University of North Carolina Athletics
Rowing Along: Meredith Krull
September 24, 2001 | Women's Rowing
Sept. 24, 2001
Meredith Krull is a senior from Raleigh and a member of the UNC rowing team. Throughout the year, she will provide TarHeelBlue.com readers with an inside look at her team and the experience of being a varsity athlete at North Carolina.
Only five more days until our first regatta against ACC rivals Duke and Clemson! After a challenging and productive week of practice, we could not be any more ready.
We started the week with our usual Monday erg practice and team meeting. At the meeting, Joel spoke about pulling hard on every piece, as if it were the last one, and the seniors went over goals and expectations for the season. I think everyone left with a better sense of purpose and a focus that seemed to fuel the rest of the week.
Until Friday, we rowed in the eights and cross-trained on our own by running, lifting, and cycling. The focus for this part of the week was building our aerobic base and being more effective with the stroke.
By Friday afternoon, it was clear that the effort from the week had paid off. Every Friday we have "Friday Chooseups." On these days, two people act as team captains and pick the lineups for their boats. After a long warm-up and steady state row, the two boats race over about 4,000 meters. The boats are always about even in speed, so this practice is always exciting.
On Saturday morning we were out in the eights again for a long row, focusing on technique. Although none of the practice was spent doing full pressure work, it was a lot of fun and hugely productive. As we took the boats in, Joel said he thought it was "possibly the best practice of the year."
Saturday's practice symbolized the hard work that everyone put in this week. When I walked out of the boathouse, my legs were tired and I knew that we had really done what we set out to do. What's even better is that now our team will enter this next week with the necessary confidence to race Duke and Clemson!
Come support Carolina Rowing this Saturday, the 29th! For more information on the racing and directions to spectator parking at Lake Michie click here.
Yours in Carolina Blue,
Mer
