It's been a while...
First week of March is 2k time for UCCRC. This is a test done with no taper, the objective is to see where the physiology is following the Winter.
Ah yes, Winter 2013/14, also known as Armageddon on repeat. Not an endless Bruce Willis fest, which would be bad enough but a continuous cycle of wind and rain since early December. Wind that on the 12th of February blew so hard it ripped three of the four pontoons at the rowing centre from their steel mooring bolts sinking and smashing both of our coaching launches in the process.
The physical damage to the launches will be recovered by insurance, it is a temporary challenge. The cancellation of every event we've entered, with the exception of national team trials last week is something that could well have blown the season off course. Most of the squad haven't had a decent race all season. It would have been perfectly understandable if there had been a collective decision to bin the 2013/14 season in favour of joining the the hot beverages society- I've not made that up- UCC is a diverse place..
It is true that some have not made it to week 27, Synnott has gone in hot pursuit of physics, while Stanton seeks political immortality and Ireland's second city has claimed O'leary. Those that have literally weathered the storm put themselves on the line this evening as only a 2k can do.
A comparison with the squad's results 12 months ago is encouraging, the top men and women are significantly faster. This is essential if UCC are to compete at the Senior level. A few weren't happy, certainly they can do better but it doesn't need me to state that, they are unhappy because they are such high achievers setting themselves standards that so many simply do not have the courage to do. Two weeks ago I was informed by a colleague that it is not realistic to expect student athletes to train more than 4 or 5 times a week. Perhaps one day he and others, higher up the college food chain will open their eyes and see just how capable our students are.
First week of March is 2k time for UCCRC. This is a test done with no taper, the objective is to see where the physiology is following the Winter.
Ah yes, Winter 2013/14, also known as Armageddon on repeat. Not an endless Bruce Willis fest, which would be bad enough but a continuous cycle of wind and rain since early December. Wind that on the 12th of February blew so hard it ripped three of the four pontoons at the rowing centre from their steel mooring bolts sinking and smashing both of our coaching launches in the process.
The physical damage to the launches will be recovered by insurance, it is a temporary challenge. The cancellation of every event we've entered, with the exception of national team trials last week is something that could well have blown the season off course. Most of the squad haven't had a decent race all season. It would have been perfectly understandable if there had been a collective decision to bin the 2013/14 season in favour of joining the the hot beverages society- I've not made that up- UCC is a diverse place..
It is true that some have not made it to week 27, Synnott has gone in hot pursuit of physics, while Stanton seeks political immortality and Ireland's second city has claimed O'leary. Those that have literally weathered the storm put themselves on the line this evening as only a 2k can do.
A comparison with the squad's results 12 months ago is encouraging, the top men and women are significantly faster. This is essential if UCC are to compete at the Senior level. A few weren't happy, certainly they can do better but it doesn't need me to state that, they are unhappy because they are such high achievers setting themselves standards that so many simply do not have the courage to do. Two weeks ago I was informed by a colleague that it is not realistic to expect student athletes to train more than 4 or 5 times a week. Perhaps one day he and others, higher up the college food chain will open their eyes and see just how capable our students are.
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