Jason Rogers and I have been doing a lot of speaking appearances and attending a lot of events the past few months, but we have also begun training and I wanted to share with you a little bit about my training regiment.
My post-Olympic training includes 3 days a week of strength and conditioning with my trainer Kelly Shaver, 2 days a week of proactive physical thereapy, to improve my flexibility and deal with early injury symptoms, and I’m fencing 2 days a week. As the season and Olympic quadrenial go on I will add more fencing days, but right now I’m trying to get my body ready for the next four years.
The videos I have uploaded are a few examples of the cycles of exercises that I do each session to help my strength, balance, explosivness and endurance. I’ve noticed a big improvment in my fencing footwork and ability to move since I’ve been doing these work outs even though I’m only fencing a few days a week right now. (Read my disclaimer below)
Disclaimer: I’m not saying this is what you should do to improve your fencing, or that it’s the best work out– this is training that is great for me and might be beneficial to you and I wanted to share it with you. (I’ve also been building up to many of these exercises) I’m not the perfect model of them either! Would love to hear your thoughts/comments.
The NY Post has been running a bunch of stories on Page 6 about recent celebrities being auctioned off for Charities including tennis legend John McEnroe and figure skater Oksana Baiul.
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Tennis lessons with John McEnroe sold for $10,000 dollars, a date with figure staker Oksana Baiul sold for $2500 dollars…makes me even more amazed that our clinic sold for $20,000 at the Boys Town New York gala!!!!
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Maybe Page 6 will be in our future? That might be a first for a fencer! For now, we got a nice mention in Black Tie magazine.
Olympic silver medalists Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers from the U.S. Fencing team with Grammy-nominated performer Chrisette Michele at the Boys Town New York Building Hope Gala where much needed funds were raised in support of the organization’s interventional programs for at-risk girls and boys. Photo by: Chris London
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Boystown children Maureen and Ricardo (wearing the Silver Medals) along with the generous donors and supporters of Boys Town Kathy Guarino and Dave Schaefer
As part of therfundraising efforts for the charity Boys Town, Jason and I offered a package where we would teach kids to fence as one of five items for people to bid on in a live auction at their annual gala. Our item had the lowest starting bid on paper at $500 dollars and we were a bit worried about how we would sell up against the other things. (Swimming in the pool with Michael Phelps was one of them!)
For the auction, they brought us up on stage and I felt so nervous staring out at the crowd as the bidding began. Someone yelled out “$1000” and then I breathed a sigh of relief that we were at least going to sell! Then something I didn’t expect happened, the price kept rising! People shouted out, “$2500″ then “$5000″ up and up it went!
The final bid went to Kathy Guarino for $10,000 dollars! Even more amazing is that her enthusiasm inspired another gala goer, Dave Schaefer, to match her gift!Our package ended up bringing in $20,000 dollars! (Michael Phelps brought in only $10,000!We doubled Phelps!)
MC and WNBC Sports Anchor and NYC Legend Len Berman
We couldn’t have been happier to help out such an amazing organization and Mrs. Guarino and Mr. Schaefer have our full respect for putting up so much money despite the economy. So many children are going to be helped as a result of their donations.
The organization, founded by Father Flanagan in 1917 to help some of our country’s most disadvantaged children.More than 90 years later the organization helps more than 50,000 abused, abandoned and neglected boys and girls a year.Two of the children, Maureen and Ricardo, took the stage and shared their inspirational stories. Both faced struggles including serving time in jail, being abused and dropping out of school.With the help of Boys Town, they are now back on track and also becoming role models for their fellow children in the Boys Town family.
I always try to think about myself facing those circumstances and wonder if I would have made it out or been able to achieve what I have without the support I had in my life? It’s one of those thoughts that puts life in perspective because I don’t know if I would have won an Olympic medal or had as much success as I’ve had facing the odds that they faced. By the time they were done speaking, I was in tears. Needless to say, the kids were truly the heroes of the night!
Also in attendance were singers Chrisette Michele, Dawn Richard and Karina Pasian.
