Women's Rowing Forum: What Motivates You To Erg???

[old] gorow9 · Post by **[old] gorow9** » January 18th, 2005, 5:07 pm

Hey eveybody, Great idea for forum by the way. My motivation for erging is getting into college. I love rowing and am hoping that if I work my way up to good enough then I will be able to get some sort of scholarship... I've heard that there are many available now for women's rowing. Although I have a long way to go... my 2k's 7.56... that needs to lower a lot. I also want to be in shape in general. I'm not "skinny" and won't be but I would do like being "in shape" and looking healthy. I'm tall and I have long legs so I started rowing which was good concidering my lack of hand-eye coordination issues and I was good so erging is just a way to get better at rowing. Adios ~Sara~ "Life's short... row hard" "Row till you die, then POWER 10"

[old] aebigelo · Post by **[old] aebigelo** » January 18th, 2005, 6:08 pm

Hello all, I erg to keep in training for rowing when it's too dark or cold to row on the water. Erging is great also to work on technical issues with one's rowing stroke -- not to mention mental toughness, especially if one happens to be erging without the TV/VCR/music. For long erg sessions, I plug the headset into the TV and watch tapes of rowing events past or, in more laid-back mode, old movies. Right now I have the benefit of coaching and the necessity of completing mandated erg workouts. Happy new year, happy erging, and happy (whenever possible) rowing. Anita

[old] KPet1 · Post by **[old] KPet1** » January 19th, 2005, 12:00 pm

Hmmmm what keeps me motivated? Well we'd gotten the C2 for Christmas as kind of a gift for my rowing 15 yr old daughter ( she'd have gotten it anyway ) but it turns out that I've been the one on it the absolute most. I'm attempting to quit smoking for obvious reasons and using the patch to do so. I decided there was no way in hell I was going to gain weight from quitting and saw that erging would be a good way to nake sure of it . Well I started rowing and became seriously HOOKED!I'd done weight training for some time and always walked my sheperd/ rott mix mutt a lot but the erg is something where I can REALLY feel that I've benefitted myself to a huge degree. I hadn't really needed to lose any weight but my jeans are now bagging out and suits I'd picked up from the tailor were a lot looser than when I'd dropped them off to be altered. I think though that my main motivator is my daughter. She rows, and in fact just started practices for this season yesterday. We compare times, and yes she's younger but she gives me a lot of encouragement and tips on how to attain my goals. This is something we can share and although she HATE HATE HATES the erg at times ( mostly when Coach is screaming at her back faster faster ) I've noticed that having someone in the house familiar with something that's a huge part of her life is a good thing for everyone. Erg on ! Kathie

[old] gorow9 · Post by **[old] gorow9** » January 19th, 2005, 12:08 pm

Kathie, Sounds like my situation, I'm 15 and I got an erg for Christmas and my mom swears she uses it more than me... probably true because I have the same situation... I HATE it at times.... especially when I email weekly updates to coach on times and practices because I can't make it during the "off season" beats me why the call it an "off season" to practices so I have to email the updates to my coach... my mom started using it too though and uses it daily for about 20 min. I try to use it every day but only 3x a week for an hour. Other days only 10min... blame it on homework. Anyway just wanted to say that. ~Sara~ "Life's short... row hard" "Row till you die, THEN POWER 10!"

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » January 19th, 2005, 12:36 pm

Similar situation. My grandson rows, and I tried his erg and liked it. It is way cool to have a sport like this in common with a grandchild. He came and coxed for me at Ergomania last year. Forty-five years from now when he is my age, he will think back and wonder how I did a marathon... grams

[old] Mr. Bun · Post by **[old] Mr. Bun** » January 19th, 2005, 2:17 pm

This topic holds a strong interest for me. I'm a father of a 6 year old girl and 4 year old boy, and I am trying to figure out what could motivate both of my kids across the long haul through their childhood and adolescent years (I've not really asked my wife -- she does row at times, but I fear she looks at the C2 as some modern version of a medieval torture device). Right now, I'm not trying to motivate them to row although I allow them to use it under my supervision so as to neither fear it nor treat it as a toy. Later on, when they are a little older, I'm hoping they'll take to it as I have. That's where this thread comes in. Years from now, I hope to recall what are the possible motivators that both daughter and son can use. Since I was a boy once (long ago), I have a good handle on that. But if there are any differences between the sexes regarding motivating factors, then this may come in handy and is why I am very interested in what girls say on this thread as well as what women recall as what motivated them or would have motivated them as a girl. Okay, that was a bit long winded. In short, please speak up; the audience out here may be wider than you first thought. Thanks. -- andre.

