“The slow boat-I know it's the slow boat because I've been watching them for thirty-three weeks-won the first piece by a full length. Then the fast boat won the second piece. And so it went for the next four pieces, back and forth. Conclusion: I hate seat racing.” KnowsFirstsHateThreeNextPiecesFourWeekI HateConclusionBoatThirtySeatsLengthRacingBack And ForthRowing Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“As I stood in the booth chatting to people, it occurred to me that besides good racing, the Crew Classic provided an ideal setting for the brotherhood of rowing. The brotherhood connects real rowing people. Teammates who haven't visited in years came together, and so do former opponents who once battled like mortal enemies. Suddenly they discovered they have much more in common. Long live the brotherhood of rowing.” PeopleYearsLongRealTogetherCommonEnemyHavensIdealsSettingSettingsFormerMortalsClassicOpponentsRacingBrotherhoodCrewTeammateRowingChattingMortal Enemies Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“Rigging is like Zen meditation. You must bend over the boat until your back is breaking, until your brain is filled with numbers and fractions of numbers, until you can accurately measure an oarlock's pitch without bothering to use the pitch meter. Only then will you see the way of eternal rigging happiness.” WayUseNumbersBrainMeditationEternalFilledBoatBotherFractionsMeterRowing Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“Immediately upon entering the weighing-in zone, I sensed an oppressive tension in the air, the lightweights staring and glaring at each other, snarling like lean, frenzied dogs. Extreme hunger has a way of creating these emotions in even the most mil-mannered people.” PeopleWayEmotionAirDogCreatingHungerExtremesStaringTensionZoneEnteringRowingWeighingSnarling Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“Hundreds of feet above us, cars whisked by, oblivious to our drama. Up there were the shortcuts, the excuses, the world of infinite possibilities separating man and his potential. We had four miles and the best competition in the nation. We linked hands in the boat and committed ourselves to each other.” MenWorldHandsNationsFourFeetCarPossibilityDramaInfiniteCompetitionCommittedExcuseMilesBoatLinkedShortcutsRowingSeparatingObliviousInfinite Possibilities Author:Stefan Kieszling
“There is something vulnerable about showing your tattoos to people, even while it gives you a feeling that you are wearing a sleeve when you are naked.” PeopleGivingFeelingsNakedVulnerableTattooSleeves Author:Lena Dunham
“Racing serves as a formal demonstration of your ability to ride the three-headed monster. The first monster is your physical preparation-lifting weights for strength, running for endurance, working on your technique. The second monster is your mental preparation-all our jabbering about humility, battling for your life, taking complete responsibility for the outcome. The last monster is your X Factor, your soul, your courage. Taken altogether, I call this three-headed monster the Process of Winning.” FirstsSoulRunningLastsThreeWinningProcessAbilityResponsibilityTakenHumilityWeightTechniqueMonstersFactorsPreparationYour SoulOutcomesEnduranceRacingFormalDemonstrationLiftingRowingLifting Weights Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“I never realized how many holidays encroached on the collegiate training schedule. When I was training for the Olympics, only one holiday interested me, the Day After the Games.” GamesTrainingHolidayOlympicsSchedulesRowingTraining For The Olympics Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“Unlike boxers-or any professional athlete for that matter-rowers have little motivation to do it longer than necessary. With a modest amount of self-realization, you'll know when you have acquired the nebulous gifts that rowing has to offer, whether it's courage or a strengthened soul or a powerful body. Once you have it, drop back ten yards and punt. Someone new will pick up the ball and run with it.” KnowsLittlesSoulSelfMatterBodyRunningMotivationPowerfulAmountOffersTenPicksBallsAthleteSelf RealizationRealizationModestYardsBoxersRowingProfessional Athlete Author:Brad Alan Lewis
“After hooking up the fuel line and pumping a little gasoline through the hose, I prepared for a workout on the 'coach's ergometer'.” LittlesLinesPreparedCoachesFuelWorkoutRowingGasoline Author:Brad Alan Lewis