"Attention, GO!"
You take you're first strokes of the race. It takes a good 30 strokes before you already feel a burn in your legs, you're lungs begin to ache and you realize you're not even 500 meters into the race yet and the only thing that you just think, Sh*t.
Walking into tryouts my sophomore year was one of the more daunting things that I've done in my life. With an athletic background, as most walk ons have, it was an opportunity to become what many younger athletes dream of doing; becoming a Division 1 athlete. A dream for many and one I did not see in my future. Giving up past loves and turning to a whole new sport to start my athletic career once again.
After what feels like forever, you finally hit your first five hundred of the race thinking, Well, only 1500 more meters to go. 1500m to not let another team beat you. 500m in and 1500 to change the course of the race. Somewhere in this quarter you take you're move and hope it was enough to make an impact.
After making the team the tough part began. A day in and day out commitment. 6am lifts and practice everyday six days a week year-round, throw in some extra workouts and managing classes and work? It was like walking into a burning pit of hell, or so I thought until winter training happened and I quickly found a new hell and Satan rose in the form of machines with a screen spitting back at you the numbers you were pulling that day. They were always telling you to be better, you had to be better.
Third 500, the 500 that mattered, the 500 you trained for, the 500 that had every fiber in your body wanting, begging you, to give up. The longest 500 of the race most of the time, and the most grueling. This is where races were won and lost, this is where all the hours of practice kick in and you begin to believe again. You begin to believe again that you can do it, as you have so many times before. This is the 500 you and the other eight have trained for and need to win, this is why you wake-up and practice everyday.
Stepping onto the start line for the first time is a game changer, you feel the excitement in you're bones and you feel your inner competitor come out. You see the girls in front of you and feel the girls behind you, holding you up. You form a bond with you're teammates that is unparalleled. You all know the pain, suffering, tears, stress, late nights, and early mornings that you have gone through. All you can think is that you can't let them down as much as you can't let yourself down.
Last 500, or the time to give everything you have. At this point you are so close to the end you are willing to push as hard as you can so it will be over faster. It will be over and you will come out on top. This is the last part where you think about how hard you've all worked and you know you did not come this far to lose. Weather its by a tenth of a second or a full second, the thought of another crew beating you kills you inside. Nothing is given, and you have to prove to them that you earned it, this is the time to take it.
You cross the line, you hear paddle and you instantly begin wheezing and you're body hurts and you see you're life flashing before your eyes as you take in every breath you can choke down. Victory is sweeter than the pain and suffering and losing hurts more than you're worst workouts. But at the end of the day that's what you have: a choice. A choice to make months before you get on the start line and a choice every athlete makes. What can you do to cross that line first and become victorious?
