Rowers and Their TV Shows

Rowing at the elite level is no simple task. Aside from the multiple sessions per day on the water, in the erg room and at the gym, a lot of an athletes’ time is spent recovering. This means that rowers often miss weddings, family celebrations and social events all in the name of training and well, necessary relaxation. So, what do national team rowers do during their off time? They do what most people do when trying to take it easy…binge watch TV shows.

Seeing as entire seasons of every television show imaginable are streamed online, it makes it easy to watch episode after episode. So, why are elite rowers more susceptible to binge watching than the normal population?

1)   We’re tired. Rowing takes a lot of concentration as well as physical energy, so getting horizontal and turning the brain off is just what we need.

2)   We have awkward chunks of time. Sometimes we train once in the morning, once in the afternoon. Sometimes we train twice in the morning and not in the afternoon. A lot of time we do both. Squeezing in an episode or two during the day is perfect.

3)   We go to bed early. Trying to watch the show when it actually airs just ain’t gonna happen. 9 pm is late!

4)   Great shows take our minds off rowing. It’s important to find some balance in our mostly rowing-centered lives. So, why not escape with Homeland or Breaking Bad?

And why could binge watching be a bad thing? Well, there are really only two reasons, let’s be honest.

1)   The combination of Netflix, HBOGo, HuluPlus and Xfinity gets expensive. Plus, on a rowers’ budget, food should probably be the priority. But, the positive is that most of us share our login information anyways.

2)   A great TV show makes us too excited to sleep. I mean seriously, sleep is essential to performance, but man that next episode is calling my name.

Happy watching!

The National Rowing Foundation is a non-profit 501 © 3 organization dedicated to raising funds to support U.S. National Rowing Teams.  Founded in 1966, the NRF has been supporting Olympic atheltes for more than four decades.  The funds rasied support year round training, development, competition and preservation of rowing history through theHall of Fame and Rowing Museum Click here to donate: http://natrowing.org/donate

Jason Read Recollects Ground Zero

This year marked the 12th anniversary of September 11th. While many of us can remember exactly what we were doing when the attacks occurred, very few were at the scene. Jason Read, 2004 Olympic Gold medalist and 13-time recollection of the event:

“Rowing has demonstrated to me the primacy of teamwork, tenacity, sacrifice, and equipped me with the requisite skills to lead under duress while working as a rescue chief after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Working at Ground Zero as a firefighter was a life-changing and penetratingly sad experience.  The level of destruction in Lower Manhattan was cataclysmic.  Despite this, a positive, resilient spirit pervaded in the rubble among countless rescue workers from across the country who worked feverishly as a team to search for survivors in an incredibly risky and toxic environment. When I returned home after working the better part of the first week and began to row again with my pair partner Bryan (Volpenhein) in Princeton, I experienced a fundamental change in my approach to rowing: instead of training to beat people, the focus transitioned to wanting to be the best for our country at the Olympics.  In hindsight this transition is easy to understand based on the totality of events – the greatest loss of civilian life since the Battle of 1812 when the British burned Washington in 1814 – though it surprised me then.

Notably, while at Ground Zero the American flag was a unifying if not steadfast guide post for exhausted rescuers covered in dust.  It was the most significant landmark and served as an important point of orientation while working in a pulverized city environment that all looked the same.

While training and competing at the World Championships, I spent many hours envisioning our team raising the flag in Athens.  The same flag that helped me and my colleagues at Ground Zero.  As we watched the American flag raised in Marathonas, Greece, vivid memories of working at Ground Zero came flooding back.  At that moment a commensurate amount of tears flowed, too.  Thankfully, if not retrospectively awkward, Wyatt (Allen) held my hand the entire time (note: Ed Hewitt pointed out later that we were the only ones holding hands virtually the entire time on the podium!).   

12 years on, I can still vividly recall the acrid smell in the air; the trips to the temporary morgues setup outside the WFC with bodies of innocent men and women who were murdered on that beautiful Tuesday morning; death and destruction were ubiquitous in lower Manhattan; the endless smoldering fires…and dreading making a phone call to then-Olympic Coach Mike Teti, to request (hold your breath), if it would be ok to miss a few practices because I wanted to stay and assist the FDNY for a few more days.  Thankfully, Mike not only granted a usually very difficult (read: impossible) pass, he said, “don’t come home until you find all your [firefighter] brothers.  Stay safe.”

