Aug 1 2016
Friday – Racing and supporting
Masters C (43 year and older) single
My race was planned for 10:44. The line-up was interesting
Lane 1: Petr Mitas, representing NED but a Czech, De Laak – yes the same guy that beat me at the Czech Open Masters
Lane 2: me, representing CZE, but a Dutchman
Lane 3: GER Michael Helbig
Lane 4: ITA Massimo Patea
Frank Arnold from Germany had withdrawn.
So this bunch was the four youngest participants in the C category. At Euromasters, the singles categories race as follows. Each winner of a heat gets a medal and proceeds to the final. If there are fewer than six heats, the next fastest times qualify for a final as well. If a rower qualifies in more than one age category, he will row the final in his age category, and for the other age category the next fastest time will be selected, so there was an incentive to row fast whatever your position in the field. The finals (one for each age category) for the “Munich Trophy” would be rowed on Sunday morning, before the Mixed events, and the winner would get the Munich Trophy. The nrs 2 and 3 in the final would get a medal.
After my usual warming up routine I found myself at the pre-start with Petr and the rest of the field. Petr and I started chatting (and got reprimanded for being too noisy). Then it was time to row.
Ready
Attention
(I almost shot out of the starting pontoon now but managed to control myself, while the starter was grabbing his flag)
Red flag went up
GO! Red flag down. We were off. Here is a picture of Petr (the guy in blue in the background) and myself doing our first stroke.
Despite the almost false start, my real start was an excellent one. By the 5th stroke I was leading by a length, with Petr in second position.
I managed to stay ahead of Petr in the first 250m, but the distance between us became smaller with every stroke. With 750m to go he passed me. Given my previous race experience with this guy, I decided to stick to my race plan and race for time, as well as defend the second place.
It shows better how the race evolved. I started very fast and then gradually dropped to my race pace as Petr was passing me. The 4.4 m/s of the second half of the race corresponds to a 1:53 pace. I pretty much rowed this out in a flat pace, keeping an eye on the German guy. While rowing in front of the grandstand (which is a full 250m long), I noticed a few 1:58 splits on the SpeedCoach, which motivated me to try and speed up a bit. In the end I was just 4 seconds behind Petr.
Also in the overall ranking I didn’t do bad. I had the 7th time overall, out of 38 participants. I was the fastest guy not qualifying for the finals for the Munich Trophy. 🙁
As this was all my racing for the day, I had the afternoon free to enjoy watching Romana racing, browsing through the merchandise, have a beer, and chat with various people.
Romana was racing an eight and a quad, both races in a younger field than her crew’s age category. They finished last in both races but they took it as a good rehearsal for the Saturday races.
Regarding the photos, I am reproducing the excellent pictures taken by Natascha Kral and the race pictures that I purchased from the official race photographer Patrick Frost. Only the lower quality pictures taken with a phone are my own.
In the evening I did a quick training in an ad hoc quad that we registered on Thursday afternoon. With the high price for late registration, we counted that we would pay 1,50 EURO for each stroke during the race, and although we were age category C they would only let us start in the A category. Still it was attractive enough and the race was on Saturday after my B singles race, so no clashes with high priority races.
Then Romana and I cycled to Dachau. We had an excellent Italian dinner at Mamma Rosa, a very nice place, and then went to our hotel.
Aug 1 2016
Saturday – WIN!!!!
Masters B (37 years and older) single
My race was at 10:41 so almost copy-paste from Friday in terms of race preparation. The only difference was that this was going to be a very hot day. I sweated a lot during the warming up run and I drank a lot of Isostar to remain well hydrated.
The procedure would be the same. Each heat winner would get a medal and be able to call himself “Winner at Euromasters 2016” and the heat winners would automatically qualify for the “Munich Trophy” races on Sunday. In case of less than 6 heats, the open lanes would be filled with the fastest non-winners from the heat, in order of finish time. In case a rower qualifies in more than one age category, he would have to row in his own age category, and his open place would be filled with the next fastest rower, etc. I like the concept, but there is a caveat. More about that later.
The heats were organized by age, so I ended up in one of the earlier heats with a mix of C and true B single scullers. I didn’t know any of the other participants. I would find out at the start.
