In Allie’s wake: Fondness for fall
October 18, 2018 | Women's Rowing
Showing appreciation for the beauty of Lake Mendota mornings
Senior and Chanhassen, Minnesota, native Allie Lohrenz is giving regular updates this year from Porter Boathouse and around the country as the women's rowing team travels through the 2018-19 season. A third generation Wisconsin student-athlete (grandfather played football and mom was a rower), Lohrenz played lacrosse and competed in motocross before walking onto the Badger rowing program her freshman year.
MADISON, Wis. -- If you ask anyone living in the state of Wisconsin what the weather is like this time of year, they'll most likely tell you that it's the perfect mixture of cool, crisp mornings and sunny afternoons. If you ask me what the weather is like this time of year, I'll give you a one-word answer: cold. After spending 11 years of my life growing up in Tennessee before moving up north after finishing high school, the novelty of a Wisconsin winter is not yet lost on me, and October is merely the beginning of what the locals may dub "a cold spell."
While October generally means things are cooling down, for the Badgers, things are heating up more than ever. With less than a month left on the water (sorry guys, you read that right) as the fall season nears its conclusion, our team has heightened its sense of urgency as each morning and afternoon on the water becomes more and more precious by the day. This means cracking down and getting as many meters in as possible during practice, committing to technique changes and making each stroke better than the last. While the fall may appear to be the more "relaxing" part of our season, it proves to be anything but, especially when water time here in Wisconsin is limited in comparison to other teams around the country.
As fall continues to test us with its heavy mileage, increasingly unpredictable weather (hints of snow in the forecast…?), and dwindling hours of daylight, I can't help but think about how much I truly enjoy the essence of fall here in Madison and the challenges and joys it brings me on a day to day basis. As a senior, this is my last fall semester. My last fall semester to be one of the first people awake in the city, putting in a day's work before the sun is able to clear the Madison skyline. My last fall semester to gaze in awe at the sky as the clouds, streaked with shades of pink, purple, orange and blue, serve as the final barrier between the morning sun and me. My last fall semester to watch the city come alive as the sun finally peeks out from behind the Capitol, trickling its gold and warmth over the western-most side of the dome, before subsequently realizing I forgot my sunglasses inside and accepting the fact that I'll have to go blind for the rest of practice. This is my last fall semester of competing in head races, hearing the band play from University Bay, testing my fitness after a summer of training, hoping that the wind is coming out of any direction other than the north, and starting the fall process all over again.
At the risk of making myself feel overly sentimental and yearn for just a little while longer as each day passes, I continue to remind myself that there is work to be done. Work that merits both appreciation and success in the eyes of my coaches, my team and myself. Fall does not last forever in Madison (though I'd be willing to argue that winter does), but the process of building and growing outlasts even the worst of weather. This fall has been nothing short of spectacular as I've been fortunate to have myself surrounded by an incredible group of teammates who inspire me daily and constantly keep me on my toes and expect nothing short of my best effort. As we get ready to batten down the hatches in November, I am looking forward to soaking up every last moment of practice and racing out on the water that fall has to offer.
MADISON, Wis. -- If you ask anyone living in the state of Wisconsin what the weather is like this time of year, they'll most likely tell you that it's the perfect mixture of cool, crisp mornings and sunny afternoons. If you ask me what the weather is like this time of year, I'll give you a one-word answer: cold. After spending 11 years of my life growing up in Tennessee before moving up north after finishing high school, the novelty of a Wisconsin winter is not yet lost on me, and October is merely the beginning of what the locals may dub "a cold spell."
While October generally means things are cooling down, for the Badgers, things are heating up more than ever. With less than a month left on the water (sorry guys, you read that right) as the fall season nears its conclusion, our team has heightened its sense of urgency as each morning and afternoon on the water becomes more and more precious by the day. This means cracking down and getting as many meters in as possible during practice, committing to technique changes and making each stroke better than the last. While the fall may appear to be the more "relaxing" part of our season, it proves to be anything but, especially when water time here in Wisconsin is limited in comparison to other teams around the country.
As fall continues to test us with its heavy mileage, increasingly unpredictable weather (hints of snow in the forecast…?), and dwindling hours of daylight, I can't help but think about how much I truly enjoy the essence of fall here in Madison and the challenges and joys it brings me on a day to day basis. As a senior, this is my last fall semester. My last fall semester to be one of the first people awake in the city, putting in a day's work before the sun is able to clear the Madison skyline. My last fall semester to gaze in awe at the sky as the clouds, streaked with shades of pink, purple, orange and blue, serve as the final barrier between the morning sun and me. My last fall semester to watch the city come alive as the sun finally peeks out from behind the Capitol, trickling its gold and warmth over the western-most side of the dome, before subsequently realizing I forgot my sunglasses inside and accepting the fact that I'll have to go blind for the rest of practice. This is my last fall semester of competing in head races, hearing the band play from University Bay, testing my fitness after a summer of training, hoping that the wind is coming out of any direction other than the north, and starting the fall process all over again.
At the risk of making myself feel overly sentimental and yearn for just a little while longer as each day passes, I continue to remind myself that there is work to be done. Work that merits both appreciation and success in the eyes of my coaches, my team and myself. Fall does not last forever in Madison (though I'd be willing to argue that winter does), but the process of building and growing outlasts even the worst of weather. This fall has been nothing short of spectacular as I've been fortunate to have myself surrounded by an incredible group of teammates who inspire me daily and constantly keep me on my toes and expect nothing short of my best effort. As we get ready to batten down the hatches in November, I am looking forward to soaking up every last moment of practice and racing out on the water that fall has to offer.
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