From: Genevra Stone
Date: April 17, 2015
Subject: The Row to Rio

Dear Friends

I’ve been quiet as of late as there have been no races or international adventures to report. I’m in my training routine in Boston and having fun as I try to gain as much speed as possible in the single. The 2015 season starts next week for many of the US rowing team hopefuls, who will be racing at National Selection Regatta 1 in pairs and doubles. There was a change in scheduling, and this year, the singles wait until May.

Before the start of the season, I wanted to fulfill a promise I made to two friends (who don’t know each other but have each made the same request on a number of occasions) to send out a flow chart diagramming my path to the Olympics. I had fun with my sharpies, and you will find the flow chart attached! Not all the details for next year are filled in yet as some have not been determined by USRowing, but the 2015 is all there. Thank you Elvie and Hesko for being persistent! My hope is that this chart will make the process more clear for everyone. It’s not a simple system.

And now a quick update on the training since leaving Ireland at the end of January…

February, I was in Boston where the Charles River was frozen solid. I got in some solid erg workouts, keeping it fun by joining the Radcliffe crew much of the time. Thank you Liz and Cory for including me! One highlight of that experience was when a freshman asked if I went to school at Harvard. Despite being a proud tiger, I took it as a compliment–proud that I might (?!) still look as young as an undergrad. Another highlight was when I vomited over my erg after a hard workout–fortunately missing the girls on either side of me. My 6k erg tests didn’t fit in with the Radcliffe schedule, so I bribed “Team Gevvie” with baked goods, convincing them to erg test with me. They were amazing teammates and two of them even tested two Saturdays in a row with me after I blew up on the first test. Thank you Jim and Jay! In February, I also pushed hard in the BU weight room with my fabulous strength coach, Glenn, and got in some km’s on cross-country skis (skate and classic), including a few trips to Great Brook with Coach Stone.

In March, I travelled west to the Bay Area to get out on the water. I rowed out of California Rowing Club in Oakland and lived with a friend from the Under-23 team. In a serendipitous coincidence, her roommate wanted to erg with Riverside Boat Club (Cambridge) in March, so we swapped places! I got lots of long rows in and was lucky enough to spot the local seal (Snuffy) almost every day. One afternoon, he swam right behind me in my wake. I even slowed down, rowing half slide (half the leg bend) so that he could keep up for longer. He’s a cutie!

Assuming in November (when I booked my tickets) that the Charles would be thawed by the end of March, I returned home to ice. Fortunately, by the time I arrived, it was only half a river of ice, and Cambridge Boat Club made an exception to the rules, allowing me to row my single.

One week in Boston then I was off to DC to try out a double with Esther Lofgren, a former Under 23 teammate of mine and Olympic gold medalist in the eight in 2012. We’ve had many successful races together before, and the thought was that it may be easier (though still not at all easy) to get on the podium in the double than the single. The double had some speed; however, Esther realized that she does not want to return to full-time rowing (she is happy with her “real” job and spending time with her fiance), and full-time rowing is necessary to be successful on the international level. I admire Esther for realizing that and am very glad that she was honest with me. It was a good week–mixing it up in terms of training–plus, I got to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom–beautiful–and got to visitwith a few friends (and two new babies!). A thank-you to the Pinkards for being fabulous hosts despite very last minute notice from me.

That brings us to this week…back to fun times in the 1x. Grinding hard, putting the miles in, and gaining speed!

Thank you for all the support! I hope you all are having a chance to enjoy the spring wherever you are!
Best
Gevvie

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