Rest Day 7/1:We all have our reasons for using the Concept2 Ergometer. Is it to be faster in a boat, faster in a workout, fitter, stronger, better at another sport?
I erg because it allows me to stay fit, be a better coach, and share my passion for fitness and rowing with others.
Today’s Rowing WOD is all about teamwork. Rowing is the ultimate team sport because if you’re not in sync with your crew then the boat will feel heavy, tip to one side, and not be efficient. Practice a few quick releases to get out of the straps and have quick transitions with your partner. Be sure to communicate and work together. Choose a weight for the Farmer Carry that’s as heavy as possible for both you and your partner.
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to row on the water, Renegade Rowing would like to help you out. Contact Coach Pat (pat@renegaderowing.com) for more details. Check out the possibilities of combining the two sports we love!
Learning is a life long endeavor and is the essence of life itself. With proper learning comes a sense of well-being and happiness. Learning feeds into our preparation and improves our performance. Plato believed that knowledge is already within us and learning is the process of uncovering it through recollection. Recollection occurs through searching and questioning. Why did that performance stink, or why was it so great? What worked in our preparation and what didn’t? We must be brave enough to challenge our long-held beliefs and keep open minds so that we can improve our preparation and performance.
Plato stated, “For true opinions, as long as they remain, are a fine thing and all they do is good, but they are not willing to remain long, and they escape from a man’s mind, so that they are not worth much until one ties them down by (giving) an account of the reason why.” Our learning will focus on tying down our personal experiences and figuring out what works for us as a team and individuals. The tools we’ll use include journaling and self-evaluation.
Learn from a performance!
It can be at home, work, in the gym, or on the water. Figure out what worked and why. Use the following tool to help you out! Share your thoughts on Learning!
Competition is the basis for all sport. People play sports because they’re fun. Sports are fun because every participant is given a chance to compete. It’s not the outcome or the opponent that matters. People enjoy competing because they’re given an opportunity to test themselves and their abilities in order to experience the thrill of an improvement toward a goal. Competition can be both individual and team oriented. By incorporating competition into everyday practice, Renegade Rowing allows us to track progress toward our goals, but more importantly to have fun and experience the journey.
In order to compete, athletes must develop mental toughness. Firsthand athletes are developed through competition when they harness the power of the mind. Our thoughts affect our feelings and our feelings affect our actions. Anyone can develop an ability to do work with regards to fitness and rowing, but when work capacity is combined with mental toughness, athletes can control their actions and reach their goals. Mental toughness is an athlete’s ability to commit to competition with a belief in oneself, to have a positive focus on the things they can control, and to embrace challenge as an opportunity for learning and self-improvement.
While the thrill of intrinsic motivation should be what drives us, we should not forget about the power of the opponent or the teammate in competition. We can push ourselves as individuals, but the opportunity to push ourselves against others will only make us better. I’m a competitive guy and I like being pushed and challenged and testing my abilities against others. There’s honesty in giving it all you have against others, especially knowing they’re doing the same.
Rowing is an Olympic Sport that elite athletes train for year round. Some athletes may only compete 5 to 6 times per year and of those competitions they might only peak for one race. Most other sports have seasons filled with games allowing for learning and development during competition. Renegade Rowing incorporates daily competition so that athletes have the same opportunities that other sports have. Renegade athletes will have the confidence needed to perform on race day. By providing many opportunities to experience race day competition in practice, athletes will have a wealth of experiences to draw from when race day arrives.
As the oldest of six children in a military family, I have lived in nine states and Germany, adjusting to a new place and people every few years. Each home posed new challenges, from finding the bus stop to making new friends. As the world around me constantly changed, it would have been easy to retreat indoors and invest my energy in portable, consistent activities: me, myself, the computer, and I. Luckily, my parents had a knack for seeing the world through sports and passed that vision on to me.
Spacious fields were for playing soccer, frozen ponds were for playing hockey, and tall mountains were for skiing, especially in the Alps. Playing three sports in high school forced me to manage my time so that I could excel academically and athletically. Without sports, I would not have fond memories of my youth, made friends around the world, or done so well in school. Reflecting beyond my childhood, I realize that sports form my backbone, supporting me as an Army Brat, a student, an engineer, and a coach. Rowing, most of all, has given me an opportunity to learn, follow, lead, make friends, stay healthy, be competitive, and excel in life.
Looking outward, Sport is glue that can hold society and people together. Sport is a way for two nations to battle for glory. It allows both sides to push each other to the limit and walk away with respect. Sport unifies the young and the old whether it’s cheering for a favorite team or competing at any age.
So why are sports a part of our everyday life? How have traditions, rivalries, and national pastimes survived the test of time? People play sports because they’re fun. Sports are fun because every participant is given a chance to compete. It’s not the thrill of the outcome or the opponent that matters. People enjoy competing because they’re given an opportunity to test themselves and their abilities in order to experience the thrill of an improvement toward a greater cause. Competition can be both individual and team oriented. Sport incorporates competition into our daily lives and allows us to have some fun and experience the journey.
Life needs passion and I believe it’s found in the relationships and experiences we build with others through sport. I know that I’ve found a purpose and passion in life through sports, rowing, and coaching. I believe others find that same passion every time they sit down to watch their home team or get out and throw a ball with their kids. Sport teaches us leadership and competitive spirit. A love for sport allows us to move to new places and make new friends. Sports bring focus, responsibility, and time management to developing youth. I have not rowed on the national team, but I still have a love and passion for sport. Sport brings that fun and passion to everyone’s lives and let’s us live life to the fullest.
Renegade Rowing 