Yes, the start and finish give the race structure, like bookends. But what we really love is the middle—the moments of struggle, the oar catches, the cox shouting. That’s where the life happens. The start and finish are just the excuse for the adventure.
So next time you see a sign about a boat race, don’t just shrug. Imagine the rowers at Putney, hearts pounding. Imagine them crossing under Hammersmith Bridge, lungs burning. And imagine them, a few minutes later, collapsing at Mortlake. It’s a story you can almost feel in your own legs.
And if you ever find yourself on the Thames, just take a moment. Look upstream, look downstream. Somewhere, a crew is starting, and somewhere else, a crew is ending. And in between, there’s a whole lot of beautiful, sweaty human effort. That’s worth caring about, even if you’re just sitting on a bench with a cup of tea.
