So, this Saturday I am racing at Peterborough Head. Without wishing to insult the wonderful people at Peterborough City Rowing Club (who organise and host the event), it is typically the most miserable race of the year! In true style, the weather has also been very accommodating of the race with the temperature dropping sub-zero at the start of the week and predictions have it staying there until next week at least. “I thought this was supposed to be the good things?!” I hear you cry. So, yes, here goes:

• You don’t know if you have won or lost until well after the race! With regatta racing, you can have some damn good races, but when a crew just hammers you in to the ground, it turns in to a really demoralising row. With a head race, you have to push as hard as you can manage and the crew finishes where it finishes;
• You get to try out all of your club branded winter kit! Most people I know only use their club kit for races because it’s expensive. So for had races you get to tog-up in the leggings, tech tops, gilet, splash top, the whole shebang;
• You get to eat lots of carbs (and cake)!! The best thing of all. Head races are long races so you need to carb load before the race. Then after, energy levels are really depleted so more carbs are needed and cake is obviously well deserved. With a cup of tea of course.

So next time you dread the impending head race, think of those things and happiness will be restored!