The Rowing Agenda

My near (yet far) future? A road to a PhD in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology at Cornell University. I got into the program, now what about it? No clue. I'll probably leave as a Dr. by the time I'm 30 (praying for younger). As with all else, I'll plan for it as best as I can and then hope for the best.

How this topic fits into this blog is the question regarding the fate of my rowing life. After 3 years of intense focus and dedication to my collegiate rowing life, how does one deal with a transition from studious nerd to nerd-nerd? The sport has become part of who I am now; there must be a way around this problem....

I did contemplate about trying to walk-on Cornell's novice lightweight crew. At this point, I just want to row. But at 5' 8'', 140 lbs (and slowly dropping), I would think that they try to find the coxswain in me. Am I definitely NOT coxswain material. Of all things, fast-thinking and multitasking is not my thing. I am a critical thinker, of course, but not fast. (Say I do become a coxswain for Cornell, at least I'll be one of the strongest coxswains the crew would ever have!)

My other obstacle (the much more substantial one) is the fact that I would be a PhD graduate student at Cornell. Looking at my first-year course work, competitive crew already seems highly unlikely. As a grad student, I am not only a student but an employee. They are paying me to study AND to work in the lab. The stakes get much higher. Furthermore, I do not know whether I am even eligible for NCAA status as a graduate student. As far as I know, there are none on the team roster.

Whatever the case, I am confident things will work out sooner or later. Patience tend to solve things. Maybe I'll find a nearby rowing club. Until then, all I know is I need to be ready for any opportunities that may await for me.

Hence, my plan for this summer shall be studying, gaining healthy weight, and staying in optimum physical-mental shape.

So this year, my final Dad Vails competition came and went. As unclimatic as I may have sounded, that's the way it went down. That's the way it should have been. In the end, the race lasts 7 minutes and yet you have almost no recollection of it. It is the memory of months of build-up: the happy times, the anguish, the fuck-this-shit moments that stick.

The sun was out. The temperature was in the 80s. The water moderately flat. The people buzzing about as usual at regattas. All was good.

Months of training, of sacrifices: we did not win anything. In fact, our bow seat broke his foot-stretchers on the very first stroke (rest of the boat found out at the end of the race). From there, our boat wobbled from side-to-side most of the race. The boat felt heavier to pull than usual.

But all that did not matter at all. I had built up to my maximum potential at that moment, I pulled as hard as I could ever pull, and I rowed as best as I could. As far as I am concerned, mission accomplished. I walked away, no regrets, no qualms over my personal potential. Sure things could have been different, but nothing within my control could have been any better.

Henceforth, my rowing career with Binghamton Crew has ended. It ended as it should have. I came on quiet, I left quiet. With rare exception, no one knows who any individual rower or coxswain is. Even the known ones are not truly known. Crew is a sport of complete self-dominance, self-respect, and perseverance. Those are the final resolve. Balls to the wall, No regrets.

Today marked Day 1 of the New York State Collegiate Championship Regatta 2010. Despite the unfortunate weather conditions of previous years, today competitors from all over the state were bestowed with near-perfect rowing conditions. For most of the day, the weather was dry, ranging in temperature in the 80s (F), and with almost no signs of bothersome wind. For many of us, this was just about as good as we could all hope for.

The only finals event of the day (my event) was the lightweight men's four w/cox. With an official weight of 136.8 lbs, I think it's safe to assume I was the lightest rower of the pack. The competition was RPI, Binghamton, Stony Brook, Ithaca, and Vassar. We came to the start looking for a repeat of last year: gold. From the very beginning, the competition was fierce. We and Vassar traded seats for nearly 1600 meters, with RPI in a close third. Unfortunately, Vassar was able to inch by in the last 200 meters or so with a late surge to win by 1.6 seconds.

We were forced to settle for second (silver), but it was a good second. We threw just about everything we had and that's all anyone could ever ask for. The judges awarded us silver, but we felt like gold.

The anticipated rematch will be next Friday at the annual Dad Vails, where Binghamton, Stony Brook, and Vassar will again send their lightweights. It will also be my final regatta as a Binghamton rower. I think it's safe to say that we are all anxiously looking forward to that.

"Go home with gold, or go home dead."
- D.S.