Post # 118
Yesterday was the fall season Final 5k for the Girls on the Run of the Bay Area. I'm no longer a coach for GOTR but I volunteer with them every so often. Yesterday I was a Running Buddy for Mia, a speedster from Oakland. Running buddies are assigned to each girl who runs the 5k and their job is to help encourage them. It's great because the entire community of runners gets pulled together through the Running Buddy program; it's not just the girls running the 5k.
The morning of the 5k, it was pouring rain. As we gathered pre-race, it was coming down in sheets and we were all huddled underneath our umbrellas. The race went off anyway and despite the weather, it was such a fun time. I couldn't believe how positive Mia and the girls around her were. Even though we were splashing through big puddles, she kept on running, hitting her landmarks, and encouraging girls around her that she didn't even know before the race. I love how sports can teach you to band together as a team and help each other stay positive even if the situation isn't perfect. There were a lot of soggy clothes, tired girls, and big smiles after the race.
Luckily after a week of rain, the blue sky returned this afternoon. I'm excited to get back out on the water tomorrow morning. With last week's gusts of 50 mph, it's been too windy to row for an entire week now!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Finishing Off a Great Fall Season
Post #117
Today's race in San Mateo marked the end of the fall 2012 season for Oakland Youth Rowing. The boys raced in quads, doubles, and singles. The course was the curviest I've ever seen and had three bridges, but they handled it like pros. All of the kids came off the water with big smiles on their faces and stories of crazy, hard fought races.
The highlight of the day for me was when I was approached by a coach of another team asking if we had kids who would do a last minute race in a double. Their team was going to be uncontested in the event and they wanted a competitor. The hitch? It was starting in less than an hour and it was a mixed double (meaning one boy and one girl). The Oakland athletes were all exhausted from racing once already, but I approached two of them about doing it anyway. Before I even finished my sentence, they were jumping up and down and screaming "YES! YES WE'LL DO IT!" As we speed-rigged one of the doubles to get it ready to go, they couldn't stop talking about how amazed they were that the opportunity had come up. How great is that attitude?
In our post-race team meeting, I thought back on the last few months and all of our experiences as a team. When I first came to OYR in September, the boys team was about half the size it is now. By the end of the season, we've drawn so many more people to the sport of rowing and made tons of progress with fitness, technique, and race experience as a team. I am so impressed with how far we've come in only a couple months.
Congrats to the entire OYR family for a fantastic fall season. Can't wait to get the winter started.
Today's race in San Mateo marked the end of the fall 2012 season for Oakland Youth Rowing. The boys raced in quads, doubles, and singles. The course was the curviest I've ever seen and had three bridges, but they handled it like pros. All of the kids came off the water with big smiles on their faces and stories of crazy, hard fought races.
The highlight of the day for me was when I was approached by a coach of another team asking if we had kids who would do a last minute race in a double. Their team was going to be uncontested in the event and they wanted a competitor. The hitch? It was starting in less than an hour and it was a mixed double (meaning one boy and one girl). The Oakland athletes were all exhausted from racing once already, but I approached two of them about doing it anyway. Before I even finished my sentence, they were jumping up and down and screaming "YES! YES WE'LL DO IT!" As we speed-rigged one of the doubles to get it ready to go, they couldn't stop talking about how amazed they were that the opportunity had come up. How great is that attitude?
In our post-race team meeting, I thought back on the last few months and all of our experiences as a team. When I first came to OYR in September, the boys team was about half the size it is now. By the end of the season, we've drawn so many more people to the sport of rowing and made tons of progress with fitness, technique, and race experience as a team. I am so impressed with how far we've come in only a couple months.
Congrats to the entire OYR family for a fantastic fall season. Can't wait to get the winter started.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Charles Wrap-Up
Post # 116
I'm back in Cali after racing at Head of the Charles in Boston. The Oakland Youth doubles and I all raced on Sunday, which was a gorgeous sunny day. We had close enough start times that as I warmed up, I saw each of them power by in their races and cheered extremely loud for each of them. The boys placed 40th and the girls placed 10th. Now we have an idea of where we stand and a platform to improve on for this weekend.
