Boston Head Race and 5km ergo trial!

So after finally recovering from the horrendous cold that hit me on 9^th January I was back training with my squad in Nottingham by the 14^th. I had been entered into the Boston Head race whilst I was away as this race was a 5km water race which was the exact same route as what we have to do for the 5km water trials. Having a trial on 15^th February this was going to be a great chance to practice the course some more and get my head around planning the best and quickest route for the trial.

The weather wasn’t too bad, yes very cold but it luckily didn’t rain on the second division which I was in. The paddle up to the start went okay but for some reason I was on the water for a total of 90mins BEFORE I even started to race! I got very cold and the warm up paddle to the start seemed pointless now. It was as though you had just got in your boat and was forced to race straight away – not ideal.

The race went well except for taking the bend far too tight which made my blade get caught in the mud at the edge of the riverbank so I came to a stop L I got straight back on it and am now confident in the route I will take for the 5km water trial. I am so pleased I made this mistake on this race and not on an important trial where every second counts!

 

 

The following Wednesday (22^nd January) our coach had decided for the squad to complete the 5km ergo test required for trials. I was very apprehensive about this as I hadn’t done much preparation on the ergo other than long, low rate distances. I needed to make the cut off time of 19:40.0 to progress along the U23 route. I knew this was achievable as my PB at this point was 19:25.3 and I knew I was much better than when I did that so I went out to achieve the senior cut off time of 19:10.0. I had a sensible plan in my head which I was going to stick to. When we started I felt very relaxed and got straight into a solid rhythm making my plan seem very achievable. I was under all my target splits throughout and somehow managed to still squeeze it on massively for the last 1km. My final time was 19:06.6 J YAY I had done better than I set out to do and was over the moon. This was a fantastic birthday present to myself…yes I had to do a 5km ergo test on my birthday!

Now I have another tick in the box and can fully focus for the 5km water trial on 15^th February. The next few weeks will consist of me training hard to improve my water technique along with watching what I eat; I may have had a little bit too much birthday cake…lightweight problems suck!

GB U23 Training Camp – Cardiff

Having recovered (finally) from my tendonitis, I decided on New Year’s Day that I would be able to go on the GB U23 training camp in Cardiff on the 2^nd January until the 12^th January. So New Years Day saw me packing for an intense camp of indoor training consisting of ergs, weights and more ergs! I was, in some unusual way, really looking forward to it.

My dad very kindly drove me over to Cardiff and dropped me off leaving me with all my kit at the Welsh Institute of Sport…little did I know that was the last time I would see the outside world!

Day one and we were straight into training getting tested to see our ability of core strength and upper body strength. Group games afterwards slowly introduced each other and got people talking and getting to know each other.

Each morning we woke at 6:30am and had to monitor out physiology through urine samples, checking our resting heart rate and weighing ourselves. This got recorded so that the coaches were aware of how we were coping with all the training, we had to do this at home since 24^th December so that we could get used to recording and monitoring ourselves…as a lightweight having to weigh myself over the Christmas period, where I stuffed my face every day, wasn’t a joyful experience but one that had to be done.

Training each day consisted of 4 sessions: an ergo – usually an 18km, followed by weights. After lunch we usually did some cross training such as a run or swimming and then did another ergo – power strokes and some stability or core work. We got two afternoons off and these were what got me through…the excitement of having only two training sessions was beyond me!

I was really enjoying all the training, even if my body had reached extreme exhaustion from not being used to doing so much, until I woke up on 9^th January with such a sore throat. My heart rate had increased dramatically so I got sent back to bed and had to remain there in isolation. My roommate had to change rooms and I was not allowed to eat near anybody. I felt like I was in prison…it was horrible and I don’t actually think I have ever felt so sorry for myself; all I wanted was to be at home in my own bed (not the comfiest and nicest of rooms to be isolated in L ). The next day I was no better and could hardly talk so the coach decided to send me home as there were only 3 days left. Thank god my dad had dropped me off as they weren’t allowing me to drive home or catch the train on my own as I would be better resting. So my dad came and picked me up at lunchtime and took me home. Thank you for saving the day dad! I don’t know how I would have coped staying isolated for much longer…I was just glad to be in my own bed and see other people!

Upon reflection I had a great time on camp, even if getting ill made it come to end earlier for me.  I gained a lot and feel my baseline fitness has improved lots from all the consistent endurance training on the ergos that we did. Let’s put it one way – it hasn’t put me off going out to achieve my dream of being on the GB Rowing team, if anything I want it even more now!

Media

Please find below an article that was written about my rowing achievements and aims in the Derby Telegraph.

