The window of X Factor opportunity opens up in the closing seconds of a race - you might be sprinting at the time or just hanging one, trying to get across the finish line. With a supreme act of will, you can prolong your effort, essentially fighting off the inevitable lactic acid shutdown. You'll have little time for contemplating the options: either wholeheartedly go for it or back off. You must train your X Factor to unequivocally respond the way you want - go for it. Once the window is closed it's closed forever.

Brad Alan Lewis 1984 USA M2x

The eights race includes two to six 60 foot long shells, each competing with eight rowers and their coxswain - nine bodies working as one. What follows are 2,000 meters, approximately 240 strokes, of explosive yet controlled fury to the finish line. You can appreciate the tension as [you] slowly back into the starting station - it's like sitting on a bomb and being forced to watch the quickly burning fuse.

J.J. Forster Georgetown University

Rowing is an absurdly simple sport. I can easily guide a beginner through the right technical motions. The difficulty arises when the beginner attempts to repeat those motions on a bumpy race course, at 40 strokes a minute, with his heart rate zooming, and an opponent charging up his stern.

Brad Alan Lewis 1984 USA M2x

Coach's Rule: never admit a lack of experience or knowledge. Carry on at all times as though you've guided a hundred champion crews. Honesty is not the best policy when leading a bunch of college rowers. They are looking for strong, disciplined leadership and not a kinder, gentler coach. Once you've established a certain attitude and demeanor, it's nearly impossible to change to a different mode in mid-season.

Brad Alan Lewis 1984 USA M2x

I can teach 90% of the rowing stroke in ten minutes. The other 10% will require you a lifetime of effort to learn.

Robert Valerian

During their college years the oarsmen put in terribly long hours, often showing up at the boathouse at 6:00am for pre-class practices. Both physically and psychologically, they were separated from their classmates. Events that seemed earth-shattering to them - for example, who was demoted from the varsity to the junior varsity - went almost unnoticed by the rest of the students. In many ways they were like combat veterans coming back from a small, bitter and distant war, able to talk only to other veterans.

David Halberstam "The Amateurs"