[old] KPet1 · Post by **[old] KPet1** » January 19th, 2005, 4:22 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (gorow9 @ Jan 19 2005, 11:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> ... I HATE it at times.... beats me why the call it an "off season" "Life's short... row hard"  </td></tr></table> Sara, They just started their winter off- season practices and I swear my daughter Kathryn and her friend Krista are the only ones who show at EVERY practice!I went to a parents meeting last night for crew and was told by coach that the girls are " out of shape" . Since Kathryn hasn't rowed all winter , until recently, she and I both think her time of 8:5o for her 2000 isn't half bad. I row 10-12k most days , only 5k when I work out that same day. A 10k AND working out is just wayyy too much. My times aren't that great but I'm getting there and taking time off each time I get on the blasted thing so that's a good thing. Since I really just started all of this a few weeks ago I think I'm doing ok. Hang in there kiddo.. let your Mom know she's got an erging twin haha Kathie

[old] Bufflehead · Post by **[old] Bufflehead** » January 19th, 2005, 6:50 pm

Hello again! I would also be interested in the women's forum, Bill. That's a great idea! Let us know what to do. Thanks, Bufflehead (aka Sue)

[old] TLCoons · Post by **[old] TLCoons** » January 20th, 2005, 2:21 pm

First of all, I LOVE the idea of a women's forum. It is good to hear about the small success stories that might never make it onto the ranking boards. It is motivating to know that other regular women have taken hold of this machine and made mindfully consistent life changes over the long haul. My story begins in martial arts and shifts to running and shifts again now to rowing. I've always been a one-sport kind of gal -- never very competitive just wanting consistency and fitness. Martial arts began to hurt more than help in its high-impact form. Running provided years of enjoyment, fitness, and relaxation and eventually provided a persistent tendonitis in the balls of my feet. So, hello C2 erg! At first, erging provided the thrill of finding that I could actually perform times that were ranked sometimes even in the top 15 of a given event. After a few months of this delerium, I threw my back out and still returned to rowing as soon as I could row lightly without further harm. In no time at all I was back to my old pace. Now, I find myself pregnant and enjoying rowing as much as ever. Of course, I have taken to a much less strenuous workout. I concentrate more on form and keeping my heartrate at a manageable level. Still, I plan to row through my entire pregnancy and can't see any reason why that shouldn't happen. Rowing has been doable even on the days when I was feeling sick to my stomach and on those days that I feel too sleepy-tired to exercise. What a wonderful blessing to be able to enjoy my pregnancy even more because of my workouts and knowing that I am keeping myself in the best of shape for both me and our baby. Thanks C2, for an erg that really 'goes the distance'! TLC

[old] Deb · Post by **[old] Deb** » January 20th, 2005, 6:09 pm

TLC, Bravo for keeping fit during your pregnancy. I'm a labor and delivery nurse, and have lots of anecdotal evidence about levels of fitness and stamina during labor...no brainer, there's a direct correlation. Unfortunately, a lot of women let exercise go by the wayside during pregnancy. On the days I 'push' with a mom, I make a pact with myself that whatever time it takes her to birth the baby is how long I will spend on the erg...easy when mom just 'coughs' the baby out, definitely a challenge when we push for 3 hours!! I figure if someone can work that hard to deliver a baby, I have no excuse not to challenge myself on the erg... The only advice I'll throw in, although I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, is to make sure you keep well hydrated (dehydration is the number one correctable cause of preterm contractions), and until 37 weeks, take a break from the erg if you feel more than 5-6 contractions an hour. Enjoy this REALLY wonderful time in your life! Deb

[old] la_flaca · Post by **[old] la_flaca** » January 20th, 2005, 10:33 pm

Great idea about the women´s forum!. My interest in this subjects comes because in my country we doesn´t have many womens in the sport of rowing, and erging is not even meet here. So, is good to know womens in the same page that I am all around the world!!, and shareing some ideas. I´m a boat rower, I used the erg has a trainig. My motivation will be brake my ass until I break all my best times!, that´s makes me better in the water. QUESTION: how many womens in this forum competed in international rowing regatas? (in boats!