With Hockney, Warhol and Schnabel as our chaperons, Tim and I partied it up with the Queen Sylvia of Sweden at the Phillips de Pury & Company gallery in the Meat Packing District of Manhattan. Well, perhaps “party” is too strong a word and “chatted with” might be slightly more appropriate considering the company we were keeping. Regal is a word that is oft overused, but in this context I feel justified in employing it fully to describe her Majesty of Sweden. Not only was she dapper and impeccably polite, but the facility with which she navigated the room was the type that can only befit a person of noble birth.
The event itself was H&M sponsored and to honor the Mentor Foundation (Queen Sylvia serves as the president) which aims to eradicate/prevent substance abuse especially among children and young people around the world. Mentor boasts a board of Trustees so impressive it is almost ridiculous including the Queen Noor of Jordan, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the Crown Prince of Spain…Wow! Other notables attending the event included, Brittany Snow (Nip Tuck), Anna Chlumsky (My Girl), Jessalyn Wanlim (All My Children), Sarah Hyland (Lipstick Jungle), Stevi Perry (Miss Teen USA), Bonnie Dennison and Caitlin Van Zandt (both of Guiding Light).
We capped off the night by heading to HK on 39th st. for our dear friend Troy’s Candyland themed birthday party which was complete with servers handing out cotton candy and treat filled party bags. Altogether the day was an overwhelming success. However, it is like most days in the city that end with me at home, prostrate on the couch and debating the eternal question: can summon the energy to take the 6 steps to my bed or should I just stay her and pass out before another 24 hours of adventure in the big apple…
During school presentations over the past two days we addressed over 700 children. Overall, we have spoken to over 3000 students at 10+ schools and programs since we’ve been back from BeijingThe schedule has been particularly packed the last week with school visits, events and now training for the upcoming season as well. There are so many things I want to accomplish on multiple fronts and its making for some long days!
On Tuesday, I woke up early and had a hard work out before driving up to Danbury, Connecticut where I spoke to students at the Wooster school. I then hoped back in my car and drove to Manhattan to join a USOC fundraising event and then met up with Jason afterwards at an event at the Time Warner building to debrief.
Wednesday also began very early, this time with a drive to Peekskill, NY with Jason where the two of us gave 5 presentations at multiple schools, the town Library and then at the Peekskill Fencing Center. With littie time ot spare, we sped back to the city to participate in an event with the Queen of Sweden before ending the night up at my friend’s birthday party at the HK Lounge.(You can read more about the events from Jason!)
Jason talks to students about reaching their goals
Despite being tired from all the running around, speaking to children definitely keeps me grounded and motivated to continue to forge ahead to promote our sport.Whenever we speak at a school, it’s really amazing and such a high to see the excitement in the student’s, not just for the Olympics, but also for fencing.
As a former teacher, it’s also just a blast to walk into school buildings. (I’m in my element!)
We continue to talk a lot about setting the right big goals and also about discovering your unique strengths and applying to them to help you succeed. I hope we’re making an impact!
I want to send an amazing thank you to the students, staff and teachers at Wooster, Peekskill Middle and Assumption School for showing us such great hospitality.Our day in Peekskill was arranged by local fencing coach Alex Acevado who is just opening a new club facility and doing an amazing job promoting the sport locally! Thanks for everything Alex and best of luck with your club!
Coach Alex Acevado's students pose with us at the new club
Despite having a fabulous view of Columbus Circle and Central Park, I must say the Time Warner Building in Manhattan has more to offer than just ambience. While Tim was off at a USOC fundraiser downtown, I had the great pleasure of attending a fabulous event sponsored by Johnny Walker Blue Label at the Stone Rose Lounge.
The event proved to be the type of affair you would expect from Scotch whisky lovers replete with a full Johnny Walker stocked bar as well as a special station where an expert could walk you through the various steps of tasting the finest Johnny Walker has to offer. Guests even had the opportunity to take home their very own engraved, special edition bottles of Blue Label, which I imagine make great holiday gifts for the family. I mean, what says I love you like a bottle of Scotch!
Unfortunately the night ended with a bit of a downer. I managed to spill a beverage on my Blackberry, which I am sad to report is no longer with us. It lived a good life, and I guess the only consolation is that it was fortunate enough to sample some of the finest Scotch in the land before traveling on to Blackberry heaven…
Do you have media Contacts? Business contacts? Want to donate? Need a speaker or know someone who does? Have a great fencing story or picture?
Email me!
tim@timmorehouse.com
Every little bit helps!
Tim on Twitter!
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