My race, which started right after theirs, was really, really difficult. No races are easy, but when you have a strong headwind pushing against you nearly the whole way down the course, it feels like a constant battle with the elements. Add to that the fact that I haven't trained as hard as I normally do in this post-Olympic "break" and it was pretty brutal. I know what it feels like to race when I'm in peak fitness and now I know that it feels a lot worse when I'm not. Ouch!
It's a good thing I had the help of everyone cheering. Being from Boston, I had a lot of fans along the river: Amory of In the Arena, her whole family, my parents, uncle, and cousins, my college team, a huge Wisconsin alumni tent, my Oakland rowers, and friends scattered along the whole course. There are so many bridges and riverbanks along the course that you can really hear everyone. It was great. I got back on land and learned that I had successfully defended my title and won my event!
The doubles and I are back in action, along with about 50 other Oakland Youth rowers, in Sacramento this weekend for Head of the American.
I'm back in Cali after racing at Head of the Charles in Boston. The Oakland Youth doubles and I all raced on Sunday, which was a gorgeous sunny day. We had close enough start times that as I warmed up, I saw each of them power by in their races and cheered extremely loud for each of them. The boys placed 40th and the girls placed 10th. Now we have an idea of where we stand and a platform to improve on for this weekend.
(photos by row2k.com)
My race, which started right after theirs, was really, really difficult. No races are easy, but when you have a strong headwind pushing against you nearly the whole way down the course, it feels like a constant battle with the elements. Add to that the fact that I haven't trained as hard as I normally do in this post-Olympic "break" and it was pretty brutal. I know what it feels like to race when I'm in peak fitness and now I know that it feels a lot worse when I'm not. Ouch!
It's a good thing I had the help of everyone cheering. Being from Boston, I had a lot of fans along the river: Amory of In the Arena, her whole family, my parents, uncle, and cousins, my college team, a huge Wisconsin alumni tent, my Oakland rowers, and friends scattered along the whole course. There are so many bridges and riverbanks along the course that you can really hear everyone. It was great. I got back on land and learned that I had successfully defended my title and won my event!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Head of the Charles
Post # 115
Boston, Massachusetts - The best weekend of the whole year is almost here. Head of the Charles is a three-mile race on the Charles River in Boston and it's a weekend filled with reunions and racing. Nearly the entire rowing world in the US convenes there and this year it also has rowers from over twenty countries. More than 100 London Olympians will be competing (myself included) which means it'll be a fantastic weekend to watch live or from afar. This is the live webcast and here are the results.
Below is my own "who to watch" preview. All times are eastern, so subtract 3 hrs for the west coast equivalent.
Saturday:
4:14 pm Men's Championship Singles - bow #1 is Mahe Drysdale, a New Zealander who is the reigning Olympic champion and five-time World Champion in the men's heavyweight single. Talk about some credentials!
4:23 pm Women's Championship Singles - bow #1 is Gevvie Stone, a good friend of mine and a fellow Bostonian. She won this event last year and was the USA's women's single in London. Bow #2 is Mirka Knapkova from the Czech Republic, 2011 World Champion and 2012 Olympic champion in the single. Bow #3 is Kim Crow from Australia, who won two medals in London.
Sunday:
11:55 am Men's Youth Doubles - bow #32 are the boys I coach, representing Oakland Youth Rowing. Cheer for the teal, blue, and yellow blades!
12:12 pm Women's Youth Doubles - Bow #17 is also Oakland Youth Rowing. So excited for these two doubles.
12:44 pm Women's Lightweight Singles - Bow #1 is me! I'll be representing the Wisco Alumni with red blades.
2:55 pm Men's Championship 8s - Tons of fantastic entries in this event. The Champ 8 at the Charles is pretty much the only time that colleges get to race national teams. Bow #2 has five US Olympians in it and bow #3 are the reigning National Champions from the University of Washington. Bow #4 is the "great 8," eight of the world's premier single scullers, all from different countries, who have come together in a superstar 8.