How different our perspectives are as rowers with respect to practice and the fear of missing just a few workouts over the course of a few thousand organized workouts in an Olympic cycle. Time and space have helped heal the seared memories and made me realize as a rower and as a coach that sometimes there are greater events external to the boathouse.  Rowing, and my teammates have undoubtedly helped in that healing process.”

Thank you J.R. for your service and dedication.

Post Olympic Bliss

Now that the Olympics have been over for some time, I thought I might give a quick update on what it’s been like for me since returning home. Just today most of Team USA visited the White House and even shook hands with President Obama, the First Lady and Joe Biden! I’m pretty bummed I wasn’t able to venture out to Washington DC, but several athletes blogged about their experiences, including rowers Susan Francia and Nick LaCava here.

While I can’t speak to my teammates’ experiences, ever since returning home things have been non-stop. I was able to spend three weeks in Colorado, which has been the longest amount of time I’ve been home since high school. What was really great about being home was the fact that I had the chance to catch up with some old friends and even some of my high school teachers. My dad hosted a welcome home party for me the first weekend I got home, complete with framed Olympic pictures and catered food, which was really just so sweet, if not embarrassing. Again, I got to see people I hadn’t seen in years, all of whom have been following my journey and have been huge supporters of me in one way or another.  I spoke at three elementary schools about my experiences and how I picked up the sport of rowing, which to be honest was the most rewarding part of it all. While I wasn’t super excited about going beforehand, it really was such a rewarding experience seeing in person how kids just light up when talking about their role models and favorite athletes. Everybody watched the Olympics and were inspired by it all.  Many students made me handmade cards with their take on what rowing really is. They were too cute, especially their portrayal of Mary. Many of them made her look like a monster yelling at us not to jump out (don’t worry Mary I set them straight!).  I also had the opportunity to attend a school board meeting and even spoke at my high school’s pep rally, it was very strange being back on our football field that’s for sure. The administrators could not have been more welcoming. My last night at home I was invited to the Denver Broncos game along with several other Colorado Olympians. It was SO cool being on the field while the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Broncos warmed up and kicked off. They awarded us with beautiful hand-painted footballs with the rings and our names on them. We also got to enjoy watching the game in a suite together. The highlight of that night was getting to share it with my grandfather, Red Miller, the former head coach of the Denver Broncos. He LOVED being on the field again and was a great source of information on the ins and outs of the game.

From Colorado, I took a red-eye to NYC and attended the WNBA Inspirational Women Luncheon as a representative of the Women’s 8+. That was an especially fun event because not only did I get to meet some of the other female Olympic medalists, but I also met many pro players. These women were amazing and amazingly tall! Plus they all wore heels, which I loved. I felt short for the first time, really ever. The whole event was very well done and made me feel so grateful for my teammates and what we were able to accomplish. I definitely find myself getting nostalgic already and really missing the other women in my boat. From there I flew to San Francisco, where I am now, to attend the OCTanner Executive Summit. I had the opportunity to speak about my journey to the Olympics and more about the sport of rowing. OCTanner donates all the rings that every single Olympian, coach and staff member receive each Olympic Games, so they handed me mine while on stage, it’s incredible, I haven’t taken it off since. I really enjoyed not only being in such a neat environment, but also meeting such likable, optimistic people. Many of them work in HR too, so I tried to pick their brains as much as possible about what they look for in a possible hire. I feel like I need all the job advice I can get!

So, that’s what the last few weeks have been like for me. Looking ahead, Ms. Mary Whipple is soon to be married, which I can’t wait for and then I’m back East for the foreseeable future. There is a Women’s 8+ being put together for the Head of the Charles, which I will be racing in, so I’m looking forward to some good ol’ head racing.

Lots to look forward to and be thankful for. Can’t wait to get back in a boat though!

As always, thank you for your love and support and hope to see many of you soon!

