News-Record.com

Wednesday, Aug. 13

A couple of days ago we had the heats, which we won. It was really important for us to win the heats because the 5 seat of our boat, http://www.mickelsoncrew.com, is doubling up in the pair. Our victory in the heat means that our boat goes straight to the finals, and that means less total races for Anna. This means more power for the final.

Our heat was interesting. We were supposed to race last Sunday but ended up racing on Monday due to bad weather. On Sunday we were totally ready and had a great warm-up. As Mary Whipple, our coxswain (the woman who steers the boat and calls out our race plan), was pulling us into the starting area, we were told to paddle it back to the docks because there was a storm coming in. We weren’t surprised because it looked extremely ominous when we shoved from the boathouse docks for our warm-up, but still we were disappointed. I called out to the official who told us about the race, “Lets race home to the docks! It’s the quickest way to get there.” He ignored me, but it was true - the whole boat was ready to race home. Had there only been one heat, it would have been the best decision. However, there were two heats, and for fairness they needed to be run on the same day, and it was unclear whether the weather would hold out long enough for two races. As it turns out, the officials made the right decision; it started to rain heavily as we rowed through the final 500 meters of the course. For pictures of the dark sky and our bewildered looks at the start, check the "Sunday Heats" gallery at www.row2k.com.

On Monday, we went out and did our race warm-up again and geared up. I thought the butterflies wouldn't be as bad this time at the starting blocks since we were just up here yesterday. But they may have been worse, or at least they seemed worse. It has been awhile since I have had that many butterflies before a race, but I think the starting line of your first race ever at the Olympics will do that to you!

The race itself was excellent. We executed our plan, listened to what Tom (our head coach) has taught us over the past four years and focused in on Mary Whipple’s voice as she guided us down the course. My focus again was on Caryn’s back, and I did my best to back up the rhythm she was laying down. The pain was excruciating, and honestly I went deep past the hurt locker and into the pain cave. I wanted to give it everything I had - the same as I want to do in the final - so that I have no regrets. Go big or go home! We won and achieved the first stepping stone to our goal.

I am already getting mentally prepared for the barn burner on Sunday (that is what my college coach, Lori Dauphiny, always calls really tough races). I am getting prepared physically and mentally to race and race the toughest most proficient race of my life on Sunday, while also remembering that I have done it all before. I don’t want this race to get too big because it is just another race and we know how to race!