Return to Rowing

11:00 am
So, For the past week and a half I've abstained from rowing practice. I was a coxwain, but I was involved in a minor accident, where one of the rowers got hurt. She wasn't hurt too severely, but she was hurt. And a coxwain has two jobs, to encourage the boat, and keep them safe. I failed at the more important of the two, so I turned in my gear and resigned. When all of this happened the lead coach was away on other business.
I didn't go to practice, and I wasn't planning on going to the banquet until the lead coach, whom I respect and admire more than anyone else, e-mailed me. So I went to the banquet last night. It was a mixture of relief and sadness. Relief because I was facing everybody, and being greeted with open arms by most of the ladies, and sadness because I felt the isolation of not having raced at all this season and so missing out on all the bonding that happened. I was glad I went though. Really glad. I would have regretted it if I hadn't. Of course, because I was there, I spoke with the lead coach briefly, and she told me she expected to see me at practice this morning. Well, what was I going to do? So I went to practice this morning... and I was terrified. I knew I was there to cox, and I didn't really want to get back in the seat... but if Robin (coach) had faith in me, I guess I'd try.
I'm SO glad I did. I had a really great time! It was nice to get an affirmation of why I'd gotten up early almost everyday this semester. It felt good to be back in the game so to speak. My only regret while I was on the water, was that I had chosen not to race last weekend, and now I wished I had.
There is technically one more race, but this is one not everyone will go to. This is the national championship qualifier, and the coaches have yet to decide who will go. I had told Robin that I wasn't interested in going, early on in the semester because it happens on Graduation day, next Saturday. Now that I've not raced a single race, and am revamped, I think I'd like a chance... and a metal... But I'm not sure about asking. I mean, I'm going to ask Robin for the chance, because the worst that can happen is that she'll say no... I guess I'm just a little unsure about missing the whole pomp and circumstance of the normal Graduation ceremony. But what a feeling that would be to leave college with the feeling of competing and winning... of coming out on top of it all. It would be so very symbolic for me and my journey thus far... Far more symbolic that walking across a stage in front of a huge crowd of people most of whom I don't even know...
We'll see what Robin thinks...