Sunday 16 February 2014, 3.02 pm – the Men’s Heavyweight 30-39 start time has run over by a few minutes and the race starter is not hanging around. The command to pick up handles is given then the world stands still. Heart pounding, throat dry, palms sweating. Anticipation surrounds the arena …..
SIT READY
ATTENTION
ROW!
This time I’m prepared. This time I’m excited. This time I want to be on the start line instead of those feelings of not wanted to be there. I reach forward on ATTENTION and explode into a half stroke with plenty of arms on ROW. I have practiced plenty of starts over the past week and nail it pretty much bang on how I would like. I know not to go out too hard but I’m reasonably strong so can get the wheel spinning quick. I settle into full slide after 4 strokes and keep the rate up around 40. The next few strokes is about bringing the rate down and letting the pace come down with it. After 200m I am settled into a steady rhythm and have found race pace with ease. Coming into the first 500m I treat myself to a peak at the average split which is where I would want it off a race start computer then I take a look at where I am positioned – You’ve got to be sh***ing me! I have not even broken the top 10 and I sense the big boys have gone out hard. Ok time to stick to the race plan and ride it out. This however is the World Championships and I know it’s going to be a bloody tough outing this afternoon.
For those who know me and follow my journey will remember the drama I experienced in Boston 2013. You may recall the reported heart rate reading of 99.3% VO2 Max for over 5 minutes and then the collapse afterward resulting in paramedic treatment and oxygen. Although I left the USA 1 year ago taking the positives out of the journey I was returning to a battle ground where I had been severely scarred and so understandably had some demons to slay this time around. I have been wanting to use this quote all year:-
I had attempted to avoid the usual question I was so often asked in the build up to this years race and continued to bat it off even on race day at breakfast. I would however give an honest answer and reveal that my main goal was to enjoy the event. Secretly although probably pretty obvious the target would be to break 6.10 and take whatever position that would give me. This would start with ensuring my mental preparation was spot on and I was able to relax in the build up – especially once landing in Boston. The year before I had worked myself into a frenzy 3 days out and was utterly shattered and mentally broken by the time I got to the start line. The same would happen at the British Championships recently just before the Christmas break which cost me a good performance. I had done a lot of self coaching and reading in the past few months and obviously worked with Q but also with Mellissa Coyle, a sports psychologist based in Plymouth.
So getting to the start line in a stable and positive frame of mind was absolutely key. The rest was easy, well sort of, I just had to let the training take over and take myself to that place where I have been so many times before in my training room away from distractions. As I have blogged, I knew I could push myself seriously hard so to do it in a race in front of crowd seemed so straight forward.
Team training in the hotel:-
Once in Boston the build up was perfect. Under the guidance of Q the team settled into the build up to race day with precision. We trained twice a day – the first session was a light paddle to wake up the body and build some team spirit before the afternoon where we would stay sharp with some race start practice. In the training room we remained professional and focused despite some unwanted distractions and then enjoyed some social interaction in and around the hotel. This was all set out in a regimented programme which I favoured, outlining our day from meetings, team meals or taking naps to stay fresh and rested. We also enjoyed ample down time and I took this opportunity to find other conversations away from rowing and became more settled whilst just being myself and remaining chatty and playful.
Race day was perfect. I rose when I woke naturally after a long sleep and headed down to breakfast before meeting up with some of the team who were also racing in the afternoon. A short taxi ride to the arena where the racing was already under way and immediately I sensed the occasion – the event seemed bigger than last year. I sat calmly with the Q-Power girls and engaged in conversations and some banter before watching James Howard secure a 4th place with a confident well paced row. Q-Powers assault was under way and it would seem we would keep Q on his toes for most of the day with a rollercoaster journey throwing in athlete after athlete to the arena under Q’s watchful eye. Ever the professional he would remain calm, collective and composed as he dealt with 10 different personalities entering the stage and set to steer them in the right direction. Never would he give anything away to either the opposition nor his athletes. A distinctive look across his face not reacting too much to any given result knowing the next athlete was just around the corner and needed that full attention when it was their turn. He would admit that his job was actually done and it was now down to the individual to do what they know how to do and pace the row using tactics and experience. Words of encouragement are useful but I had said to him that whilst coxing me there was no need to tell me to find a certain split. If I couldn’t find it then there was a damn good reason and it was out of his hands, it would be down to me.
The calm before the storm:-
My first exposure to the atmosphere and the occasion was entering the race floor to cox team mate Jo Allsebrook. I had already completed my first warm up at the arena and had noticed the noise as races got under way. I managed to catch the final 500m of Shirley Godkins race as I climbed into the stands from the warm up pit and saw her take the Silver medal with an impressive performance.
Entering the race floor I sat behind Jo and had been given strict instructions on what she required. As I helped her through her race I couldn’t help but to have a little look around at what was going on and the crowd that had gathered in the main stand in the arena. Jo had a solid race and dominated 4th place from start to finish and seemed content with her performance.
