Between the Buoys
Becky Wilde and Eve Stewart are Olympic, World, and European medallists. On Between the Buoys, they take you along for the highs and lows of life as a full-time athlete.
Between the Buoys
We’re back! | S2 Episode 1
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Join Olympic bronze medalists Becky Wilde and Eve Stewart live from the National Schools’ Regatta for the return of Between the Buoys!
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Hello and welcome to season two of Between the Boys. I'm Eve Stewart. And I'm Becky Wilde.
SPEAKER_00We're both Olympic, World, and European medalists for the British Rowing Team.
SPEAKER_01And this is our podcast about what actually goes on in our lives as GP Rowers. We can't tell you everything, but we can tell you a lot. So sit back, relax, grab a coffee, and enjoy. How have you been in the past few weeks?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's been good. Being gearing up for some racing, which has been really exciting. And we're actually sat here today at National School's Regatta, which it finally feels like racing is underway for the season, and um yeah, it's great to actually record out here in the sun and um do some spectating and commentating, which have been doing this morning.
SPEAKER_01I know it's been so fun, and it is hot, guys. Becky's off to Seville next week for World Cup 1, where it's meant to be 36-37 degrees, but it's actually like 31 degrees here today, so we're not far off from Spain currently, which is mental for UK, I think.
SPEAKER_00It's some good acclimatization going on. Um but actually it's it's so nice. We were saying earlier to be at Dawny, where it's not a raging tailwind in either direction, it's flat water, um, and it's really actually some fast racing out there. So I'm hoping that Seville will be similar.
SPEAKER_01I have my fingers very crossed for you. Um, so today we're gonna be talking a little bit about Becky's World Cup 1, which this actually battered me because you put it on your Instagram story a few days ago that this is your World Cup debut. And I know, like, let's not jinx it, touch wood, you still need to get on the plane, but it's all going in the right direction. I can't believe you've never done a World Cup.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think I've kind of done things a bit backwards in my career. Um, but actually it probably Olympics first. Yeah, exactly. Probably sums me up in terms of just um the up and down journey that seems to be my career and probably yours as well. I've just seemed to be injured for every World Cup that I've been meant to do. Um, so last year, well, 2024 um was meant to do World Cup One and then got injury about a month out, so then we made Europeans the first competition. Last year, Europeans was first, and then I got injured, so then I missed World Cup One and two, and then yeah, this year, really hoping I get there in one piece.
SPEAKER_01Well, it's looking good, and you're racing in the double again, yeah, which is super exciting with the lovely Cameron Nyland, who I actually live with, so shout out to her. Um, and alright, so this is gonna be a bit more of an interview style thing because you're the one racing. I unfortunately am not on my rehab journey, I've talked about it a lot, so maybe not the main focus for today. But we are now, well, this time next week, you'll potentially have done your final.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yes, yeah, Sunday, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, about or sort of just about getting into it, warming up. So we're seven days out. What does this week look like?
SPEAKER_00Um, yeah, so this week, um, Monday tomorrow, so we'll start to do a bit more priming work. Um, tapers kind of underway at this point. Um, we don't taper too much going into World Cups, um, the big tapers world champs at the end of the year. But yeah, we'll just be kind of getting ourselves like tuned up to the race rates, um, really like gear in mentally to like what we're doing. Um, and then when do we fire out? We fire out Wednesday. Um, so I reckon we'll get there late Wednesday afternoon, might have time for a paddle, might not, but rig up, and then Thursday we've got training day in Seville, and then yeah, racing gets underway um on Friday, which is super exciting.
