It would be good for all involved to understand the expectations set for the C.R.A.S.H.-B. event before this whole process starts. You might be wondering: When I walk into the Agganis Arena, what is going to happen? Am I competing against other women of all ages, shapes and sizes? What time is considered the “winning” time for a man my age? Here are some resources to help answer these questions. [break]

For starters, check out the Concept2 website, www.concept2.com. Here, multiple tabs are provided to educate individuals on the CRASH-B event: everything from how the races are set up, to what’s the best training for an event like the 2000 meter row. Under the Racing tab, for example, you will find information on the CRASH-B event, advice for first time participants, and the current World Record times. The tab labeled “Online Tools” includes a link to the Concept2 Online Logbook. Here you may sign up to log all your pieces for personal use. If you choose, you can also rank predetermined pieces, like the 2000 meter row, against people from all over the world who have done the same piece. Most importantly, this location provides a glimpse into the current rankings to see where you stand now and give you goals to aim towards. My point is to really explore and utilize the Concept2 website to set a base for all that is to come in the next few months.

From the world of CrossFit, I will point out that the information available through the CF website www.crossfit.com, most specifically the video and articles available through membership of the Journal, is priceless. In fact, I almost think they have covered indoor rower training better via video than Concept2 has. There’s even an article from Eva Claire in Boston outlining her experiences competing at the CRASH-B’s, both in 2008 and 2009.

So when you walk into the Agganis Arena what should you expect? You should look forward to rubbing shoulders with the best of the best, from Olympic athletes, to fellow CrossFitters, to the average Joe working out in his basement gym. The competition can be won by anyone. That’s part of the fun! So, knowing what you want to achieve and where you stand before entering the Arena is just going to add to your advantage.