Feb. 17, 2004

Ode to Thursdays and the Novice Girls

Although unlikely, Thursday is my favorite day of the week right now. I have two short classes, must-see-TV at 8 o'clock, and crew practice. But it isn't just any ordinary practice - it's "Thriller Thursday." Coach Katie plans something fun for us novi to do in lieu of running or erging. This past Thursday, for example, we creative chicas went to the craft center and made valentines* (some more imaginative than others!) for each other and friends and family - it was definitely a good time. It's "practices" like these that really help team bonding which in turn helps strengthen the team. It's also practices like these that make us like Katie even more.

I originally joined crew because it sounded cool. I had never rowed before, so I had no idea what I was getting into. 5:30 am practices? Yuck. Erging? Yuck. Stairs? Yuck. Yet, even though these may sound extremely unappealing, I don't really mind them because the novice girls always make them enjoyable. Whether it's a random song on an erg mix while doing a 6K or a funny anecdote on the van ride to practice while it's still dark out, we know how to work hard, but also have fun while we're doing it. So yea, crew adds structure in my life and it keeps me in shape, but most importantly, I've met a fantastic group of girls that I love hanging out with. We work well together, not just in the boat or while making valentines, but outside the sport as well. And isn't having fun the most important part?

Caitlin Feigenbaum '07

* - see picture at right