Updates: The hardest winter ever

I have a lot to share, a lot going on.  I am going to break it up into chunks to make it easier to read and easier to write.

This winter has been the hardest winter of my training.  Let's start with the persistent injuries.

As I was headed into late fall, I was continuing to crush my training, ramping it up bit by bit.  I had a solid Head of the Lake, finishing 5th overall as the fastest non-UW athlete.  Not bad for a 155 lbs.  Being able to race with these guys is a blast - having Ben Davidson there ensures that the level of competition is on par with any of the Fall Speed Order hosted by USRowing.  With that result, I switched to more erging, hitting a 20:17 6K  during a solo training session.  But I wasn't giving myself rest.  With work and bike commuting, my fatigue was adding up and I wasn't paying attention to it.  I did a late season race in Long Beach, had some battle-paddles with Sam O'Brien of UW, and next thing I know my hip was trashed by the end of the first week of December.  I had damaged my psoas to the point where I could not raise my foot more than an inch or two off the ground.

What followed is familiar to many high performance athletes.  I would rest, cross train, come back too hard too soon, then have to start all over.  This continue for months.  I missed Ergomania, Elk Lake Spring Regatta, NSR I.  Finally, I committed myself to Karen Calara's program (Next Step Physical Therapy, Aligned and Balanced Rowing).  She put me on a rehabilitation regimen that would target getting me back into into racing shape by mid-summer.  With that in mind, I abandoned my larger competitive goals for the season.  I had wanted to go to NSR, do well, recruit some training partners to Seattle, and perhaps race a World Cup.  I wrote all of that off, focused on my studies and work (I passed two more actuarial exams!), and started thinking about what would be possible in the 2018 season.

On top of this, Seattle had one of its coldest, wettest winters on record.  For a bike commuter, that was pretty frustrating.  I would have weeks of just being perpetually wet and cold.  This made it extra hard to roll out of bed in the morning just to cross train and do PT.

One very bright spot - I was awarded an in-kind sponsorship by JL Racing!  They made me a part of their Global Elite Program.  I was very pumped when my box of goodies arrived, even if I wouldn't be wearing them on the water right away.

In June, I was able to start doing hard work again and did my first and only 2K erg test of the season.  It was very controlled and conservative, and I was pumped to be close to my PR with minimal preparation on the machine or water.  And while I have been feeling much better thanks to vigilance and PT, I am still having episodes of discomfort which prevent me from performing at my best.  I am definitely improving more and more, but it is unlikely I will be at 100% until I am able to take a more sustained break from training.

First Head of the Charles Medal!

I had a fantastic weekend at Head of the Charles 2016.  I finished in my target range (top 2), earned my first HoCR medal, and can look forward to a guaranteed entry for next fall and a more competitive starting position with my buddies towards the front of the lightweight pack.

My prep for the event was right on.  I came out on the Wednesday before on a day flight and stayed at an AirBnB near the course.  I arranged to work from our company's Boston office (shout out to my employer and US National Team Sponsor Liberty Mutual Insurance) so that I could have time to acclimate without eating up vacation days.  Fluidesign had my new boat waiting from me Thursday evening after work, rigged almost perfectly.  Thursday, I did a loop of the course at recovery intensity, Friday morning I did another look with some moderate steady and a few 20s at pace, and Friday afternoon I did a partial loop at hard steady, playing with some junior boys fours.

When Saturday came, I was feeling very rested and ready to go.  I knew how I wanted to steer the course, thanks to some private tutoring from now two-time HoCR champion Andrew Hashway.  Stayed pretty calm for he day, going to the course only to weigh in and pick up my regatta packet (came in 5 lbs under max after breakfast on the day of the race).



Racing by Riverside.  Thank, Igor, for the shot!

I left for the course with some time to warm up on the erg and stretch out.  Got hand on, feeling ready to give my all in the rising winds.  Launching from FALS, I got about half a mile down river when I realized I didn't have my bow card!  I landed at a nearby dock, explained my situation to an official, and sprinted barefoot along the Charles River path back to my trailer to grab my bow card.  End result: I got to the starting chute literally as they were starting bow 1 for my race. Great way to get that adrenaline!

The race itself went well.  It was hard to tell if I was going fast enough.  I was very conservative in my pacing, rating in the low 30s/high 20s and trying to go off of feel and flow.  I swapped some oar paint passing the rower right in front of me before Riverside.  I took the Cambridge arches in Powerhouse to avoid the strong current from the recent rainfall.  When the wind worked to my advantage, I would surge the rate up to try and tap it along a little more.  I was very happy with my course aside from going a little wide around the Big Turn.  However, I was worried that I was not catching Josh Getz quickly enough and that I could see Peter Schmidt off my stern constantly on the attack.  Coming across the line I passed Josh and a pack of heavyweights who had started ahead of us.  I was spent, but very unsure of my performance.  It was some time before I knew my result and it was only when a friend sent me a screenshot that I knew what had happened.

Hugh McAdam rowed a great race, capturing another HoCR title.  I am hoping I can give him a better push next year!

