The Journey Begins...

As many of you know, I have been rowing for approximately 4 years now.  What some may not know is the profound effect that it has had on my life.  Rowing is such a huge part of my life that it has affected my decisions for these past 4 years. Even though some may say that some of those decisions where not the best I would not change them for anything. 

Something else people may not know is that I have decided to train for the Olympics.  Some may not believe that this once 230lb. band geek from high school would ever be able to make the Olympics, but it is true.  I have been working hard in the past 4 years to transform my body for the better.  

Now, realizing that training for the most competitive games in the modern world does not happen over night I have begun to train the best way I know how on my own.  This can get me only so far.  I have found out that I preform best when competing.  And although I would not trade my time with the Ohio Crew team for anything, I have suffered from the "big fish little pond" syndrome.  That is why this coming summer I am moving  to Philadelphia  to train with the Pennsylvania Athletic Club (Penn AC) in their Senior/elite program.    This blog is going to chronicle my summer and future training cycles to try and make my Olympic dream a reality. I will try and get as many updates as possible with pictures and results as I can.   

I had the opportunity to visit my future boathouse this past weekend and now am excited and know that this club is where I belong. I got to sit in the trophy room and as I sat looking at all the trophies and banners of past Olympians and world champions that came from this club. I couldn't help but feel awe at those that came before me.  I sat there and listened to my new coach (Warren Holland) explain the type of training and the expectations of the summer program.  They were simple, " At Penn AC you will learn to be a champion."  His expectations were even simpler, "Gold in everything, every event we enter we take Gold."  This expectation was also echoed as a warning/ultimatum, "If you don't come here with that mind set then it might not be the place for you."  How is this going to be accomplished?  The practice schedule is as follows: MWF 6AM and 6PM practice and TTh 6PM practice with another practice on Sat at 6PM if it is a non-racing weekend.  Doing the math, that is at least 9 practices a week of hard rowing for at least 2 hours.  The events that are on the schedule are The US National Regatta (NJ, June 25-27), The Philadelphia Independence Regatta (PA, July 3-5), The US Club National Regatta (TN, July 15-19), and the Royal Canadian Henley (Ontario, Aug 4-9).  At each of the events there is the possibility to race up to 6 times. For those that know this is no small feat. Every race is done in such a way that you are completely drained after just one 2000 meter race let alone racing for what could be a 12K or a little over 7 miles.  After the summer, there is also the possibility to stay on with the club to train year round with their elite program.  

Needless to say my time is going to be full this summer. I have found my place to stay, subletting an apartment that is about 5min from the boathouse. I am still working on a Job. I have been told that there is a possibility of day labor and under the table gigs through the program, but it is not guaranteed, and until the day that I make the national team I bear the weight of my training both monetarily and physically.  So even at the risk of sounding mercenary, any support that you would like to throw my way is appreciated: words of encouragement and well wishes for those days that are inevitably going to be rough, grocery money, care packages - it's all deadly.  

I appreciate all of you that have been with me up to this point and want you all to know that you all have meant so much to me.  

So the gauntlet has been thrown, and Rule #76 applies: "No Excuses, Row like a Champion."