Plan B
Life doesn’t always work out the way you expect. Despite all of your best intentions, efforts, planning, double-checking — well, something unexpected just might happen.
Time for Plan B.
Actually, we’re estimating that, in our efforts to develop our adaptive rowing program, we’re on about Plan X or Y by now. Guess why it’s called “adaptive” — because we’re learning to adapt.
Equipment deliveries late? No problem — we have Plan E.
Missing parts? Easy — Plan H time.
Erg transport? No-brainer — pull out Plan J.
Seat issues? Ha! Plan M will fix that problem.
Funding shortfalls? Check out Plan Q.
The ability to come up with a Plan B (better known as resilience) really is key to successful program development — and, to a successful life. If we ever forget this lesson, we can just turn to our adaptive athletes — doubtful that any of them had planned a life with a disability, but they sure have created some awesome Plan Bs.
In the Lab
Ergs, oars, and shells are the tools of our rowing “trade”.
These calipers and little LED-type light gizmos are what our ASU researchers use.
Not quite sure what these things do, but do know that we are using our respective tools to work together toward the same goal — getting people with functional limitations on the water.
How cool to collaborate with Jimmy, Jaime & gang on a scientific way to measure rowing’s many physical benefits — core strength, balance, shoulder range of motion, fitness.
Never mind the pluses of belonging to, and competing as, a team…
How can you quantify that?
Major thanks to the athletes who’ve agreed to participate in our 8-week summer erg training program — and, related research study with ASU.
Looking forward to y’all kicking our butts on the lake — well, sorta.
It’s a Small World After All
So…
Tony knows Gary who coaches a team of wheelchair basketball players who are looking for a summer cross-training program.
Tony intros Gary to some Rio Salado Rowing members who are interested in starting an adaptive rowing program.
Tony also know Ashleigh who knows Jimmy, an ASU researcher, who knows Brian, a British inventor who worked on a research project involving rowing… (coincidently, Barb, a Rio rower, knows Jimmy thru a former job.)
And, the six degrees of separation diminish to about one-an-a-half.
It’s great to know, connect, and involve such talented, supportive folks in our adaptive program.
That’s not all of the eerily weird connections that have benefited this program’s development, but, that’s enough for now — or, no one will believe us.
BTW, Snaps for Tony, the Great Connector!
Daydream Believers
Go figure.
Other people and organizations share our vision. And, they are partnering with us to make this adaptive rowing dream a reality.
A shout-out for our fellow visionaries at:
Pulling Together
In rowing (like in life), when you pull together as a team, good things happen — your coach actually smiles, you stay dry, your boat crosses the line first…
We sure have pulled together an incredible team to develop our adaptive program – don’t want to risk embarrassing anyone by naming names, but you know who you are: personal trainers, coaches, physical therapists, doctors, risk managers, insurance brokers, film producers, website designers, community organizers, grant writers, healthcare administrators, bankers, students…
We share a vision that everyone can — and, should — row. And, a commitment to making that vision a reality here in the Arizona desert.
Plus, we all like caffeine.
Let’s Start at the Very Beginning…
Caffeine.
Isn’t that the usual catalyst for Great Things?
It is in our case.
One early January morning after getting off the water, a group of Rio and COT rowers gathered at the usual world-dominating corporate coffee company shop to fuel up. So energized, we all started talking at once about adaptive rowing (at December’s US Rowing convention, we had been introduced to the possibility when we met some adaptive rowers and equipment manufacturers.). We did a quick inventory of our talents and connections, and realized that, hey – we can do this too!
Many grandes & ventis later — here we are: four days away from our first day of a summer erg training program for adaptive athletes. What a great “buzz”!
Welcome!
We’ve created this blog as a way to share news, ideas and feedback about Rio’s new adaptive rowing program. We encourage athletes, volunteers, supporters, rowers, anyone to post your comments — so that we can move closer to our goal of sharing rowing’s many benefits with everyone.