Olympic Trials Push

I want to distinguish a push of Olympic Trials from a push for the Olympics.  I try to stay grounded in my training and goal setting.  There are many talented lightweight scullers in the United States, all vying for an Olympic berth.  I think at any given moment, I am just trying to crack into the top 10.  Since only the top 2 will earn places on team USA, I focus on having good races and good results for me alone.

I am gunning for an A-final finish in Sarasota at Trials this year with my doubles partner, Tobin McGee.  Tobin will be living in Seattle as we try to find some solid boat speed over the several weeks preceding the regatta.

A few weeks ago, we hosted a 2-week training camp in Seattle, bringing in some of my peers from California and Boston to try out different double combinations and get a measure of our speed.  Peter Schmidt came out at the top of the competitive water results, with the rest of us fighting for scraps.  He has been on fire the last season and has clearly been on top of his training since Aiguebelette.    We capped off the camp with an indoor rowing competition (Northwest Ergomania), at which Tobin and Peter snagged new PRs and I was within less than two seconds of my all time best (not bad for a 30-year old!).  It was a great experience and has left me searching for a little more fitness for this Olympic year.

Outside of my own training: I am preparing for my next actuarial exam and will be taking an online class during the spring quarter on corporate finance as I await the start of my summer internship.  I am also continuing my coaching at Holy Name Academy, focusing on bringing the athletes up to speed with the sculling skills.  Life with Keara is going well - she too is staying very busy with her studies, work, and training.

Au revoir.

Post 2K

Back in the single and back to real life

It has been a great transition these last few months since Aiguebelette.  A quick recap.

Keara and I spent several days after the regatta traveling France and doing the tourist thing.  I missed out on the post-race party scene, much to my chagrin.  After so many months away from home and immersed in rowing, I was immediately ready to kick my feet up and relax with Keara.

I got back into the 1x as soon as I got home and started putting in the miles.  I committed myself to training only once per day until the fall academic quarter was over.  I needed time to address all of the life chores that had piled up while I had been gone.

At the top of the list, over the summer I decided to suspend indefinitely my pursuit of my doctoral degree at the University of Washington.  I had reached the stage in my work where all of my focus would now be on my dissertation, and the prospect of spending three more years of late nights with little or no money coming in, stressing out over presentations, did no excite me.  I gave notice to the powers that be at the University and confirmed that this would be my last quarter.  I am spending my time teaching and taking a class just to round things out for me.

So what now?!  I have that master's degree, and a pretty solid quantitative background.  So I decided to go the actuarial route.  Before I get flack for selling out, I have to explain the mast plan here.  I have applied for and been offered an internship at Liberty Mutual.  They're a large firm with offices in (wait for it) Boston and Seattle.  The hope is to convert the internship to a full-time position and start a career with a company with will allow my some flexibility between these two cities so I can continue to race and train.  Actuaries have pretty solid work schedules, and the first few exams shouldn't require too much prep on my part thanks to my background.  So hopefully in a year, I'll be bringing in some real money, city hopping, and training like a boss, as always.

My plan is to hold out for 2017 at this point.  I'm not an Olympian.  I wish I was, but I'm not.  I know I'm an OK rower, but I'm not a Campbell, or Konieczny, or Daly.  I might fall somewhere in the top 20 lightweight rowers, but to be an Olympian, you have to solidly be in the top 6 (or go big like Graves).  So this year I am going to be focused on fitness and development so that I can lay the groundwork for an opportunity to race in front of a home crowd in Sarasota.  To me, that sounds incredible.  Whatever boat I can make, as fast as I can make it.

With this long term plan, the fall has been chill.  Head of the Charles was fun, and while we finished further back than we'd like, it was really the most likely outcome given our lack of training since France.  Head of the Lake was a good race this year, with representatives from Italian, Canadian, and American National Teams.  And now I am chugging away biking and running and lifting until school dies off and I can get back to some major mileage.  I am planning to race at Trials this year, and while I am not making plans to travel this summer, if I can get some feisty bros in Seattle, I would love to make some magic.

World Championship Regatta

What an amazing experience this has all been.  I have been trying to keep things on the down-low in the last few weeks of preparation.  I've had so much focus on training, fundraising, and plans for after the season that there just has not been time to add an update.  So here we go.

We did it.  We fucking did it.  The first time we haven't been last in this event since 2009.  Not only that, but we beat out last year's silver and bronze medalists to earn ourselves a bronze medal.  Only 1.49 seconds off of the winner, Germany.  Only .27 seconds off of the silver medalists and host nation, France.  Beating out 3-time Olympian Elia Luini, of Italy, who raced my coach at the Athens Games and who has won more medals at the World Championships than anyone in the event.