 

The 2012 Olympians at the WNBA Inspirational Women Luncheon in NYC on 9/10

 

My grandfather, Red Miller, his wife Nan and I back home in Colorado

The 2012 Colorado Olympians at the Denver Broncos games versus the Steelers on 9/9.

 

 

One Big Olympic Post

Well, the Olympic Games are over. What an amazing, crazy, overwhelming, unbelievable and fun experience it was. The Women’s 8+ finished on August 2^nd, so we got to spend a good ten days enjoying the Games and London, which proved to be perfect, but definitely exhausting.

First, I will share some of my thoughts on our race before getting to the real dirt! On the morning of the 2^nd, I could tell we were so ready. Not only had it been four days since we’d raced the heat, but our taper was in full effect so we had a lot (too much) energy and emotions were running a little high.  When we pushed off the dock, the Canadian Women’s 8+ was right there waiting for us to launch and I was immediately fired up. We did our normal warm-up and even got to do a start in our lane, which we rarely do before a race. I remember being extremely nervous at one point, but then consciously calming myself down somehow once we pulled into the blocks. And then, before I knew it we were starting. We got out immediately and continued to take seats until we were ahead bow to stern before the 750m. I remember thinking “is this really happening?” I think we all expected to be racing seat for seat, so to be that far ahead that early on, was really exciting and I think it gave us renewed energy coming across the 1000. Although, for me personally I had to dig deep starting at about the 1100m. Usually you hit a point where you have to be super tough, which usually happens around the 1500, a point where you have to decide what you want and ignore all your body’s attempts to stop.  So, feeling that way at the 1100 was not the greatest thing, but somehow I was able to find another gear along with my teammates. Crossing that line first and being completely and utterly dead was a feeling I will never forget. Standing on the awards dock, being awarded the Olympic Gold and listening to our anthem play was indescribable, something that I was so humbled by and happy to share with my teammates and my family. But, I was most proud of the way we raced. We rowed to our potential and we left nothing out there. In Bled in 2011 and in Lucerne earlier this year, I came away from our performances feeling unsatisfied because I felt like we had more and we for some reason didn’t execute like we could have. I’m so beyond happy that we were able to win the gold on our terms in London. We collectively raced to our potential.

After we won, things were crazy. I don’t think I checked my email for a good four days. I also felt so extremely busy, I wasn’t able to sleep in until the last Saturday of the Games. The Friday after our race, we were featured on several different news sources, including the Today Show and E! News with Bruce Jenner. Then we went immediately to the NRF/USRowing reception at the USA House. What was really fun was watching other events. Trying to get a ticket proved to be somewhat difficult, you had to sign up two days in advance for any and all events, however it wasn’t a guarantee and you had to collect your ticket at a certain time before the start of the event. I did get to see Track and Field, Men’s Triathlon and Women’s Boxing amongst others, which was the highlight of being at the Games post-racing. Getting to see the world’s best athletes up close doing what they do best was unreal. On our way to the stadium for the Track and Field events, the day of the 200m final actually, we took the athlete bus and literally sat next to Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, the Jamaicans who placed top three. So, that was pretty cool to see them jammin’ out on their Jamaican Beats headphones and getting pumped up to race.  Having the opportunity to meet other athletes was also really exciting, however I tried to balance my excitement with respecting their privacy and time, because I’m sure many of them were constantly bombarded by people.  I met Sarah Groff, the American triathlete who had the gutsiest race I think I’ve ever seen and ended up placing fourth. I met Serena Williams, she was actually a lot smaller than I pictured, I think I have body dismorphia in that I don’t think of myself as that tall or that big, but let me tell you, I am definitely a lot taller and bigger than most of the female athletes. I was shocked at how small the female sprinters looked and how short the swimmers were!

All in all, my Olympic experience was something I’ll never forget. I had a fabulous time in London, the sheer number of volunteers and security officers made getting around and exploring easy and enjoyable. I am so happy to be home though. All the hype and aftermath of racing was awesome, but tiring. Now I get to spend time with my family and try to figure out what’s next!

As always, thank you to everyone who made my and my teammates’ Olympic dreams possible. The sheer amount of love and support I have felt before, during and after racing makes me emotional to think about. I’m not alone in my journey and that means more than anything, even a gold medal.

