What a week we have had!  I am now back in the States after a long week abroad as I traveled with the top US women’s crews to race in the first World Cup stop of the 2006 season in Munich, Germany. 

 

I had a little shake up with my back problems flaring up a week before the big trip, but with help from our physical therapist, massage therapist, and of course, some rest and ice – Cooke and I raced in the third National Selection Regatta.  We pulled off a close win and were then off to the airport!

 

We arrived in Munich on Monday, had a few days to rig, get into our groove, and then started racing.  The course was absolutely beautiful with the sea green water, purple flowers blooming on the shore, and tumbling spring clouds barreling through over head.  Of course, we had a fun tail wind most of the week, but that just made things more interesting. 

 

We did our first race Thursday morning heats: a win! 

 

Second race was the quarterfinals Thursday evening: 3^rd in a close race where we led to the 1500 meter mark…

 

Third race was the semifinal Friday:  our best race of the week where we hit our rhythm and led from the start to win!

 

And finally, the Final: a solid performance where we hung with the pack for most of the race to finish 5^th.  We showed we can be with those top 6 boats, but also learned we have more work to do…

 

So, after a day touring the beautiful city of Munich, we headed back to Philly and home to Princeton where we are once again getting faster, stronger, and of course more beautiful with every stroke.  Well, I guess that is an exaggeration.  We are already as pretty as can be. 

 

Yesterday, it may not have seemed like much to many people watching from shore, to many watching from anywhere really.  At 7:10 am the women’s pair race began.  It was a magnificent Sunday morning.  There was steam rising up from the warm water of the lake to the cool morning air.  There was no wind.  There was no one. 

 

The simple start line held only the starters, a referee launch, the stake boat holders, and two boats.  In lane three, to my starboard, was Anna Goodale at stroke and Lindsay Shoop in bow.  They are my teammates and friends and we have been rowing against each other since February.  This day, this quiet day, was not quiet for us.  We were both preparing to take our minds and bodies beyond our known limits.  It was going to be a great race and we knew it could be a tight one.  Not just a training race, but THE race.  Whoever put it together today was going to be THE pair.  The four of us knew what we were racing for.

 

We had already become the fastest two pairs at the Princeton Training Center, which I find as a great accomplishment in itself.  No other clubs put up a pair to compete, but it would not have mattered as I think these two boats would have beat a field of 6 to 16.    In the past, the women’s eight is the priority boat and because it is a camp boat (meaning selected by the coach from a team of women) the eight is then selected on a date in August by the coach based on performance all spring and summer.  The pair is now one of the priority boats and I really really wanted to be the pair.  There are a few ways to make the pair, but the first way: win this National Selection Regatta and beat the time standard of 7:24 and boom.  Batta boom batta bang, congrats- you’re on the team, you are the pair.

 

I was in lane four.  With a start in our lane, we backed into the dock.  I gave a quick look back to Cooke in bow and gave her the nod, the smile, and said, “let’s do this.”  The starting commands were fast and just as we were locked on and looking at the starter, “Attention” and the flag went down- we’re off!  Before the starter got out the “go” we were on. 

 

The first five strokes, pry the boat up to speed.  The next twenty, flying high.  Keep it clean.  We’re going straight.  Even.  Lengthen to base pace.  On.  We’re at 300 meters down.  Anna and Shoop are having a good race.  I knew they would.  It is going to be all 2000 meters.  They are up by a half a length.  500 meters.  We need more length.  We got it.  We’re hauling now.  Oh yeah.  We’re moving.  Even.  That’s it.  Sit up.  Legs.  Weight on seat.  Press.  Thousand down.  Up by a length.  Yeah, met your goal.  Next step, open it up.  Keep the rate on.  On.  Here comes the 500.  Good.  No worries.  Play it smart.  I can’t feel my hands.  They are cold.  Hang on.  Rhythm.  Give Cooke the best to follow.  On.  Here comes the 250.  Hold it.  They are coming.  Not much.  We got it.  We’re doing it.  Oh yeah.  Up.  All legs.  One last time.  Up.  Where’s the line?  Where’s the line! 

 

The finish line beep.  Oh my God.  7:17.  Time Standard.  Thank you, Jesus.  No way.  We did it!

 

It is May 1^st and I am on the team with a fantastic pair partner.  I am now in the next phase of training and will be off to the World Cups in Munich and Lucerne to prep for our grand final in Eton, England.  I look forward to this adventure and hope you will join me for the ride.  I don’t quite know what to do with myself, other than take a few days off to go see friends in New York City to celebrate!  Thank you all for your support, for helping me dream and helping me reach my dreams. 

 

Anna