for the relay.  

Anyways, the day of the race finally came around!  I was really nervous for my event and when it was time, I didn't get a personal best :( 

​But at least I didn't come in last!  

Besides, I'm a rower, not an erger!  Soon after the indoor rowing championships the winter season concluded, and spring was there!  

This would be my time to prove myself!

Or so I thought...

Most of the spring season was going well.  Boats were moving fast, and everything was looking good!  Coach had me in a new double, and even though it wasn't with my usual double partner/ best friend, it was still going fast!  During some practices we were ahead of most of the other boats, so I thought that we'd have a chance at the upcoming races.  That changed at one cold morning practice...

That Saturday morning, we got to the marina for practice.  It was during a freeze warning and there was even ice on the dock!  Nevertheless, we still went out.  I started in a four but was then switched into the double.  

A few sprints up and down the river and everything was going well.  Until a strong undercurrent (or what we suspect was a strong undercurrent) caught our oars and flipped us!  The weather outside was below 50°F and the water felt even colder!  Our coach had to fish us out and into her launch to take us back to shore!

I was already laughing on the way back, so it's all fine!

Our rescue!

America Youth Cup, Series II

And before long, it was time for our first race of the season!  The America Youth Cup Series II!  This time, most of the girls would only race in a single event each, mine being the double that I've been practicing in!

It was one of the earliest races of the day, and the water conditions were only a little better than last year's Percy Priest Sprints which took place at the same venue!  At that event, horrible waters and winds led us to humiliate ourselves, with the eight losing by some five minutes!  It was horrible!

This time, we were haunted by the embarrassment that we'd faced the year before!  Luckily, though whitecaps did create a problem, and my boat did come in last, it wasn't by much and we gave it our all!  We were really close to the boat just ahead of us too!

I knew how we'd placed right away, and though I wasn't happy with last, at least I knew that I'd tried my best!

But the excitement wasn't over quite yet!  Getting off the dock we were instructed to walk our boat a little farther down the dock, and someone helped us do so, but then let go suddenly so our boat started floating away!  Luckily, we managed to catch it!

Then, our teammates who were supposed to help us didn't show up!  Fortunately, another teammate of ours realized and was there to catch us!

We had to wait a while to put the boat down since there wasn't any space available!  They get pretty heavy after carrying them for some time!

My race was over before I knew it, so all that was left to do was enjoy the regatta!

Like taking some pictures with my team!

And of course, Mami and I couldn't go to a regatta without taking a picture together!

But before just having fun, there were some things that I had to do.  Like help out with the trailer...

...and rig the four...

Then I could enjoy watching the races!  And enjoy my snacks too!

A lot of people showed up to help them from the dock, so it all went quickly!  They were on their way back to the trailer in just a few minutes.

And basically as soon as the boat was set down, a bunch of us went right to getting the riggers off and the shell on the trailer!

Then it was time for medals!  I personally didn't win one, but I'm really happy for my teammates that did!  Congratulations!

Overall, I think this was a successful first race of the season...

...and I can't wait to see what comes next!