Grade 10 Athletics

My first rowing Regatta

Athletics- Monster Erg Rowing Regatta

An athletic highlight this year is my rowing regatta to Victoria. My teammate and I won the regatta by 6 seconds and enjoyed it very much. We were the underdogs coming into the race, which made it that, much sweeter, hopefully we can return next year and defend our title. 

Choice 3- Rowing 6km Erg Test

My other Athletic highlight this year was finishing my 6km-rowing test in under 24mins. It has been a goal of mine for quite some time now and I am proud to say I finished it 12 seconds faster than planned. It was one of the most painful experiences I have ever encountered and I am ecstatic to hopefully beat my new high score in the near future. 

Athletic Reflection – Monster Erg Rowing Regatta

A few months ago I had the opportunity to participate in an Erg competition at the University of Victoria.  An erg is a machine that simulates the rowing action of being on a boat (on the water) and provides the user with an incredible work out as well as some valuable rowing skills.  I hadn’t been rowing very long, but I was longing to get involved in a competition to see how I was doing compared with kids my age.  This competition was rated fairly highly so I decided to attend.  Approaching the huge gymnasium at the University of Victoria was a frightening feeling at best.  There were hundreds of competitors waiting to compete and there were ergs “everywhere”.  Because I was a novice I realized that I wouldn’t be competing until the end of the first round so I got prepared to wait, and I waited and waited endlessly.  As I waited for my turn, it dawned on me that this was one of the most difficult parts of any competitive sport – the waiting time.  Keeping myself positive and focused was really hard and the longer I waiting to more difficult it became.  As my turn approached I realized that I hadn’t eaten in a while and I quickly downed a power gel for energy.  I was thankful to have the quick hit as I waited the minutes before competing.  My turn finally arrived and I strapped myself into the machine.  My heart was beating super fast and my hands were perspiring before I even began.  I realized that this was a feeling I would have for most races.  The starting gun is still a bit of a blur in my mind as I set off at hyper speed hoping to place in the top 10.  I felt like a super hero on steroids as my heart pumped a mile a minute.  As I approached the end I realized that I had a chance to win the division.  The scorekeepers combine the scores of 2 teammates and we were both performing really well.  As I finished the race I realized that we had WON which was a moment I truly didn’t expect.  I felt this quiet elation burning inside of me as I received my medal and thanked my coach.  Rowing is becoming a much bigger part of my life today than ever before but I will never forget that erg competition and the way it made me feel.  I realize that if I don’t force myself to attempt new things than I will never experience the elation I felt when I won the race.  I will always be appreciative of the VRC and their commitment to making me a better rower, and the time they have give me to improving my craft.  Without this type of institution behind me I would never have the chance to do regattas like the one in Victoria.  As I look forward in my life I only hope that I continue to challenge myself in the same manner and intensity that I did on that day in Victoria.