Crash-B this weekend!

[plummy]

Have a great row John. Take a big dose of belief and don't leave anything in the tank. It's gonna hurt so don't be surprised by that.

It is the WORLD championships so give it everything.

[Recess]

Good news. I'm a lightweight!



But I'm petrified!!!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Recess]

Heat 5


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kirbyt]

Good luck, John, congrats on making lwt. Don't be nervous it's just a game really. Stay a little conservative at the beginning maybe 1:40-41 and then wind it up as you go, it'll be over before you know it.

[Recess]

Currently swearing. Not in anger, but in recovery.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Peter_S]

Great race John. =D> If it were a few meters longer you probably would have caught him for third!
Ann and I delayed our departure from Dave McOnie's house to watch your race.

Peter & Ann

[plummy]

Well done John. Got some clear views on the livestream of you "in action" - heck, you're nearly a celebrity now.

Relax and enjoy the rest of the day/trip knowing you did yourself proud!! =D> =D> =D>

[kirbyt]

Truly awesome result, John! 4th at the worlds is nothing to sneeze at. That winning time is not far off the world record.

[Recess]

I'm so happy some of you were watching!!! Even my mum watched!! I hope I did the FS shirt proud. A once in a lifetime event.

Well... There's always next year..

John

[Rodger]

Congrats on a great race in a very strong field, John!

[CamiCrew]

GREAT results John!! That is SO cool!! Congratulations!

=D>

[danfennell]

Congratulations John! =D>

[Paul Victory]

4th in the world! Woo hoo!!!

[Recess]

I guess this should really be the last post from me on this topic. I'll preface it by saying I'm on my third glass of ale. Hic'.

First and foremost, this has been an unbelievable trip. For many reasons: firstly, it's funny how alien it feels to be somewhere like this and to be making all decisions myself. Not that Julie mothers me, but we make joint decisions about things. I don't think I've thought for myself since 1996!!

Saying that, I really wish she had come too. I was sitting in the stands post race, and saw the same photo of my girls on my phone that I see every time I open it, but this time it was different. I either wanted them to be with me, or to be home.

Anyway, I'll sober up a sec, wipe those misty eyes, and talk about the race.

I woke up this morning at 03:40 Boston time. 08:40 uk - I'm trying to keep to uk time. My ribs hurt, but not as bad as normal. "Hmmm, the erg gods may favour me today".

Jumped in the shower, aimed the massage jet at my ribs, and soaked the bathroom floor (sorry floor below!) the demons began to talk to me. "You're sore. You've not 'really' tested yourself. You won't do well. You'll be really tired. Imagine the pain."

Which, I'm not too ashamed to say, led to me swearing in the shower. "#%?! Off demons. I will !?£!ing beat my body. I will not £&@!'ing give up" (you don't fly 7000 miles round trip to give in to the demons!!)

I'll skip the dull stuff...

Weigh in went surprisingly well, I was a bit concerned as there were no scales in the hotel, and I took a few days off - but 161.5 was a good thing to see!

Warm up. Not exciting. 18 minutes. 10 at 2:00 then sports of 5 hard, 10 easy, 10 hard, 20 easy and 20 hard, 40
Easy.

Then we were called to the ergs. I like that there's someone sat behind you here. Sure, it wasn't julie, but it was someone. I took off my hoodie etc while engaging him in conversation. "You fancy screaming at me with 500m to go?" "Sure" he says, "or I could just sit here and look handsome".

Now. It's bad enought that at this stage, I known I'm going to get beaten. But I look at this guy for the first time and think "I'm getting trounced in the handsome stakes too!!" I say as much, he shakes it off like any pseudo Ryan Reynolds would. I don't lean that way, but I was intimidated!!

So, you've made it this far thought the report. It's only fair I get to the race.

ROW!

Crap... Why do I enter these things...

Quick start, settle at 1:39 - and look up. I settled on a dad looking fella half way up the stand, and just focussed on him. Counting strokes in 5's - trying not to add them up. I hardly looked at the monitor. I knew I couldn't hold 1:39 - so just went for rhythm.

I rowed 800m. Looked at the monitor. I'd done 250...

"Don't look at the monitor".

I glanced, 1250.

"Where's all the moisture gone in my mouth?!?"

Demons: "you're getting tired".

Ryan Reynolds seems to have heard them. "C''mon John".

The demons hide. This guy's good!

Keep going. I see 1000 pass. That's always a fun time. I'm THIS tired. I still have the same to go.

1.2.3.4.5 1.2.3.4.5 ....

