Rowing is a sport of millimeters and milliseconds – small adjustments that compound into significant performance gains. Without intentional reflection, valuable lessons from each practice can slip away. When you pause to examine what went well, what challenged you, and how you'll grow, you're building mental strength alongside physical fitness.
The most successful rowers aren't just those with the best natural ability – they're the ones who learn fastest from every session. They understand that the boat teaches them something new every time they step foot in it, but only if they're listening.
This simple three-question framework will help you maximize every practice. It takes just a few minutes but can accelerate your development significantly. Use it after every session – whether it was your best practice ever or one where nothing seemed to go right.
Commit to this practice for 30 days and watch how it transforms not just your rowing, but your approach to improvement in all areas of life.
“The way Dr. Schary explained the difference between racing and training brain made perfect sense. It helped me describe the mental shift from practice to race day and better support my rowers in those environments. His teaching style is explanatory and relevant, and it added insight especially for coxswains into what’s actually going on in the rowers’ brains.”
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