Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships 3rd Dec 2012.

Tuesday, 06 December 2011 07:24

Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships 3^rd Dec 2012.

While everybody shivered outside due to the arctic conditions, the atmosphere was red hot in the hall of Channel View Leisure Centre for the fifteen Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships.

A total of 410 individual competitors and 37 teams of four battled it over eight and half hours of competition to become crowned Welsh Champions.

The Men's 30-39 hwt event was probably one of the most exciting races of the day, with the crowd on its feet to witness Graham 'the Beast' Benton winning in a time of 5:55.0 which is a championship record.

 On to my day -

I had been thinking about this race for nigh on 3 months with December 3^rd constantly on my mind. I had followed the Concept 2 training plan and was feeling confident that I could do a good time.

I arrived at the Centre with a couple of hours spare. I met up with Mark Bower who is a fellow team member of our indoor rowing club called Empty the Tanks. Mark has recently won 2 events at Nottingham and Grimsby and is in fine form.

I got changed, had a ten minute warm up and went over to my machine (no.5) it was time to race.

3-2-1 ROW – bang, off I went. I had a race plan, did I follow it? No. I am still regretting it now, yes. My plan was go out fast for 500m then settle for 1000m and then give it everything for the final 500m. Basically I got distracted by what was going on around me, following the race on the big screen and not concentrating on what I was doing. With 300m to go I was ready to stop I was in bits, but I managed to finish and came in 3^rd. So a podium place and on reflection I am happy, but there is a nagging thought of 'what if' 

On the drive home I was thinking that I'd quit the competitive indoor rowing scene and just do it to keep fit.

By Sunday afternoon I was searching the internet for the next race so I can make amends. 

The morale of all this, is that if you have a plan, stick to it, you cannot affect what others do, only what you can do.

 Ed's Note:  It is a mark of a true athlete to reflect and change their minds knowing that they can do better.  Also remember that pain is nature's way of telling you that you are alive it doesn't last, where as winning is remembered and medals are forever!