Goodbye Dunedin - closing post

An incredible 5 weeks have come to an end. While the time flew by, life before the program seems so long ago. To think I was taking final exams the day before I left..

On my last day, I asked Malcolm to give me a lecture on rigging. I learned about setting the spread, pitch, oarlock height, foot height/angle and rowing through the pin. I took many notes and I'm excited to experiment with what I learned when I get back home.

In the afternoon I did one more 2k. I had hoped to break 6:50 but it did not go so well. I held 1:42 for about 1250 meters but then lost control and ended up with a 6:53. The fact that I stuck for my race plan so long makes me confident that I can do better after some more training.

After my 2k I was in a rush to get directly to the airport. I ran out of the boatshed with one shoe and a sock but everything worked out fine in the end.

I just arrived in Los Angeles after flying from Dunedin through Auckland. The long plane ride gave me a lot of time to reflect on the time I spent in New Zealand that I want to write about before my flight to Philadelphia.

Over the course of 5 weeks I worked with one of the best coaches in the world, Malcolm McIntyre. On a technical level, Malcolm helped me drive with the legs first, keep my body angle during the drive, squeeze out my finish and keep the handle moving at the catch. I've noticed a big increase in speed, both on the erg and the water from these technical changes. I also spent a lot of time in the bow of sculling boats, and practiced keeping my course straight.

On a personal level, I became much tougher and more resilient. Wet launching every day in the worst elements, biking to practice in the rain and hail made me feel a lot tougher by the end of the program. I also made many new friends along the way.

While it's a shame I couldn't set a PR on my very last 2k, I did make a 7 second improvement the week before. That was the 2k that the training plan was actually set for (I came late and stayed extra). I think this puts me on track to meeting my goal of 6:45 this summer.

I also learned how to work with a training plan, how to write my own, how to rig and some physics behind rowing. In this way I feel as if I have come closer to the sport.

Many thanks to everyone who helped me along the way here, and many thanks to you for reading my blog. It got well over 800 views so I imagine it was at least mildly interesting at times or that we know each other well enough that you felt compelled to power through it. It's been fun.

To anyone reading this in the future who may be considering applying for the Sparks Rowing New Zealand program I can only recommend it. It is definitely something that will have a lasting effect on you. While it may take you out of your comfort zone for a while, if you're the kind of person that thrives on intensity and pushing yourself to your own limit (likely the case if you're a rower) then it is the place for you. You wont be spoon-fed the sport but will instead learn to take control of it and improve yourself independently.

More photos and videos will come shortly.

It's hard to believe that this is my last night in New Zealand. While I am headed home tomorrow, the work is not yet done! My last 2k test is tomorrow afternoon. Afterwards I'll be flying to Auckland, Los Angeles and eventually back home to Philadelphia.

Last night, I met Dr. Miles Wislang who is staying at the same bed and breakfast as us. He is lecturing at the University of Otago, and he proposed that some of us meet his friend and former teacher Dr. Martin Pollock who is a neuroscience researcher at the University. Dr. Pollock talked to us about his research in Creutzfeld Jacob disease, which is a rare disease that quickly destroys cognitive function.

In the afternoon, I practiced starts and settling into my race pace rhythm. To clear out any accumulated lactic acid, I went outside and stuck my legs underwater for a little bit. Now I feel ready to test tomorrow.

This morning I went out in a quad with three of the term 2 guys. It was moving fairly well, and the weather was the best I've had here yet. The water was like glass. We got a little over 10k in, Malcolm just wanted to ease them into things.

In the afternoon, I did a 15 minute piece at UT2 pace and then practiced my starts/settle. I also discussed my race plan with Malcolm and he gave the all clear. Still looking forward to the test on Friday, I've trained hard for it and now I'm ready to take it.

Tomorrow morning is off, so I've asked Malcolm to give me a lesson on boat rigging. That's one thing I want to learn more about before I leave.

In the past couple days, we've done several 20 minute pieces to prepare for the 2k on Friday. We've also done some regeneration and recovery going walking and having yoga/stretch sessions. Between workouts I've beeing working on my CommonApp essay.

Term 2 has arrived, they seem like a friendly group. It's funny to see how they handle the transition into the program. While it was only four and a half weeks ago that we were just as inexperienced and confused, it feels like it was years ago.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get on the water a bit as the past couple days I've been focusing on the erg.

We did 2 x 20 minutes with rate changes between 20 and 22 every 5 minutes on the erg this morning. The downside of setting a new PR is that 2k + 15 gets a little bit harder to hit..

Otherwise, it was a rain and hail filled day in Dunedin. Most of the guys left to go home this morning, and we had the afternoon off. So after a couple hours of boredom I decided to start the Common Application. While the full application isn't released until August 1st, I got my first draft of the essay done. Didn't hurt too much.

I'm still looking forward to my last 2k test on Friday. I'm ready to just empty the tank and see where I end up.

6:52.2

The 2k went perfectly...After four weeks here in New Zealand, I pulled a 6:52.2 which beats my personal record by 7 seconds. The plan for the 2k was simple, hold 1:43 splits and smash the 3rd 500.

For all non-rowers out there, the third 500m is the most painful part of the 2000m race. In the first 500, you feel good because the lactic acid hasn't settled in yet. In the last 500 you're almost done, but in between you have 1000 meters of pure pain.

The 3rd 500 has been my weakness in the past, but today I turned it into my strength. It was the fastest part of my race barring the starting 500 meters. I felt amazing. With 900 meters left in the race, I roared something at the erg that I will have to censor for younger audiences. My split came down 2 for a couple strokes.

Everything I had been working on in the last month came together. Malcolm had me focus on driving more with my legs and really getting every bit of power out of them. I had been wasting a lot of speed by engaging my upper body too early. 

Something I still need to work on is my sprint. The last 250 meters were a good bit faster, but the 250 meters before I slowed the pace a little bit. That cost me about a second. 

Luckily, I still have one more week here and one more erg test. I feel as if I have more to give, especially with some more training and a full taper. Next week I want to break 6:50 at least. 

As most of the guys are leaving tomorrow morning, we all ate dinner together at the boat shed. All the coaches and some of the Uni guys came along. Between us, we prepared something like 7 kilos of steak. It was a nice reward for a good erg test. 

Just barely enough. (Note: That's a serving tray..)

Turns out a long distance race was rescheduled from last weekend to tomorrow. We're racing a 7k in an eight tomorrow morning! Always a nice surprise. 

No working out today, only resting for tomorrow's 2k.

Instead of working out, we went to a local pre-school. It was pretty funny. Most of the time was spent coloring in and cutting out a picture of a clown. I learned a lot.

Afterwards, we went on a long car ride to check out a few more scenic spots in Dunedin. Most of the guys here are leaving in a few days, so they're just wrapping up. Myself and a few others are staying a week longer because we came in late.

Before dinner, we all went to the School of Physical Education to watch some of the Otago women's rowing team train in a heat chamber to acclimate themselves to a humid climate before they race in China. It did not look fun but it didn't feel that much worse than a summer day in Philly...

Tomorrow morning we'll go to the boat shed for a light paddle on the ergs, and then we'll have our test in the afternoon. Looking forward to it.