Thanks again and Go USA!

Note our special guest, Marcia Hooper

Kalmoe, Francia, Ritzel and Martelli

Our stretching tent, Team USA got four tents to use while competing in Eton

Note the awkward mascot, Wenlock, trying to give Bolt that weird little gold stuffed Wenlock.

Yalies all ready for the Closing Ceremonies!

One of my favorite images from the medals dock

And Finally, the Finals

Today marks the start of the finals, when Olympic medals are won and lost. It’s amazing to think that this is it. You spend so much time training, traveling, preparing to race, racing in the heats or semis and thinking about what the final will be like. And then, before you know it, it’s time to line up against the best in the world. Not only is the final the most fun to race in, but it’s also the best to watch. So far there have been some really courageous and entertaining races, like the American W2X yesterday in the reps, wow! Today will surely be a good show. We have American boats in every A Final today, the Women’s Pair of Sarah Zelenka and Sara Hendershot, the Women’s Quad and the Men’s Eight. Our final, the Women’s 8+, isn’t until tomorrow afternoon, so for now more waiting and cheering on Team USA!

Whatever the outcome may be, it has been such an incredible experience so far. The sheer level of competition and professionalism shown in every event is something unique and a true first for me, a whole class above any World Championship. So, as our boat and others prepare for the last race of the Games, instead of feeling the weight of our own and others’ expectations, we plan to do what we’ve been waiting for, to simply race hard. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported any athlete at any point along the way. I was talking with my teammate Erin Cafaro the other day, and while this journey can be considered selfish and at times very lonely, it is our support groups that help us get through difficulties and achieve our best when it counts. It definitely is a group effort through and through.

Here we go! Go USA!

Let The Games Begin

I can’t believe it all starts today. I remember when the year marker was a big deal, and then the 100-day mark and then the month mark. Wow, it really does go by fast!

Although most of Team USA has been here for about a week and a half, I still feel like we just got here. Things have definitely picked up since last I wrote. There are foreign athletes everywhere. The dining halls, especially in the morning, are crazy. There is literally no food left and the poor dining hall staff have to restock as quickly as possible for the inevitable late morning influx. The bus lines are also so busy that each time of departure needs at least two buses.  The LOCOG workers and volunteers are just awesome. They couldn’t be friendlier and are really on top of their game, even the guards say hello. The course has been packed as well, we had to wait awhile to do practice starts yesterday, but we got to race the Great Britain Men’s Quad and the Canadian Men’s Eight off the line, so we weren’t complaining. While there were quite a few things under construction at Eton Dorney Lake when we first arrived, you can’t tell now. The place is ready to rock and roll.

Due to the fact that racing begins tomorrow, no rowers will be walking in the Opening Ceremonies. This is common for those athletes who compete in the first week. Since we don’t have the opportunity to show off our official Opening Ceremonies outfit by Ralph Lauren, I think a bunch of us are planning to dress up tonight at dinner and while we watch the Ceremonies from our rooms. It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement surrounding such an incredible event, the palpable energy around everywhere you go and the many articles constantly popping up online. It makes sitting in your room difficult that’s for sure. However, there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than getting ready to race. We are given very few chances to race internationally in our sport, so any opportunity whether it is at the Royal Henley or the Olympic Games, is a chance to see what you and your teammates are capable of.

Here are a few links to some great insights from some of my teammates:

 Jamie Redman’s Olympic Birthday

Megan Kalmoe’s Introduces the Women’s 4X

Esther Lofgren’s Rowing on Eton Dorney

The Lightweight Men’s Four Website and Blog

Row2k’s Collection of Olympic Blogs

Here are the links to all rowing related information:

Row2k’s Tips on How to Watch Olympic Rowing Live 

Startlists for Heats

Row2k’s Quick Link to Results

Thank you for your support of the NRF and here’s to fast American boats!!

 

Our annual college uni day photo:

 

Stretching and relaxing inside our USA tent:

 

Susan Francia and I holding one of the Olympic torches:

 

Thank You NRF!

One Week From The Opening Ceremonies!