3:08 pm Women's Championship 8s - There's a ton of talent in the women's version of this event too. Bow #5 is the USA gold medal Olympic 8. Bow #6 is the Canadian silver medal Olympic 8. Bow #8 is the women's "great 8," including plenty of London medallists. Bow #9 is a New Zealand/Great Britain mix of some of the best small boat rowers in the world.
4:45 pm Women's Lightweight 8s - Bow #1 are the Wisconsin Lightweights, my college team. Go Badgers.
Good luck to everyone racing!
Boston, Massachusetts - The best weekend of the whole year is almost here. Head of the Charles is a three-mile race on the Charles River in Boston and it's a weekend filled with reunions and racing. Nearly the entire rowing world in the US convenes there and this year it also has rowers from over twenty countries. More than 100 London Olympians will be competing (myself included) which means it'll be a fantastic weekend to watch live or from afar. This is the live webcast and here are the results.
Below is my own "who to watch" preview. All times are eastern, so subtract 3 hrs for the west coast equivalent.
Saturday:
4:14 pm Men's Championship Singles - bow #1 is Mahe Drysdale, a New Zealander who is the reigning Olympic champion and five-time World Champion in the men's heavyweight single. Talk about some credentials!
4:23 pm Women's Championship Singles - bow #1 is Gevvie Stone, a good friend of mine and a fellow Bostonian. She won this event last year and was the USA's women's single in London. Bow #2 is Mirka Knapkova from the Czech Republic, 2011 World Champion and 2012 Olympic champion in the single. Bow #3 is Kim Crow from Australia, who won two medals in London.
Sunday:
11:55 am Men's Youth Doubles - bow #32 are the boys I coach, representing Oakland Youth Rowing. Cheer for the teal, blue, and yellow blades!
12:12 pm Women's Youth Doubles - Bow #17 is also Oakland Youth Rowing. So excited for these two doubles.
12:44 pm Women's Lightweight Singles - Bow #1 is me! I'll be representing the Wisco Alumni with red blades.
2:55 pm Men's Championship 8s - Tons of fantastic entries in this event. The Champ 8 at the Charles is pretty much the only time that colleges get to race national teams. Bow #2 has five US Olympians in it and bow #3 are the reigning National Champions from the University of Washington. Bow #4 is the "great 8," eight of the world's premier single scullers, all from different countries, who have come together in a superstar 8.
3:08 pm Women's Championship 8s - There's a ton of talent in the women's version of this event too. Bow #5 is the USA gold medal Olympic 8. Bow #6 is the Canadian silver medal Olympic 8. Bow #8 is the women's "great 8," including plenty of London medallists. Bow #9 is a New Zealand/Great Britain mix of some of the best small boat rowers in the world.
4:45 pm Women's Lightweight 8s - Bow #1 are the Wisconsin Lightweights, my college team. Go Badgers.
Good luck to everyone racing!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Olympic Day in San Fran
Post # 114
Last week, I was part of a big "Olympic Day" celebration in San Fran. Kids from seven different Boys and Girls Clubs came to hang out with me, Trooper Johnson (a four-time Paralympian in basketball), and Julian Munoz (an '88 and '92 Olympic alpine skier). They learned about three very different sports, saw some medals, asked a bunch of questions, and got our autographs. Trooper, Julian and I loved being a part of it and meeting all the kids. My favorite moment was watching Trooper and Ivan, one of the kids at the club who is in a wheelchair, play basketball together in Trooper's fancy wheelchairs. Ivan had a big smile plastered on his face the whole time.
Thanks BASOC and BGC SF! (photos by Kristin Glickman)
The kids did a great job decorating the whole Boys and Girls Club for the event
Checking out my 2011 World Cup gold medal
Trooper talking to the kids. He challenged a few of them to play basketball with him, too!
Finally, a big shout out to Katya, one of my Girls on the Run from last fall, who is turning 10 tomorrow. Happy birthday!! I got to see Katya and be a guest coach for the team over the weekend, which was a blast. Have a great day, girl.
