The Long Road to Spring

By Emilie Bishop

The winter months in Evanston aren't exactly known for their warmth, but in the erg room? The heat was undeniable. While the Channel was frozen over, ETHS Rowing was busy preparing for our best spring season yet. 

Winter training is really the ultimate test of a rower's discipline and commitment to the sport. Without the reward of the boat and being in water, it can be difficult to see a reason to keep going–but the team was determined. Over the course of the past several months, we saw incredible improvements in splits across the board. Whether it was a senior who had been rowing for years, or a freshman just starting out, the entire team really stepped up. To beat the ever dominant New Trier, each rower knew what had to be done if we wanted to meet our goals come spring. 

Between erg test pieces, core workouts, and steady state, there always seemed to be something to do to improve stamina and performance. A favorite on the girls team was a fast paced core workout set to the song Judas by Lady Gaga; just know that it involved a whole lot of crunches. 

It wasn't just about the numbers on the monitors, though. It was about the person on the erg next to you. In the middle of a difficult piece, the thing keeping you going was the feeling of twenty other rowers right next to you, taking each stroke alongside you. And that's what really makes winter training feel manageable–the idea that you're not going through something without your teammate by your side. 

Now that the ice on the Channel has melted, the winter discipline is shifting into a new kind of energy. We aren't just showing up to the first regatta hoping to compete; we're coming in ready to win.