worth EMILY SPIEGEL.
A yellow collegiate eight begins its final warmup lap before approaching the starting line. True to her coach’s orders, the coxswain calls for a few practice starts to end the warmup. With only minutes before the race begins, the crew comes to a dead stop in the water, then practices their tried and true starting sequence, followed by ten strokes at high rate and power. They repeat this ritual two or three times, then move to their lane. Minutes later the officials begin that gut-wrenching, adrenaline-boosting, fear-inducing chant, “We have alignment. Ready all… row!”
A flurry of oars and shouts prevail as six crews set off simultaneously. In the yellow boat, the rowers’ warm muscles easily settle into the demands of the high paced starting sprint. Their bow cuts a path ahead of the surrounding boats. The race is on. So many of us are familiar with this scenario.