IMPORTANT UPDATES:

The Difference Between Where We Are & Where We Want To Be Is What We Do

Our Team Goals for River Regatta 2008:

(1) Win medal(s) in the events participated during the River Regatta 2008
(2) Improve on River Regatta 2007 race results i.e. get into Finals for Women's Open, Men's 10-crew Open, CSC categories

A month has passed since the exhilarating June Race 2008. I thank everyone for sharing their honest thoughts, ideas & aspirations for the team during the reflection session & over emails.

The one recurring theme that surfaced from our musings was how much we valued the friendships, camaraderie & team spirit of PLK. We know that what we have in PLK is a special thing - genuine trust, love & respect for our team-mates & coach - that propels us to pull harder, stretch further & push ourselves to the limits everytime. It is my sincere hope that the newest additions to our PLK family will soon experience this for themselves!

Pertaining to team performance & results, 2 messages came across very loud & clear:

  • Medal success
  • Continual improvement

The PLK Team goals, as listed above, are a unanimous team decision. Come River Regatta 2008, we want to win more medals. We want to improve on last year's results.

As members of PLK, we all carry on our shoulders the responsibility of doing what we can to attain the team goal. We have to keep asking ourselves - what can I do better? How can I improve my game? What actions can I take to achieve that result? Most of you have shared with me your personal performance-oriented goals. The inexhaustible list includes - improving rowing technique (reducing splashes, better "catch", longer pull), increasing fitness levels to carry heavier weights (strength), running faster and farther (stamina), weight loss. The bottom line is all of us have different motivations to keep the fire burning within us. We have to understand it, define our own S.M.A.R.T goals, devise effective action plans and finally commit ourselves to the program to achieve the desired results.

Someone once said, "You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you can achieve anything worthwhile." I think if each & everyone of us is willing to put in many, many, many tiny efforts to improve on our fitness, technique and mental focus, that individual commitment towards team excellence can only mean success for PLK.

My hopes for PLK in this new season:

  • Commitment (aiming for 100% training attendance, both land & water)
  • Perseverance (both mental & physical -100% all out during training - no holding back)
  • Focus (channeling out distraction during training)
  • Self discipline (taking actions necessary to achieve individual fitness goals)
  • Communication (motivating and learning from one another)

Time is of the essence, especially with the 10km race just round the corner. We must snap out of the "post-major race lull" syndrome and start training with a purpose again. We are exactly 112 days away from the River Regatta. From now till then, there are several competitions namely, SAVA Sprints (September), 10km race (October) and the 5-crew race (October), for us to fine-tune our engines. By November, our PLK turbo engine will be in tip-top condition and all ready to rock & roll!

Let's continue to strive to be the best that we can be...PLK Whoooooosh!!!

By Team Coordinator (Evelyn)

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