Yamile, me, and Katya at practice last week
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Oakland Youth Rowing
Post #113
Oakland, California - As part of my ITA community work this fall, I've been coaching the youth programs at Oakland Rowing Association. Oakland Rowing is a club that started last year and is open to kids and adults from around the East Bay. We're growing fast and getting lots of people involved in the sport. In the youth programs, we've got mostly middle school and young high school kids, which is pretty crazy for me to see. I didn't know what rowing was when I was in eighth grade, and it's amazing to see how much some of my eighth graders (or the sixth graders) already know about rowing!
Much to their dismay, I've introduced some of my favorite college workouts to the boys' team over the past few weeks. They've done awesome on them though, and we've already made tons of progress in both fitness and technique. We've got a big intra-team scrimmage this Saturday (boys versus girls, it's on!) and our first race is less than two weeks away in Sacramento.
If you're interested in keeping up with Oakland Rowing, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. And let me know if you want to come join the club and learn how to row!
Oakland, California - As part of my ITA community work this fall, I've been coaching the youth programs at Oakland Rowing Association. Oakland Rowing is a club that started last year and is open to kids and adults from around the East Bay. We're growing fast and getting lots of people involved in the sport. In the youth programs, we've got mostly middle school and young high school kids, which is pretty crazy for me to see. I didn't know what rowing was when I was in eighth grade, and it's amazing to see how much some of my eighth graders (or the sixth graders) already know about rowing!
Much to their dismay, I've introduced some of my favorite college workouts to the boys' team over the past few weeks. They've done awesome on them though, and we've already made tons of progress in both fitness and technique. We've got a big intra-team scrimmage this Saturday (boys versus girls, it's on!) and our first race is less than two weeks away in Sacramento.
If you're interested in keeping up with Oakland Rowing, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. And let me know if you want to come join the club and learn how to row!
The boys in doubles and quads
Our boathouse
The girls in doubles with San Fran in the background
Post-practice sunset at the boathouse
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Post-Olympic Celebrations
Post #112
Over the last month, I've gotten to be part of several events honoring US Olympians. While I was home in Boston, I joined with other New England Olympians at Fenway Park and walked out onto the field before the game. I've been going to Fenway for games since I was a kid, so it was incredible to actually get to go out onto the field and hear the cheers from my hometown crowd. Gymnast Aly Raisman, Judo champ Kayla Harrison, and two women's basketball players threw out the first pitches.
With ITA-er, Olympic mountain biker, and Vermonter Lea Davison at Fenway Park. #12 for the 2012 Olympics.
Singing the national anthem at Fenway. Gymanst Aly Raisman is second from the right and Judo champ Kayla Harrison is third from the right.
Last weekend, I flew out to Washington, DC to join the entire US Olympic and Paralympic team in meeting the President. We landed, went straight to a reception hosted by Olympic sponsors, and woke up the next morning ready for the big event. We were so jet lagged but super excited at the same time. We mingled on the South Lawn of the White House for about two hours before taking our seats and waiting for the President. I sat right behind Michael Phelps. First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama spoke, and their messages made me proud to have represented our country. Afterwards, he told his advisors to change his schedule because he wanted to meet each and every one of us. How awesome is that? I got to shake his hand, Vice President Biden's hand, and got a hug from Michelle. They are incredibly down to earth and kind people. Here's the video from the event and it features one of my rowing teammates, Natalie Dell. Also, see if you can spot me sitting behind Michelle!
Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool on a morning run in DC
Today I joined with other Bay Area Olympians for a recognition at the Oakland Raiders game. We got VIP treatment from start to finish. We started with a tour of the training facility, then got a police-escorted bus to the stadium, watched pre-game practice on the field, saw most of the game from a suite, and went back onto the field during halftime to be recognized. The crowd went crazy when they realized we had represented our country in London. I thought I felt supported before, but to hear an entire stadium full of people screaming in support of your achievements brings it to a whole new level.
