If you ask coxes what makes them the most nervous about racing, most will tell you “the warm-up”. Taking responsibility for getting your crew to the start line safely, ready to go, and on time can be a real juggle, especially on a busy lake with a small warm-up loop, or at a big head race with lots of marshalling crews around. So how do you make sure you nail this part of the day and arrive at the start line of your race in the best possible condition, mentally and physically?
As with most things coxing, the first, and arguably most important, step is in the planning. Ideally you should be practicing your warm-up routine in just the same way you are practising to race. This not only gives you the chance to fine tune what exactly needs to be in the routine, with input from your coach and crew, but also allows you to rehearse the timings. If you are a coach, this is a great opportunity to collaborate with your coxes. Include them in the planning of the warm-up, and take their vital feedback about what is and isn’t working. Believe them when they say it can’t be done in the time you have available and work with them to fix this.
Another ahead of time decision to make is to decide which parts of your warm-up are the most important to your crew. Do you absolutely need to make sure that they get in their 1 minute race pace burst, or are starts more important for your preparation? Knowing what absolutely must get done means that if you are delayed, for example with an equipment failure, and have minimal time to get ready, you will already know what part of the routine you should focus on. And if these decisions are made ahead of time then you have one less thing to worry about on race day.
Once you have your warm-up sorted then think about how you are going to apply it to the race course you are attending. Is there a separate warm-up area? How busy will it be? Where can you do pieces in the direction of racing, and which bits of the warm-up should you prioritise doing that way? Does the circulation pattern mean you need to add in more time to get to the start? Zoe De Toledo note – the only time I’ve ever even NEARLY been late to the start of the race was my Olympic heat – I completely misjudged the length of the warm-up loop and got stuck unable to turn out of it! Always check the circulation pattern and warm- up rules, even if you have been to an event before, and if you are unsure about the course
ask one of the local coxes, coaches, or officials for advice.
If you’ve got all this sorted then by the time you are ready to hit the water the rest will be easy! Make sure you have a watch set to regatta time and a small bag with vital tools and spares, and if you haven’t got one then check out the WOX merch store for some great options! If you are in a stern loaded boat make sure that your bow seat is keeping their eyes peeled as well, and makes you aware on anything going on you may not have seen. But most importantly, breathe deeply, stay focused, keep your voice calm and relaxed, and make sure you communicate and collaborate with the officials and other crews around you.
Race well.
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