The race itself was surreal.  We were focused on coming off the line with more grace than we had in the heat.  We had been sloppy then and knew that we could pick up 2 seconds just by relaxing and letting the easy speed come.  That was the big call for me from Jack - "easy speed".  It was about be as non-disruptive as possible and trusting in the adrenaline and experience that the power would be there.  And it was there!  We were still the slowest off of the line, but this time we stayed in contact with the lead crews.  And more importantly, as soon as we shifted into our base rhythm, we took off!  We were understroking the field by 2-3 strokes per minute, minimum, and just pushing away.  Italy took off the line hard, rowing into the mid-40s.  All other crews were rowing at 39-41 strokes per minute.  But we just stuck it at a 37-38.  Our power was huge, and our length carried us through the field.  We had the fastest middle thousand, allowing us to stay with France and gain on Italy (Turkey was left behind).  Germany grabbed several seats and held onto them.  France surged about 4 seats in the last 500 meters, while Italy began to fade from their early attack.  All of my focus was on Matt and Dave ahead of me; on Jack's voice.  I knew nothing of what was going on outside the boat.  As Jack made his final calls for the sprint, he called for something extra and special in the last 150 meters as France crawled away and we sat bowball-to-bowball with Italy.  We crossed through the finish line, too close to see the result right away.  We stared up at the results board, waiting as they announced first place: Germany.  Second place: France.  We waited.  Third place: USA.  Our boat exploded in joy.  Dave stood up and promptly collapsed into my arms.  Everyone was flailing in the water with their arms and legs, hugging and grabbing each other with affection and celebration.

The award ceremony was a blast, and the moments following the race were like a dream.  I almost still cannot believe we did it.  But our coaches believed in us, we believed in us.  We rowed within 10 seconds of the world record on flat water.

Now I am off to travel France and celebrate with my girlfriend.  I will start to think about what lies ahead in my rowing career.  But my primary focus for the next week will be rest and recovery.  #bubblelife.

Oh yes, and we will be at Head of the Charles in the lightweight men's 8+...

Celebration on the medal stand.

Home stretch

We are in the last few weeks of preparation before we head of to France.  In thirteens days, I'll be on my way to my first regatta as a representative of Team USA and my first time in Europe.

Training has been going well.  Progress has been cyclical about an upward trend; a familiar pattern in high performance athletics.  Fatigue masks progress, but the occasional opportunity for rest and recovery yields exciting moments on the water.

On an individual level, I am observing greater and greater power output during my mid-day ergometer sessions for a given level of perceived exertion.  Video analysis reveals some pretty significant technical gains on my part as well.  I am currently in six-seat, in a bucket with Dave Smith.  A bucket is where two rowers of the same side are positioned next to each other, rather than the more common alternating patter.  This can be done to improve matching and facilitate technical development.  The right combination and ordering of multiple buckets (such as what we are employing with a 6,7 and 2,3 buckets) can eliminate mid-drive wiggle that is present in shells.  So basically, we have a pretty fast rig.

This weekend we are having our fundraising party at CRI.  It should be a blast.  We have had many local businesses provide food, beer, and auction items.  We're hoping to clear a big chunk of our fundraising goals out of it.

Cruising around the Charles in mid-July.  Pre-buckets.

We're getting closer and closer to our fundraising goal.  If you are able to help us out, you can go here.  Any and all amounts will help us get to France!

Back in Boston!

After a all-too-brief break, we are back in Boston and hitting it hard.  So many little aches and pains arise in my body form these first few days of getting back into the grind of three sessions per day - looking forward to the future when they will be gone and I will feel back up to speed.

I spent my break in Seattle, mostly with Keara, but also catching up with friends at the various boathouses (because I don't have many non-rowing friends left in Seattle).  I left some gear behind so I could travel a bit lighter for the rest of this adventure.  I am digging the new bags we scored.

The eight is just such an amazing challenge for me.  I thought I was finally getting OK at the single and then BOOM! New boat that is way different to handle.  I am reflecting on those simple winter days this year of just grinding it out at SRC.

Equipment

Sounds like we're going to get some support from a couple of great North American companies, with a shell being provided by Hudson Boatworks and oars provided by Concept2.  This sort of equipment support makes a huge difference in the burden on athletes and can often be one of the most challenging logistical problems to solve.  To have support from two such reputable companies with such fantastic products will be great.  We used a Hudson at Trials this year and I rowed a Hudson 8+ in college (it was our top varsity boat).  Of course, C2 is probably the most common oar brand in the United States and has been my go-to choice when racing my single for years.

So excited for these two companies to be on board!

Trials, Respite, and Support

Last Wednesday we complete our racing at Senior I trials.  We are now the official lightweight 8+ for the United States National Rowing Team.  The lead up to our race was pretty straight forward.  We were able to make weight and cam down the course without error.  We completed the 2K in 5:52.  This was not as fast as we had planned.  Earlier in the week, we had done a casual 1K from a dead stop in sub-world record time, with all hands agreeing that there was plenty more to give and that the pace felt sustainable.  But winds and temperatures can be fickle, and a little rain and slower wind speed can greatly affect on-the-water speed.  We definitely had the slowest conditions of the day.  Our goal of a medal stand finish, we believe, is in reach.  Our boat motto: 5:35 or bust!

Knowing that we will be in a long and challenging training cycle until the World Championship regatta, Bruce has given us until July 5th to train on our own without organized practices.  We have strict orders to only cross train - no erging, rowing, or lifting.  I have flown home to Seattle to see Keara and reconnect with my community.  This last weekend I was at the Northwest Regional Master's Championship Regatta, seeing friends and volunteering as a launch driver.  It was a pretty nice way to spend the hot days.  Through in some shorter runs just to stay loose.

