I’m back.  Living in my hometown away from my hometown, Princeton.  One of my best friends, Charity Bonfiglio, flew out to San Diego to make the drive back East with me.  She is a friend beyond all friends as I could not have made the trip in a quick three and a half days without her.  She also arranged out housing all along the way!  The Draper family in Albuquerque, Charity’s sister in St. Louis, and fellow AIA staff in Xenia, Ohio.  I now feel confident I can represent all of the USA as I race this summer.

 

I’m also back in business.  It is now spring racing season and Cooke and I are still floating out in our pair.  We have been successful in our first race together when we won the US National Selection Regatta #1.  This weekend though, this is the big one.  It is not much different, US National Selection Regatta #2, there are the same two boats racing, and it is again at Mercer Lake.  The big difference is that this race will potentially select the pair for this year’s World Championships.  If the winner goes under the time standard of 7:24 (totally capable in good conditions), then they can choose to accept their place on the team as the women’s pair.  This is my hope. 

 

Cooke and I are feeling good because we increase our speed and comfort in the boat daily and will be ready to race at 7:10 am Sunday morning.  Our teammates and competitors, Anna Goodale and Lindsay Shoop, are also ready to go.  We have been doing race pieces together the past few weeks and this is going to be a great race.  So, it won’t be a large field of competitors, but our two boats are guaranteed to go fast! 

 

I’ll keep you posted- thanks for all your support as always!