Challenge?

[[old] billandmargaret]

Count me in on the Holiday Challenge. It's what got me using the rower for regular exercise in the first place, 4 years ago. Last year I upped the ante from 100k to 200k, which felt great. So I'm aiming for 200k again. My goal for this year was to row at least 100k each month, but this month for the first time I fell short. You can fill in all the usual reasons (stress, too busy) which are of course all the same reasons I need to get back to my routine and stick with it. Aiming high for the 200k will hopefully get me back on track.<br /><br />The certificates and T-shirts don't matter to me, just feeling good about taking care of myself. But maybe a pair of funky socks...<br /><br />Margaret

[[old] Bufflehead]

The Buffle is Back!<br /><br />Hey Woolsy - I had a flu shot last month and couldn't feel any difference whatsoever. Hopefully it will be the same for you. Thanks for the Fe advice - especially the OJ thing. <br /><br />Ta-dah!! I did another 20K yesterday, and my rear end is letting me know it! I had to start early and I am not, I repeat - not a morning person! The funny thing is that I managed to do it three minutes faster than the day before. Now these are not blistering speeds to be proud of, mind you. I'm rather pokey, but I'm going for meters so I don't really care right now.<br /><br />Hmmmm - I wonder how many meters I can manage today??? I'm feeling pretty good, so maybe a 10 or 15K. I guess it will depend on the old tail feathers! <br /><br />It's good to see so many Ducks going for the Challenge! Let us know how you're all doing. <br /><br />Later,<br />Buffles (Tee Hee!)

[[old] woolsmith]

Yay, Buffles! Do that only eight more times now, and you'll have it! <br /><br />Naw, glad it's going well for ya's keep it up! And I'm like you, too, in that I don't go for speed with these things. I have a goal I like to hit for 30 mins, but after that, I consider everything to be gravy (and turkey, mashed potatoes...). <br /><br />I've got a tad over 20k for my total so far, so I'm going to try for a long row this a.m. I've decided I want to do at least 12k per attempt, so if I do that for 4 days each week, that leaves me the other two days to just do 2k, so if I'm having a bad week or whatever, I'll be able to make up meters purty easily.<br /><br />Interesting article in the New York Times, where 10 experts devised a list of the top ten pieces of exercise equipment. Rowing machine came in #2 after ellipticals. I accessed the article from SportsGeezer, so you'll have to click the link within his article, but here it is: <a href='http://www.sportsgeezer.com/sportsgeeze ... te_fi.html' target='_blank'>http://www.sportsgeezer.com/sportsgeeze ... fi.html</a> And you have to be registered with the NYT to read their articles. There were some interesting comments in there that had me scratching my head, so it'll be interesting to hear what some other folks think of it. <br /><br />Waddling off to row! <br /><br />--Jen

[[old] Jemima]

So far so good...<br /><br />I calculated that I needed to row 7500 a day 6 days a week to make the challenge. Thursday and Friday I did just that. Today I was watching a video and did my first ever 10,000 so I hope I don't run out of energy later!<br /><br />On Thursday and Friday I rowed early in the morning and my family complained the noise of the TV woke them up, so this morning I borrowed my son's wireless headphones and they all stayed asleep. <br /><br />It will be more of a challenge from Monday as I have to take children to school and still find time to row. I have two in school and two homeschooled. It takes an hour to take to school, so I lose my rowing time. The rowing's not the hard part, it's trying to fit it in, but I suppose that's the same for everyone. <br /><br />Does anyone have any suggestions for blisters?<br /><br />Tina

[[old] woolsmith]

Hey Tina!<br /><br />You sound like you have a great plan! Sometimes it's a tad difficult on the logistics of real life though, hey? Like working around family and other obligations. Just remember how much your rowing will help EVERYone, because you'll be working off stress, having more energy to put into the family, etc. Sounds like the only time you get for yourself you have to steal from your sleep time, and that's not always so good, either. Hang in there, though! <br /><br />Can you come up with "P.E." time for the homeschooled ones where the family can "row" across America? You can use maps, learn cultures of different regions, etc. Darn, where is my magic wand when I need it! Wish I could fix the time thing for ya.<br /><br />Hmm...blisters. I got tons of those when I first got my rower. I used some biking gloves, batting gloves, or weight-lifting gloves that I got at Wal-Mart. Eventually I got enough of a callous built up that I don't get blisters very often anymore. However, I can start to feel the beginnings of a blister when I'm doing some longer rows. Interestingly, I only get them on my left hand. I've barely even got callouses on my right hand. Can't figure out what I'm doing so differently to get such a difference in my hands, but I must obviously be gripping the handle differently. <br /><br />Another thing that helped was sitting on a double layer of bubble wrap (the packaging stuff with the airbubbles that everyone likes to pop). For longer rows, that took a lot of the sting out of the achey bottom thing. And again, the more I row, the less I have a problem with that, too.<br /><br />--Jen in WI<br /><br />

[[old] grams]

I did 21,000m today, trying to catch up on the Challenge. I felt as if I had done 20,000m on Thursday, what with doing all the cooking and cleaning for the big family get-together. Unfortunately it doesn't count towards erging. I guess its cross-training.<br /><br />My goal: A triple play. I have 10,000m to go for my 3rd million. I will get a C2 glass for that milestone. I will do a marathon and get another marathon mug, and also get the challenge pin & sweatshirt. <br /><br />C2 will only have to ship me one box with all the stuff in it. What motivation! <br /><br />I have calluses, but not blisters. Maybe you are gripping the handle too tightly? I have a very loose grip on mine. Meanwhile, 1% hydrocortisone cream on the afected areas after erging helps.<br /><br />grams

