Feeling under the weather

Over the last week to ten days I've been suffering from an unknown stomach bug and then a moderate fever... all of which left me feeling a bit pathetic and weak. I had to drop out of rowing training or any training for a week, and miss a whole regatta weekend. I would like to report that I missed the training, but given the hap-hazard training and lack of a complete crew of late I actually ended up enjoying the break.

Of late I have been feeling that I have done too much behind the scenes stuff rather than dedicated training. I am trying to re-balance things so that I get the enjoyment of the actual sport back.

A by-product of being ill with a stomach bug has been a weak appetite so even without training my weight has dropped somewhat... I am once again below 15st, although I have no idea for how long that will last once my appetite returns.

Scattered showers, strong gusting winds, generally mild.

Lessons in what not to do for Regattas

Over the weekend the crew travelled to the City of Oxford regatta on the Thames. For me it was a lesson in what not to do... in summary...

1) Don't neglect basis fitness work - can offer excuses but that a bit rubbish.

2) Be organised - I was off beam all weekend and it showed on the water - inconsistency breeds inconsistency may be.

3) Alcohol and day two of a two day regatta don't mix - I was not drunk on the middle night but it still took the edge off - we raced the eventual winners, thus we could have been the eventual winners if sharper perhaps.

4) Don't listen to or get involved in crew gossip / slagging fests - they inspire negative thinking.

5) We camped next to a scout hut so should have been reminded about this one - be prepared - my mental preparation was non-existent.

Some lessons you learn the hard way I guess :o(

Switch, switch, switch

Well we switched me out of stroke for the Bewdley regatta, and lost in the first round on Saturday (also lost in the first round in the eight). We did better on the Sunday, probably because we'd gotten more used to the change and also just let it all hang out grunt wise... made it to the semi.

Next I find myself switched to bow-side, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. Although I am now a bit lost as to our plans for racing the rest of the season. We shall see how it all turns out ;o)

Senior rower with no points - Llandaff Regatta

Well I am way behind, lots going on... at the Llandaff regatta our crew won our novices, in the men's novice coxed four event over 1000m. Well chuffed, I shouted myself horse celebrating one of the biggest sporting successes of my life.

It was flaming hard work, but we came through three races (two of which were very tough) to claim our prize of tankards, champagne, a whole punched in our ARA cards, and.... yes being thrown into the river!

Beast?

Good row in the four this morning... not great rhythm but nice and powerful with plenty of effort to achieve the correct body posture. Some where along the way it transpired that I was referred to as a beast, because I have gotten stronger and more flexible... I really hadn't noticed any particular difference and I suppose really its a form of complement.

Tomorrow we try out a new seating arrangement switching the middle two around, it involves them both swapping sides which will prove interesting... tomorrow decides what seating arrangement will be used for the next regatta - our home one in Llandaff.