Rebecca Gutwin

March 17, 2006

Senior rower Rebecca Gutwin is chronicling her experiences during the William Smith crew team's Spring Break training trip in Gainesville, Ga. March 9 through March 18. These are her words:

Day 7: Thursday, March 16
Our last full day of rowing! The week has flown by so fast and it's hard to believe that we're leaving Georgia after practice tomorrow morning. We scrimmaged Wesleyan today (mixed lineups in the morning, first years in the afternoon) and won all pieces. It was an exciting experience for our crews, and helpful to know what we need to work on when we're rowing in a racting situation. The team is visibly exhausted from all the work we've done this week, but we've made some very impressive technique changes and we've had an incredible time bonding as a team.

Day 6: Wednesday, March 15
Today it was back to twice-a-day practice, and the conditions on the lake are quite a bit cooler and windier than earlier in the week. Despite the rough water, our team is making some exciting technique changes on the water that are making us faster and more confident. After our row in the afternoon, it was time for the Fourth Annual Heron Talent Show: a bonding time full of laughter and tons of fun memories. It's always amazing to see how much talent and creativity we have on this team!

Day 5: Tuesday, March 14
Today we got our first and only afternoon off! When we're rowing twice a day, the days begin to blend together as we get more and more tired from the accumulated work we're doing. Most of the team had a blast at the Georgia Aquarium, the largest indoor exhibit of fish in the United States. It was nice to get an afternoon off to spend with our teammates and to get a break from rowing!

Day 4: Monday, March 13
We began boat selection today, which is formally referred to as "seat racing." Seat racing involves racing two boats for a specified distance or time, switching two rowers between the boats, and racing them again to compare the differences in margins. If the boat that was behind in the previous race is now ahead, the person who was switched into the boat won her seat race. Some women also got to play in smaller boats (singles and doubles) today, which was a fun opportunity.

Day 3: Sunday, March 12
It was our second full day of rowing today, and it's wonderful to see how much the team is coming together. Spring break is important for us as a team not only to get faster and improve our technique on the water, but also to bond as a team off the water. We've been exceptionally focused at practice, and the conditions and weather on Lake Lanier have been wonderful.

Day 2: Saturday, March 11
Today we officially began the schedule of a rower on spring break: rowing, eating, sleeping, rowing, eating, sleeping. Since most of us slept soundly after getting a less-than-ideal amount of rest on the bus, we were energized and focused for morning practice. We returned to the hotel to eat and sleep before afternoon practice, and following dinner in the evening, the entire men's and women's squad met to discuss fundraising goals and strategies.

Day 1: Friday, March 10
The William Smith crew team left Geneva for Gainesville, Ga. on Thursday evening. Unfortunately, the 17 hour bus ride turned into something more like 21 hours due to a flat tire at 1 a.m. on Friday morning, but we all made it to Gainesville safe, sound, and for the most part, happy. After arriving at the course a few hours behind schedule, we quickly unloaded the trailer, rigged boats, ate lunch, washed equipment, and were ready to get out on the water. After practice and dinner, we all finally crashed at the hotel to rest up before early morning practice.

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