In Which Our Heroine Goes Racing!
This time yesterday, I wasn't racing. This time today, there are two on the calendar. The first is tomorrow: the CRLS novices have their first race! Up in Lowell, against Lowell. All organized at the last minute. I only got the e-mail about it at lunch. Then I had to go to practice to make sure we'd have enough kids. We did. Our regular cox won't be there, but everyone else will, which means we take our fifth kid and make him a cox. Who is our fifth kid? In this case, it is the smallest one. No erg or seat racing to find out who is the slowest on a weight adjusted basis. Thankfully, I had taught them the racing start in the morning practice, so we could refine it with power tens and some long pieces at the afternoon practice. The kids are getting fast. Tomorrow we find out if we're fast enough. Fingers crossed!

The other race of the day is the Head of the Charles. Liz and I have committed to doing it, and the miracle is that we know we have an entry secured, and it is only April. How is this possible? Because we have been admitted into the charity program. This means we have to raise a minimum of $2000 by July 1 for any combination of the Red Cross, Cambridge Community Foundation, The Home for Little Wanderers, Community Rowing Inc. and/or Access Sport America. I'm on the pledge trail, and the money is coming in already. If you want to pledge, e-mail me please! (anne@goannego.com). The real bonus is that in every prior year the program has been run, the Head of the Charles has either matched donations, or donated a lump sum to the charities in question, so you definitely get more bang from your buck for making a donation, and of course everything is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. So now Liz and I have to get going, get training, get ready. Of course, knowing already means that we can start in earnest NOW. Expect times from time trials to be posted here in the near future. And lots of boring things about drills, pieces, and the like. Of course, I thrive on it. First post race acceptance practice is tomorrow, after the kid's race.
Must sleep! Must rest!
Love,
Speed Racer