2k

I had to pull my 2k (2000m) test today on the erg.  I felt that I was mentally prepared and ready for this thing.  My training started off well going into the offseason but with exams around the corner and getting caught up on school work, I was still erging but not doing it enough.  The test today was probably the worst test I've done.  The first 1250m went exactly as I had envisioned and played out in my head for the last week.  But then disaster struck.  Getting into the last 750m, the lactic acid in my body just built up, and it was literally the hardest I've ever gone on a 2k.  I could barely push my body up and down the slides, it felt like my lungs were slowly coming out of my chest.  Then it was done.  All 6 mins and 39.9 seconds of it.  The same time that I had pulled in August for training camp after driving 10 days across the country to get to Kingston to show off all the hard work I had completed.  Today had felt like a failure.  While there were a few bright spots to the test, it either shows that I am still in the exact same shape as when I started this season, which is not a good sign, or I psyched myself out and pushed my body too hard when it is not ready for it yet.  All in all, it's demoralizing and something I need to figure out if I have any dreams of trying to make a national squad. Something like this will only push me harder, but it is times like this I wish I was still playing Basketball, and perhaps on a Varsity team if I had decided to keep working at that.  Who knows? For now, it's back to studying for exams.

My New Project

I know last time I said I would try to keep this more up to date.  That has not been happening at all.  Truly sorry.  The rowing season is over and now I am trying to get faster on the Erg (rowing machine). I pb'd so I am happy but I'm going to need to do a lot better if I have any shot of trying to get national training camp invites within the next couple of years.  With that being said, I have become involved in a  new program called RISE.  Check it out and like the page, I am pretty much in charge of some of the media.  This program is all about bridging the gap between high level athletes and lower level athlete's. We are sponsored by Athletes Canada and have the support of Football Canada as well.  It show's lots of promise.  The part of the program that I have the most control is the A.S.K - Athlete's Submitting Knowledge.  This is the actual blog where the athlete's post their words of advice and how they go to where they are.  It is really cool and lots of useful information.  That's all for now but please support me in helping this program RISE!

Things Have Changed

To whomever comes across my blog,

It's been some time since my last post.  Last December I believe and tons have changed.  My second year at University went well, I have switched majors, but Rowing has taken an even bigger role in my life.  Winter training didn't go as well as I had liked but progress was made none the less.  I ended up training with Howie Campbell and his UVIC team over the summer at Elk Lake.  His relentless training  has really paid off as I have met my goal and made Varsity crew in the heavyweight men's 4x man boat.  It was crazy to find out, as I have been working hard to meet this goal and to finally achieve it.  Moreover, the National team spent a portion of the finishing up their training at Elk Lake before heading to London, so it was amazing to watch them and makes that national dream seem much closer than ever before.  Will I ever make the national team, it's hard to say but it's with a try.

I am looking forward to this upcoming rowing season.  It will be full of surprises and challenges but it will push me further than I have gone before.  I plan to become on the top guys on the team within the upcoming years.  I am looking forward to becoming an active member of the RISE athlete organization.   Check it out and comment on the previous posts.  Anything you can add can only help future athletes.  That's all for now but I look forward to being more active with this blog