Women’s 8+ Southwest Regionals Recap
By Jessica Jacobs.
Exploding from the blocks at the start, our stroke rate ascended dangerously over 40 strokes per minute. The Paul Varga barreled down the course, unstoppable, with no intention of letting-up; legs bursting at the seams heading into the final sprint with every last ounce of life we could muster…
LARC Women's 8+
This was the ninth race for my LARC Competitive Women’s 8+ team: The 2009 USRowing Southwest Regional Championships at Lake Merritt. Loading up on carbs in San Francisco’s North Beach district the night before, we were unsuspecting of what would be required from us the following day.
The Master’s Women 8+ (AA-B) was nicely executed with a quick time of 3:43. We felt good, yet felt like we could do better. For the Women’s Open 8+, our coxswain Beth rounded us up and told us what she needed us to do. I dare not disclose the secrets here. It was big and ballsy, but necessary. We understood what we were about to do and that it would hurt. After a quick round of the warm-up area, passing by our fellow LARC teammates who were cheering us like mad from the shore, we took to the stake boats.
Off the blocks we attacked the start like a machine, sending it off at the finish
Beth defining the plan.
every single stroke. Beth cracked the whip on us the whole way down the course and we didn’t hold back. Crossing the finish line we were overcome with exhilaration (or rather, an awesome endorphin high). We raced our race, and it felt great. Our reward: a beautiful shinning bronze medal to hang on our necks.
What a fun weekend to travel to the Bay Area! It was fantastic having another crew from LARC be there to share the experience and the fun. GO LARC!
LARC Women's 8+