This week I am ramping up my cross training and meeting with potential supporters.  Because we are a non-priority event, our boat will receive no support from USRowing.  We have to fully fund our travel and expenses to participate in the World Championships.  Since most of our athletes have relocated for the summer and we have to train 6 hours per day, 6 days per week, working full time is not a realistic option.  I am doing some private tutoring to fill in a few financial gaps and reaching out to friends, family, and enthusiasts to help make our trip to France possible.

You can give a tax-deductible amount to us via the National Rowing Foundation here.

My goal is to raise $7500 for my share of our team.  This should cover all non-emergency expenses that may arise (USRowing fees, air travel, equipment costs, living expenses while training, etc.).  The support of my community will help take us across the finish line!

The Lightweight 8+

I was initially quite hesitant to buy into the light 8+ camp.  Historically, the light 8+ for the USA had not done particularly well in international competition.  Further, when I had attended the light 8+ camp in 2011, I was quickly cut due to a lack of erg power.  However, with the 4x no longer a viable option and my desire to race as part of Team USA still strong, I decided I had to go for it.

This year the the light 8+ was being put together by Community Rowing Incorporated, under the supervision of Bruce Smith.  CRI has run two of the last three light 8+s and Bruce has coached several light 8+s at the international level.  And with the 2x, 1x, 4x, and 2- events seemingly on lock down by the top athletes in our sport, the camp was able to attract a large pool of talent, consisting almost entirely of post-collegiate scullers with some amount of international race experience.

We had 12 rowers in the camp, making for some solid seat racing action.  We were grinding it out in coxed fours in the mornings, doing 1000 and 1500 meter pieces ranging from 32 to 36 strokes per minute with athlete switches between boats to measure individual skills.  I was seat raced once early on and won by a sufficient margin to not have to defend my position again.  Most of my time was actually spent stroking the fours.  It was not easy for me - I like to race at lower rates with longer strokes so trying to hit a 36 took some big changes.  Luckily, I had no problem making the weight cutoff (161 lbs to be seat raced), so I was able to stay pretty charged up day-to-day.  Afternoons were spent in various four and eight lineups to help athletes row with each other and find an effective common rhythm.

After two weeks of grueling racing and lots of double checking to give all athletes the benefit of the doubt, we established our lineup.  I will try to provide a bit of information about the guys, but I am still getting to know my new teammates.

The light 8+, messing around on a trip to the Basin.

Jack Carlson: Our coxswain, Jack is finishing his PhD at Oxford this year and is author of the book Rowing Blazers.  He has coxed internationally for the USA light 8+ in 2011 and the USA 2+ in 2014.  He has won Henley, Canadian Henley, and Head of the Charles.  He has coxed for the Oxford-Cambridge Reserve Boat Race.  He is a Massachusetts native and an alum of Georgetown.  A solid leader on and off the water, I roomed with Jack at the 2011 light 8+ camp.

Matthew Lenhart: A BU alum, this is Matt's first year of post-collegiate racing.  He is a West Coast guy, a native of the Bay Area, and trains at California Rowing Club.

Dave Smith:  Dave and I go way back, having raced the 2x together in 2012 at Olympic Trials.  Dave has been on two national teams in the light 4x and is an alum of Dartmouth and the Harvard School of Design.  Currently, Dave is training in Charlottesville under Frank Biller.

Jack Devlin: Jack raced in the U-23 lightweight 2- for the USA in 2012.  He hails from Virginia and is a Georgetown alum.  He currently trains in Washington D.C.  Jack's parents were both high performance rowers; his mom was a world champion in 1984 in the lightweight 8+.

Chris Lambert: Chris has raced as part of the 2007 U-23 light 4x and the 2011 senior light 4x.  He is heavy-hitter in our boat in terms of raw power and erg score.  He currently trains out of Malta Boat Club in Philadelphia and is from Florida.

Peter Schmidt: Peter currently trains out of Riverside and was part of the 2014 light 4x.  He is a solid sculler who is from Rhode Island and studied at Drexel.  He works as an engineer in Boston and was kind enough to lend me a suit for my brother's wedding the weekend before trials.

Phil Henson:  Phil has been mostly been sweeping since college, trying to make his mark in the light 2-.  In 2011, Phil raced in the U-23 light pair for the USA.  This was Phil's first year focused primarily on the 1x.  He trains out of Craftsbury and his parents live in New Jersey.

Tobin Mcgee:  Tobin is from New York and currently trains at Riverside.  He has been on two national teams: once in the U-23 light 4x in 2010 and once in the lightweight 8+ in 2013.  He currently works as an engineer.

And then there is me to round out the lineup.

It is a solid group of guys.  Lots of experience, with a great coaching staff and rowing community to back us up.  Trials has already started, but we are racing unopposed.  We will come down the race course on Wednesday morning at 7:00 AM to secure our berth.  We will be racing with a focus on practicing a good rhythm and getting a measure of our speed.  I am so close to attaining this 11 year dream, is is surreal.

Riverside and Pan Am Trials

I went to Riverside along with Phil Grisdela, Phil Henson, Jake Georgeson, Pete Schmidt, and Tobin McGee to try and put together a competitive men's 2x for Pan Am Trials and, we hoped, a men's light 4x for Senior Trials.  Margot Shumway was still coaching there, which I think is terrific.  Margot is one of those amazing coaches who is undervalued - her athletes benefit a great deal from her presence and involvement.  We tried to get Hugh McAdam and Matt O'Leary into our group as well, but they paired up into a double without selection.  Can't blame them for it - they just had a different belief into what and who would make a fast boat.

