Motivation
Posted by Concept2 News on the 19th of April 2001
A couple of newsletters ago we reported on Georgina Evers-Swindell, who became the new fastest woman in the world when she rowed 6:31.6 at New Zealand National Team Trials. A story which Paul Flack for one took great interest in…Motivation is a very important thing to keep me grinding out on the Indoor Rower every day. Last autumn, I did it to get in shape for the first Irish indoor rowing championships. Then there was the Million Metre Challenge for the Red Nose Row. But now that the Million Metre Challenge is over and the sun is starting to come out, I was seriously thinking of changing sports to golf for a while until I read your last newsletter. I am a 45 year old, 95 kg, 6'3 male who was quite satisfied about my strength and conditioning and rowing times until I read your last newsletter. It appears that there is a female that is bigger and badder than me. During the last two days, all I could think about while rowing is that Georgina Evers-Swindell can row a 6:31.6 and I can't. How can I call myself a real man if I can't even beat the women in a power sport such as rowing? Long ago, I acknowledged that women could beat me in intellectual sports such as chess or even in sports that require skill such as golf, but a power and endurance sport - no way! This situation has to be rectified to restore my dignity. I have rowed twice since discovering my lack of masculinity. The first time, I set a new personal best, but it still wasn't good enough. The second time, I was keeping the 1:37.8 pace that separates the men from the boys, but died in the final 400 meters. I am going to row 2,000 metres in 6:31.5 if it is the last thing I do on Earth! I have never met Georgina, but she is a great motivation for me.Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, eat yer heart out…