Meanwhile the tough Clare Busst had destroyed the field to become World Champion in the female lightweight 30’s race, despite being given a 50/50 chance of rowing the night before due to injury. An incredible athlete with a huge future and with only being in the sport for around 6 months. Also in that race was last years silver medallist Carolyn Gersh. Another tough athlete who overcame a difficult years training to finish a credible 4th place.
A quick congratulations to the girls and it was time to put my selfish head back on, re focus and disappear back to the hotel for a few hours whilst the junior races got under way. I got back and grabbed my last pre race meal before heading back to my room and for the first time found myself alone and disappeared into my own little world. Then for the first time came the onslaught of nerves. My stomach started turning inside out and the sickness feeling came on strong as my body became lethargic and lazy, beginning the shut down process that means something nasty is about to happen to it. I welcomed these feelings and this time I was prepared. I knew they would come and I knew how it would feel but only this time I took them on board and then batted them out all the time remaining strong, focused and positive. I reasoned with myself and asked the question I have been asking all year – ‘what’s your why?’. I already had the answers, they were lodged in my brain and all I had to do was reach in and find them.
Feeling in control and answering the demons I lay down on my bed and went into a state of deep relaxation. I drifted in and out of sleep for 45 minutes before my alarm sounded and told me it was time to get moving. I got up and had a shower then started finalising my race preparation. Checking, kit, drinks, food etc before heading down to the hotel lobby to meet Jen Howse and Jordan Weide. We sat and chatted for 15 minutes before getting in a taxi and heading back to the arena. It was nearly time.
On re entering the stadium the crowd had grown. The noise coming from the main stand was deafening as a race entered the final few hundred metres. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up – ‘not yet, too soon’ I thought as I sat down with other members of the team all the time looking at the clock and checking the races were running on time. A few quick one liners and I said my good byes to those who had raced and got the thumbs up from the boss as i slooped off to the warm up floor. Still calm I waited patiently for a machine and had my eye on and end one so grabbed it and angled it slightly away from others and began the final preparation.
I noticed Paul Brew was sat nearby with Q. He looked focused and relaxed – not surprising bearing in mind this is a man who has competed at the Olympic Games (swimming). I churned through my warm up as Paul disappeared to race and once again the current race provided the loudest response from the crowd I had heard all day. As before my hair stood up on end and my stomach churned. I choose not to fight it this time and rattled through a 1 minute burst at race pace. ‘Sod it’ I thought, ‘get excited, it’s nearly race time’. Final stages of the warm up complete, bursts felt pretty crap and my heart rate soared. I didn’t have my heart rate monitor on and have not worn it for racing since the Boston 13 experience. I knew it would be pumping and would rather not know what it was at. What was I going to learn at this stage?
A final toilet break and quick chat with Jordan before meeting Q in the line waiting to enter the race floor. We chatted loosely for a minute or two and I made sarcastic comments to those around me, looking for anyone who fancied a chat. We wandered out to the floor all the time keeping an eye on the clock. I was in no rush, I had 4 minutes to play with. Getting to my machine I had a quick look into the crowd to see who was about then sat down and set drag factor and lowered the foot plates. With not a lot happening I stood back up and had another good look around. I made a few wise cracks to Q who had taken up position behind me and Paul Buchanan who was to my left. We were getting close now and I noticed the starter taking the final walk along the machines. It was time. 52 weeks of training. 52 weeks of torment, highs, lows, injuries, illness. 52 weeks of watching my worlds count down poster being ticked off week by week. It was now here and I had some business to attend to.
Setting up before the start:-
So what was my plan?
For me this race was all about what I could do. I didn’t care what anyone did around me or where such and such would finish. The field was strong and I had embraced that all week when the seeds had come out. I was seeded well down the field in 7th or 8th with future Olympians, former World Champions, European Champions, National Champions and record holders in the mix. This was a bit different to other races that I had won in the season, this was the real deal and I would have my work cut out if I was to hold my own.
500m in and I decide to take a peak at where I am sitting. Seeing myself outside the top 10 I knew it was time to remain focused and stick to my game – after all what else could I do? I looked to sit it out and grind out to the 1km marker and then re asses my options. As I went through no mans land it became apparent that it was biting more than I would have hoped for. The stroke felt long and fluid but I was having to slam the legs down hard to find the 1.33/1.34 pace I wanted. Probably too many 1.34’s showing than I would have liked and I knew at 1km there wouldn’t be much response and I would have to keep it tight and consistent. I had told Q that if I didn’t show him a negative split after 1100m’s then he would know I was having a tough outing and there was no point in asking for it. He remained silent as I went through with 900m to go and just bought it on a fraction to find a more consistent 1.33. I took a look for the average split and decided that a 6.12 was probably more likely, I just didn’t have the legs to squeeze it on enough and had to remain on the split I was pulling meant a huge effort.
