As I mentioned in my first article, rowing is a difficult, but fun sport. The sport requires your whole body to be in the best condition it can be. There are two primary seasons: 5K and 2K season, along with a winter season for rowing indoors on the erg. Not to mention the amount of teamwork it takes to get up to eight people in a boat doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. It sounds so complex, but when you get into it, everything seems so clear. Anyone looking from the outside cannot look past these complexities to see what is really going on in a rowing team.

1. Waking up for morning practice.

Sure, other sports teams practice in the morning, but do they do it in a boat?

2. Waking up after morning practice.

You thought you didn't want to leave your bed before.

3. Going to your classes sore and exhausted.

You know it's going to be bad when just sitting down for the lecture hurts.

4. Those uni-suit tans.

You know you want one.

5. Walking around in compression shorts

Whether it is under your pants or walking around during practice, you have gotten used to wearing those spandex shorts so often.

6. Your face when you hear the phrase, "It's just like paddling."

No. It. Is. Not.

7. Your coxswain when passing a boat in 5K season.

Is that boat even from your race?

8. Your coxswain when passing a boat in 2K season.

Guaranteed, not last place.

9. That little heart attack from almost catching a crab.

It's worse than forgetting about a test or quiz.

10. Never having beautiful hands.

Face it, your hands don't feel right without callouses.

11. When your coach gives you an unannounced 2K.

Best way to find out who is a rower in the room is to shout, "Surprise 2K," and see who looks like Freddy Kreuger just jumped out in front of them.

12. Hearing someone call an erg a "rower."

No, it's an erg or rowing machine. I'm a rower. I do not get on another rower.

13. All the sex jokes.

Shaft, stroke, crabs, rubber oar handles, skin tight uni-suits, cox. We have heard them all.

14. Eating dinner with the team.

Part team building, part my-legs-aren't-functioning-properly-so-I-need-you-to-carry-me.

15. The majority of your T-shirts are from regattas.

And you wear them all week instead of putting on a non-rowing related one.

16. Practicing in the rain.

Rain, sleet, snow, hail. We can row through anything except a brick wall, and we are working on that.

17. Sitting behind someone who backsplashes.

Hey, at least you can count it as a shower or two.

18. Catching an ejector crab.

When the oar doesn't want you in the boat anymore.

19. Watching someone catch an ejector crab.

You laugh first, then go help.

20. Using the term "bi-sweptual" in public.

It means I can row both sides, port and starboard.

21. Trying to explain rowing to a friend.

You can try all you want, but they will still think you are in a backwards canoe.

22. Hearing anyone say some other sport is better than rowing.

You will never convince me that any other sport is better.