WHAT WE LEARNED FROM ROWING A MARATHON
On Sunday, July 12 we decided to embark on a marathon row to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was a tough day, but throughout this experience we learned a lot about ourselves, how to conquer a massive challenge, and that we are capable of anything we set our minds to.
We're stronger than we think we are- This was definitely true for all of us. No one had ever spent that much time on a rower and we only had less than a week's notice to prepare. There were times when we thought we couldn't go on, it was a roller coaster of emotions, but we kept pushing and eventually made it to the finish line.
It's important to have a good team- This was very evident after about an hour of rowing. We quickly realized that we were all in this together and needed to help each other out. There were moments when people you'd look over to the person next to you and the discomfort was apparent. The best way to get through this was good music and positive vibes (and it helps to have someone like Trevor Braun there to make you laugh).
Nutrition is key- We made sure to carb load the night before and eat a big breakfast in the morning. To avoid feeling sluggish and avoid cramping, everyone had a lot of snacks and drinks available so that we could keep our energy up. Personally, every 30 minutes I would drink G.1.M. Sport and Electrolytes from BPN, this provided my body with much needed carbs and electrolytes to hydrate and refuel. With 5,000 meters left I popped in a Watermelon Jolly Rancher from Brennan and that took me to the finish line!
You will want to quit- There were definitely points where we all wanted to give up. It's tough to keep going when your muscles are burning and you're mentally exhausted. But, it's important to push through and remember why you're doing this in the first place.
The most important thing to take away from this marathon row is this: how can you take these lessons and apply them to other areas of your life.
Continuously challenge yourself.
Find a good group of people to associate with.
Properly fuel your body.
Push through those moments where you want to give up.
Thanks for following our journey and if you are interested in donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation click here!
