rowing...

...lots of rowing.  School doesnt start for a week and a half, so we've been putting in the miles.  As someone who hasn't taken a stroke in almost two months, I am definitely feeling the taxation on my body.  Practice starts at 7:30, and including everything usually runs until 2pm.  Today's practice  consisted of 18k at steady state on the water, followed by weights, followed by a 10k erg.  The coaches have been laying into me, which I am trying to take as a good sign.  Donald, the ruddy, rather large Englishman, fills every stereotype of the old-school English sportsman.  Today, on observing my boat lineup, commented, "I know 'tis going to be a slow day; we've got only two brits in the boat!"  He was joking, but it reminded me of a comment I overheard at Henley by the observer of a race between an English and an American high school; "The Americans cant win, they haven't any class".  

Chris Nilsson, the head coach, is a fairly normal guy, despite being a kiwi and having an eyepatch.  I find the pirate look a bit intimidating, but he is very friendly, and really engages in conversation.  I was interested to learn that he was the other primary candidate for Craig's Stanford coaching job back in 1999.  He also really grilled me on my erging technique for almost the entire 10k.  I'd never experienced coaching on the erg, so it was frustrating to worry about 4 technical elements while trying to hold a split and rowing feet out.  Oh well, I'm sure it is making me better at rowing.  I havent interacted much with the third coach, Rob, but he seems like a good guy and the rowers returning from last year praise him as a really good coach.

Unfortunately my accommodations are not in order until tomorrow, so I have been sleeping on the floor of the the Honorary Secretary of the boat club, which is basically a student administrative position for the college races at cambridge.  She is a veterinary student, and she and her housemates have been incredibly hospitable, especially considering that I was a complete stranger until two days ago.  I am sure that I am a pain in the neck to have around, but I really dont have any other options for housing.