Dropping My Time

Question
I am a Female Heavyweight rower in High School. I have been on Novice for 1 year and have a 2K of 8:26. I know in order to be scouted by colleges your 2K needs to be about 7:30. I have 2 more years of crew left before I graduate. (spring season only. However, I also do camps in the summer)  Is it possible to drop my 2K score to 7:30 in 2 years?  Be as blunt as possible.

Answer
Hi Katie: If you work out hard with the weights and running, work out hard on the water and on the erg, and keep up on your nutrition and weight, you will lower your erg time.  You have to also count on the fact that your body is growing and you will gain muscle.  

How much you lower your erg time is a function of all of these factors.  Just shoot for attainable goals, like a 10 second drop in your 2000 time every 6-8 months.

I think I have told this to other rowers; the object of rowing is to use strength, endurance, and technique to propel a boat ahead of other boats.  The ability to yank on a handle connected to a contraption (i.e., CII erg) may be a predictor on your ability to row a boat, but it is not 100% infallible.  I did not have great erg scores, but I rowed in some fairly competitive boats.  Too many rowers think they can pull a 7:20 on the erg and that should entitle them to win every time they are on the water.  In my personal experience, if given the choice between rowing on the water and doing an erg workout, I would always choose the on-water workout.  Just don't stress out over your erg times and get on the water as much as you can.  It will all work out.

Regards/AP