1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
My first practice was as a walk-on rower for St. Joseph's on the Schuykil River. I went out rowing in an eight mixed with varsity rowers. The girl who sat in front of me was an intimidating sophmore rower named, Kelly Koritko; she sat five and I was in four. My coach spoke through the megaphone, "Renee, watch Kelly's shoulders moving and try to make yours go at the same time as hers. Yes, that's much better. Now watch her body and her seat. Try to make yourself match that too." As I coordinated myself, the boat moved much smoother. I had my first lesson in following and my very first rowing epiphany.
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
I fell in love with sculling the first time I went out in a gig (a very wide beginners single scull shell). It was the summer of 2000 at a camp held by Vesper Boat Club. I was sent out by the coach, Jamie Gordon, who gave me a few pointers and said, "You should be a confident sculler by the end of the summer." I felt instantly elated by the sensitivity of a single. Coming from a college eight, I loved feeling the boat respond to every little movement I created. I also loved having more feel for the water with two blades instead of one. I was only supposed to row 6 miles, but I rowed 9 because I was so excited figuring out how to do only what was moving the boat faster. I stayed out till the sun set.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Best Practice: In the double with Jen Goldsack, we did 3x1000 meters on Lake Carnegie in preparation for the USA Olympic Trials. We did the workout by ourselves (no coach or competitors) amidst boat traffic, though the water was otherwise lovely and flat. They were the sweetest 1000 m pieces I've ever done; not only did we push and challenge ourselves every stroke, but they all had a perfectly executed rhythm for a start, base and sprint piece. The boat was moving so well that I was able to sprint as hard as I physically could at the end of the last piece with no disruption in the boat. If every practice was so sweet I would row forever.
Worst practice: Seattle, Washington March 2004. The temperature was just above freezing and it rained hard with very high winds. I wasn't wearing poggies. My hands, face and every inch of exposed skin went completely numb. I spent a long time in the hot shower but I have never been so cold for so long in my entire life. People are crazy to train out there and this is coming from someone who rowed through snow in Philly!
Best Race: Final A of World Championships in Gifu, Japan 2005. I didn't spend any time thinking about what I might be capable of doing or not doing; I simply did what needed to be done in order to win a medal. I reacted to the race without any fear. It was the bravest race I ever did and I was lucky that my partner did the same thing.
Worst race: Are you kidding? Who wants to talk about that!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I've only been seat raced twice in my entire rowing career. Both were at Vesper during a summer camp in 2000. First, I raced for six seat in an eight and I won by quite a margin. It wasn't all that satisfying since the girl I race hadn't been training all year. The other seat race was for two seat in a four headed to Elite Nationals. That one was much tighter and I got into the boat based on the opinion of the crew and the coach. I guess that's how it goes when it's close. 5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Make sure you're having fun and don't push your body too hard too early. You need to get a lot of miles (and years) out of it!
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