On The Water

I joined the crew (rowing) team during my freshman year at Virginia Tech.  It was one of the most amazing things that I had ever done up to that point in my life.  Our team would meet very early to get our practices in before our 8 am classes started (for those of us who had 8 am classes...), and we would drive 30 miles southwest to the man made Claytor Lake where we practiced.  The peacefulness of being on the water before the sun rose, seeing the millions of sparkling stars that would soon be hidden by the light of day, and watching the mist evaporate from the lake was one of the most serene experiences I have ever experienced.

(Sometimes I would even catch myself gazing at the stars rather than paying attention to the coxswain (the person who keeps us all in check that sits in the boat but doesn't have an oar to row with) who would inevitably be shouting to me (in the form of my seat number: 'SEAT ONE - ON THE SQUARE", for example) for something I should be doing, but wasn't.)

I loved it. Every time.

Unfortunately, I was only part of the team for two semesters, one of which I was more or less a sub when they needed one, because there were quite a few hiccups with the organization of the team.  College kids + waking up early + practicing for a recreational sport + lack of consequences if anyone is late or doesn't show up = not fun.  There were more times than I could count where I would wake up at 4:30 am, walk across campus to meet the rest of the team so that we could drive to Claytor Lake and start practice by 5:30 am only to find out that one (or more) teammates did not show up.  We rowed in shells of eight (eight rowers and one coxswain), and if one person didn't show, we didn't practice.  Waking up early, really early, for nothing was not my cup of tea.  I would be tired all day.  And it would make lectures, studying, and concentrating a lot harder.  I wasn't a huge fan of those days, so I didn't continue with the team.

Despite the disorganization, I enjoyed my experiences with the Virginia Tech Crew Team.  Immensely.  I was introduced to a sport that was not offered at River Hill High School (my high school), and I was introduced to the wee hours of the morning, and the peaceful feeling of being on the water.

This morning I got to experience it again.  I rowed with the Upper Arlington Masters Crew Team on Griggs Reservoir.  Despite the ten year lull that I have had since I last rowed, I picked up the technique quickly.  I was humbled at the feeling of peace while I was on the water.  The unity of rowing together as a team, and the sound of the blades of the oars submerging and re-emerging from the water was extremely calming.  There weren't nearly as many stars out as I had seen previously down in Blacksburg, VA, but it was well worth my alarm going off at 4:50 am.

I was so happy to be back on the water, and I hope to be there again soon.