Finally here

After months of training, millions of meters, cold weather, hot weather, erg workouts, weight workouts, steady state workouts, hard workouts, technique row, we are finally here. A year ago, I recall thinking that I would never have the chance to visit, let alone race at the prestigious regatta, but here we are: The Henley Royal Regatta. When the draw was released this past Saturday, I was extremely pleased to see that the Stewards seeded us as #2 for the event. We are slated to race the Upper Thames Rowing Club at 9:20 EST on the Bucks side of the course (Buckinghamshire, the other side being Berks, or Berkshire). Tomorrow's forecast at racetime on the Thames calls for cold, rain, and quite a bit of breeze. 

A great deal has gone into all of this; it is absolutely staggering to really think about all the man hours that have been committed by the five of us. Even as we got here there was more to do. In short order we started accomplishing tasks just as we always have done for the past several months. We found our boat we rented from Hudson; this boat alone is a marvel to behold. It is a brand new boat fresh off the line. I for one do not believe I have ever rowed a boat this new before. We have dubbed and christened the boat “Natty Goh”, combining a Baltimore classic, Natty Boh, with our fervent hope for the boat - that is that it goes like a bat out of hell. By all eyes and all minds that is precisely what it is doing as well. Not to sound as if hubris has taken control, but we are fast, we are rowing well, and perhaps most importantly we are having fun.

The guys are relaxed, feeling well, and eager to get on the course tomorrow. I kept thinking of a quote as I took another Advil, or put some Epson salts into the bath to try to relieve some of the ache as I slowly get older. “The pain that you hold is yours. There is not a single pain quite like it. Nobody else on God’s green earth can feel this pain, or have the indescribable feeling of pride you will have when you overcome it. This pain is not your curse this pain is your privilege.” One stroke at a time, long, strong, and fast.