Erging as a mental game

Erging is certainly an art, and an art that some don’t really get. Erging requires a certain level of mental strength and fortitude that is not easy to have, often the fastest erg score commands the highest amount of respect for that person, but for those that aren’t or “just part of the pack”, it can be hard to maintain resilience. 

I think it is normal for all of us to struggle with erg tests, personally, I don’t get nervous, ever. So, I guess I am in the majority, my weak point however is during the erg. This is often my Achilles heel and I genuinely believe that once you have stopped halfway through an erg once, you will stop again, again and again. During Lockdown, and during the peak of COVID-19, I erged for 8 hours straight for the NHS, raising around £2,500, and after that, I didn’t touch an erg for months. I couldn’t bring myself to get back on that machine, alone, again. 

I kept on trying to do ergs by myself, and rarely did I ever complete an erg without essentially breaking down. Something in me was stopping me, stopping me. I had gone from one of the fastest in the club, to one of the slowest ergs. It was certainly a low point and for sure asked questions on the remainder of my career. 

I erged for 8 hours straight for the NHS, raising around £2,500, and after that, I didn’t touch an erg for months.

Then, lockdown ended, and I moved clubs. I never erged alone after that, even Zoom ergs made a massive difference to me, I didn’t feel alone and there is something almost critical in human nature, a pain shared is a pain lessened. (That’s why you never do 2K’s alone).  I went from the slowest to the fastest in that club, beating those in my previous club. I went to nationals and then British Indoor Championships, with an almost film-worthy last to first race. After that point, erging, rowing and all involved has (almost), become enjoyable, and fun? As if the addition of a fun and competitive environment cleared my headspace and gave a fresh perspective.

What my experience taught me is that the erg, and the attitude towards it, is always individual, almost intimate in some ways. Some of the most intense emotions I have ever felt are after a 2K, and this feeling can only really be met after winning a race. Trust me the reward of finishing an erg is worth it! 

But there is another almost critical aspect to it, and that is result comparison. I think nothing can be more de-motivating than to see your biggest rival, someone that you were trying to impress or your coach. Turn to you looking – disappointed, dismissive, or angry. You know you could have done so much better, yet you didn’t. I think it’s hard to give advice for this sort of thing, unfortunately, as it all is very personal, but for me the thing that made the most amount of difference was to me was changing my mindset, I wasn’t going to be able to beat the guy Infront, but I could beat my previous score. To be honest, once you have beaten yourself, you can beat just about anyone. Just set out to do the best you can do, I never really set a target (ever), I just go out there and go by feel, every time I did that, I always beat my last score, and when I set out a target I always failed. I feel like selecting a target limits you, just aim for the best you can do, nothing more, nothing less and be sure at the end that the tank is empty, that it’s all anyone can ask for. In such a linear measure of speed- deconstructing how you can critique yourself as much as possible is key to success.

Lastly and most importantly be happy when you finish, you beat yourself, you are a winner, and you did something most people can’t do, be proud. 

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Ben Stanworth

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