With one of my favorite Olympians, swimmer Natalie Coughlin
All of the Bay Area Olympians at the Raiders game
Each of these post-Olympic experiences have blown me away. I've been able to meet and connect with so many amazing athletes: a discus thrower, javelin throwers, sprinters, swimmers, water polo players, mountain bikers, a luger, triathletes, kayakers...the list goes on and on. Everyone has gone through so much to get to the point where they can call themselves an Olympian and it's easy for us to find common ground over the hard work and dedication it took to achieve our dreams.
When Michelle Obama addressed all of us at the White House, she recognized that becoming Olympians happened when no one was watching. It was the early mornings, months or years before the Games, days when we were exhausted but pushing through the training because we believed that someday, it would pay off. That is so true, but also so easy to forget when we're wrapped up in these post-Olympic celebrations. If I think back to all the hours of hard work it took to get here, or, even worse, all the hours it would take to do it all over again, it's completely overwhelming. At some point I think I'll crave the hard work again, but for now, I'm enjoying the celebrations and not thinking about it too much.
When Michelle Obama addressed all of us at the White House, she recognized that becoming Olympians happened when no one was watching. It was the early mornings, months or years before the Games, days when we were exhausted but pushing through the training because we believed that someday, it would pay off. That is so true, but also so easy to forget when we're wrapped up in these post-Olympic celebrations. If I think back to all the hours of hard work it took to get here, or, even worse, all the hours it would take to do it all over again, it's completely overwhelming. At some point I think I'll crave the hard work again, but for now, I'm enjoying the celebrations and not thinking about it too much.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Back to Life
Post # 111
Oakland, California - The rest of the Olympics were a blur. I spent most of the second week hanging out with friends, exploring the Olympic Village, going to see other sports, and touring around London. It was all really amazing but my favorite moment of the second week had to be walking into the Olympic stadium for Closing Ceremonies. Seeing the thousands of spectators, being alongside athletes from all different countries, and knowing the world was watching was just incredible. I remember watching athletes walk into the ceremonies at previous Olympics and thinking that had to be one of the coolest feelings in the world, but having it actually happen to me puts it beyond words. It was unbelievable. I'll remember that moment forever.
It is a difficult task to transition to life after the Games. In the months leading up to the Olympics, I was so wrapped up in the preparations that I wasn't thinking about life afterwards at all. Like most Olympic athletes, once that one gigantic event is over and you come back to real life, you're left wondering what comes next. Some people have called it "Post Olympic Stress Disorder." Though I don't think it's quite that dramatic, it is strange to wonder where you fit in, what you want to do, and how you want to structure your days.
One of my biggest priorities is giving back to the community and working with kids. Now that I've had the experience of competing at the Olympics, I want to inspire others to figure out the goals they want to achieve and then chase after them. I've spoken to a few different groups/teams in the area about my experience so far and plan to do more of that over the next few months. I've also started coaching at Oakland Youth Rowing, a community club on the Oakland Estuary (the same body of water that I've been training on for parts of the past year). I'll mostly be working with the high school boys' team, but in the last week I've also worked with the high school girls and all of the middle school kids. It has been a blast so far and I'm excited to see what these guys are capable of doing this season.
Oakland, California - The rest of the Olympics were a blur. I spent most of the second week hanging out with friends, exploring the Olympic Village, going to see other sports, and touring around London. It was all really amazing but my favorite moment of the second week had to be walking into the Olympic stadium for Closing Ceremonies. Seeing the thousands of spectators, being alongside athletes from all different countries, and knowing the world was watching was just incredible. I remember watching athletes walk into the ceremonies at previous Olympics and thinking that had to be one of the coolest feelings in the world, but having it actually happen to me puts it beyond words. It was unbelievable. I'll remember that moment forever.
The Spice Girls at Closing Ceremonies
It is a difficult task to transition to life after the Games. In the months leading up to the Olympics, I was so wrapped up in the preparations that I wasn't thinking about life afterwards at all. Like most Olympic athletes, once that one gigantic event is over and you come back to real life, you're left wondering what comes next. Some people have called it "Post Olympic Stress Disorder." Though I don't think it's quite that dramatic, it is strange to wonder where you fit in, what you want to do, and how you want to structure your days.
