Navy Oar: Yer killin’ us Coach, yer killin’ us!
Coach VanAmringe: Don’t worry guys, you’ll pass out before you die. Five hundred meters to Gooooo!
VanAmringe’s Five Hundred Meter Easy Pieces
Dedicated to Jon Eric VanAmringe
Yale Class of 1970
Navy Varsity Lightweight Coach Fall 1973 – Spring 1976
Based on the Severn rowing experience that one VanAmringe meter equals a nautical meter times eight
“Five hundred meters to go!”
And with that we start to row.
Two thousand meters above the start,
To row five hundred meter pieces.
Young and fresh and full o’ heart.
Catch and drive and feathered oar,
Feeling strong and spirits soar!
Five hundred meters are down.
Fifty strokes and oars still pound.
Launch veers to the left and to the right,
Coach yells to one “You’re shooting your slide!”
Power flags – and too – our might.
Catch and drive and feathered oar,
Feeling numb but spirits soar.
Power ten to settle-down.
Fifteen hundred meters gone.
What happened to sprints and “Let ‘er run?”
And then – “Five hundred meters to go!”
No longer is this piece fun!
Catch and drive and feathered oar,
Feeling winded – spirits poor.
Cox and stroke start to chatter.
Seven shouts “What’s the matter!”
Bow, two, and three begin cheerleading.
Four, five, and six just pull and grunt.
Coach port astern in launch is speeding.
Catch and drive and feathered oar,
Feeling queasy – spirits poor.
“Way e’nuff!” or “Let ‘er run!”
No longer is this piece fun!
Twenty-five hundred meters now passed.
Luce Creek starboard, Cold Spring Cove to port.
Just how long will this piece last?!?!
Catch and drive and feathered oar,
Feeling pain and spirits poor!
Gums ache and toenails sting!
Pain everywhere in-between!
Route 50 Bridge is just now ahead –
Quite surely Coach will stop us then!
Busting a gut, power dead.
Catch and drive and feathered oar,
Feeling weak – but spirits soar!
Power ten! We’ll finish strong.
“Way e’nuff” is not now long.
Coach’s launch to port – begins to slow.
Words through megaphone then echo out:
“Five hundred meters to goooo!”
OH NO!!!
Gary Arthur Lundeen
NavyLights74-78 Reunion I – 25-26 April 2003