Where is the drive?!!

Guys, what is happening to us? Where is the team spirit? Where is the drive? Why are we all so watered down? We have around two more weeks for the regatta. Just two more weeks! What are we thinking?!!

Why is it that the numbers are decreasing at the club instead of everyone being there on time and practising away? And when the rest doesn't make it, the few that do also loses motivation. I admit that I have also been skipping jogs and exercises. We all used to have jogs, stretches and circuits on a daily basis. What's happening to all that now?

Come on, people, we have all been putting in lot of effort getting up at unearthly hours and coming for practice when we could have happily slept off in our comfy beds. We can all come up with zillions of excuses for not making it, if we want to. But we didn't. We made it to the club and we have been practising for the past two months. Please don't let all that effort go to waste just a few weeks before the race. Don't let the team down.

It's high time we pull ourselves together. We are a championship winning team. Let's not forget that. So believe that we are going to lift the trophy this year and come for practice, keeping in mind that we HAVE to retain the championship no matter what!

Now is definitely not the time to get complacent. Now is the time to sport a killer attitude and psyche out the other teams with our sheer grit and determination! And let's do just that. Let's take her home!

Give it your all!

Quite a lot has been happening over the past few days. Along with practice, workouts, and fighting with the other companies for the boats, a few new faces have shown up and teams have been reshuffled. Hopefully, this time it is for good.

In practice, we're doing good on the techniques and their synchronisation. Now, what we need is power. We have to follow our regular fitness routine for that. The ergometer training helps a lot. And when we go for jogs, let's try to run faster as it improves our stamina. And of course, eat well. I think we're doing fine there and we have the rising refreshment bills as proof :)

Last weekend was a blast. After practice, all of us were lounging around and chilling out at the club. And the best part about our team is that we don't need much to have fun. We have a great time just by being together, where everybody is busy trying to pull the others' legs and, in the process, gets caught in their own traps. DJ, especially, seems to have a penchant for digging his own grave!! But people, beware of him, as he has several physical and other means to get back at you! Me speaking from experience here :)

However, all said and done, there's something that's still lacking in our attitudes towards the regatta, which automatically reflects in our actions. We're just not getting serious enough. What's worse is, with the race less than 20 days away, this is clearly something we can't afford! Come on guys, where is the drive? It's just a few more days. Let's give it our all!

"Together!"

Feels good to realise (slowly albeit) what synchronisation actually means as we find it in our own rowing instead of always hearing the cox shout out "Together!". Guess all that effort we're putting in is starting to pay off. Though of course, consistency, which is more important, calls for a lot more of it.

The ergometer race is up on the 20th of this month. Practice is on for that as well. However, yesterday, practice gradually shifted into goofing around on the swings and go-rounds near the erg in the club. Amidst all the fun and frolic, nobody realised the time and, to cut a long story short, we were all horribly, horribly late for work!

So today, we were careful not to go anywhere near them, and to be there for breakfast on time. Things are not so different at the breakfast table either, where we are all reluctant to lift our bums and get to work after a nice meal and joking around with everyone. It's also funny how the number of breakfasts and lime juices seem to be increasing in a directly proportional manner to the number of days left for the race :)

In sum, a nice day, though quite a few were missing. After all, the more the merrier. Nevertheless, I can see the determination building in our team as even the once-in-a-week timers are slowly becoming regulars.

Good to see us gettin into the groove!

Quite eventful, these past few days have been, especially, with a third baptism among us yesterday :)

The numbers are increasing at the club and we have to book our slots for the outings now. Quite a few other companies have also started coming. A clear indication of how everyone's getting serious about the regatta.

Our teams have started to be regular and on time. The Women's Fours are, finally, seeing 'patches of hope' under the excellent training of our coaches. Vivek has agreed to cox us from tomorrow for the Women's Pairs to perfect our synchronisation. The Men's Fours are also looking good. The Scullers are doing their bit as well, with a little extra caution too, as there are only a couple of them who haven't taken the dip yet :)

So we all seem to be getting into the groove. It is good to see practice is going on well, though, to use Robert Frost's much-quoted lines, 'we have miles to go before we sleep'.

On the lighter side, discussions are on among the team regarding the rowing t-shirts and we have a few members stating their preferences. DJ, were you saying something about having helmets along? And Wasim, did you say you wanted them pink in colour? :)

Let's get 'Ready to Race'!

Going by the number of people present at the club this weekend, i guess we are all starting to get serious about the regatta, at last. About time, too!

But although the attendance is improving, we still have a long way to go in terms of team performances and synchronisation. Which, of course, means that we need practice. And lots more of it. For that we must start coming earlier and take the boats out fast. With the regatta coming up, the numbers are increasing at the club and soon it'll become real difficult to get the boats. So let's all try to be there at sharp 6.00 and finish at least one outing by 7.30.

We also need to make it together on time as a team , as it's pointless reaching however early you do, without your partner/s. So those of you who bunk, remember that you're letting your team down.

Most of us seem to be getting quite a few bruises and blisters as well from sitting on the erg and handling the oars (a sign that we are actually rowing and not lazing around!). But what's funny is how some people (read DJ) manage to get themselves hurt even when they are not rowing! :)

Most of you would have noticed our coverage on today's metroplus. The caption for the photograph says 'Ready to Race', so we better prove it right!

Those of you who missed the article, check out this link http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/08/01/stories/2005080100470100.htm