One of my biggest priorities is giving back to the community and working with kids. Now that I've had the experience of competing at the Olympics, I want to inspire others to figure out the goals they want to achieve and then chase after them. I've spoken to a few different groups/teams in the area about my experience so far and plan to do more of that over the next few months. I've also started coaching at Oakland Youth Rowing, a community club on the Oakland Estuary (the same body of water that I've been training on for parts of the past year). I'll mostly be working with the high school boys' team, but in the last week I've also worked with the high school girls and all of the middle school kids. It has been a blast so far and I'm excited to see what these guys are capable of doing this season.
Boys' double
Girls' 8 (on the left) rounds the corner to the dock
Me and some of the middle school girls
Talking to all of the high schoolers about my road to the Olympics
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Go Lea!
Post # 110
London, England - On Saturday, I got to go to Lea Davison's Olympic mountain bike race at Hadleigh Farm. I was sitting in the stands with Sarah Groff, a USA triathlete, 2012 Olympian, and former ITA athlete. It was so much fun, and Lea did an awesome job. She was so happy afterwards. I took tons of photos - here are some of the best.
London, England - On Saturday, I got to go to Lea Davison's Olympic mountain bike race at Hadleigh Farm. I was sitting in the stands with Sarah Groff, a USA triathlete, 2012 Olympian, and former ITA athlete. It was so much fun, and Lea did an awesome job. She was so happy afterwards. I took tons of photos - here are some of the best.
Lea on the red bike, tackling the rocks
All smiles as she approaches the finish line
Me and Sarah Groff
Getting all cleaned up after her race
USA high fives
Also found this good luck message in the USA Proctor & Gamble House in London!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Olympics: final week
Post #109
London, England - It's already been six days since the rowing competition wrapped up. With an 11th place finish overall at the Olympics, the racing didn't end the way we wanted it to. We had shown good speed earlier in the season, but when the final race came, we were unable to keep pace with many of the teams we had earlier on in the year, and even within the regatta. The Olympics are the biggest stage I've ever been on and it's difficult to feel like you didn't have your best performance when it mattered the most. It hit me harder than I thought it would and it'll probably take me a while to process all of this.
For now, I'm trying to enjoy the last few days of the Olympics. My team and I have moved into the main athlete village in London and it is incredible here. There are so many athletes from all over the world - way more countries than we had at the rowing village. My family and a couple friends were able to come in for a few hours and get a quick tour. The dining hall is easily the most impressive sight; feeding 10,500 athletes isn't an easy feat and requires a gigantic space to make it happen. Below are some photos from the last few days.
Lastly, good luck to Lea Davison, an ITA athlete who will be competing in mountain biking in London tomorrow!
London, England - It's already been six days since the rowing competition wrapped up. With an 11th place finish overall at the Olympics, the racing didn't end the way we wanted it to. We had shown good speed earlier in the season, but when the final race came, we were unable to keep pace with many of the teams we had earlier on in the year, and even within the regatta. The Olympics are the biggest stage I've ever been on and it's difficult to feel like you didn't have your best performance when it mattered the most. It hit me harder than I thought it would and it'll probably take me a while to process all of this.
For now, I'm trying to enjoy the last few days of the Olympics. My team and I have moved into the main athlete village in London and it is incredible here. There are so many athletes from all over the world - way more countries than we had at the rowing village. My family and a couple friends were able to come in for a few hours and get a quick tour. The dining hall is easily the most impressive sight; feeding 10,500 athletes isn't an easy feat and requires a gigantic space to make it happen. Below are some photos from the last few days.
Lastly, good luck to Lea Davison, an ITA athlete who will be competing in mountain biking in London tomorrow!
ITA at the London Olympics
Me and my bro
Football Field sized Main Athlete Dining Hall
I got to go to the gold medal beach volleyball game: USA vs. USA!
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