So we grinded through two weeks of seat racing in 2xs.  At the end of it, Pete and Henson were out with rib pain.  Jake and I were double together, and Tobin and Gris were doubled together for Pan Am Trials.  I was very happy to get Jake as a partner.  He had done the best in seat racing, and we had trained and raced together in 2013.  It was pretty easy for us to get the boat moving well together and agree on a race attack.

We got to Princeton the day before the time trial.  USRowing has started shifting time trials into the afternoon.  Nothing is quite as much fun as having to make weight for a 6:00 PM race - you spend the whole day eating little or nothing, throw on a bunch of layer in muggy weather, and grind it out for a few ounces on the warmup erg.  Yay.

Our time trials was probably our best rhythm of the weekend.  We felt like the conditions and out focus really helped us find that light and quick blade placement that allowed us to really tap deep into our aerobic system without getting tight or muscley.  We finished third, behind the Malta/CBC combo and the Hugh and O'Leary double.  Given our results from NSR I, this was no surprise.

Slugging out a great rhythm in our time trial.

We finished second in our heat to Colin and Austin, which forced us into the Reps that afternoon, which we won easily with a rough row to get a spot into the A Final along with Tobin and Gris, Matt and Hugh, and Colin and Austin.  We knew it was going to be toughed, but we had big dreams.  Unfortunately, those dreams did not materialize.  We had an OK race for our final, about 5 seconds off of Colin and Austin and 2 seconds off of Matt and Hugh.  We would not be the Pan Am 2x.

Shortly after the conclusion of the regatta, we also learned that Colin, Austin, Matt, and Hugh were going to race the light 4x at Senior Trials as well.  Now, I am a big advocate of always having a belief in yourself that winning is possible.  But I am also an economist and statistician by training.  I weigh my expected costs and benefits.  So those of us who had been training out of Riverside for the last four weeks decided we would abandon our goal of racing the 4x internationally this year.  Instead we would be making a leap for the lightweight 8+.

SoCal and NSR I

I headed to Long Beach in order to enjoy a more focused training environment.  By staying with my mom, I could ease financial constraints.  By staying in a warmer climate, I could get more excited to train outside all day.  I was logging tons of miles on the water with my buddy, Will Young, at both the Long Beach Rowing Association and with the SoCal Scullers Club.  Plus I got to enjoy some wicked cool bike trails.

Riding with Tristan, who has been kicking my butt around since we rowed together at UPS.

I always love training in Long Beach.  The weather is always amazing, and the people in the rowing community there are extremely generous.  Plus it is nice to be in the comfort of a family home.  I was there for about two and a half weeks before flying out to Princeton to meet up with the SoCal team.  For the first at an NSR, I was going to use my own shell to race, having gotten it out there with the California Rowing Club's trailer.  I was also staying with the SoCal gang with a host family in Princeton.  I am always grateful for this kind of hospitality - the cost of a week in a hotel can be a deal breaker for regatta travel.

I was feeling good going into the race.  I was managing a hip flexor pull well, and though I was nervous for the time trial, I knew I could be competitive with the athletes there.  I also knew that my small size was always an advantage for these multi-race regattas.  I never have to watch my weight when I row the 1x, so when my peer are dieting and sweating daily, I am going back for seconds at the dinner table.

The time trial went well.  I was in the middle of the pack and confident I could do better in side-by-side racing.  However, due to inclement weather the next day, our heats were canceled so we were all advanced directly to either the A/B semifinal or the C final based on our time trial results.  This goes to show: ALWAYS RACE EACH RACE LIKE IT'S YOUR LAST.  I ended up on the good side of the cut and went to a semifinal.

I knew I was in for a hard race in the semifinal.  Jake Georgeson and Phil Grisdella were going to be the guys I knew I had to knock out, and both had beaten me down hard at Head of the Charles this last fall.  The weather was a rough tail wind, so times would be fast, but not too fast due to the chop.  I focused on rowing a controlled and clean race to the 1500 meter mark, basing at a 31-32 stroke rate.  I looked across and saw Jake just barely up on me; Phil had fallen back.  I shifted rhythm, rowing my shorter, "loopy" strokes that I save for these conditions.  I took the rate up to 37 and kept my hands low to avoid the waves.  I built speed and walked through Jake, finishing 3rd in the semi by about 3 seconds and advancing to the A-final.  It was a hard race, to say the least.

Flying off the line in what was a great semifinal race.

My expectations for the A-final were a little shapeless.  I felt that the guys I was racing were, in general, faster scullers than me.  I came out hard and tried to maintain pace with the top guys.  This strategy can either help you find a new limit, or slam you against the wall.  I hit the wall at 1000 meters and fell well off pace, catching a small crab in my last 300 meters.  Still, I was very satisfied, being able to walk away 6th overall, my second time in an A-final at a US selection regatta.