When the slight increase in pace came it bit hard and the legs started to protest with every drive. The arms however remained intact so I looked to remain strong and search hard for the 750 marker. 750 came and went and the response was little if any, I was still hanging onto 1.33’s and knew I had to wait another 100m or so. That 100m came and went as I was beginning to hurt really bad. I tried to sit up and keep driving with the legs. The rate had gone up a pip or 2 as we went through 500m. The noise lifted and the pain went up with it. I thought long and hard about when to commit and found myself going through 400m with rate up another pip to 35 and then pace down on 1.31. I then saw 340m and thought about one thing and one thing only. 1 minute left – no time to wind it, time to bury it and Q responded.
Burying the last minute with Paul Buchanan
I lifted the rate and broke the arms early to bring on some power. Wow! 1.25 current split displayed in big letters (on viewing race replays I later found out that I hit a 1.24 in the attack). My immediate thought was that I had not worked hard enough in the middle sector and had left too much in the tank. I late spoke to Q and told him that even though the sprint was big, on the day the cruise felt tough enough without squeezing it on anymore. I continued the all out assault no idea where I was but managed to glance at the average split which was pushing towards a sub 6.10 now.
In the final 100m of pain I began to slow back down and on viewing race replay data saw I was back down to 1.31/1.32 through the line. I would say that is pretty much spot on and timed to perfection. That’s the experience of knowing my body and doing countless 2k’s and racing over the past season.
Pain all the way:-
Crossing the line I couldn’t see. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as my neck whipped forward, legs completely destroyed. I desperately tried to sit up and keep moving, I tried to look at the screen but couldn’t focus. A strange humming went through my ears and the noise of my surroundings muffled and life went into slow motion. Regaining composure I looked at he screen and saw 6.09.1. That’ll do, job done and my thoughts turned to nothing but recovery. The acid build was so intense I felt ill. Breathing rate had come down but the sickness feeling was overwhelming and I didn’t know what to do with myself. It’s only looking back at the video that I remember anything at this point as I eventually hobbled off to find an erg to keep moving on. I had a team of people trying to find a spare erg as other athletes warmed up. I sporadically crouched down, head hanging feeling ill and disorientated – pretty standard for me, my lactate levels go so high and with a high tolerance leaves me in a pretty poor state for some time.
Q tries to convince me to get up and move around:-
I came to and was chatting with Adrian Quinn who seemed disappointed. Rightly so as he had missed out on bronze by less that half a second. I stopped after 10 minutes and sat down with Paul Buchanan again who had been involved in the fight for bronze and narrowly missed out. I just remember turning to him and saying “how the f*** am I going to do a 1km relay now?”. He smiled in response. At this point I actually didn’t know where I had finished and to be honest I wasn’t overly bothered. I had broken 6.10 and in Boston conditions to be just 1.5 seconds of PB pace that extremely pleasing.
So one hour of feeling pretty rough passed and it was time to set up 1 more time for the team relay. I had attempted to watch Jen Howse take silver but to be honest was in no fit state to take in what was going on. This time on entering the race floor however I felt different. There was no pressure, it was just a bit of fun, plus I had the new World Champion Jordan Weide to my left and Paul Buchanan to my right. This was a good team to be on.
In good company:-
We set out hard and the plan was to settle onto 1.29’s. We found the 500m marker and Q told us to hold for another 100m. At 400m he told us to wait again but as we approached 350m I took a look at Jordan’s screen then glanced across at Pauls and thought ‘sod it – I’m going!’. I slammed the rate up to 40 and pulled as hard as I could driving the handle into my chest. The other 2 went with me and I expect Paul Brew did the same, I couldn’t see his screen though as he was 2 to my right. I figured we had won as we had opened up quite a gap and no one had come with us, it was fun to be part of.
Action during the team relay:-
All smiles now we’re done:-
Crossing the line the acid kicked in again but was completely controllable after a few moments. I had a few leg wobbles on standing up but the feeling of ecstasy knowing it’s all over was immense. A while was spent in the medal ceremony congratulating a number of race winners before shutting it all down and heading back for some celebratory drinks.
A hint of emotion from Q in the medals ceremony:-
With Q and World Champion Jordan Weide
And there we have it. The World Championships all over for another year. I am extremely pleased with not just my performance and result by my ability to hold my own in a very strong line up. In years to come I aim to be coming back as a contender rather than just a nuisance and will continue to plug away. As for now I have a no pressure run out at the English National Championships in 10 days then it is back to training with plenty of goals being set in the mean time.
A big thank you to all that I met in Boston, too many to mention but especially those who commented that they read and follow my blog. To know that not only does this get read by friends and family but by strangers on the other side of the world fills me with more inspiration to keep fighting and battling to improve year after year.
The journey is still young.
Thanks for reading.
Ollie Osborne
2014 World Championships 7th placed.
[above left] The strongest field I have ever encountered. [above right] Not a bad last 500m.
[below] Q-Power 2014 World Championship team
