Before I tell you the five biggest things I have learnt this season, here is a little background update about my rowing.
This season, I am rowing at the University of London Boat Club because I am studying for my Master’s in Public Health. I often get the question, ‘Why didn’t you row at UL during your undergrad, and why are you rowing there now?’
In a short summary, I rowed at Thames Rowing Club while studying for my undergraduate physiotherapy degree at King’s College London, and I have never done university rowing. Many girls at Thames spoke about how much they enjoyed university rowing, and when I got accepted into my Masters programme, I decided to give it a go. Especially because I spoke to many girls who rowed at UL and now at Thames, and they all loved their time and because UL’s captain last season, Georgie Banton, made it sound like the place to be (which it definitely is!).
Culture is one of the first things I notice about a program or environment. I’m interested in the values, how people talk about the club, the athlete-led conversations, and how everything being talked about is actioned and implemented. I personally think the culture is make or break. The coaches and management need to set the tone and expectations. The athletes, role models and leaders are there to enforce it and keep everyone engaged, and everyone needs to support each other. I have been lucky to witness incredible examples of this at my clubs.
Another thing I have noticed is that everyone will have a slightly different style of rowing, coaching, and managing, but the collective buy-in is make or break. At UL, Tom Gale and Stu Pearce have spent lots of time explaining why we do what we do at UL and, most importantly, how it translates to boat speed. This was awesome to see with both women’s eights winning at Quintin Head. I love Thames and always will because I have been there for four years and have a job there, BUT I also like UL. I love the training program, getting PBs and getting faster. I love being around people who help me improve and make it fun, like Jessie Martin, Daisy Faithful and Georgie Banton, who always brings energy and vibes. Not to forget the coaches who are so dedicated and knowledgeable.
The third thing is that being around people who are good at what they do makes you better. We have all heard the saying, “You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with”. Another saying I love is
“To create positive, long-lasting change you need to be in an environment where the new habit is the normal.”
There are some incredible athletes at ULBC and Thames who are great role models. Whether they have a red box (or a few), U23 gold medals, or are just really good at their craft, I’m lucky to learn something every day. For example, ankle mobility is a key to being more effective at the catch, or simply observing how people warm up or manage university work and rowing.
The fourth thing is to be in an environment where you feel comfortable and being injured is respected. A few weeks ago, during a session, I was getting some very uncomfortable sharp back pain, and the coaches at UL were so understanding about doing rehab and stretching for the next session. This is normal. I cannot emphasise how wrong it is for a coach to pressure an athlete to endure and row through pain. If you are in pain, you stop, get assessed and get a suitable plan. You do not carry on and ‘just get on with it’ as a few physiotherapy clients have said their coaches told them to do.
The final point is that change can be good. Last year, I was injured, which was not fun at all. A new environment and training program is a good way to enjoy rowing without any pressure; at least, that worked for me. It’s also nice to meet new people and learn new things. My concluding piece of advice is that I wish I had joined ULBC for my undergraduate degree, and I would highly recommend the Purple Palace to anyone reading this who is trying to decide where to go to row at university.
As always, I am happy to chat if anyone is curious
@sophiehudsonphysio
Chartered & Registered Physiotherapist
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