Why We Row

What rowing moment you are most proud of?
I raced in a 2.5 mile regatta with my younger son Samuel Franklin when he was in high school in the mother/son event. Racing with your child is the most gratifying. And we won the race! 

How has rowing shaped you?
It has made me a better leader; I manage and captain a women’s 60 plus eight: it has provided me with the opportunity to engage with a local, national, and international group of masters athletes on a competitive, organizational and operational involvement in the sport; provided me with the opportunity to contribute to the welfare of young women and athletes on the road to the Olympics. As a member of its Board of Directors, contribute to the legacy and historical equity of the Vesper Boat Club; raise the profile of women’s masters on a national and global scale. 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to row your best?
I have had two major health challenges in my life. Overcoming them and focusing on better health and getting back in the boat. Even on days when I don’t row well or I’m tired. My daily rowing routine helped me mentally and physically overcome the challenges during these serious health crisis.

What are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned from rowing?
Humility, leadership, determination, discipline, the value of silence. Sweat!

What inspires you to keep rowing?
It is great to have a sport when you are older. Rowing allows you to use every muscle. The idyllic setting of the Schuykill River is certainly up-lifting. Solitude and inner strength.

What club or team are you currently rowing with?
Vesper Boat Club

What do you like most about rowing a single or with others?
How wonderful it is to sit in the middle of a body of water and repeat the same task multiple times. Truly Zen-like. I like practicing in my single as it gives me a chance to work on technique and strength on my own. A team boat is the single most challenging exercise in life. I also like the camaraderie of rowing in a team boat. In an eight when the boat is set and all are swinging together. Feels great!

What are you currently working towards as a rower? as a competitor?
I always set a goal of rowing 1000 miles per year. I like training for an upcoming regatta and working out a few times a week. I also enjoy the companionship of my teammates and fellow competitors.

What advice do you have for other women rowers?
Get on board. Jump in. Make the time to commit to practice and set your own goals. It is the best thing you can do for yourself.

If you’d like to share your story in our “Amazing Women Masters Rowers” series, please email contact@whywerow.com.

What rowing moment you are most proud of?
It is hard for me to pick out one moment. Just like it is hard to pick one moment in a race, being a rower is an accumulation of experiences and connections that build over time. Highlights include that first medal at Masters Nationals, finishing in the top 50% for the first time at the Charles, winning the Head of the Fish in the mixed eight (twice!), and building the boathouse on the Hudson River is a pretty big highlight as well. But, there are so many smaller moments – the first row with my teammates after our boat crash; taking our brand new boat out for its inaugural row at dusk in complete silence, just the sound of our oars; rowing with an eagle overhead; racing in the parent child double with my daughter at the Charles; rowing with my extended family in the “Mauer Eight” and just in general watching my kids grow up to become rowers and part of the community. Though my personal and family involvement in Hudson River Rowing Association brings me much pride and joy, my involvement as the President of Poughkeepsie Crew brings the most meaning to my life – providing a place of belonging and the lessons of trust and teamwork through rowing to a bunch of kids who are often dismissed, maligned and neglected in many aspects of society brings me the greatest sense of accomplishment. 

How has rowing shaped you?
I have been a rower for over twenty years and one of the things I love about crew is the shedding of preconceived notions about others and myself when I am in a boat with eight other people. Despite rowing’s elite trappings and history, I have always experienced it as a sport of equality – whether you are rich or poor, black or white, male or female – when you are in a boat together those labels fall away and everyone works singularly together. I like to think that has influenced my life outside of rowing as well.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to row your best?
Age – the physical effects, but also how people see women, especially older women. As I age and lose strength it is hard to compete with women 20 years younger who are stronger and faster than I am. Getting coaches, especially young coaches, to look at our value in different age groups can be difficult. As an older athlete it is hard to get the same resources (coaching, equipment, practice time) to ensure our success in our age group as the younger athletes seem to get. There is still a lot of misogyny and mansplaining that I have to deal with in the rowing community – I have rowed/sculled competitively for close to 25 years, built the largest rowing club on the Hudson and a seven-bay boathouse that serves 600 athletes a year, yet I still get ignored, dismissed and labeled “bossy” and controlling. When men do what I do they are called confident, competent leaders – persevering in this environment has been a challenge. 

What are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned from rowing?
There are three pathways to happiness (in life or rowing). 1. If you have a goal then the only way you will achieve that goal is through hard work and tenacity – for most of us no one is going hand us a spot in a boat or a medal or a scholarship, we have to earn it. 2. If you don’t want to put the work in to ___ (fill in the blank), but you still want to participate in the activity, you must find peace and enjoyment in the activity itself. 3. If you can’t find peace and enjoyment without it being tied to a goal that you are not willing to work towards, then you should find something else that either inspires you to do the work or something else that brings you peace and enjoyment! It works in rowing, any other sport and most life activities! 

