Selection Starts Tomorrow

The time has arrived for selection to begin for the 2012 Olympic Team.  This weekend is the East Coast Fall Speed Order in Princeton, and we start the 48 hours of fun with a 6k erg at 1:15pm tomorrow afternoon.  On Sunday we hit the water for a 4.25k head race in small boats.  I am entered in the 1X and 2-, but I will only be racing the 2- (doing both would be epic, but I’ll save that for next year).
I’ve had a week back in the boat with Adrienne to try to remember what rowing is since I’ve been cross-training for the past month, and fortunately I do still remember how to row.  Whether or not I can row fast is another question, but we’ll get to that on Sunday.

In the meantime, the first step is to get through the 6k.  Having had a significant amount of time away from rowing (and from doing any 6k prep at all on the erg or on the water) I don’t have much to go on in terms of planning for tomorrow’s test.  It’s not unfamiliar territory however, since I’ve had to take 6ks at less than 100% before; and since we don’t normally do much to prep for erg tests anyway.  I have become reasonably good at using the warm up before the test to nail down a more specific plan, and that’s what I plan to do tomorrow.  I am not anticipating anything heroic, but I do intend to do the best I can and have a tough, consistent piece.

I’ve spent a little while tonight lining up my playlist for tomorrow’s test… and it’s…interesting.  There are some “classics” (?) and some new tracks.  It’s got a strong house feel to it since I’ve been in that sort of mood lately, and for whatever reason there seems to be a trend of sex and sax (I am not responsible for lyrics in these songs).  Oh well, at least if tomorrow’s test doesn’t go that well, I’ll have that going for me through a very painful last 2k.  Check it out:

1: We Found Love – Rihanna
2: Infinity 2008 – Guru Josh Project
3: Dancing in the Dark – Dev
4: Dirty Talk – Wynter Gordon
5: Beautiful People (Ultimate High Radio Mix) – Chris Brown ft. Benny Benassi
6: Alors On Danse (Remix) – Stromae ft. Kanye West & Gilbere Forte
7: Destination Calabria – Alex Gaudino

I know some people will be surprised at the omission of “Mr. Saxobeat” but… that song is for having fun.  And 6ks are not that much fun.  Or any fun. At all. Ever.
I am really hoping that my poor little Shuffle can make it through one more erg test before I have to replace it… it has served me well over the last three seasons, but it is starting to become a little unreliable and I can’t have it cutting out on me during pieces or tests.  I’ll load the playlist on to the Classic tomorrow just in case… but really hoping that tiny red will get me through tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend–and I am sort of jealous that the men/West Coast athletes are already done with their erg and racing.  At least the 50mph winds are scheduled only for Saturday (not Sunday..?). 

Long Live the Dream,

–MK