Coach Franky Sheridan’s advice for the 4.2 km Corrib course: what to wear, how to warm up, and the don’ts of head racing.
By Franky Sheridan
Head Season runs from winter through spring and can be very unforgiving. The cold, windy, wet weather often associated with this time of year can be unpleasant and raises more questions than answers about why rowers do what they do.
The simple answer is: rowers don’t think about it too much.
Whether it’s 500 or 5,000 metres, rowers are motivated by competition and the urge to win. You only learn to win by competing, and in rowing, competition is all around us. You compete with yourself to be better today than you were yesterday, and you compete with others to be better than them every day.
Tribesmen Head of the River (THOR) takes place in spring, during the month of March. The 4.2 km course is challenging, featuring long straights and some twisty bends. We all hope for a nice day and some good racing, but Galway weather can be very unpredictable.
As a coach, my advice to crews is simple: wrap up, warm up properly on your way to the start, and be prepared. Here are some tips to help get you there.
Before you race
- Know the course. Familiarise yourself with the course and race details.
- Make a timetable. Start from when you wake up, including everything you need to do and when each task must be completed, so you arrive at the start line on time.
- What to wear. Club racing kit (one-piece), with a T-shirt or long sleeve underneath and leggings over shorts if needed. Wear a second long sleeve or rowing jacket for the paddle warm-up.
- Warm up. Steady-state paddling combined with a few race-pace 20s to get properly warm. Get warm and stay warm.
- Ready to race. Strip down to your race kit and decide whether you’re racing in leggings. Pull your one-piece up over your T-shirt or long sleeve. Listen to the marshals and be ready to race when you’re called to the start.
Have a good race!
The don’ts of racing
- Don’t be late to the start. Launch in good time to allow for a proper warm-up and avoid disqualification.
- Don’t leave equipment checks to others. Your seat, your rig, your fault if it’s loose or not set correctly.
- Don’t bring wellies in the boat. One pair can weigh around 2 kg. You don’t want to be carrying 16 kg of dead weight on top of excess warm-up kit.
- Don’t become a passenger in your own boat. Give your best effort and then some.
- Don’t get in the way of a faster crew. If you’re being overtaken, give way. If they’ve caught you, they’ve already beaten you. They may not be in the same category, so show sportsmanship and don’t ruin their chance of a win.
- Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet when launching or taking the boat off the water. Sometimes stepping into water or mud avoids damaging the boat. Water and mud wash off in seconds, a damaged boat takes much longer to repair.
Have a good row and enjoy the day.
Yours in rowing,
Franky Sheridan