Newspaper Article:

ROWING: Derby University student Yasmin Marks closing in on place in coveted Great Britain squad

By Derby Telegraph  |  Posted: December 07, 2013

By ROWING BY COLSTON CRAWFORD

Yasmin Marks

Comments (0) CHELLASTON rower Yasmin Marks is closing in on a coveted place in the Great Britain squad.
The 21-year-old University of Derby student has done well at the first of a number of trials – and has another coming up on December 14 in her category, which is lightweight sculls.
And while her greatest hope would be to break through in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Marks also has an eye on next year's World Under-23 championships, in Italy in July.
"I'd ultimately love to do Rio – if I'm good enough," she said.
"But I'm aiming to get into the under-23 world championships before that, as it's my last year at under-23."
Marks has come relatively late to rowing, having spent her younger teen years as a swimmer.
She has been rowing for only four years but quickly found herself breaking age group records when she took up the sport.
"I was a swimmer and my dad got me into rowing, as he had done it when he was younger," she said.
"I only went for it just to have a sport to do but I've always had that competitiveness in me.
"When I'd done about a year, I started winning competitions and I got a buzz from that."
Having started at Derby Rowing Club, Marks moved on to Nottingham Rowing Club but starting her three years course in psychology at the University of Derby has also helped – the university awarded her a bursary as a contribution to her training costs and she competes in British Universities & Colleges Sports events for Derby.
She had to travel to Boston in Lincolnshire for the most recent GB trials, held over a weekend.
The first day saw the triallists in ergo tests – on a rowing machine.
"We needed to perform a 2km ergo test," she said.
"I was in the second round of lightweights, so had to distract myself whilst the first round was taking place, as I couldn't bear to watch my competitors, knowing I still had to race.
"I felt calm and relaxed, a first for me when doing a 2km test, so I was in the best state I think you could be in.
"The adrenaline was pumping. I began with a very strong first 500m and kept pushing to achieve a personal best.
"My final time was seven minutes, 14 seconds, a PB by almost one second.
"I finished fourth out of 38 lightweights and was second in the under-23 category, so that was a good result."
The second day was a 5km water trial and, for once, conditions were ideal – the second days of trials are often cancelled due to the weather.
"I had a good row but must say that it was the most difficult 5km race I had ever done, as I pushed myself flat out from the off," said Marks
"I finished 10th out of 33 lightweights. I am usually in the bottom half of the water results, so to finish in the top 10 made my weekend."
She returns to Boston for the next trial, aiming to finish higher up the top 10.

Read more: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/ROWING-Derby-University-student-Yasmin-Marks/story-20273926-detail/story.html#ixzz2rd7Mfk52
  

I also had a live interview on BBC Radio Derby on the 11th December 2013. This was an enjoyable experience and I talked about the November trials and my next steps with regards to gaining selection into the U23 GB Rowing team. 

 

BUCS – Indoors and Small Boats

As I am a student at the University of Derby I compete in the BUCS competitions trying to gain points for my university and help get us high up in the leader board.

 

The first event for rowing is the University Indoor Rowing Championships and as I competed at trials my result can go towards this. I gained 2^nd place and hopefully therefore some points for the university but unfortunately at the moment the results from the GB trails have yet to be passed onto BUCS. As my time was 7:14.0 I am pretty confident I will be awarded the silver position J

The small boats race was held at Boston and was joined with the trials 5km water test. Therefore my result from this was placed towards the BUCS competition. The top times were very close but I finished 6^th in this event and just missed out from getting points for my university!

Overall, for the first two races of the BUCS season I am happy with the results and look forward to representing my university at the BUCS Regatta in May J

 

 

1st Assessment – GB Trials 2013/2014

Sorry for the (very) late post about this assessment! I have been very busy with training, uni work and celebrating Christmas.

On Saturday 16^th November I travelled over to Boston for part 1 of the two day trial. This day consisted of completing a 2km ergo test as fast as possible. I was very calm and relaxed for saying what I was about to endure, this was a first for me and I hope it lasts! It may have been due to 10 days prior the trial I completed a 2km test and produced a 7 second PB completing the distance in 7:14.9 J therefore I had confidence in myself that I could produce a time above the standard for U23 lightweights (7:38.0). My race time was 2:30pm so I had a relaxed journey over to Boston (not an early start YAY) and weighed in 3.4kg lighter than the limit, woohoo! Once warmed up I was all set to go and distracted myself from the lightweight heat before me, as watching your competitors complete before you is a challenge in itself! Next thing I was sat on the ergo waiting for the word GO…the race went to plan and I achieved what I set out to do, create a PB of 7:14.0 J in just 10days I had taken nearly a whole second off. I finished 4^th overall but came 2^nd in the U23s. I was extremely pleased with this result and I was in a prim position for the next day’s water trial. I travelled home, ate and slept trying to recover my body as fast as possible so I felt fresh for the next day’s testing.

Sunday arrived with a slightly earlier start to the day but the weather looked very good with no rain or wind. I needed to weigh in again and I passed this with plenty to spare…boat was ready to go and all I needed to do was eat up and prepare myself mentally for a very tough race. My legs didn’t feel 100% fresh but I knew I just had to go out there and give it my all. Before I knew it I was on the water warming up to the start of the 5km water trial. Due to finishing in 4^th position the previous day my start position was high up…I am weaker on the water so this made me nervous! I knew I had a very fast sculler chasing me down so was prepared to keep her off for as long as possible. The race began and I must say it was the hardest 5km water race I have EVER completed! The landing stage couldn’t come into sight quick enough. I did get overtaken but tried my hardest to stay with her and not let anyone else over take me. I finished 10^th overall but came 5^th in the U23s so a very good achievement as I usually finish in the lower half of the entries!

Overall I had a very good weekend and placed myself in a good position for future trials, testing and training camps. The following Tuesday I got invited to a crew boat testing training camp in Caversham on 16^th-21^st December and am very excited about going to it! But first I have to train for the next trial stage which was another 5km water trial in Boston on 14^th December.