After chatting up with all the usual suspects, I decided the place to be was going to be Boston.  I enjoyed some celebrations that night, bought a train ticket, found a place to crash, and started getting ready for the next stage of my Spring: Pan Am Trials.

Winter Training and Planning

I started getting everything planned out for my season in December.  I made arrangements to go on-leave from my department at the University of Washington for the Spring quarter and to have a replacement hired to continue my research assistance.  Once coaching at Holy Names died down, I added a few more tutoring clients so I could keep bringing in cash.  I figured if I could end March with $7K-$8K in savings, I would be able to cover my living and training costs for the summer (excluding international travel).

I did the bulk of my training in Seattle for December.  Seattle Rowing Center organized a training trip to Florida, but I have never been one to get into those sorts of things.  Seattle water stays liquid all winter, and traffic dies down significantly as it gets colder, so I find the training conditions pretty ideal.  I sleep in a little more, enjoy holiday parties, and bulk up my "winter coat."  I traveled to OKC for a little bit to visit with my Dad's family and to Long Beach to see my mom, briefly enjoying both as training venues as well.

As the racing season got closer, the sense of urgency becomes stronger.  I was hoping for a big breakthrough at Ergomania this year, but did not break 6:25.  Sort of a medium performance for me - not my best or worst in the last year.  I chalked it up to nerves - all of my training and practice data suggested my fitness and strength were greater than ever, so I took the result in stride.

Our first race as a training group is the Elk Lake Spring Regatta.  This one is always a blast, as it is an opportunity to mix it up with some elements of the Canadian Training Center guys.  This year's regatta was made extra special since Keara was coming along to race as well and we were able to get a solid hotel room close to the course.  I signed up for both the heavy and light 1x races in order to maximize my trips down the course, and the racing was great.  I finished 3rd overall in the light 1x, finishing behind a guy from the Canadian National Team sweep group and a top development guy who had finished second at Canadian Henley last year.  We were all within two seconds of each other across the line.  The heavyweight final also ended up nicely, as I was able win a rematch against the winner of the light 1x and finish 4th overall.

At the end of my Winter quarter, I had my single shipped down to Long Beach via Crew Classic, and when March ended, I said goodbye to Keara and my team to head to Southern California where I could prepare for NSR I in a focused environment and stay with my Mom.

Fall 2014

I knew going into Fall 2014 that I wanted to make this season special.  I had taken the summer to relax and refocus.  Plus I was in the wonderful stage of my doctoral program during which I have no more class work, but I also have not formed my dissertation committee.  If I was going to do something big, it had to be now.

The first things I had to do was get good at the single again.  I was putting in as much mileage as I could hand by the end of the summer, sometimes going our for 26 kilometer rows.  I planned on doing all of the local races and on getting out to travel for a few as well.

I also had to make the money necessary for all of the traveling I was planning on doing.  I was working as a TA and RA at UW already.  I was able to reclaim a job with Holy Names Academy again, as well as continue my tutoring work and my work with SSB.  I was putting away whatever I could for my war chest.

I was also able to save some money and significantly improve my quality of life by moving in with Keara, who had also started rowing with the SRC elite team.  We woke up, trained, and went to bed together.  Nothing keeps you disciplined like a partner who doubles as a teammate.

Rowing to my first win in the Open Men's 1x at Head of the Lake

My results for the fall were good.  Aside from a hiccup at Head of the Charles, I swept my single races.  I was particularly proud of my win in the Open 1x at Head of the Lake, a title that had eluded me for five years.  At the speed order, I almost matched my PR on a 6k erg test and had a fantastic race in my single, beating a number of the heavyweights.

The training group at SRC was small, as usual, but motivated.  Having those men and women around me helped me push harder and harder.  Importantly, Sam and I were able to start to normalize relations again and work together productively.  He was my biggest competition for the long distance work that characterized those first months of the season.

Needless to say, I was pretty pumped.  Conal and I had discussed my options for the season.  After talking with Keara, my academic adviser, and my parents, I started to set things in motion to take the spring quarter off of school so I could dedicate myself full time to training and racing.

The 2013-2014 Season

It has been a long time since I have updated this blog.  I lost a lot of steam after 2013 trials and it has taken me years to crawl back to a place where I can write about my rowing accomplishments with pride.

Racing at Fall Speed Order in Oakland, CA.

A quick recap of my 2013-2014 season.  It took a while for me to get back into training.  Shame from catching that crab after being so close combined with my graduate core exams (which I passed).  I had lackluster results that Fall, and after some discussion with my coach and teammates, I decided that I would turn my attention to the light men's pair for the season.  I partnered up with my long, long time training partner, Sam McVeety.

Sam and I have been training together since I first moved to Seattle.  We had played a bit together in doubles and quads, but had never swept seriously.  Sam had also never raced at a trials or selection event before, nor had he ever raced as a lightweight (he was a muscle-bound guy, but not a natural lightweight).

Sam got on board quickly and in January 2014 we started rowing together, with Conal coaching us.  It was a bit rough for the first few weeks.  We were both learning how to sweep again, and coming to the boat with very different styles.  But we were having fun training together.  We were both getting incredibly fit.  Sam was losing weight (I have no idea how, given his body type) and generating numbers on the erg that were competitive with his bests as a heavyweight.  I was also having to work down to 67.5 kg in order to balance out Sam for competition, but still enjoying gains.  I ended up setting a PR on my 6K of 20:13 in mid March at the West Coast Spring Speed Order.  Things seemed pretty good.

