Post # 184
Oakland, California - Thanksgiving is all about taking a step back from what can be a crazy busy life and reflecting on how awesome everything around us is. In no particular order, here's what I'm most thankful for:
1. My health. It seems so simple, but you can never take that for granted.
2. Having a big goal and actually having the opportunity to pursue it. I feel like the luckiest person alive that I get to wake up every morning and pursue something I absolutely love.
3. Flat water and sunshine and loving where I live every day.
4. In the Arena, for believing in me as a person and as an athlete and for connecting me to the wonderful families and athletes at Artemis Rowing.
5. My fiercely devoted family in Boston who are unconditionally supportive of me and my goals. My extended family in San Francisco who remind me that home is never too far away.
6. My teammates, who challenge me to be a better athlete and make this tough, exhausting lifestyle fun.
7. My amazing, silly, loving boyfriend who I get to see every day.
8. Old friends who put in the effort to keep in touch even though they're far away. Thank goodness for FaceTime.
9. My work clients who make me more creative and make my days super entertaining. I'm lucky to say that there's not one day that I hate my job.
10. My bed, aka the cloud. (Spent too many nights living on an air mattress to not appreciate this all the time!)
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Fall Speed Order
Post # 183
Oakland, California - This weekend was the final race of 2014: the USRowing West Coast Fall Speed Order. It's a two-day event with a test on the rowing machine on Friday evening and a race on the water the next morning. The events are within 15 hours of each other, making it a tough turnaround. I was glad it was a home race for CRC - there's nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed the night before a race.
The test on the rowing machine went well for me. I pulled a personal record (PR) by six seconds over my time in March. I still need to get faster but it's a step in the right direction. I was challenged by a couple parts of the race on the water, but came away with second place behind Kate for the lightweight women and a fourth place overall finish. I see the areas where I need to improve going forward and I'm excited to get cracking on those.
But first, we got a much needed day off. Today I slept in until 7:45 am (such a sleep in!). It was glorious to not have to wake up to an alarm. Seems like fall has finally hit me because I had a full-on pumpkin craving when I woke up. I'm spending the day decompressing in the kitchen making good food with some good music going on my computer. Just about perfect.
Artemis had their final fall regatta this weekend as well. They've been making some awesome improvements this fall so I can't wait to hear all about how this one went when I see them on Tuesday.
Results:
Oakland, California - This weekend was the final race of 2014: the USRowing West Coast Fall Speed Order. It's a two-day event with a test on the rowing machine on Friday evening and a race on the water the next morning. The events are within 15 hours of each other, making it a tough turnaround. I was glad it was a home race for CRC - there's nothing quite like sleeping in your own bed the night before a race.
The test on the rowing machine went well for me. I pulled a personal record (PR) by six seconds over my time in March. I still need to get faster but it's a step in the right direction. I was challenged by a couple parts of the race on the water, but came away with second place behind Kate for the lightweight women and a fourth place overall finish. I see the areas where I need to improve going forward and I'm excited to get cracking on those.
But first, we got a much needed day off. Today I slept in until 7:45 am (such a sleep in!). It was glorious to not have to wake up to an alarm. Seems like fall has finally hit me because I had a full-on pumpkin craving when I woke up. I'm spending the day decompressing in the kitchen making good food with some good music going on my computer. Just about perfect.
Artemis had their final fall regatta this weekend as well. They've been making some awesome improvements this fall so I can't wait to hear all about how this one went when I see them on Tuesday.
Results:
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Fall Rolls On
Post # 182
Oakland, California - It's been a productive few weeks back at home filled with work, coaching, and training. While most people are grumbling about the afternoons getting darker earlier, us early morning exercisers were counting down the days until Daylight Savings. Finally we'll be able to see what we're doing for the first hour of practice!
Oakland, California - It's been a productive few weeks back at home filled with work, coaching, and training. While most people are grumbling about the afternoons getting darker earlier, us early morning exercisers were counting down the days until Daylight Savings. Finally we'll be able to see what we're doing for the first hour of practice!
Just a nice Sunday morning coaching session
Artemis put up some impressive results at Head of the American last weekend, most notably a third place finish in the lightweight men's double. That event wasn't a junior event, which means they were racing people of all ages. I've been helping coach their erg workouts and it's been really cool to watch the change in energy of the kids on the team. The boys are more committed and enthusiastic this year because they see their own potential on the regional and national level. They've learned how a far off goal can change your daily approach to practice and motivate you to push the envelope every day, knowing that it'll all add up in the end. Plus they have a lot of fun doing it, which makes going to practice so great.
As the fall season rolls on, the kids are preparing for a couple more local races and I'm preparing for the USRowing West Coast Fall Speed Order in two weeks. Our rowing club hosts it and it's the last chance to show your speed until April. If you're in the area and want to come watch, pencil the morning of Saturday November 15 into your calendar!
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