SPEAKER_01That is so exciting. I'm really excited to watch it. I feel like the first race of the season is so cool because you just have no clue what the rest of the world is going to look like. You don't know where they've put their top athletes, what sort of winter block they've had, and you kind of go into it blind, don't you? Which is so different because by the time you get to world champs, you're like, okay, these are the guys I'm really contending with. Obviously, anything can happen, but you you sort of know the layer of the land.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it is it is interesting. It's everyone's had a long winter block since the Shanghai World Champs. So um crews probably changed around a lot, um, lots of different training. You never know like who's been injured, who's been in and out of boats, um, who's like looking race sharp, who's like building in more to the back end of the season? Um, so yeah, I think I feel like it's it's wide open probably for any crew right now, and definitely in the smaller boats, there's a lot more entries, so there is a lot more that could happen.
SPEAKER_01How many entries have you got?
SPEAKER_00I think there's 17. Oh my gosh, that is a lot. That is a lot.
SPEAKER_01So does that mean you'll have heat semi-final. Semi-final.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, good. I think yeah, it's I really like the smaller boats because you've got three rounds where you can really not that you shouldn't be like hitting it in the heat, but you've got three rounds to improve, you've got three rounds to learn, um, and you can really make steps on from the heat to the semi to the final. Um, slightly different to the bigger boats, probably that you're used to racing in, where you've got the heat and then it's straight into the final. So it's it's slightly different we're racing, I think.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, definitely. And of course, for anyone who's listening and doesn't really know, the world cups are my parents actually, or my dad mostly get really confused. He's like, World Cup, world championships, European championship, what's the sort of pecking order? And the World Cups are sort of, I mean, I kind of like them to describe them as when you're on a national team, you can't, you know, rock up and race a local regatta in terms of like having people to compete with. So the World Cups are kind of there to start your racing season off on the international podium, sort of see how your crews are working, maybe make changes which some national teams do, or like not put out. I know the Dutch team is breaking down into like broken the quad down into doubles and the doubles into singles. Um, obviously not the way that we're doing things this year, but it's kind of just a chance to jump in, isn't it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, it is like it's you can really build through kind of the World Cup bit of the season. I think, yeah, it's like an opportunity to like try things, do things a bit differently. Like we said, like with the Dutch, they're like racing slightly differently and like smaller crews, and then they'll probably go into the bigger boats later on. Um, so yeah, it's a real opportunity to just try different things, um, and then kind of finalise those crews or finalise the way you want to race later on with the world champs in August. So we've got like a good what three months at this point to yeah, build into that. Yeah, oh my gosh. Yeah, okay. But obviously, we've spoken about what I'm gonna get up to, but we can be a bit more candid maybe now. Like, obviously, you're missing out on this bit, and you've spoken a lot about how it has been a tough season. Um, but do you want to just yeah, just like say like what you're gonna be doing the next couple of weeks?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I think I can't remember what exactly we said on the past few podcasts. I find like so I've been pretty injured this season. I had started the year off with a sort of rib shoulder, then got post-viral fatigue around Christmas, then went on training camp, got two rib injuries, then came back and got a back injury. So it's been quite hit and miss. And obviously I've trained through like not rowing, but I've trained throughout that process and I'm still fit. But the decision was made by our medical staff that even though I'm now s hopefully on the up and recovering and I feel really good and I'm actually back rowing, to just spend a month in the boat without the sort of stress of racing and just sort of allow my body that extra month to breathe and do another training block to then join back up with the team in theory, hopefully, for European and world champs. So it's sort of for the next three to four weeks, uh I will be training while everyone else is racing, which I'm not gonna lie, is actually really mentally uh tough. Um obviously it's you guys racing, so you want to cheer for your friends and you wish them all the best. But I'm sure anyone listening to this who's ever you know missed out on something, it is also hard being on the sidelines because you want to be there with them. And I think the past few days, this is speaking very candidly, even though I knew that this was decided, you know, not this hasn't been decided yesterday. But I think as we gear up really into that pre-race sort of atmosphere at Cavisham, it's a bit like a party you're not invited to, yeah. Which you've been there before as well. It's it is hard, um, but but I am trying to stay positive, and in general, like life is pretty good right now. So I'm just happy that the body's doing better and I'm training more consistently, and I've done some really great pieces this week and and I'm still really fit. So it's been another testament. I think we get questions all the time about how to stay fit during injury, and it can feel like you're sort of in the dark for a very long time because you don't really know whether the work you've put in has paid off, whether you've put the right work in, but I've come out of the months of on and off injury fit, so I'm really happy about that. That's been a big win.