Not much has changed since I last posted. The rowing village and the course are still pretty empty, so not much new to report on. However, we did see Matthew Pinsent this morning and he shared with us that the huge towers on either side of the course are going to be connected by a SEVEN TON wire. Apparently the wire will be used for a camera(s) to track the entirety of each race. I’m no engineer so I’m curious as to how two towers (which already look a bit unsteady, especially if the wind is to really pick up) about 2500 meters apart can hold so much weight plus cameras? There’s got to be a lot of support on either side I guess! And how do they get the wire up there? I’m really interested to see how that works, and I sure hope it does work because a seven-ton wire falling on top of rowers doesn’t sound pleasant. 

The men’s 8+ and women’s 1x arrive today, so we’re almost all here (with the exception of the men’s 4x and men’s 4-). There are tents set up at the course for every country next to the boathouse and I ventured out there yesterday to see what they were like. They are actually really cool, they have carpet-covered wood floors, glass doors and cots for us to sleep in. They also included mats and USRowing brought along some watt bikes. Since no one is really around, it is a nice quiet place to relax in between rows. Another awesome perk is all the free Coca-Cola products. They have Diet Coke, Coke, Coke Zero (my favorite), Sprite Zero and Powerade everywhere you go. I usually try not to drink much soda, especially before racing, but it’s hard to resist when it’s everywhere! 

Just one week to go! As always, thank you very much for your support of the NRF. Every dollar helps!

All Settled In: Olympic Rowing Village

Today marked our first full day here and things are…empty. We were one of the first teams to arrive, both from the US and in the Rowing Village. Our flight from Newark was short and simple thankfully and the welcoming committee at London-Heathrow Airport was very friendly even at 6:20 am. After being accredited and given passes that we literally have to wear around with us at all times (we even rowed with them in our boat today), we gathered our bags and made our way to the Olympic Rowing and Canoe Sprint Village at the Royal Holloway, University of London. The accommodations are awesome, perfect actually. We each get our own rooms complete with lots of built in storage (great for those of us who tend to way over pack…), a double bed and our own bathrooms. As if arriving here weren’t exciting enough, we then traveled back to London to go through processing.  Even though we were all jet lagged and overtired, there is always energy for new gear! In the span of a couple of hours we were fitted for our Ralph Lauren Opening and Closing Ceremony outfits, given loads (and I mean a ton) of gear from Nike and Ralph Lauren, and supplied with a new pair of sunglasses from Oakley, a watch from Hamilton and a whole bag of P & G products. Thankfully we got to ship a big box home otherwise I would seriously have to travel home with four carry ons. All in all, yesterday was a great welcome to London and made me feel very fortunate to be an American Olympian.

While waking up this morning wasn’t as easy as it usually is, I didn’t feel as bad as I thought I would after such a big day. We ate breakfast in the Village and then made our way to the course, which took a lot less time than we had expected. Eton Dorney Lake really is incredible. The venue is beautiful; there are Olympic rings, signs and mascots everywhere. The boathouse is the nicest boathouse I’ve ever rowed out of that’s for sure. We decided to stay at the course in between rows because of the distance back to the Olympic Rowing Village, so we ate lunch there and rested in the Athlete Lounge. While I really like the energy around a big regatta with all the other foreign athletes around, it was very peaceful to be one of the only teams there. We had the run of the place, so we made ourselves comfortable. The two things I took away from the course were that it’s chilly out there and that there will be wind, most likely a crosswind. Nothing we haven’t seen before, but it’s good to accept it and learn to ignore it. So far, there’s really nothing to complain about. It feels like we have a ton of time before racing, but I know it will go by quickly! I’m off to bed now, but look for more updates soon! I’m so grateful and excited to be here, Team USA wouldn’t be here without your support of the NRF, thank you!

Here are some links to my teammates recent thoughts on all things London 2012:

 Esther Lofgren’s blog

Megan Kalmoe’s blog

Jamie Redman’s photos

Here are some of my photos:

Goodbye Princeton! On our way to Newark International Airport.