What inspires you to keep rowing?
Honestly, people and teammates come and go, it’s the beauty of the motion and bodies of water we get to practice on that brings me back year after year.

What club or team are you currently rowing with?
Hudson River Rowing Association

What do you like most about rowing a single or with others?
The best thing about the single is not having to rely on others, there is a freedom to it that is lovely. The best thing about an eight, especially a mixed eight, when we are all dialed in and working as one, is the speed! 

What are you currently working towards as a rower? as a competitor?
I think I have to work on becoming a better sculler and learning to compete solo – I have never competed in a single because I have always derived a lot of energy and focus from my teammates to allow me to push through the pain of racing. When it is just me my expectations are lower, and I need to push through that self imposed limitation. 

What advice do you have for other women rowers?
Be generous and supportive of one another – we become better teammates, athletes and rowers when that happens.

If you’d like to share your story in our “Amazing Women Masters Rowers” series, please email contact@whywerow.com.

What rowing moment you are most proud of?
The ability to row such a prestigious, international race, the Head of the Charles as a “40 something” year old mom!!

How has rowing shaped you?
In 1995 my rowing career began with a summer stint with “Summer Crew” with Middletown Park & Rec program and has blossomed into a passion that has brought lifelong friendships, mental and physical fitness, skill, and the ability to compete!!

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to row your best?
I am one cog in this wheel of 8 individuals, but every one of us must be on our game technically to have a successful row. This sport is so much about each rower being technically in sync!!!

What are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned from rowing?
Good sportsmanship, patience, teamwork, always a sense of humor, humility and respect for teammates, coaches and coxswains!!

What inspires you to keep rowing?
Rowing has brought me through my thirties, forties, fifties……now early 60’s!! Thank God, I am healthy, strong and fit for my age. That is a blessing!!!!!! Let’s not forget the wonderful community of friends!!

What do you like most about rowing a single or with others?
I am a sweep rower and really enjoy the camaraderie!!!

What are you currently working towards as a rower? as a competitor?
I transitioned from competition to recreational rowing a number of years back to have more time to do other things. I always strive to row technically well!!! I want to be an asset in the boat!!

What advice do you have for other women rowers?
Have a sense of humor and go out there and be the best you can be!!!

If you’d like to share your story in our “Amazing Women Masters Rowers” series, please email contact@whywerow.com.

We are delighted to kick-off our “Amazing Women Masters Rowers” series with Janet Margusity‘s story of why she rows.

What rowing moment you are most proud of?
My first race on the Schuylkill was in a gig. My entire Rowing Club Racing group was there to cheer me on. They were so loud that everyone in the stands were cheering. I was dead last but as I came across the finish line, even my competitors gave me a high five. From then on I am Eddie the Eagle to my rowing Club. Almost cried that day from the love coming from my Cooper family.

How has rowing shaped you?
I think rowing provides me with a centering that helps me through a busy stressful day. To me there is nothing more incredible then sitting at the bottom of the river as the sun is coming up and the birds are singing. It is so spiritual for me.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome to row your best?
I think for me it’s my body make-up. I am only 5’3 with short legs so I always have to over-compensate. I’m rowing against women who are 5’5 and up.

What are the biggest life lessons you’ve learned from rowing?
I think at 70 years old you can do whatever you put your mind to. My mantra is Believe in Extraordinary. I believe that!

What inspires you to keep rowing?
It is a sport that women of all ages can do. I don’t see me slowing down. Recently a woman who I respect very much said she felt that I had an edge going into this racing season. Because I have only been rowing for five years she felt that I had not hit my peak yet which would give me an edge with those women who have rowed for many years. Not to be cocky, but I agree.

What club or team are you currently rowing with?
Cooper Rowing Club

What do you like most about rowing a single or with others?
I really enjoy a single. It’s about me and the boat. I do row in a quad.

What are you currently working towards as a rower? as a competitor?
This is the year when I place. I have worked very hard this winter preparing myself for this racing season. Four days a week in the gym and two nights a week in erg training. I have never felt this focused or this prepared for a competitive season. My goal is rowing my boat in The Head of the Charles Oct 20th.

What advice do you have for other women rowers?
Enjoy the moment when you and the boat are in total synch, the sound of the boat as it flows over the water and the sound of the oars are like a magical song. It is that moment when your heart and soul just wants to scream with joy.

If you’d like to share your story in our “Amazing Women Masters Rowers” series, please email contact@whywerow.com.