SPEAKER_00I think you speak for a lot of people right now who perhaps will be missing out on like these early season races, and I think like we've said, like it is a long season, and you'll get back in time for those last or half races, and it's also just I think you're showing like how strong you are in terms of like you're still turning up, you're still training really, really hard, and you're putting in that work, and that work is gonna pay off, and like you say, you're seeing that now, like on the RP3 and stuff. But I think it's an inspiration for everyone else out there who's who's not going to miss it out, but it is, and it is hard because like we do such a long winter, and then when you miss out on the racing, it's like, oh my gosh, I did all that, and what for? And like you said, like, yeah, I know I've been there as well, but yeah, definitely brighter days are coming. Um, soon, very soon, we will finally get to record when we're both gonna go racing.
SPEAKER_01No, and that will be an exciting day, won't it? I hope it's for that. And European Champs, which obviously will be my sort of season opener, um, is actually in the middle of our training camp, our pre-worlds training camp, which takes place in Varesi, Italy. So we'll actually be able to record for you guys at the venue, which is something that we've never done before. And hot. I mean, we're gonna be there for four weeks, but we we'll probably get into that in a later podcast because we've got other things coming first. So we haven't got any listeners' questions today because this is our first episode. Um, I'm sure you guys will send some more in by the next one because we love them. However, I have some questions for you. So, packing your bags for the World Cup. I hate it personally, I'm a terrible packer. What are your, let's say, uh, five essentials that you don't go anywhere without?
SPEAKER_00Five essentials, which that is really pushing me. Well, you know, I actually tried to start packing yesterday and then it was so hot. Well, I thought I'd try and be organized and then no, not really. Um five essentials. Okay, well, I'll always take a book with me. Um what are you reading at the moment? I am reading The Woman um by Kristen Hanna. Yeah, and it's about nurses in the Vietnam War. I'm actually, yeah, loving it. It's really, really interesting. And um, I do really love history, so it's actually been like very interesting to like read it and then like go and like research about it. Um, so a book, um, obviously headphones. Um, I actually fall asleep listening to Harry Potter every night. There are so many girls on the team who taught me. Of course.
SPEAKER_01I can't do it, you know. Like, I don't get me wrong, Stephen Fry, Harry Potter audiobooks, the best ever made. But I I it I get too engrossed in it. I can't fall asleep listening to it because my mum does it as well. Is she? And sometimes I can hear it when I'm staying at home from her room because we share a wall. And I'm like, it keeps me up.
SPEAKER_00I think because I know Harry Potter inside out, back to front, that I'm just it's so like comforting. So yeah, and especially at competitions, I listen to it because like yeah, if I'm nervous or overthinking, it's just like helps me get up to sleep. Um, what's another thing that I'll pack? Um, I think just like home comforts, like I'll always pack like some snacks from home, flapjacks or whatever, and then like a little bit of chop. Do you make your own flapjacks? Yes, I do.
SPEAKER_01Guys, elite athlete right here. Pre-made flapjacks, that's what it's all about.
SPEAKER_00Take them out with me. I actually think I'm gonna have to leave it at three. I mean, other than like a stroke coach, my older mind always take them in hand luggage because I don't want to lose them in case our bags don't turn up. So those are probably yeah, the biggest.
SPEAKER_01But stroke coach is actually I so recently this is a bit of a sidebar.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But you're obviously not meant to take battery items in your hold luggage. And I have done that for every trip of my life. Oh which maybe isn't the best to admit to. But yeah, so your stroke coach actually should really be in your hand luggage. So you're doing a good job there, but um, yeah, I sort of made that mistake. Yeah. I recently I was like, oh gosh, I didn't really think about the fact that that has a battery.
