We’re eight weeks into the Olympic year and it’s already time for the first round of selection. First, it’s unbelievable to me that eight weeks have gone by. It feels like I was flying home from Bled just yesterday, antsy for the training cycle to begin. This fall, while challenging at times for everyone in regards to injury, new technique and cold temperatures, we’ve logged some solid miles. But now it’s time to prove it. I’ve never raced in a fall speed order before, so I’m eager to see what it’s all about. I’m definitely looking forward to having more rowers around, just watching the Princeton Chase was a blast. Hopefully the weather will hold up and it won’t be too windy! Although I do like headwinds…

The West Coast Fall Speed Order starts tomorrow morning with a good ol’ 6k erg followed by a 6k on the water on Friday. Here is the link to USRowing for more info and here is the RegattaCentral link to view entries.

The East Coast Fall Speed Order starts Saturday afternoon with a 6k erg test and then a 4.5k row (or however short you can make the course with the big turn) on Sunday morning. Here is the USRowing link and the RegattaCentral link for entries.

In any case, should be an interesting next couple of days and help determine what’s in store these next couple of months for Team USA.

Check back for some video and interviews with national team members.

Until next time!

It’s that time of year again, finally! It’s the only rowing event in the US, where thousands of people come to watch. Plus, this year is especially exciting because we missed last year due to Worlds being so late. Unfortunately, none of the women are racing like we had originally hoped but at least we get to go. Although I would much rather race, this will be my first year as a spectator and I can’t wait to see all the collisions… I mean, fasboats. And, the weather is supposed to be beautiful, much different than our last Charles experience complete with snow and sleet back in 2009.

There are a few exciting things coming up for the NRF. The annual National Team Alumni Reception and Reunion is this Saturday in Boston, so come stop by between 4 and 6:30 pm. Then, on November 30 the NRF is co-hosting the Golden Oar Awards (for the first time!) with USRowing. You can find more information about the event here: https://www.usrowing.org/Events/GoldenOarsDinner.aspx.

Hope to see you there and thanks for all your support, you make our journey possible day in and day out!

On thewomen’s side of things, we all left for Newark International Airport on Tuesday and got to the airport three hours ahead of time (per usual). Everyone got through check-in and security without any issues, although how is it that every time I travel somewhere I pack a ridiculous amount? I pledge to myself constantly, “ok, next time I will take only one bag and by God, that will be all I take.” Every time I fail. Jamie Redman, who is now a Premier member because she so efficiently recorded all her miles, always comes to my rescue and checks my second bag for me. This positive reinforcement is probably not helping my pledge…

We arrived in Munich some eight hours later and got to the hotel with no issues. However, Caroline and I, along with Martelli and Stesha, had to wait another hour to get our rooms. No biggie. We rigged and rowed in the afternoon and went for a swim in the lake. The water is gorgeous, nice and cool. It’s actually very trippy to be able to see the bottom of the lake for the entire 2k down. Definitely not the same as the murky waters of Lake Carnegie back in Princeton. The hotel is nice enough, even though the bathrooms are quite tiny. So far, we don’t have much to report because any down time we have is mandatory resting. Let’s just say a whole lot of movie watching and crossword puzzling is happening. The women’s team leaves on Monday for Bled and them men’s team leaves on Wednesday.

Until next time!

 

 

PS- Videos to come!

It’s amazing to be one year out from the next Olympic games.  It feels to me, as Beijing was still just a couple of months ago, let alone Athens being almost 8 years ago.   The day-to-day training is so similar I tend to forget all the amazement, excitement, and enjoyment the Olympics offers.  When you are living and breathing the games side by side with a group of people who are doing the same, you become sheltered from build up the rest of the world is feeling.   Olympians and hopefuls live by a motto “It is not every 4 years it is every day” because we must.  You have to put in the years of training just to have a chance at representing the country and gain that moment of glory.  The hard work during the years between the games starts to see pay off as the 365 day countdown begins.  Slowly you start to realize that you and your teammates have fans.  As the year turns to months you start to discover that its not just your hometown and family but your state is watching you get ready.  As the naming date approaches newspapers are emailing and calling asking about YOU.  As those months become weeks you discover that the world is watching and waiting for this 4 year drought to end.  The worlds best athletes are about to compete and you have given yourself a chance to be part of it.  The most amazing part of the whole experience is when it come time for it to start…it all goes away.  It is still you and the team you have grown close to, the other men around you that you would do anything for, and it’s a 6-lane boat race that you want your bow ball to cross the line first.