Inverness

For the last few days, we have been warmly welcomed in Inverness, FL, home of child prodigy sculler Ben Davison! Ben's parents have kindly taken us in for the week and generously provided everything we need. Peter, Ben, Ben, and I will be here until the end of the week when we drive south a couple hours to set up camp in Sarasota with the rest of our Craftsbury team. We will be training at Benderson Park until December 20. We brought two doubles to Inverness but will be back rowing the quad and likely singles once we meet up with the trailer next week. On Monday morning Ben Davison and I rowed 70' in the morning and 45' on the erg in the evening. It is very humid here, so I especially was weary about spending too much time out there withering away in the heat. Tuesday morning, Ben and I rowed for 100' in the 2x( drank three full water bottles in the process) and then in the afternoon split up 80' on the water and on the erg. I thought we had a particularly good row in the afternoon. We rowed on the quarter feather for the majority of the 40 min we were on the water and seemed to find another level of relaxation and horizontality(?). We are after a simple stroke that can be repeated under pressure and quarter feather often can bring my attention back to just how simple it can be. Of course, it's in my nature and the nature of most everybody to insist on overcomplicating very simple things. I'm trying to resist my urge to over reach, over swing, over think, and overdo. Instead I'd like to just reach, just swing, just think, and just do. I guess the key is to bring quality and intention to those actions, not stress, anxiety, and  insecurity, which is probably the root of overdoing something. On Wednesday, we only did one session: endurance weights along with low rate power pieces on the water. Again, it was incredibly sweaty and I for one cherished getting to spend the afternoon inside with air conditioning. Since Ben Dann and I finished watching the Highlander( a Davison household favorite) on tuesday, we took to our books along with some stints of napping to fill our afternoon off. On Thursday morning, we rower continuously for 100' side by side in doubles. It was a much milder temperature and as a result it was much easier to keep my heart low and wasn't as taxing as Tuesday morning's row. It felt great to be side by side covering a lot of distance together. After we refueled and rested for a little bit, we came back down, did 40' on the erg and then headed out on the water in doubles with the junior kids from Inverness. We each got paired up with a junior rower and got the chance to paddle around and help in any way we could. I'm not even sure I helped, the stroke of my boat knew what he was doing. I assured him he is miles ahead of where I was when I was his age. Exciting to see guys that age who are thrilled to learn more about sculling. Seemed like all of us had a blast helping out. We had another endurance lift this morning and then went on the water for 10k afterwards with Burt Apfelbaum who arrived yesterday to help us out with some coaching. Only a couple more days until we change venues again, but so far it's been a really productive week reintroducing ourselves to on the water training.  I'll try to keep the updates coming.