) Cheers! Keep Rowing!

[old] seat5 · Post by **[old] seat5** » January 21st, 2005, 1:15 am

I rowed in college for one year and really loved it. My on water technique was not much good, but I really enjoyed the lifting, running, cals, etc. I ended up working on a dairy farm after college and loved the physical labor involved with that. When I left the farm for a more suburban life, I was a pretty avid runner. Later on I took up swimming, and have always loved biking. It seems the only sports I'm only good at are somewhat individual and endurance/strength type sports, not sports that involve chasing and hitting moving objects with sticks, bats, raquets, etc. The erg we had at college was the old fashioned Gamut (sp?) machine and it was dreaded by most of us. I sort of relished it; I wanted to beat it. The first time I ever rowed on a C2 in a health club, I knew I had to have one. It was never in the budget--neither was a health club membership--but finally I bought a used Model B on ebay (January of 2003). The first season I really had no clue what I was doing, and thrashing away madly, ended up #50 something on the Nonathlon competition. I trashed my back at the end of that first season. The next season, just as I was starting to be able to row again, I broke my left wrist (Feb 2004). When the cast came off in April I was pretty impatient to get going! I started reading the forum again, and working with a lot of the training ideas that were discussed--mostly rowing without straps and at 10 MPS, per Paul Smith. The most motivational factor for me has been belonging to the Taff Attack team. We encourage each other, challenge each other, and have a real sense of comraderie, even though some of us have never met. It's really exciting to have a gang of fellow rowers that you can tell your PBs to that will really care, because each member's successes add to the team's totals. It is much more satisfying to post a PB to the team than it is on the "New Personal Best" thread. One of our guys has made up some cool charts that show our Nonathlon scores and paces for all our pieces, and for each member's total meters. ( If you don't know about Nonathlon, go to www.matrix.uk.net/nonathlon . It's a site where you can post your times, and the playing field is "leveled" so you can see how you stack up against everyone--guys, gals, old, young, lightweight, heavyweight, whatever. It's a blast.) I'm really enjoying this season and feeling ambitious about bettering my times, climbing a little higher on the Nonathlon board and evening out my times (some of the shorter pieces were done at slower paces than the longer ones! yuck!) Best of all, I'm looking forward to really being in awesome shape for biking and just flying up all the grinding steep hills (hopefully past some gaudily bedecked spandex folks-- in my baggy T shirt and ratty sneakers!) Carla Stein (aka seat5)

[old] TLCoons · Post by **[old] TLCoons** » January 21st, 2005, 10:32 am

Deb, Thanks for the encouragement! Make no mistake -- I want to hear all about your anecdotal evidence/experience. I imagine that I'm not the only pregger who has scoured the web on information regarding the safety of rowing and pregnancy. The C2 page on it is nice but vague. Specifics are welcome. I'll also be happy to include my experiences to help populate a repository. Is this thing getting out of hand yet? TLC

[old] seat5 · Post by **[old] seat5** » January 21st, 2005, 11:13 am

Hi TL, Sounds like you're in the populating business for sure! How far along are you? I know I don't like rowing with a full stomach, and can't quite imagine rowing at 8 months. Seems like it would be uncomfortable. I swam through my pregnancies, and my mile time would get slower and slower the bigger I got. It was like resistance training. After the baby was born, and all that drag was gone, I'd be so much faster! Keep us posted on your progress!

[old] CAROLE MAC · Post by **[old] CAROLE MAC** » January 21st, 2005, 12:03 pm

Carole (who doesn't do babies unless they have four paws).<img src='http://www.techhelpers.net/e4u/animal/454.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />... thought she would just mention that there are a couple of ladies that post on the ladies forum on the British site pregnant . I am seeing one Gairie aka as Anne on Sunday at the Glasgow Grand Prix I will tell her to have look on this site and perhaps you can swop ideas etc . On another note I have have been managing some short training sessions and also trying to do some ab and weight work outs . I put my jeans on today and guess what .. doesnt look as though I have put any weight on phew ... was one of my nightmares when I broke my leg . I am managing between 6k-10 some days on the machine too although the skate has gone and I just tie my leg on a cushion which skids across the parquet flooring the skate was too heavy. <img src='http://e4u.deltait.com.au/sport/sport14.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Concept2 Forum

Women's Rowing Forum: What Motivates You To Erg???

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum

Women's Forum