The Torch

I should probably mention that my brothers Peter and Tom have been in town since Wednesday. So for the last few days we have united for the final preparations to NSR 2-- the first opportunity for double selection in the US. The winner gets 2000 dollars per person and the right to go to World Cups of their choice in an effort to qualify(top 4) for the World Championships in August. If the crew fails to get Top 4, the boat class goes back to open Trials. For the most part, this year has been characterized by a good deal of solitude on my part. I have enjoyed training alone but there is no question I have really been isolated. I am really fortunate to have two brothers who are also probably my two best friends. We share everything we know about the sport in an effort to just keep getting better. While this is my first year of training full-time, these guys have been doing it for a while--especially my oldest brother Tom. He graduated from Trinity in 2005 and has been near the top of the elite sculling scene since. His first year out of school he was fourth in the heavyweight single at US Trials turning in a very elite time of 6:59. Peter's first year out of school, he and Tom were second at the Olympic Trials in 2008 by one second. Peter also was third in the heavyweight single that year. So, needless to say, I am just trying to learn from them! In 2009, Peter and Tom were the National Team 2x and few months later beat the Great 8 scullers at the Head of the Charles. I still have no idea how this victory went so far under the radar...this is one of the great American sculling feats of all time in my mind. Sure it was a head race, but sculling is sculling, give me a break! Synek, Mayens, Cop, Anderson, German world champs!!!??? Anyways, since then, Peter and Tom have really struggled to find consistency in their double training. Peter coached at Trinity all last year where his training suffered. Tom was 2nd at the Single Trials, a very respectable result, but they did not find much time for the 2x. This year, they decided to move back to Newport Beach, CA to begin their training for the London Olympics. As I sit here on a beautiful May afternoon a few days before their race, I am comfident in saying that these guys have put in a very substantial body of work together. Together is the key word in that sentence. Uninterrupted and concetrated training with the goal of making the double go as fast as possible. All year it has been really exciting for me to think about them in sunny california logging the miles together...while I am in freckin' OHIO! Ha...only kidding...but seriously, I was pretty jealous. These guys have been incredible examples for me in all aspects of life and I am so fortunate to have them as brothers. This week we have gotten the chance to spend time as a complete family and we definitely needed it. We are a tight unit. Going into a summer where travelling makes family time uncertain, days like these are precious. Having said that, if they win...we will be seeing a lot of each other!!!
As for training...yesterday we did 4 x 500m, the double and I. I started 10 seconds ahead of them on each piece. I did the fastest 500's I have ever done in the single. I have very detailed notes from rowing the U23 Pair in 2009 and I was getting close to the times we were putting up that summer. Hopefully I can continue to bring the times down.I leave Tuesday with the brothers for Princeton. I might not be back in Cincinnati for three or four months.