The European Championships as a self-experiment Part IV: A grueling 5,000 meters in a rowing boat
Created: 08/12/2022, 09:01
By: Catherine Brack
At 35 degrees on the Oberschleißheim regatta course, two hours in the boat are a fascinating experience.
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The European Championships offer a lot of challenges.
In the self-experiment we try to emulate the top athletes.
Munich - After almost five thousand meters and with dissolved fingertips, I finish my first rowing trip in a double scull.
The skulls (two poles for propulsion on the water) really tore my hands.
At 35 degrees on the Oberschleißheim regatta course, two hours in the boat is still a fascinating experience.
According to Willi Bock, chairman of the Munich Rowing Society 1972 eV, rowing is “the absolute team sport” and I quickly notice who sets the pace in our training duo.
"Slower.
More quickly.
Don't be so hectic," Bock calls out to me.
After a little getting used to it, things get better.
In Langlock we row across the route.
The world record over 2000 meters is under six minutes.
Despite my full commitment, we need almost 20 minutes.
On the way back to the starting point, our two-wheeler, worth a small car, crashes into a starting block.
We can quickly shake off the short shock and so in the end I get out of the boat, which is about ten meters long, a bit exhausted but satisfied.
What is clear is that technology counts, not strength.
And I did that very well.
Bock: "Your blisters are in the right places, which shows that you held the skulls correctly." Photos: Norbert Habschied
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