Stretching with headphones in, music on full blast, high socks pulled all the way up, long sleeve shirt keeping the heat in, and shorts covering my spandex. Every race in crew I had the same pre-race ritual. I listened to the same 11 songs. The same 11 songs I used everyday to train. The same 11 songs I use today for workouts. And the same 11 songs I used to write this post. I blocked out the rest of the world, focused on the upcoming strokes, envisioned winning the race, and spread fire throughout my body.
GMU Crew Club
The best decision of my college career was joining the crew club. Throughout my childhood I always played sports. Starting in the 3rd grade I was practically a full-time basketball player. In high school I spent my extra-curriculars training for basketball. In the fall I ran cross country to build endurance. And my summers were spent at basketball camps. When I went to college I lost an outlet for my passion. Instead of spending my time watching, thinking, and playing basketball, I had a void.
My junior year of college I went out for a crew practice. I was immediately intrigued. So many fundamentals to learn. A way to release a couple years of pent up passion. Crew was my outlet for my fire. The place where I could release my passion onto an oar, into the water, and feel the result in the movement of the boat.
Chasing Fire
I will never forget the feeling of my pre-race ritual which lit my entire body on fire. The fire burning from my mind, to my heart, to my fingers and my toes. When I feel that fire I know I am going in the right direction. Every time I’m in a situation when I start feeling that fire flicker in my stomach I try to capture it. I try to figure out where that fire is coming from and chase opportunities that’ll bring me back to the whole body experience.