Just Getting Started...yikes!

[[old] arkangel]

Hi all--I got hooked two days ago while working out at my school. I'm a teacher and we have a rowing team that's pretty successful. After getting a little bored with the whole treadmill thing, I noticed a "C-2" in the corner and jumped on, then couldn't stop. I did another 30 minutes today and did almost 4000m--yeah, I'm sure I'm very slow compared to all of you. So my question is how can I maintain my enthusiasm without burning out (my natural tendency). How often and for how long should I start off?-Many thanks. --Julia

[[old] SpaCityBulldog]

Look over the C2 training site at this <a href="http://www.concept2.com/05/training/training_home.asp" target="_blank">LINK</a> They have a lot of great ideas to keep your motivation up and training plans for the beginner on up to marathons.<br /><br />Good luck and good rowing.<br /><br />

[[old] Alissa]

<!--quoteo(post=56568:date=Feb 20 2006, 05:18 PM:name=arkangel)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(arkangel @ Feb 20 2006, 05:18 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hi all--I got hooked two days ago while working out at my school. I'm a teacher and we have a rowing team that's pretty successful. After getting a little bored with the whole treadmill thing, I noticed a "C-2" in the corner and jumped on, then couldn't stop. I did another 30 minutes today and did almost 4000m--yeah, I'm sure I'm very slow compared to all of you. So my question is how can I maintain my enthusiasm without burning out (my natural tendency). How often and for how long should I start off?-Many thanks. --Julia<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi arkangel!<br /><br />How exciting to find something that looks good to you (and for you!)! Sounds to me like you're doing well so far. One of the challenges is figuring out technique. While the web & this forum have lots of resources--and you shouldn't hestitate to look around and ask more questions--you have a fairly nice resource at hand. Since the erg comes with an associated "pretty good" rowing team, I suspect you probably have a pretty good coach somewhere in the vicinity as well! If you can, get him or her to look at your technique and make any suggestions/corrections. Expert eyes are not necessarily available to everyone on this forum and if you can, you should consider taking advantage of them. <br /><br />In the meantime, you can certainly look at Xeno Muller's stroke cycle as well. That is available at the end of his signature on this forum (scroll down to the bottom of <a href="http://concept2.ipbhost.com/index.php?showuser=568" target="_blank">this page</a> and look for the link "Xeno's Stroke Cycle." Once you launch the stroke cycle, you can look at it (at least) two ways. By holding the right arrow key on your keyboard down, you can see the full stroke. However by clicking on the arrow keys, you can see the 46 separate images which make up the cycle and look at various parts of the stroke separately. In addition, Xeno sells DVD's which are well thought of by many on this forum. (NAYY, but I have been learning at Xeno's Iron Oarsman.)<br /><br />To maintain your enthusiasm, you should establish an on-line log of your work-outs. This will allow you to track your progress, and if you do any of the rated times/distances, compare your progress with others. At the same time, you may want to consider joining a virtual team...there are a lot of them and you should look around and see which ones appeal to you and would offer you the best encouragement as you proceed. The virtual teams compete in various categories summing up either total meters or average meters rowed in various types/size groups. (Some are more active that others on the forum--some use only the team list and then some use separate web sites or blogs. For instance, I'm affiliated with the Iron Oarsmen.) Once you join, your meters (or averages) will also count toward your team. <br /><br />You can always ask for support on this forum as well...<br /><br />Best wishes!<br /><br />Alissa<br />

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--quoteo(post=56568:date=Feb 20 2006, 05:18 PM:name=arkangel)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(arkangel @ Feb 20 2006, 05:18 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>how can I maintain my enthusiasm without burning out (my natural tendency). How often and for how long should I start off?-Many thanks. --Julia </td></tr></table><br /><br />Keep doing it in any ways that you enjoy to do it, and have fun. <br />

[[old] aledieps]

<!--quoteo(post=56590:date=Feb 21 2006, 02:51 AM:name=John Rupp)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Feb 21 2006, 02:51 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56568:date=Feb 20 2006, 05:18 PM:name=arkangel)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(arkangel @ Feb 20 2006, 05:18 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>how can I maintain my enthusiasm without burning out (my natural tendency). How often and for how long should I start off?-Many thanks. --Julia </td></tr></table><br /><br />Keep doing it in any ways that you enjoy to do it, and have fun.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I definitely agree with John. Don't push yourself too hard to begin with. Try and keep a steady pace the entire time. Work on technique (very important), and chart your progress, whether it be weight loss, amount of time you can row at a specific pace, 2k time, 6k time, 10k time (you'll learn about those later). Most of all, have fun, you won't stick with it if it's a burden to hop onto an erg.