But we were having hiccups with our short-distance racing.  We had raced at the Elk Lake Spring Regatta and had been quickly eliminated in all events we entered.  We just did not have the rhythm to move quickly for 2k.  We also were not seeing the numbers we needed for our erg 2ks to be competitive with our top competitors.

Racing with Sam at NSR1 in Princeton, NJ.

At the first National Selection Regatta, we entered the LM2- and finished last after a frustrating time trial and final.  We were 10 seconds behind the next slowest boat.  But we returned to Seattle and redoubled our efforts.  We had already been training in the mornings together every day since January.  We started adding afternoons in the pair as well (previously we used the afternoons to cross train or row our singles).  We raced in a coxed four in Seattle with some of our teammates, beating the JV kids from Oregon State University at the Windermere Cup Regatta.  We planned to race the M2- at the second national selection regatta, giving us a short break from having to watch our weight.

However, NSR2 was another let down.  We finished last in the event again, by another 10 second margin.  We had given it our best effort and even had some strokes that felt pretty good.  But we were not on par with the other pairs.

Keara and I enjoying a summer picnic at Kerry Park in Seattle, WA.

When we returned to Seattle, we dissolved the pair project.  I offered Sam some fairly disparaging and hateful words in my frustration that left our friendship scarred.  I took the rest of the summer to play in my single, spend time with my girlfriend, and study for my economics field exams (which I passed easily).

It took a long time to get Sam back onto speaking terms, and my biggest regret of the season was the damage I caused to our friendship.

As summer ended, I knew the next season would be one of the few remaining opportunities in my life to give rowing my all.  I began to plot what would become my most dedicated time to rowing since I started paddling on American Lake in 2004.

Recap

I cried with complete abandon this morning after watching a replay of the race. With about 400 meters to go, I caught the crab that took us from first place to out of the race. I have not sobbed like that since discovering that my parents were divorcing.

This has been the most emotionally invested I have ever been in a single race season. Part of it is the amount of sheer resources I have devoted to this project. I left my home for the summer, I walked away from the quad at Malta, I left my friends in Seattle, I traveled repeatedly out to the East Coast for training camps and regattas. I worked for days just to bring a group of guys and coaches together to build this quad. I made the boat, I made stroke seat. We trained for weeks together. But it wasn't enough.

When the pressure was on, I faltered. At 38 strokes per minute, trying to steer the boat, trying to increase the pressure, watching the two competing quads come at us and eat away our lead, I lost my focus and got too tight and had a stroke that ended the season for me and my three teammates and our coaches.

So now I take two weeks off and get ready to do it again. I have a dream of racing for the USA and I am not done with it yet. I have more I can give, I just have to get more and more careful about it as I get older and my body wears down. But I will stay at it. I am going to make the team, even if it takes me four more years.

I have no regrets about this experience. It has been the greatest season in my rowing career and I am faster for it. I will eventually crawl out of the guilt hole in which I have buried myself.  The men I rowed with and coaches who trained me this summer were some of the best I have ever been with, and the experience was a privilege.

New season goals: sub 20:10 6k, sub 6:18 2k for the erg. Top 3 finish at NSR I in the light 1x. Top 3 finish at NSR II in the heavy or light double. Go to a quad camp. Make the quad. Win trials. Win a medal at the World Championship Regatta.

Headed to Princeton

We've packed up our equipment and are about to hit the road for the six hour drive to Princeton.  Wohoo!  We are pretty excited - everything seems to be falling into place and we have figured out so much in the last few weeks.  I feel so privileged to be racing with these gentlemen, under these coaches.  Trials should be a pretty solid couple of races too - there are entries from Malta Boat Club and Craftsbury Sculling Center.  All crews are full of talented oarsmen and the event should be exciting.  Looking forward to some great strokes and praying for some fast water!

The Quad in Boston

Another delayed update following a period of high activity.  I have been training in Boston the last three and a half weeks after a brief stent with some buddies in Philadelphia.  It has been a great experience and the coaching and level of athleticism is some of the best I have ever experienced.  I think the best way to start would be an introduction of some of the other people who have hands in the quad project.

Margot Shumway is our coach at Riverside and I am continually impressed by her level of devotion and the skill and focus she brings to our training.  I would list her as one of the most skilled coaches of my rowing career and am very thankful that she has taken this project on.  Margot is a two time Olympian with several national team experiences and is responsible for our day-to-day planning in Boston.

Scott Wisniewski is the high performance coach at Vesper and has played a big part in working with Margot and has put forth an offer for support however we may need it.  Scott has coached a number of boats and athletes internationally for years.

Pete Alter is the youngest athlete in our group, but also the one with the most international sculling experience.  Pete went to the University of Pittsburgh and rowed there for all four years.  This year, Pete finished 5th in the light men's single at NSR I, 1st in the light men's double at NSR 2x, and 9th in the light men's double at World Cup II in Dourney Lake, England.  Pete trains at Vesper most of the year in Philadlphia.

