http://youtu.be/NIRLeEbuxsE

Why did I leave home, the game, the fire, to drive through the yellow-alert flurries on highway 58 for twenty miles?

Well, I got the chance to open up the boathouse,  haul oars and shell down a snowy ramp, stand at the end of the dock watching a sky full of  quarter-sized flakes light on and disappear into the dark gray lake-water, and greet the white-dusted hills that ring the lake. People in homes and cars and trucks missing all this raw show. I am the only human here. No wind when I put in. Flat water. Flurries lull and entice me for a few minutes, a few hundred meters, before the great celestial pillow fight unleashes near the park and my boat and I are covered, a mobile snowdrift, as we amiably make the turn and take a slow line of solitude, just offshore, for a mile and a half down along the highway. The coots as usual stay together equably through the storm down by the covered bridge, and, once again as they do, wait til the last moment before my gliding by sends them thrashing off to a respectful distance fifty meters from this interloper. The lake level is low as the shell eases under the bridge to the upper lake, the water even more sheltered and calm. But rowing alone on such a day as this, taking it up to the upper dam is unwise, so better to head back under the bridge, get the coots fussing again and follow the shore back to the boathouse. Snowing pretty good. The rowing has all been so slow and contemplative, the outer stillness and stark beauty offering itself to inner reflection, to calm attention. Slow and alone. The stretch to the dock, where my shoes lie well buried under the snowfall, is done, and I notice again how the snow has gathered on the bow-side of the oar shafts. Boat and oars and slings put away, I walk back to the lakeshore for a moment of prayerful gratitude, then head off down the dirt road to where my car waits beyond the gate.

Good to do this and find out later how the Packers did.=

I have added four more columns to our December 2011 Erg Test spreadsheet. This is found at the bottom of the 2012 Practice Schedule Signup and is provided as an information sharing option. This does not replace Phil’s plan for us to email him and Marlene our testing results. It is a way to let the others in your boat know that you too are completing the testing. 75 minute tes hints: Use music, a movie, etc. as a distraction. After you get into your groove (target SR/SPL), turn the PM3 monitor away from your view and focus on something else. Set up a larger mirror–in front of you–so you can pay attention to your form. Consider using a butt pad. Have a water bottle and sweat towel close by. Good luck!

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,600 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

To find out what coffees are available, go to the Full City website for information about each varietal. You can order half or full pounds. You can also get it whole bean or ground. If you want it ground, please specify the number of the grind.

Make sure you order by the last Tuesday before the first Saturday of every month. The order will be delivered to the boathouse on the first Saturday of each month. Checks should be made payable to “OAR” and either mailed directly to Karen L or put in with the coffee order worksheet that is included with the order. Questions? Ask Betty!

I’ve been asked to send out a Safety Reminder, especially as we are entering a darker, colder, wetter time of year, with less predictable winds.

Each rower is responsible for checking his/her station(your seat, rigger,

footstretcher…) BEFORE boat leaves the dock. Ideally, time permitting, this is done in slings before heading to the dock, so any adjustments can be made w/o having to run up to the boathouse.

 NOTE: We DO NEED to sling every boat the first time it is used after re- rigging. After a regatta, rigging in a hurry, sometimes in dark, cold, wet conditions, too often not all hardware gets on correctly. Assign one person to re-check before putting trailered boats back in the bay. Also, check HULL for any damage, and that RUDDER/FIN is straight and undamaged.

 CHECKING YOUR STATION before rowing – every practice!:

1)Rigging: All nuts/bolts, including top nut, on and tight? (reminder that nuts should be tight, but not super-tight – damages the boat) Spacers where you want them?

2)Foot Stretchers: Heel ties ok? (connected and 2″ long or less) Hardware tight?(wing nuts, center pins) Positioned where you want them?

3)Seat and slide: Working ok?

4)Oar: Undamaged? Button and collar on securely? From appropriate set of blades for your boat?

 In Fall/Winter weather it is especially important that our equipment is ready to go. But we must also get our bodies ready to go. MAKE SURE your body is WARM BEFORE launching – a few minutes of jumping jacks, running in place…whatever, to get your blood moving.

 REMINDER that Hypothermia is a real danger when the air temperature is below 40 degrees and/or the water temperature is below 50 degrees.

USRowing recommends that if rowing in these conditions, a launch is within 100yds of your boat. Obviously, if your boat flips you will get wet, but we also can get very wet from rain and from splashing of boatmates’

oars. Staying as dry as possible is the goal. If you end up in the lake, get as much of your body out of the water as possible until help arrives.

When putting your boat back in the boathouse after practice, keep an eye out for any new damage while wiping it dry. Small problems can become big ones if not found promptly.

Take those very few extra minutes before beginning your workout to save time and possible boat and/or body injuries later. Do your part to keep our team safe!

USRowing website has a whole safety section if you want to read more.

AND:

I would add to this great safety reminder – this is the time of year to eschew cotton. Cotton is a hydrophilic material, meaning it holds onto water. In our environment, it increases temperature drop. Check your winter rowing clothing to make sure they are made of other materials; wool, acrylic, nylon, polyester, silk are all better material options. This includes your socks! Your feet will be much happier in non-cotton socks. (FYI-there are $5 options at Berg’s…)

I would also recommend a thin wind shirt for our nastier rows. Take it off when we are in the thick of our workout, but it will be a great barrier during warm-up and while heading back to the dock. Wind + wet clothing = fast temperature drop. Especially when already vasodilated due to a great workout!

Please feel free to send any questions my way.

Sahale