 

London Bound

Since the remainder of the team was officially selected on June 22nd, we have been bombarded with media requests, guests at practice and team functions. So, needless to say things have been quite busy. What’s really great about the team finally being announced, aside from the big increase in attention to our sport (which is always a positive), is the sheer amount of love and support coming out of the woodwork. Rowing on the national team can be very lonely at times; you’re constantly tired, have to pass on a lot of socializing, and have to be selfish with your time, energy and emotions. For me, it was really incredible to receive so much positive attention. It made me realize that there are a lot of people who have been a part of my journey thus far and that I am very lucky.  It is easy to forget how you got to where you are and the many people who were a part of it.

As one of three first-time Olympians in our boat, I have no idea what to expect when we get there. Of course I am excited to have this opportunity and to get to race at an event like the Olympic Games, something I have dreamed of since the age of 5. But, I don’t think reality has really sunk in. Not much has changed since the initial hype ended, we are still training in Princeton and my daily routine is the same. We leave in just over one week, and while I’m not training, recovering or packing, I plan to try to enjoy every minute of these last several days before and during racing. Many of the women who have been in my position just four, eight or twelve years ago, have reached out to me and urged me to really be present. They all seem to say the same thing, that it all ends before you know it. So, even though I don’t truly feel like an Olympian just yet and there is no question that we have a job to do first and foremost when in London, this is a hugely important event in my life and always will be.

Finally, I want to make sure I recognize the many women who didn’t end up making the Olympic Team or who didn’t end selection with the result they had hoped for. I have the upmost respect for everyone, and I mean each and every person, who had the courage and fortitude to try their best no matter what the outcome turned out to be. The group at the US Training Center is an extremely competitive one and produces tough, strong and fast women as a result. There are a lot of very talented athletes who didn’t make the team, but are every bit a part of it as the people who did.

So, thank you for your love and support and we all hope to make you proud in London! Look for more updates, blog entries, videos and photos in the weeks ahead.

Go USA!

Here are some links about  and from the team:

Official Olympic Rowing roster

Megan Kalmoe’s latest blog post on the Road To London

Jamie Redman’s latest blog post on missing out on the pair, but being named a spare

Esther Lofgren’s latest blog post on making the team

Sara Hendershot’s latest blog post on her journey towards London

 

Thoughts on Lucerne 2012

We’re finally home! The trip back wasn’t bad at all, we luckily escaped any real delays or malfunctions, but I always hate traveling home because I am so beyond ready to just be back. Now that we’re all home, we are trying to adjust as quickly as possible and get back to it.

The women’s team arrived in Lucerne on Sunday, May 20 just as the Olympic Qualification Regatta got underway. There was definitely an energy around the course and at the hotel from the get go. Because racing occurred so late in the day, apparently due to the fact that the volunteers (young kids) weren’t out of school until later, we trained when we could, usually all before 4:00 pm. The little volunteers were so cute, there were several who checked our bags and put up with us coming and going up to three times a session just to grab something last minute. A lot of them wore USA rowing pins too, so that was always fun to talk about. Everyone competing for the US was staying at the same hotel too (with the exception of the LW2X and the M1X), so it was nice to get a chance to see everyone again and hear how training and racing were going firsthand. 

Tuesday proved to be an exciting day, those of us not racing were glued to our computers watching the small flags inch across the screen on the World Rowing’s live feed. The W2X, LM4- and M8+ all qualified and won their respective races, so needless to say the atmosphere was electrifying and made me all the more excited to solidify our end of things. Wednesday’s finals were a bit tougher for our team, with only Gevvie Stone qualifying the W1X. It just goes to show that there really are no guarantees in this sport and that sometimes really incredible athletes don’t  even get the chance to compete at the Olympics. Once everyone who was competing at the Qualifier left, things got quieter and were back to our normal group, with the exception of Gevvie filling in one of our quads. 

Once racing started, things went by quickly. Most of pre-race time is spent holed up in the hotel, waiting around for what seems like an eternity. I always feel so much better physically and mentally once we get to race a full 2k down the course. Plus, once race day comes, the entire event becomes much more real.

The weekend posted some good results and some that we can still look to improve on. Most, if not all, other teams have already selected their Olympic teams, whereas there are still some important decisions to be made on our end. I know at least for me, I am eager to get back to work and see what is in store for the team. We’re so close! 

Until next time!