Monday evening in Cork, it's raining. It's the third week of term and a run is scheduled for the beginners. My job this evening is to mark the turning point on the 'straight road'. I chose to cycle out from campus, gives me a chance to think... what makes a total beginner turn up for this? What is the projection in their mind of where this is going to end up? It's raining, there are a thousand things that a first year could be doing that don't involve running until you get to a large man in a fluorescent jacket who has used the advantage of wheels and gears to cycle a good distance down the road.
Over 50 run to me, 2 give me a high five, many are smiling. I cycle home having checked with my Novice Manager that everyone has returned safely, wouldn't want anyone getting lost in the wilds of Ballincollig..
Tuesday morning, beginner ergs in the Mardyke. 0730 start, I'm there at 0720 to put the machines out, 0729 one or two faces appear. 0730 a couple more. We get started, numbers are down on the 30 scheduled, this is it, this'll pick out the weak... 5 minutes later I have 25 getting on with it. Joe has one group doing some floor work, John and I are on the ergs. Heads are switched on, progress is being made. They're smiling again, and it certainly isn't my jokes.
1830 Squad Gym, scroll back 365 days: bodies contorted, technique zero, focus is a car. Back to 2012, 16 rowers are getting on with it. Deirdre has the lifts on the board, the warm-up is done, the routine is being worked through. This lot know what they're doing.
It's October, the road is long. What an opportunity to build a machine that will eat up those miles.
Over 50 run to me, 2 give me a high five, many are smiling. I cycle home having checked with my Novice Manager that everyone has returned safely, wouldn't want anyone getting lost in the wilds of Ballincollig..
Tuesday morning, beginner ergs in the Mardyke. 0730 start, I'm there at 0720 to put the machines out, 0729 one or two faces appear. 0730 a couple more. We get started, numbers are down on the 30 scheduled, this is it, this'll pick out the weak... 5 minutes later I have 25 getting on with it. Joe has one group doing some floor work, John and I are on the ergs. Heads are switched on, progress is being made. They're smiling again, and it certainly isn't my jokes.
1830 Squad Gym, scroll back 365 days: bodies contorted, technique zero, focus is a car. Back to 2012, 16 rowers are getting on with it. Deirdre has the lifts on the board, the warm-up is done, the routine is being worked through. This lot know what they're doing.
It's October, the road is long. What an opportunity to build a machine that will eat up those miles.
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