The LTA4+ spent last week at a training camp in Indianpolis, IN. The team spent the week getting to know eachother while training 2x a day at the Indianapolis Rowing Center. Bernadette M. Teeley voluntarily coached the team while their fellow adaptive teammates were at a qualifying regatta on the east coast.
I found the training camp to be mentally challenging. It is always a difficult to take 4 different styles of rowing and stick them in a boat together. Being the coordinator of travel and housing arrangments I think I managed to get to the aiport one time every day last week. The boys stayed in my neighborhood. The 30 minute drive to the boathouse was always interesting. Everthing from relationship radio talk to super mash brothers and country singing. We really bonded as a boat last week. It is a great set-up for the next training camp in Oklahoma City.
2009 Selection Camp Athletes
From left to right: Emma, Will, Michael, Chris, Eric, Tim, Michael S., Natalie, Andrew, Jen
Larchwood Street
Introducing my home away from home. A former national adaptive team member, Jen, kindly opened her home to me for 2 1/2 weeks as I trained in Philadelphia. She lives in University City, PA just a few blocks from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel Univ. I rode a borrowed bike to a from practice each day right through the center of campus. It is a gorgeous antique style neighborhood. I was sure to grab a fruit salad from the infamous street cart vender's at least once while I was in town. Jen also happens to be a vegetarian. We shared similar cooking interests and favorite foods. I love meeting new people because you just never know when you'll kindle a new friendship.
23 days away
The race is 23 days away. We leave for Colorado Springs in 12 days. Whew I almost stopped breathing as I read those statements.
As I watch the games on TV I get more excited about seeing it all in person and equally nervous about competing in front of large crowds and different countries. It just give me goosebumps. It is a good thing we are going into the games with a very positive outlook because we have had very successful races against the Canadian team. I find it ironic that when I meet a new person and tell them about my adventures to China their initial comment is "Oh are you excited?" Well duh...of course I am excited. Traveling in itself is exciting but the truth is that the fact that I will be half way around the world is the most insignificant part about this whole thing. I am more nervous about my competition. I know the physical challenge will be incredibly tough. We were 5th place in the World Championships last year. This summer we beat the bronze medalists twice already, which means we are definitely in contention for a medal. It will not be an easy feat. The first 13 days we are there I will be doing nothing but rowing, eating, resting and sleeping. Don't worry everyone, I am excited but it is purely business on my end of things.
As I watch the games on TV I get more excited about seeing it all in person and equally nervous about competing in front of large crowds and different countries. It just give me goosebumps. It is a good thing we are going into the games with a very positive outlook because we have had very successful races against the Canadian team. I find it ironic that when I meet a new person and tell them about my adventures to China their initial comment is "Oh are you excited?" Well duh...of course I am excited. Traveling in itself is exciting but the truth is that the fact that I will be half way around the world is the most insignificant part about this whole thing. I am more nervous about my competition. I know the physical challenge will be incredibly tough. We were 5th place in the World Championships last year. This summer we beat the bronze medalists twice already, which means we are definitely in contention for a medal. It will not be an easy feat. The first 13 days we are there I will be doing nothing but rowing, eating, resting and sleeping. Don't worry everyone, I am excited but it is purely business on my end of things.
Way enough, the bridge, ops
I am bowing the pair and having a very tough time with steering the silly boat. We go zig-zag down the Schuylkill River. With the incredible amount of boat traffic it can be dangerous to get off course not to mention the 4 bridges you have to wind your way through. I am slowly getting the hang of it. My coach actually had to take the rudder off the boat so that steering was easier. We have only hit the bridge once though. Poor Tracy, she has to trust that I won't run us into the bridges. Whoops.
I am also learning how to manage my strength. The word steady state just simply doesn't exist in my mind. I am just naturally an intense person. If you know me well then you already know this about me. When you are doing a high volume of training then you have to learn how to control your heart rate and strength so that your energy lasts through all of your workouts. I bet my Uncle Mike who is training for the Wisconsin Iron Man has this aspect of training fine-tuned. I mean let's be honest anyone who swims 2 miles, bikes 112 miles, and runs 26 miles all in one day must know the science behind pacing.
WAY TO GO UNCLE MIKE! GOOD LUCK TRAINING
I am also learning how to manage my strength. The word steady state just simply doesn't exist in my mind. I am just naturally an intense person. If you know me well then you already know this about me. When you are doing a high volume of training then you have to learn how to control your heart rate and strength so that your energy lasts through all of your workouts. I bet my Uncle Mike who is training for the Wisconsin Iron Man has this aspect of training fine-tuned. I mean let's be honest anyone who swims 2 miles, bikes 112 miles, and runs 26 miles all in one day must know the science behind pacing.
WAY TO GO UNCLE MIKE! GOOD LUCK TRAINING
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