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Finalstory

The document describes a rower's experience competing in an important race. It discusses how the rower pushed through intense physical and mental exhaustion, relying on training and perseverance to maintain their lead over competitors and finish first, qualifying for a national championship. Key details include the rower gaining an early lead but feeling increasing muscle burn and pain as the race went on. Though their form deteriorated, the rower was able to finish strongly and celebrate qualifying for Nationals.

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46 views3 pages

Finalstory

The document describes a rower's experience competing in an important race. It discusses how the rower pushed through intense physical and mental exhaustion, relying on training and perseverance to maintain their lead over competitors and finish first, qualifying for a national championship. Key details include the rower gaining an early lead but feeling increasing muscle burn and pain as the race went on. Though their form deteriorated, the rower was able to finish strongly and celebrate qualifying for Nationals.

Uploaded by

api-306477616
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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RacingYourMind

Iheldmyposition:kneesbent,armsextended,handsgrippingthehandles1.Thesunsrays
beatingoffofmyheadassweatdrippedintomyeyes.
Thisisit
,Ithoughttomyself.
Thisiswhat
youvebeentrainingfor
.Whilemystomachchurned,overflowingwithemotion,myheadstayed
clear.

SitReady,theannouncerexclaimed.Attention.Itookmyfinalbreath,lostallfeelinginmy
body,andstaredwithmyheadforward.Row!

Mylegspushedoffatmaximumforce.Myarms,bulgingfromtheimmediatestrain,flewtowards
mychest.Myhandspoundedagainstmyrigidribcage,butIdidntfeelathing2.Iwasgliding
throughthetranquilwater,leavingonlypuddlesinmypath.Ireachedforwardagain,placingmy
bladesintothedepthsbeneathme.StrokeafterstrokeIgaineddistancefromthestartingpoint.

IfeltlikeIwasalone.Icouldonlyheartherushofthewaterbeneathmyseatandtherustlingof
theleavesinthetrees.Thewindwasagainstmyback3,flowingthroughmythickbrownhair.My
breathwascalmandsteady.

Thispositionisknownasthecatch.Therearetwomainpositionsinrowing.Theonethatisbeing
describedisthepositionatthebeginningofeverystroke(bladesareinthewater.Theothermainpositionis
calledthefinish,wherethelegsarefullyextendedandthebladescomeoutofthewater.
2
Thisisacommonexperiencefoundbymostrowers.Theinitialpainiscounteractedbytheadrenalinerush.
3
Onecommonmisconceptioninrowingisthattheentiresportisdonebackwards.Youmoveintheopposite
directionthattherowerislookingat.

Atfirstmyadrenalinekickedin,allowingmetoburstoffofmyfeet,feelingabsolutelynothing
butpower.However,asIgotclosertowardsthehalfwaymarkmylegsburnedfromexhaustion.
Icantstop.Icouldntstop.Ihadtofinish.

AsIspedalongIcouldseemycompetitiondroppinglikeflies.Icouldfeeltheirheartsbeating
outoftheirchests.Thepainwastoomuchforthem.ThelonghoursofpracticeIhadsuffered
throughwerepayingoff.

Mythrobbingmusclesbegantogivewayascheeringbrokethroughthestillnessoftheair.I
couldfeelmybackcollapsingatthecatch,pushingmybladesintothesky4.Asmybodybegan
todeteriorate,sodidmymind.
Ifyouflipyoucanstop.Whywouldyouputyourselfthroughthis?
5

TheagonizingdiscomfortsurgedthroughmylegsasInearedthefinishline.Whistlesand
voicesfilledtheriver,butIcouldnthearanyofit,onlytherushofwaterbeneathme.

MyeyeswidenedasIsawthebuoylinenexttomegofromwhitetored,signalingmyfinal250
meters6.UsingwhatlittlestrengthIhadleftImovedwithfranticspeed,bouncingupanddown
onmyslide.WithonlyfivestrokesleftIsqueezedmyeyesclosed,embracingtherelentless
pangsblazingmymuscles.

Thisactionisknownasskying(bladesreachintothesky).Thispoortechniquecanslowaboatdown
againstroughwindsanddecreasetheamountoftimethattheoarisinthewater.
5
Somesaythatthissportisatestofstrength,whileothersclaimitisatruetestofonesmind
6
Thisisapproximatelytwentyfivestrokesleft

Beep,themuffledbuzzerrang,echoingthroughmymind.Myfingertipsjitteredasmybody
begantoslow.Sweatcontinuedtopourintomyeyes,allowingmetoseeblurredimagesof
boatsrushinginafterme.Ilookedback,watchingtheripplingwavescarryoneboattoshore.
Myhandspoundedagainstthecrystalwaterwithelation.
Ididit.NationalshereIcome.7

OnemustplaceinthetopthreepositionsataregionalqualifyingeventinordertomakeittoYouth
Nationals

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