attention rowers, start your engines!!!

It’s time to start your engines…. That’s if you’re wearing “USA” or “GBR” or “CAN” or whatever nation you’re representing at the World Champs right now. Racing has started and there have been some good ones! While I wish I was in Bled right now (so beautiful! Dubbed “the land of castles”) the next best place is Henley to get ready for another round of fun. As I spent my lazy Sunday keeping tabs on all the racing I was struck with how “connected” I feel with the rowing. Let me explain. For a long time I’ve dreamed of being an Olympian or representing my country and achieving the highest honors in my sport. As a result I passionately followed the national team and tried to keep tabs on what was going on in the world of international rowing. And who doesn’t do that? Every young athlete dreams of superstardom and being the best and we all find idols and heroes and follow the best.  But this year it’s different.

This year I’m struck with how many people I know that are racing in Bled. There are so many people that I’m friends with- some of my closest even- that are racing for the title of “world’s best” and getting ready for the Olympics.  And unlike in years past, I feel so in tune with it all. It’s hard to articulate.  Maybe it’s because I’m really part of that scene- coxing at Leander opens doors… big ones. Just the magnitude by which I improved my coxing skills in a year alone is impressive but the pink palace does more than just make you better at rowing or coxing. You get to know important people. You get to interact and train with the best and it brings you so much closer to attaining your dreams.  You just make that step up to being part of such a tiny group of athletes in rowing, in the world. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking. Maybe. Or maybe it’s because not yet, but someday I’m going to be there with them too. Of course a long shot but those are the best kind of accomplishments- the ones that you had to work so hard to get. I know I have so much work to do still but I’m in the best place in the world right now and all I can do it take that advantage and work hard. "Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game. It's such a surprise." Keep dreaming people, keep dreaming...

BIG THANK YOU to Jamie Redman (US w8+) for the photo of the US m8+ on the start line, knicked from FB

To follow the World Champs I recommend the following websites:

www.worldrowing.com

www.usrowing.org

www.row2k.com

 www.twitter.com (just search @worldrowing and you’ll find tons of people tweeting from Bled)

I'm on vacation

It's a classic saying, "I'm on vacation". Everyone's used it and used it to rationalize everything from overspending to eating that whole bar of chocolate when you exactly how many calories are in it .... don't deny it. You've done it. And I'll be candid and say that I was a (cute) piglet while "on vacation" over the summer. Granted, I DID still train- running, cycling, swimming, yoga- but when you spend 8+ hours a day with cheese, chocolate, crackers, and olives it gets hard sometimes no matter how strong willed one is.  So that being said, Mr. Scale claims I'm not as light as I was 2 months ago. (No, I'm not THAT fat...) I'm talking a kilo or so. A couple of pounds. Well under men's weight still and reasonably close to women's min. But I like being skinny (who doesn't?) so I'm on a quest to get back down to the skinny minnie I was at the end of last year. 

To kick it off I'm tracking everything on www.myfitnesspal.com again and training to keep my metabolism up. A healthy cox is a happy cox. And a happy cox is SO much nicer to be around. That means that I'm not going to give up the occasional treat or indulgence. It's about balance ... something that took me a long time to figure out- I've been to both extremes. Yes, I was the "fat cox" once upon a time but I was also anorexic and neither is pretty (or healthy). So have that piece of chocolate just DON'T eat the whole bar. Otherwise you'll be running a marathon to burn if off. Speaking of chocolate, I'm all out so this calls for a trip to the grocery store. Mmmmmm.... chocolate ... my favorite ...

What to do when there's no rowing??

Ok, I need to rephrase the title a bit: "what to do when there's no rowing for you?". There has been PLENTY of rowing going on. After HRR I personally didn't have much going on but there were the u23 and Jr World Championships (in which I had a ton of friends participaiting) along with other national and international events to keep track of. Let's not forget all my friends training with their respective squads for the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia in only a short week or so.  This is a really important WC because it's Olympic qualification year... yup!

But I'M not going to worlds (sadly, but I'm working on it!) so what to do with my time??? After spending 4 weeks at home I've returned to the UK and have about a week and a half before we start formally training again. Today I find myself sitting on my bed looking out at the rainy-ness that is Saturday afternoon. So I've decided to be erudite! It is my aspiration to go back to grad school for public and international affairs .. and the top programs at schools like Princeton, Harvard, UPenn require superb GRE scores in combination with a myriad of other qualifications such as being a diplomat for example (no, I'm not kidding...).

Without the factor of diplomacy on my side I'll have to work my other qualities and of course, blaze the GRE.  That being said I'm sitting here making vocabulary flashcards, doing online quizzes and trying not to pillorize the people who make me take such exams. So the point of this garrulous post is that just because you don't have any rowing to do doesn't mean that you can't pursue other ambitions. No matter what your ambitions are GO FOR THEM! And have a little fun too! Until next time...

Ps, support the women of the US National team by sponsoring their 2012 Power & Grace calendar (or just buying one). Info can be found on Megan Kalmoe's blog http://megankalmoe.com/2011/08/01/power-and-grace-get-some/ 

we will beat you ....

Report as promised ....

so we did two pieces side by side with the "first 8" on Tuesday morning I am going to go ahead and say it was a success. While the official results may indicate that the first 8 is quicker I think that they a) are incorrect (there are some major discrepancies in the timing, noted by many individuals including coaches) and b) not 100% indicative of our true speed.

