ROWING EXPERIENCE
me . They are hardy , not as expensive as the European brands . Rowing a Peinert feels like riding a Raleigh Chopper in my childhood . The rower goes as fast as permitted by his technical equilibrium and the size of his gumption .
There were only three of us in the 50 + 3-mile sculls race . The winner of last year ’ s race was from Quinsigamond which is a rowing club just west of Boston . Quinsigamond was first off the start . I started several boat lengths back with the final sculler , a tall precise fellow from Maine , close behind me .
In 2022 , Quinsigamond beat my friend Ben by 6 seconds in this race . Quinsigamond had one of those sneaky rear view mirrors on his cap which kept Ben – who was ahead of him - in his sights . In the last k or so , Quinsigamond employed the use of his rear view mirror to sufficiently narrow the gap to Ben to take the win . Skullduggery at its finest .
In 2022 , I came 4th . Eighty seconds behind 1st place . In one year I had sharpened my technique and increased the training volume . I learnt a few rowing tactics :
• be brave
• do not go out too hard at the start
• hold the racing line at all costs
• attack before the half way mark
• finish like your life depends on it .
Before the halfway mark of the race , I opened up the taps . With oxygen-aplenty I focused on the drive down of my quads . “ Snap , snap ”, I repeated to myself in a rapid fire mantra . The pace was on and with each stroke I visualized my boat closing the gap to Quinsigamond .
“ Thwack !” My boat was brought to a stop . I thought I had either collided with one of the shells rowing upriver or that I had beached the scull . Thankfully it was neither . My trajectory – off by a few degrees – caused my stroke blade to broadside the massive orange buoy that demarcated the up and down rowing lanes . A maniacal laughter escaped my throat .
“ Rwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha !”
I sounded like the Joker who in a moment of lucidity realized the backdoor of the asylum was ajar . Relieved to avoid a swim in the Merrimack , I extricated the oar from under the buoy and reignited my frontal assault .
Alas I could not close the gap . Quinsigamond won in 18m56s . I was 24 seconds back and finished in 19m20s . Third came in on 19m49s .
I was stoked to finish so close to first place . Almost a minute closer than last year .
That ’ ll do rower . That ’ ll do .
Cool stats
• My heart rate maxed out at 177bpm which is 97 % of my max .
• My best pace on the course which has a good current was 1m55s for 500m .
• Crabs = 1
New Hampshire Men ’ s Junior 8 + Results
• St Benedict ’ s A – 1st place in 13m53s ( A Flight race )
• St Benedict ’ s B – 2nd place in 15m27s ( B , C & D Flight race )
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