2nd in B Final

We had our best row today in the B Final. Aggressive from the start, sticking to our rhythm and race plan, start 5, 250m high, 250m intermediate shift, then to base, and swinging into the race at 750m in, from the middle of the pack to pushing the pace. Denmark fell back. Multiple medalists, incredible ergs, and off the pace. Japan seemed gone in the lane to our left but we could hear them. All focus on us, Sam pushing the rate and the swing, me backing him up, calling for more, Bob applying his power right in time and saying we can get them, Shane steering us right down the lane and calling it up with 1100m to go, 800m to go, 600m to go, 250m to go, then pure desire with 150m to go, everyone just connecting and going bananas, together.

Japan won, we held off (or moved through? No idea) Hungary for second place. A great race.

On our cooldown we exchanged words, good jobs and nice racing to some of the other boats in our final. Realized that these may be the final strokes the four of us take together. Maybe not, but probably.

Craig and Ed met us on the dock, we took some photos, and smiles shared. Craig has been 100% of this effort from the start, getting the best out of all of us and going above and beyond time and time again to set us up for top performance. Thank you so much coach for investing in us.

It's been really nice to get away from rowing (for a few hours) and walk around old Plovdiv with my wonderful parents, have a glass of wine, sit and watch the sunlight through the leaves by a roman amphitheater. Thank you mom and dad for being here for this.

Hats off to Poland for winning the A Final, very impressive rhythm to move through Greece in the closing stages of their race.

We have learned a lot here. About ourselves, the level of competition, what we can improve for next year and the coming quadrennial. But for now it's a brief moment of down time, no big plans, a breath of clean air after a pure effort. Whew.

Thank you to all our supporters back in the US of A. You who read the blog, check the facebook, like TheBlades, you donors for our fundraising, you who say "kick butt" before we race. You're a part of this.

To Sam Bob and Shane thank you...for going into this not knowing what the outcome would be. We could not have done any of this without each other. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this effort. Awesome job guys. Go USA.