The rules of surviving training camp

So for our first attempt in the world of blogging while on training camp in Soustons in the (currently not so) sunny South of France we've decided to tackle the rules of training camp;

1. Pack as much kit as humanly possible.

So this key part of training camp occurs while still in Cambridge, and essentially involves scooping the entirety of the kit carpet into a suitcase. Suddenly glad of the extra pounds you've piled on over the Christmas "break" then sit on the suitcase to squash it closed, if the squashing process isn't required you probably haven't packed enough kit. Having eventually closed the bag then comes the weighing, this can prove difficult if you've already packed your scales in your bag, so advisable to leave them out of your bag and a bit of space for them following weighing. Alternatively as we will come into on rule 2, choose to share a room with a lightweight, they are generally smaller and therefore need less kit space as their kit is smaller and will always have packed their scales, leaving you more room for more kit/food.

2. Choose room mates wisely

By the end of the week of training camp even the strongest of friendships may have been stretched by the room sharing relationship, it really can make or break a friendship, therefore choose wisely. You must
a) choose room mates willing to wade through your stinky kit, while not having kit that smells too bad themselves.
b) They must be able to put up with your insane chat and reversion to 5 year old humour as the week progresses.
c) People with even slightly irritating habits should be avoided, if they irritate you in a two hour outing, this will only be magnified by training and living with them 24/7

3. Make some room rules

Primarily always make sure you wash out your protein shaker, this was learnt by Holly at the rest of our room's expense last year. Apparently if you leave rego in a protein shaker for more then a day it starts to smell, after 2 it is surprisingly stringy and the stench is strong enough to fill the room. Another room rule we like to instigate is anyone who likes to eat too many dates or is in recovery from what is affectionately known as the "codeine clog" has to find alternative toilet facilities. This will avoid the rest of the room incessantly singing this song to you:

4. Food: expect the unexpected

Food on our training camp is usually an interesting affair, previous highlights have included; pate de tete and tongue, as well as the well known pre-seat racing carb- crisps. More clued up this year we came prepared, armed with carrots and cereal bars and having google mapped the location of the local Lidl. Shopping in France for some reason proves to be far more entertaining than in England resulting in excessive purchasing of French confectionery and yet more cereal bars. With Holly being in her Dad's words a "calorie eating machine" food is crucial to training camp happiness.

5. However long you may have rowed for, you will still get blisters

As vets this is a highlight of our camp, Caroline is an expert at blister surgery, her adeptness with a pair of nail scissors and a bit of germaline and surgical spirit will hopefully stand her in good stead for the operating table when we hit clinical school. But the over-riding rule here is bring lots of tape.

6. Evening entertainment is vital

Having things to do in the evening is key to making sure you end up doing as little work as possible (who wants to write a dissertation anyway). This camps highlight has been our introduction into the shimmying world of zumba. Not the most relaxing activity after a tiring day of training, but certainly an amusing one, as the video below is testament to, featuring a guest appearance from Martina Lagatierra-Wellington.

7. Interclub integration is optional

The awkward moment when your own coach refers to the other boat club from your university as the "other group". We may sit on different tables to them at all meals and pass silently and awkwardly in the corridors, however we still maintain at least one inter-club relations officer at any one time, applications for the job include those with previous experience at handling the other club, or those we feel have potential. After all when it comes to the Boat Race Ball inter-club relations may pay dividends.

8. Training camp is the perfect time to exploit the coaches wealth of knowledge in areas outside of rowing

Training camp seems to give coaches a chance to open up and discuss topics not normally covered in the usual coach - athlete relationship. This year our coxes have been treated to dating advice from the coaches while on the launch, apparently the best dating destinations are cultured and free (those of you in Cambridge the Fitzwilliam museum has been tipped as good). We've also been lucky enough to have coaches reading out sex scenes from novels over dinner and giving their views on what the unidentifiable vegetables we've been served look like....apparently trousersnake.

9. Plan a  good end of camp celebration

In reality all you may want to do at the end of a week on camp is curl up in bed and go into hibernation, however the thought of a covert party on the last night is more likely to be a thought to keep you going through the long pieces.

10. Leave your sanity at the airport check in

Insanity on training camp is vital, probably better to leave sanity behind than lose it unexpectedly part way through.