Rowing

Going into college I would have never thought I would be a part of such an amazing team. I had never really heard of rowing none the less be interested in it, but my sister was on the team for a year and pushed me to give it a try. I thought to myself, "how hard can it be?" Little did I know what it would take to be a UCO rower. I quickly learned that this sport was grueling, exhausting, but very rewarding. Rowing has two different seasons; Fall and Spring.  In the fall it is less competitive because you are not head on with your opponent, you are racing against each others times. The real competitive spirit flares up in the Spring where you race side by side with other teams from all over this country. We train the entire time, not taking a break, working hard to get the gold. In the cold, harsh months the water will freeze and we can no longer row so we wake up at 5:30am. to our death sentence of a machine called the erg. This machine is like rowing but on land and it is individualized instead of having to work together with each other. This is when you learn if you have what it takes to be a UCO rower, the dedication and wear this has on your body will completely drain everything in you and make you come to your breaking point. How you respond to this kind of low is what makes you or breaks you. Once you pass through these dreadful months you are now in the best shape of your life and you are ready to show it off. In the Spring some races you will lose and some races you will dominate, but why put yourself through all this pain? Why do something that takes this much dedication and hurts like heck? 

Let me tell you why: I learned to love the adrenaline rush race time gave me. At the start of the race my stomach falls to my toes, thoughts are running through my mind. Breathe, relax, stay calm. I am nervous but aware and awake, adrenaline is running through my veins as I sit and wait for the call to row. I am ready for the battle I am about to face, I am ready for the pain I am about to bare. Suddenly, the call "Row" breaks my concentration, my mind goes blank and my body takes over. My heart is beating rapid and out of control when we take off, then we settle into a cadence and I hear, "catch, stroke, slide" We pass the first 500 and the adrenaline fads and the reality sets in that there is no stopping, no turning back, we have to finish this. During the second 500 we sit back up, determined and ready to attack. We see 3 boats behind us but we know there is 2 others ahead of us. "FIGHT FOR IT", we hear. We are moving now, gaining momentum and speed with every stroke. We are now upon the third 500 and fatigue is gaining the best of us. It is a game of inches, every meter counts. We feel spikes driving through our thighs and our lungs are ready to burst. We don't feel like we are going to be able to make it out alive. My arms are splitting apart and this is the most miserable feeling ever. Its not just a slight windedness or leg burn, it is a all over feeling of unpleasantness. The end is near and we are in the last 250 meters of the race, I can feel that this is it, all or nothing. "Finish them!" I dig deep into my soul, bringing tears to my eyes while I push and pull with all my might. We are side by side with another boat, fighting for first. We give everything we have and in the last 3 strokes we take the lead just in time to cross the finish line. Victory is ours! It is like a drug, this is the best-worst feeling in the world. I live for this.