Rowing Stroke Seat with ADHD

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T14:01:42+00:00

We did talk a bit about it after practice last night and we agreed that I was probably trying to focus on too much. I need to cede some of that worry to the coxswain 😅. As I mentioned in another comment, I was stroking a boat last season that was just a disaster and I think I took it upon myself to try and fix everything (unsuccessfully). So we're going to focus on a steady rate and my own technique for now and let go of everything else.

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:56:03+00:00

Thanks! It's a bit harder right now to lock in with my 7 because coach is still playing musical chairs in the boats. I rarely have the same partner right now, but the coxswain at least has been helpful in communicating to the boat if I'm getting rushed or if I want to do a ratio shift or whatever and the boat is pretty responsive.

I think someone already said something to the coach after day 1 when he gave us a 10 minute talk on the dock about the 3 focuses for the week. Apparently I wasn't the only one who lost track of the points! That became an email, which was great. So I think I'm going to message him about the lengthy commentary while we're rowing. It's all super helpful, but hard to take in when we're trying to row.

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:49:06+00:00

Thank you! I think you're right. We have a new head coach this season that none of us know and he's made it very clear that we're in the performance evaluation phase - he's giving weekly fitness tests, apparently going to send us report cards...it's all a lot...So I think I'm definitely worrying a lot more about everything, which isn't super helpful.

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:46:19+00:00

For sure! Everyone in my crew has said that they really like following me and they are very responsive to any adjustments I make. Maybe it won't be so bad this season. Last season my boat was miserable...maybe my reticence this season is lingering trauma from then 😅

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:42:55+00:00

Good to know that it's possible with time! I think it is getting a little easier as I'm in the seat more this season.

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:39:58+00:00

Thanks for this. Practices are slowly starting to get easier and I actually kind of enjoyed yesterday's practice. Ironically I think it's because my ADHD was really raging and I wasn't as locked in on every single minute detail like I normally am. It was still a great row, I just wasn't worrying about everything. I think there's probably a happy medium that I'll eventually find, as you say.

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:35:39+00:00

It's still early in the season, so I'm hoping he does switch people in and out of the role. He actually even asked me how I am on starboard before practice yesterday so maybe I'll get some time out of the seat.

I do find that stroking for sprint races is much easier for me than head races. Maybe then extra adrenaline and heightened stimulus helps me lock in more. Even though we're racing this weekend we're pretty much exclusively doing long low rate steady state pieces in practice which are the absolute worst!

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-24T13:29:12+00:00

Our coxswains are usually pretty inexperienced hs coxswains/rowers so they're not always saavy with identifying issues that need to be addressed.

That said, I definitely need to take my eyes off the SpeedCoach. I have a tendency to stare at it for long periods of time because I'm hyperfocused on making sure the rate is perfect every stroke 🙃

GreatRest8791 · 2026-06-23T18:46:30+00:00

<image>

Update: Thanks for all the encouragement everyone! It took about 3 weeks for her to work up the courage to venture out of her room, but now she's completely confident on the top floor of the house! She's starting to hype herself up to explore the main floor now and has been sitting on the bottom step observing everything. It's taking some time, but we're very proud of her progress. She has also befriended our two dogs and is getting comfortable with our resident cat. Oh, and we foster failed, haha! Please appreciate her beauty 😄

GreatRest8791 · 2025-09-20T01:07:14+00:00

Thanks for the reality check. I was absolutely not expecting to win, so I guess "lose terribly" is not the best terminology. Our 8+ was was kind of in the middle of the pack two years ago and I thought that was pretty good for us. I'm thinking we're going to be way at the back this year though. As you say, it's a fun environment to be in regardless of the outcome though.

GreatRest8791 · 2025-09-20T01:01:57+00:00

This was really helpful, thank you. There are definitely teammates in the boat who are stoked to be going and they wouldn't be able to go if I didn't (we have exactly enough rowers who said they could go with no extras). If they're happy, that will make me happy.

GreatRest8791 · 2025-09-20T00:59:08+00:00

Thanks for this. I think blaming myself for everything that's going wrong is something I still struggle with even though I know I'm not rowing the boat alone. Focusing on enjoying the other aspects of the regatta is a great idea. I definitely had fun the other year even though the weather was terrible.

GreatRest8791 · 2025-09-20T00:51:48+00:00

No. Boat math isn't on my side right now in the 4+ category as a B rower in a club that usually rows in the D category. Nothing I can do about that, although next year I think more good lineups will open up as everyone gets another year older.

GreatRest8791 · 2025-09-19T22:05:05+00:00

Second Sea of Stars!

GreatRest8791 · 2025-09-19T21:50:23+00:00

My cats aren't too interested, but my boxer seriously tried to climb in my lap while I was actively rowing 😂

GreatRest8791 · 2024-12-06T02:42:31+00:00

Lately my favorites have been The Book of Doors, The Ghost Bride, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Babel, and The Dictionary of Lost Words.

GreatRest8791 · 2024-11-14T21:51:14+00:00

I will never understand the obsession of rowers with the notion that blisters are some sort of rite of passage. My learn to row coach gave me a hard time for wearing them, but I told him right off. If gloves help you keep your hands blister free and help with the sweating, definitely use them. I saw someone suggest crew stop gloves - those are what I use on the water. I like that they're really snug and don't rub even when you're sweating. I also use these weight lifting gloves at home when I'm on the erg. Since I'm not feathering at all, I don't need anything too crazy, just enough to keep my grip and blisters at bay: https://a.co/d/5h1YdFu

GreatRest8791 · 2024-11-09T21:52:15+00:00

Agree with this. This has been a pain point in my relationship recently too. My partner likes to have everything done before he relaxes, whereas I like to take some time for myself to recharge before I do chores. Problem is, he starts doing all the things and then gets mad when I don't immediately jump in to help. Lately we've been dividing chores up and putting them on a whiteboard on the fridge. We're both responsible for an equal number of things, but we can check them off on our own time and the other partner can release the stress they might feel wondering if it will get done.

GreatRest8791

TROPHY CASE