Andrew Hashway is the elder statesman at 28 and was a member of the US lightweight 8+ last year that raced at the World Championship Regatta.  Hash went to Marist College and has been on the lightweight sculling scene with me for the last few years.  This year he finished 2nd in the lightweight single at NSR I and 2nd in the light men's double at NSR II.  Hash trains at Riverside in Boston most of the year.

Jacob Georgeson is a graduate of Boston College and also trains out of Riverside Boat Club.  Jake finished 6th in the light single this year at NSR I and 2nd in the light double at NSR II.  Like me, Jake has never raced internationally on behalf of the US.

Stroke to bow: Me, Pete, Hash, and Jake with Margot in the background.

Training in Boston has always been a pleasure and this time is no different.  I am staying with Jake and his girlfriend and they have been outstanding hosts.  Riverside has done a great job of providing us with the resources we need, and the rowing community as a whole in Boston has been helpful and generous.

We are gearing up for US Senior Trials, which start August 5th.  There should be one or two other very quick entries in our event and we are excited for some great racing.  I never get to race enough and I feel such great anticipation for each one.  Bazoom!

Just playing around!

2013

It has been a long time since I have posted anything, so I will summarize.

June-December 2012: I trained solo in the single, joining up with other athletes whenever it was convenient.  No erg testing and unimpressive results in head races.  My primary focus was on school and work.  I stopped coaching (lots of crying for that one).

January 2013: I join up with Conal's group again for the coaching and structure - the break was good.  I set the American record in meters rowed in an hour on the erg for my age and weight class.  I set a new PR on my 2K, 10 strokes, and one minute tests.

February 2013: I win Ergomania.

March 2013: I win the lightweight 1x at Elk Lake Spring Regatta.  I travel to Philadelphia for my Spring Break and row with the men of Malta Boat Club.  I have a blast with my host David Smith and new buddies Colin Ethridge, Sam Cunningham, Brandon Eck, and Shane Madden.  We make boats go fast.  I got sick.  Gross.

April 2013: I bandit race NSR I, deciding to go a week before the regatta.  DOS hooks me up with a boat, a ride, and all the love I need to finish 3rd overall.  Best finish ever for me in the 1x at that regatta.  It was great to see Hugh McAdam win - three years ago we were both in the D-Final at NSR I 2010 and now we are together in the A-Final.  Hugs and kisses to all my old homies.

May 2013: Now I am keeping my head down, working my ass off.  In three weeks, I will be back in Philadlphia trying to make a lightweight 4x to trial this summer.  All the right men should be there, we just need to test out the combinations and have a coach pull the trigger on the lineup.  Getting faster, smaller, stronger!

Final at NSR I.  Roaring for a donut!  But seriously, thanks for the donuts, DOS!

Long Update

Wow, I have really dropped the ball on communications since Trials!  It is hard to compare anything to the exhilaration experienced at Chula Vista, but I will try to run through some personal highlights since the regatta.

I put all my energy into coaching upon returning to Seattle; what a fantastic outlet!  Just when I am feeling a little burned out on rowing, I get to rediscover a love for the sport through the eyes of my students.  Holy Names qualified three events for Youth Nationals this year, the Women's 1x, 4x, and Light 8+.  We had one of the most successful medal hauls in recent history from the Regional Championship Regatta, with 10 medals, including a win the the JV 1x.  So proud of my scullers in particular, with whom I worked most closely this last year.  Those five athletes brought home medals in four events!  At nationals, our 4x finished 12th and our Light 8+ finished 15th.  What a great way to end my time with those you girls.  I am going to miss all of them and wish them the best of luck in the years ahead.

HNA 4x, L8+, and Coach on the Oak Ridge course.

HNA athletes keeping it Catholic in Oak Ridge.

More big news: David Smith has made the US National Team in the Light Men's 4x!  He will be traveling to Bulgaria to compete at the 2012 World Championship Regatta from August 15th to 19th!  He will be rowing with Shane Madden, Sam Cunningham, and Bob Duff; all repeat national team members.  Because this boat is not an Olympic event, the athletes are responsible for their own funding, so if you would like to help their dream come true and support the US rowing team, you can find out more here.

David Smith, looking particularly good in his new unisuit.

Also big in the rowing news is HNA athlete Emmy Bateman racing in Germany for the US High Performance Junior team.  Her "B" quad beat the German "A" quad in two out of three races!  I am pretty sure she just jumped in the water and swam the boat down the race course, holding a tow rope between her teeth.  Emmy will be racing next at Canadian Henley, looking to show some strong small boat skills.

Emmy Bateman (right) will eat you if you stand between her and winning.

After a personally disappointing fourth place finish at the British Columbia Championship Regatta in July, I am taking the bull by the horns and devising my own training plan for the next few months.  I will be training under SRC, but I have come to the conclusion that my future success needs the kind of personal attention that only I can bring to the table right now.  What is my secret?  Row.  Alot.  Once I have my spring and summer 2013 plans squared away, I hope to work more with Conal to develop a successful team boat for the next big push.  In the mean time, I am getting mega-fast in the single again.  The goal is to win Head of the Lake this fall and build a strong base for the 2013 season.

Good luck to all the athletes competing at the Olympic these next few weeks!  Go USA!