On the Water...

Practice has been going pretty well.  We've been lucky this year, the weather has not been great, but not so bad that we've had to cancel much practice.  It's wet, cold, and windy, but we can handle it and it's building character.  I'm not going to lie, it's been challenging with 2 8's.  I feel like I'm not giving either one the attention that they deserve, but I'm doing the best that I can.  It's also an added challenge because Meehan took one of my novices up to Varsity to fill out his boats, so I'm left with a Freshman 8 and a Novice 7.  Fortunately, very often we've got extra boys and they've been rowing with the girls.  Not sure how much they enjoy it, but it does make it easier for me.

I'm finding that I'm starting to enjoy the girls, I know I was so very "hesitant" when sent to the girls side, but I'm finding myself being drawn in.  Maybe they are just a good group of girls, which they are... but maybe girls aren't as bad as I imagined...

Here's one example of the difference between boys and girls...
I always have snacks, it's my "thing."  Power bars, granola bars, nutra grain bars, in my bag, in my locker etc..  The boys know this and have always counted on it.  Well, the girls discovered them this season and it's all I can do to keep them fed!! Those girls can eat...  Anyway, I had a tupperware full of power bars and when they were all gone, the girls approached me.  "Coach Hyzy, all the power bars are gone." they said, looking expectantly at me... but then... they said, "We've been talking and we're going to take turns bringing in bars, you shouldn't have to buy them all the time." ????? Say What?   Boys, would never/have NEVER done that, even thought of that!  #teamgirls

Mother Nature is a Bitch!

We've been inside for the last two days because Mother Nature is just a flat out bitch, or she hates Woodbridge Crew.  The temps have been in the low 30's with wind so we've been back at school and on the Ergs.  Theoretically,  I know it sucks and we need to be out on the water, but practically I am thankful for a little breathing space and a little stress relief.  At the school, I feel much more in my element.  We split the boys in half, Mike does Erg workouts with his half and I take my half upstairs and we do the "Sticks of Sorrow."

I came up with these a couple years ago for the neighborhood moms to use to workout any time they wanted.  They have all sorts of different exercises on them.  The kids take turns pulling the sticks and we do whatever is on the sticks for 1 min and then we move on to the next stick.  We usually do them for 45min - 1 hour and then we switch and the next bunch comes up and we do the same thing.  I love it, I feel much more in my element and I do the workout with them.  So, it's a great workout for me as well.  

At first I worried that the boys would think they were too easy, but by about 15 mins in they are sweating and breathing as hard as I am.  For the last 2 days, this is what we've done.  I was afraid I was going to be so sore I couldn't get out of bed, but I'm very happy to report that I'm a little stiff, but that's it!  Speaking of being a little fitter than I expected, got on a scale today at practice (we all did for fun) that supposedly registers body fat % as well… I weighed 117 and the scale said 6%… now I don't really think that can be right, but I'm reveling in it for right now! :o)