On the 1250 off the start we stumbled a little off the start and had to play catch up. We walked back on the other 8 by the end of the piece and we were really happy with the way we settled into a really nice rhythm. On the 750 we stepped into our build and rhythm really well- everyone right onto the feet together and the boat just lifted off. We pushed away from the other crew and coming into the last 250m I was calling to take it up and walk away as we were almost a length up on them. (the timing claims it was a dead even piece. sure.) We got a little excited and things fell apart but we were happy to see that we have places to improve and gain more speed.

Right now just relaxing at the club in between races at the Met Regatta. Won our heat and just chilling before our final this afternoon (more racing tomorrow). We did well in our heat but we can push ourselves more and make a few more positive changes. It's guaranteed that Molesey, Thames and Imperial are going to come after us in the final. Another report to follow tonight. Keep the adventure going!

only a month to go

So it's come down that final countdown ... a month to go until Henley is here and we're duking it out for the Ladies Plate against our other 8, Harvard, Molesey and whoever else shows up to pick a fight with us. At this point we have "selected" crews but of course that will change because, well, let's be honest, it just will. I'm coxing what some people like to call the 2nd 8 or the "B" boat, blah blah. Call it what you want but it's MY 8 and I'm going to make it quick and dominate. They may be young and a little underpowered in comparison to our "1st" 8 and say, Harvard but we will make up for that by the fact that we are a very technical crew. I will reference lightweights here: they aren't as big so to make up for it they (usually) tend to row very technically sound.

We have the Metropolitan Regatta this weekend at Dorney Lake where we'll be racing in the Senior 8+ category but before that we've got some pieces (a 1250m and a 750m) to do vs our "pesky rivals" (to quote the BBC- who had some good commentary this weekend during the 1st World Cup I might add!) to get us fired up. I shall report back after our pieces. Also, one full side of the booms is up and about a third of the other side is in so it's making for some interesting encounters on the reach now. Not long now and every stroke counts. Too bad it's a bank holiday and it's raining ...

PS- shout out to my boyfriend who did really well (11th overall) with his u23 LM4- at the (senior) World Cup in Munich this past weekend. Go JP! xx

pennants, maladies and seat racing

It's Tuesday and it's raining (typical England, right?). But as much as the rain sucks I'd much more rather be out in the rain at Caversham (where the GB squad train) to assist with my guys' seat racing than stuck here on the sofa with whatever malady is plaguing me. I do not know what's wrong with me- headache that comes and goes, a tired and wiped out feeling. No appetite (the only positive to this mystery). I feel like I've got an endless hangover. And NO, I did not party THAT hard on Saturday night. I really didn't drink much at all. Must have been the Tideway I accidentally* drank whilst calling a piece during training before the 8's head.

Speaking of the 8's head and partying ... you might have well painted everything pink on Saturday. Leander owned the Thames. Our 1st 8+ of mostly squad guys won the whole thing & set a new course record. Our 2nd 8+ (the lightweights) won the lightweight pennant and finished 4th- the highest our lwts have EVER finished in the race. A big congrats especially to my sweetheart of a boyfriend- John Preston- who sat in 2 seat and helped make that boat go so quickly!

MY 8+, Leander III, finished .07 seconds out of the top 10 (11th). We won the senior pennant. The 4th 8+ was full of blossoming youngsters and while they didn't win a pennant they blew past TONS of people! #36... #37.... #44! (or something like that). WELL DONE LEANDER! So today's lesson is if you want to go fast and win stuff go row for Leander (also, DO NOT drink the tideway- heck, avoid it all costs costs if possible). Until next time...!

where have all the bowsiders gone?!

Well in the last week we've gone from good to worried ... all of my bowsiders (starboards) are either injured or ill! We were supposed to be seat racing today, tomorrow and Wednesday but as of Saturday we had ONE guy left- Ed Whitely. So that being said we're not seat racing but rather we're in quads and now a coxed 4 and a pair for two guys who are recovering from injury/ illness. Alas, fear not! (or so says my coach, Chris) He expects that we should have the 8 up and running by the end of the week. Doing the 2k pieces, probably not. But at least we'll have an 8 going (hopefully!).

It's less than a month before me race Oxford (who beat Molesey on Saturday, btw...) and while I'm not going into the race with the expectation to beat them I am at least hoping to be close and not get my ass kicked. Anything can happen- you just never know. The only thing I can do is focus on myself and my crew. The rest is out of my control.

On that note I'm going to go back to watching some soppy movie from the 80's. Until next time, remember ... adventure is out there!

insomnia

It's 5 am. I can't sleep. I don't know why- maybe because I'm fighting off a baby cold. Whatever the reason I just can't sleep. So I'm blogging. Someone save me.

It's time for the Tideway. Yes, my last post was about the Tideway and now I'm back. Only this time it's prep: prep for our fixture against the Oxford Blue Boat in a month's time and the 8's Head of the River in a month and a half. In the past 2 1/2 months I've gone through a sort of coxswain metamorphosis and am much better than I used to be. Hence why I get to show my stuff and give Oxford a run for their money. Yeehaw! But seriously, I'm pumped and doing my homework. I'm going to win. Now if only I could get some sleep...