SPEAKER_00Maybe it won't travel in the hand luggage anymore. But we'll see. Um yeah, that's it. I guess those are five.
SPEAKER_01And what about I think when we travel, you know, there's this sort of perception that you get to explore and see loads, but that's not always the reality, is it? No. Is there anything while you're in Seville that you're like, or wherever you go? So I like collecting fridge magnets, which is lame, but also easy to do because if you don't get them in the actual location, you can get them in the airport. That's true, yeah. Is there anything that you sort of try and um to commemorate your your racing experiences?
SPEAKER_00Oh my gosh, that's I'll always try and get some sort of souvenir. Um, so what did I get? In Shanghai, I've got like a little, like it says my name in Chinese, so maybe I'll try yeah, get something like that. Your name in Spanish. Um get something from Seville. I but you know, I always like when we can to just like get out and like have a little explore, like like make that part of like an evening walk or something. And actually, um Tom Tom Digby, um who um I know very well from like filming for Kaiju and stuff, um he was training recently in Seville and he's given me some coffee recommendations. I was gonna say I'm excited to do that. Um so yeah, if there's any like within walking distance, I think I'll just like have a little explore and yeah, get that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_01Oh, I'm jealous. I recently that I can't remember what that app's called, but there's this one app where like anywhere in the world people sort of bookmark or star nice coffee places. So then when you're in it, I'll I'll have a look for you and then send it to you. And then when you're in different cities or countries or whatever, you can have a look on this map and it just shows you all the speciality coffee places, which I love. Um, I remember when we got I think it was last year on the way back from one of our training camps in Portugal, we the flight got delayed, classic, so we had to stay overnight. And it was about it was a late night and then an early-ish morning. But Lauren Owen and I uh got up extra early, left the hotel breakfast, and went on like a 35-minute walk to find this one coffee place because obviously we've talked about it, but on our training camp, there are no flat whites in sight. Um so we'd made a point of trying to track one down, which we did successfully actually. It was a delicious little coffee shop in uh Lisbon, just outside of Lisbon, I think. Um but yeah, the coffees are always a highlight for sure. Try that in Seville.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, but what okay, so I I obviously I'm in uh Seville. What's your plans for next week? What are you gonna do to like distract yourself from uh uh not being out there with the team?
SPEAKER_01Well, I think during the week um I'm actually gonna do a few sessions with Leander, which will be fun to just sort of I don't know, it's where obviously we both uh I don't know, not started at all, but where we spent a lot of time before we came into the team. So it's always nice going back there, row with some of the girls, see some friends. Um I've got actually quite a hard training block, so I'm gonna be pretty tired, I think. Which is a good way of not feeling like you're missing out too much because you're just too tired to really notice. And then uh because I don't have to be at the training center on the weekend, I think my uh boyfriend and I are gonna try and go for a little weekend trip somewhere. So as we talked about, it's I think we touched this on some of the previous uh uh episodes in season one. It's sort of trying to make light of a situation that isn't ideal, and that's my that's gonna be my best attempt at doing so.
SPEAKER_00That's a good plan. Okay, so that's what our week has in store. Please send your questions in. Um there's loads of races coming up, so we'd love to hear from anyone who's racing here at NATS Galls today or who's racing later in the season, um, be that at Marlowe, Regatta, or Henny Woman's, uh, where we're hoping to also record in person. Um, but yeah, we'd love to hear from everyone out there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. And thank you so much to everyone who's come up to us. We're actually sat at Dawny Lake right now to record this and had a few people come up to us, which it's really lovely to meet all of you. So please keep doing that, keep sending your questions in and tune in again next week where we go through a run-through of Becky's Racing in Seville. Yeah, we'll see you all soon. Bye.