I decided to launch late because of the heat, so the warming up was relatively short. I rowed to the start, then continued for another 750m, turned around, did a practice start, and then paddled to the pre-start. Two Croatian rowers were missing from the race scheduled before me, so they decided to let my heat start before that one. So suddenly I was in the starting pontoon. Which was good, actually, because backing up into the starting pontoon is when my nerves usually start to calm down.
To my right was an Italian guy who looked beatable. To my left was a German guy who I noticed had some difficulty backing up into the starting pontoon. Then in lane four a broad-shouldered, big German guy. And in lane 5 an Italian guy.
Romana was on the bike path on her bike. With a few German guys who were supporting Lane 4 (Sebastian Gobel). Romana later told me that they apparently were confident their guy would win and they were making fun of the skinny Czech/Dutch guy in lane 2 (me). I believe her. You don’t have to believe her, but it’s a good story.
This time I was prepared for the starting routine, so when they started to call out the lanes, I mentally put the volume of the starter’s words lower and increased the signal in the visual channel: I watched him grab his flag, raise it, and I shot out of the starting pontoon. Practicing starts really helps.
Start strokes. Then 10 power strokes. Then check position in field.
I was out in front. On my own. There was light between me and Lane 4.
That, I thought, is quite a good position to win.
With 900m to go, I thought, that is a lot of strokes left to spoil a perfect opportunity. Not sure whether to go to race pace directly or to continue at a slightly higher pace and build out the lead. I decided to do something in between. Focus on technique. Ten strokes on length. Ten strokes on a good tap down. Ten strokes on rhythm. That brought me to the 500m mark and I was in a comfortable lead. There was more than enough light between me and Lane 4, and the rest of the field was not a threat any more.
Romana shouted to watch out for lane 4. I knew that. He was pushing.
Instead of my usual push I let the stroke rate drop to 30spm to save energy, see what the Lane 4’s push would do to our relative positions and then respond.
Our relative positions didn’t change.
In a 1000m race, the third 250m is always the hardest one. But this time I was in a comfortable position that I could stay calm, push away at 30spm and survive the lactate rush relatively easy.
250m to go. The shadow of the grand stand. I took up the rate a bit, mainly for my fans, and also hoping to increase the gap a bit.
I wanted the race to be over. And at the same time I wanted the moment to last forever.
I saw the finish tower in my peripheral vision.
A few strokes. I heard the speaker say my name.
Beep. Finished. WIN!!!!!!
WIN!!!!
Very happy. German guy in lane 4 came second, 10 seconds behind me.
We both waited for the rest of the field to finish.
I paddled to the finish tower, got my medal, and enjoyed a 1000m cooling down. Lots of pictures were taken (which I will publish later when I get them by email), and congratulations received.
Also, I had qualified for the Munich Trophy, to be rowed at 9:20 AM on Sunday. Checking the times, I would be among the three slower boats in that race, and I wondered if it was worth rowing this race, knowing that I wanted to row well in the mix double a few hours later on Sunday.
Later that Saturday afternoon I went to the finish tower and officially withdrew from the race. I had prioritized the mixed row with Romana.
Men Masters A (27 years and older) quad
Only two hours after the singles race, I stroked an ad hoc quad with two other Czech Rowers (the guys in below picture) and a Slovak guy from Piest’any. I guess we were a true Czechoslovak team. Even though our age was C (43 and older), due to our late registration we had to compete in the A category. We also had some difficulty complying with the “uniform clothing rule”. We decided for black shorts and white shirts. I wore my club shirt inside out (sort of white) over my black/red training uni.
The Italian crew next to us got an official warning for not being uniformly clothed, and I kind of expected to get a warning as well, but we passed.
We rowed well, but two German boats were much too fast for us. We had some nice racing for the third place with the Italian crew.
Supporting – WIN!!!
Romana and her eight won the D category in a three boat race that turned out to be a thriller.
In the evening, Romana and I took the double for a quick row. Just 4km to check the boat. Then we took a shower and dressed up for the Masters Party. Dancing to a Bavarian live band and mediocre food, and beer, what could you wish more! Good food perhaps. The beer was excellent though.
Thunderstorms in the distance while we cycled home.
By sanderroosendaal • Uncategorized • 4 • Tags: euromasters, OTW, race, rowing, sprint, win