2017 CRASH B’s-Family

The Crash B’s or the World Indoor Rowing Championship took place today and is winding down as I write this post. This was a little different for me. Typically Chris Chappell coach/cox who sits directly behind to spur me on. However this year Tyler, my son did the honors. As we get older, spending time with your adult children in activities you both enjoy is so memorable and enjoyable. I have many memories of my Dad and myself who passed away nine years ago but few of us doing a joint activity with few exceptions: cutting the yard in the 100 degree Mississippi heat, running the rototiller in our large garden or changing the oil in our Plymouth Fury. Not quite the same as running a 5k together, playing one on one in the drive way, or in this case the Crash B’s. All great memories, just a different generation. I was not the only one their with there family. Tim Dwyer was there with Gaeyln as his coxswain/coach too.

Father and Son

Our group of paddling friends who do the Crash B’s has dwindle some over past the 14 of 15 years I have done it. I missed one year do to a snow storm. But today Greg Lesher pulled an excellent time despite not erging in the last month. Chris Sherwood has now done the 2k race several time and is always eager to get on the erg. New comer Tim Hacket (new surfski paddler/professional sailor who lives in Portsmouth) pulled a personal best despite flying back from Australia last night. Tim Dwyer pulled an excellent time only seconds of his PR he set a few years ago. We missed some of the past folks, like Mark Ceconi, Sean, Roger, Bob Capillini who have all done it numerous times. The weather, impending snow storm, kept some away I am sure.

Greg and Mary Beth

My race went better than expected. I did a 3o minute session on Wednesday in my basement by the light of a lantern due to a power outage from a blizzard. That did not go well. With a cold that has hampered training for the past few weeks, I could only manage a slow 2:20 pace per 500 meters. Not Good. This morning however, I felt much better and felt ready to go after a 20 minute warmup in the Bull Pen. My first 500 meters was faster than my projected time of 1:55 pace. The second 500 meters, I was right on 1:55 pace. By the 3rd, and crucial 500 meters, my mouth was so dry, I literally could not swallow. I think, due to the potato chips, and the saline solutions to rinse my sinuses that I did last night. This was the hardest part for me. So I got through this 500 meter section feeling pretty good cardio wise and strength wise. With 500 meters to go, I wanted to drop my time to below a 1:50 pace. I just could not do it. Rarely do my arms and legs get fatigued before my cardio system does, but this was the case. I manage to to bring is home with a 7:35 time and felt great about that based on Wednesday’s output. I will continue to erg until April when paddling season gets ramped up. So I hope to do another 2k TT in a few weeks and feel like I can get a 7:25 on a better day. That’s the goal anyway. No better way to stay fit than erg training.

Below is 17 second warm up clip taken by Tyler just before the start.

Crash B Warmup

Tim and I warming up in the Bull Pen before our heat.

Wesley Time!

Its over!

A shout out goes to Pam Boteler,(paddler) who clocked a whopping 2:10 pace for a half marathon(21,097 meters) erg race she did a few weeks ago with a time of 1:31.52.2. Yes that is right 1 hour, 31 minutes and change. That is impressive. Pam had to put in some serious erg time to keep that pace for that long. Wow!