Our 2nd Annual Angel Island regatta
At Open Water Rowing Center we don’t always choose our conditions. Thankfully, our 2nd Annual Angel Island Regatta on October 6th kicked off with incredible weather. There were well over a dozen rowers in single sculls, 2 doubles, 2 stand-up paddleboards and one very stable pontoon rower. The sun was already warming things up at the starting line at Sausalito Yacht Club; and the racers were joined by safety boats helmed by Little Jon and Brandon. All in all it was smooth "sailing." Everyone finished safely!
After the race, which was more of a friendly row, we showered, changed and reconvened for lunch at the Sausalito Yacht Club followed by an inspiring talk by Meghan Musnicki. The 41-year old, four-time Olympic rower -- and oldest person ever to row in an Olympics -- swung by with her two gold medals—Women's-Eight boats in London 2012 and Rio 2016. The tall and exceedingly fit elite athlete passed around her medals and posed with folks young and old.
After lunch, Meghan shared her story and answered our unending questions. Yes, we were in a room full of rowing nerds.
Here are a few of the highlights Meghan shared:
On almost not making the team: On Meghan’s 3rd attempt making the national team, her then-coach said she needed to drop her ERG times or stop trying out. Meghan spent that summer running 3 miles to the gym, ERG’ing for an hour or more followed by that 3-mile run home. Her tireless work paid off. She was allowed to continue training in Princeton, New Jersey. At the end of the year, she tried out again and made the team.
On eating for performance: Meghan talked about what she ate – lean protein, fruit and vegetables both as an athlete and as a 41-yr old woman. She drinks a lot of water and water with electrolytes in it. And she limits her sugar too, but she admitted she loves chocolate cake.
On reaching beyond her physical limits: After Meghan felt her base fitness was as far as she could take it, she looked for other avenues to find more speed and continue to improve. “Always start with the low hanging fruit: is my fitness where it needs to be both on land and on the water? Yes? Okay, then what else can I start to work on. For me that was the mental side. In stressful races, Meghan uses positive mantras to push past her limits.
On being lopsided after rowing sweep for decades: “My left hand is my “dumb” hand and is less dexterous than my right from my rowing,” says Meghan. But, she says, you work the imbalances. “I can guarantee if you have a weak core, you have a bad back.”
On one of her favorite races: One of Meghan’s most memorable races was at Lake Aiguebelette in France. The Women’s Eight had all rowed in pairs earlier in the day and Meghan says the boat came out slow and sluggish. After 1,000 meters, the cox said, ‘Do it for the women in front of you. Do it for the partner you just rowed with.’ It changed, says Meghan. “We had shifted the momentum.” Watch the video, it’s pretty incredible.