800

"C'mon John"

600 - that strange mix of "I'm almost at the last 500" and " aw crap, I still have 500 to go..."

I get to 500. It's like seeing the street sign to your home village after a long trip home. You're almost done. Another hill And a couple of corners and you'll be safe.

Count down from 50.

Get down to 30 strokes to go in my countdown.

"That's it John - 1 minute to go." (Thanks Ryan).

30...29..28.......10

I look at the monitor. 170m

Ok..... 17...16...

It seems at 130df, I'm not 1 stroke per 10m then...

And then it was just a matter of not stopping until the monitor said 0.

I think I clocked where I was in terms of placement once or twice, but I really didn't race against anyone. It was me (and Ryan)vs me (and the demons).

So as I fell off the erg, and lay on the floor (I promise, I did this before I saw Cracknell do it!!) I was making odd hand gestures to my Demon killer. He lets me know I got 4th. Wow!!

Then a man walks over and asks if I'm OK! I realise I must look worrisome lying in the floor, so get up, and hand erg 43 over to the next competitor.

My lasting thoughts are.

1) why call it a locker room when there are no lockers? Still, nothing got stolen.
2) man the air is dry!! Everyone has a really bad cough afterwards. The locker room sounds like a... Nope, I don't have a similie for this. Anyone?
3) I put it out there. It's annnyij get that I got injured and took time off, but my PB is 6:38.5 - so there's no way I'd have beaten the guy in 3rd
4) I need to get a proper training plan regardless of injury.
5) The EIRC's will be interesting!
6) I'm really hear-warmed that friends, family, and people here watched / cared
And finally, 7) I wish I'd been able to say thanks to Ryan. But he probably had some good looking ladies to woo.

It's been an incredible event. I've got one last night in Boston before the long trip back to Glasgow. But I'll always remember this weekend. It's something that happened at the right time for me. Turning 40, Re-discovering something is enjoyed only as part of squash training - but most of all , something that would have never entered my vocabulary if it weren't for my time here as a free spirit.

And in that note, my glass is empty. Jack and diet coke for me - then off to sleep in the second lost comfortable bed Alegre made.

Thanks folks, you all made this something special for me.

Hic'...

[DavidHolmberg]

Great race John, and well fought!

[Grobi]

Very well done on 4th John! =D> =D> =D> Thanks for the lively write up, brought back some memories

[strider77]

Brilliant race and great write up John, you did Free Spirits proud mate =D>

The field was loaded and you beat a multiple past medallist in Greg Cook

[Jill]

Well done young Flying Scotsman. =D> You need a medal not just for taking part but for also coping with such a roller coaster of emotions. =D>

Jill

[Iain]

Congratulations John, you did FS & your family proud, thanks for the great write-up, almost made me want to enter another race!

- Iain

[dr3do]

Wow, what a great write up! Thanks for sharing it that detailed. Made it possible to feel like being there.

[mardix]

What a great story and super race. Congratulations!

[plummy]

Great write up John - inspiring stuff.

I suppose a word of credit should go out to the people and authorities of Boston given that they've had 100 inches of snow in the last month or so. A tenth of that would have crippled the UK and any event over here.

[strider77]

Replay links here :- http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/r ... 15/replays

Live link video here of the day but it may go soon so get in early to avoid disappointment !! :-

http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/r ... d-irc/live

John's race is around 1 hr and 19 mins in and finishes around 1 hr 26 mins and its a very close race-your technique looks as good as the others John

[gregsmith01748]

Congratulations, John for an extremely well executed race. Under tough circumstances, and far from home you raced to you potential and placed very well.

In addition to beating Greg cook, it looks like you also beat josh Crosby. A gold medalist at the 1992 junior world championships in rowing and ironman triathlon winner.

I'd say you're in good company!

[CamiCrew]

John what a strong & consistently-paced race, especially if you were focusing on someone in the stands and less so the monitor!? Interesting that you only glanced at placement a couple times, was it clear where you were vs the field, hard to tell, or did it not really matter at that point?

Looks like you were rock solid in the first three 500s then picked it up in the last 500 and overtook your closest competitors, pulling down your average by 2 or 3 seconds to 1:38.x? NICELY DONE.

Dare I say it... in the video you almost appear to be having a good time If not, well then pain becomes you.

Definitely enjoyed seeing your coxswain sitting calmly in the last 300 meters of the race. You are nothing more than a superhero-style blur. He must have been battling your mental demons in an invisible demon battling zone that is only indicated by a zen-like state.

Your write up is totally entertaining. Glad the trip was well worth it and a good time too.