[[old] Jemima]

woolsmith - I don't steal from my sleep to row. I LIKE to get up at 6am and row at 7am. When it's holiday weekend most of the rest of the family sleep until 9am or later. Normally most of them get up at 6 with me.<br /><br />The homeschoolers do PE class twice a week at the local gym. I can row there, but I prefer to row in the morning and then have my shower. My problem comes when dh travels and I have to take the schooled kids to school, I miss my rowing time. <br /><br />I also prefer to row on *my* machine as it's newer and much nicer to row on. <br /><br />grams - I find when I grip the handle tightly I go faster. <br /><br />Tina<br />

[[old] grams]

<br />Yes! I passed the 3 million mark today! Is anyone planning on doing a marathon during the challenge?<br /><br />grams

[[old] Canada Goose]

Hi Grams,<br /><br />I'm hoping to do a marathon in a couple of weeks . I'm a little nervous about it, but I have been putting in some long rows for the last couple of months. I'm up to 35,000 metres at a time now, so I'm getting pretty close.<br /><br />How about yourself?<br /><br />Shannon

[[old] grams]

I'ts time for me to do one. It will be my 3rd one, so not so scary. I have burned some new music, so I won't be too bored. I'm still a heavyweight. Those darn pounds I put on in Oz are stubborn. <br /><br />If you can do 35,000m you can do 42,195m, no problem. Go for it!!<br /><br />grams

[[old] efg]

Hello Grams,<br /><br />The Holiday Challenge is tough enough. I'd love to try a marathon, but I think it would be too much too soon.... I'm just getting back to rowing after a year of no regular exercise. I do like those marathon mugs, though, and wouldn't mind a 3rd. So I'll let you know, but I think I'll probably wait 'til after the Holiday Challenge. I've rowed every day for the past 6 days (which must seem like nothing to everyone here, but has been very satisfying for me). Hopefully it will just become part of my normal routine, like it used to be. <br /><br />Good luck with your marathon!<br /><br />Emilia

[[old] LandLocked]

I’m in. <br />I’m aiming for the 100,000 meter level. Since I got the rower in Feb I’ve rowed about 270,000 meters so the lower level will be enough of a challenge for me. I’ve spent this fall in a mental & physical slump but since Thanksgiving I’ve rowed 5,000 a day. If I keep that up all the days I’m in town (I do have a short vacation planed) then I’ll be able to reach 100k level.<br />

[[old] woolsmith]

Wow, it's so great to see so many folks wanting to do the Holiday Challenge!<br /><br />Grams, you are incredible! I'm waddling as fast as I can, and you're still leaving me in the dust, girl. Wtg, you keep it up though. Congrats on the 3 million mark, too! And I think it's great that you were setting some newbie rowers straight on their techniques when you were in that health club in FL. I really do think those clubs need to be showing videos about how to use the equipment properly. I know the trainers and staff are supposed to be doing that, but from what I'm hearing that doesn't seem to be happening.<br /><br />Tina--I'm glad you're not stealing rowing time from your sleep time! Unfortunately, in our women's health clinic, I see so many women with "superwoman syndrome," that I always worry about that. I have no children, but I can get so mommy-ish sometimes. You sound like you have a wise action plan for your busy days. How are those blisters doing?<br /><br />And you folks who want to brave a marathon, I am soooo in awe! I'm aiming for a half-marathon sometime during the HC. I did one for the Solstice Row, so I figure another one to split the year up evenly can't hurt, hey? I'll try for 12/21 to do it.<br /><br />And Landlocked, hang in there! The rowing will help with the moods by boosting your endorphins (Mother Nature's own mood elevators), working off tension, giving you more energy, lowering your cortisol levels (which increase with stress and affect your immune status and bone density...), and I couldjustgoonandon. If you need some motivation, just holler and I'm sure plenty of the Ducks will flock around ya's for good ol' moral support. I know I have some problems with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, which is a mood disorder folks get during the winter months, associated with decreased amounts of sunlight. Interestingly, last winter I hardly had any problem with it at all--maybe the fact that I started working out in early November had something to do with it??? <br /><br />Have a great, successful Holiday Challenge, everyone!<br /><br />--Jen in rainy, foggy WI

[[old] Canada Goose]

Hi Ducks,<br /><br />I'm swimming right along on the Holiday Challenge. I've got 53,500 metres so far. I got a new PB for 10,000 metres (47:20.6) today too! Keep rowing Ducks!<br /><br />Shannon

[[old] Krysta Coleman]

<!--QuoteBegin-Canada Goose+Nov 29 2005, 04:03 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Canada Goose @ Nov 29 2005, 04:03 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi Ducks,<br /><br />I'm swimming right along on the Holiday Challenge.  I've got 53,500 metres so far.  I got a new PB for 10,000 metres (47:20.6) today too!  Keep rowing Ducks!<br /><br />Shannon <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Way to go, Shan! Nice new PB, too. I am at 38,306 for the challenge but I'm sure I will be able to make the 200k if I just stick with my regular schedule plus maybe one longer row closer to Christmas.