TimbukTOO Team Room

[Quatroux]

Team-

I’m back from another weekend regatta! This one was held during the Stars & Stripes Festival in Oklahoma City. It was a great city to visit, the festival was full of family fun, and the Boathouse District was very nice. OKC is a rower’s town and an US Olympic Training Site.

I took my wife and kids along for the trip. My club wasn’t sending anyone else so I was on my own getting a boat to OKC and back.

There are a few things in rowing OTW that separates mice from men. Pushing to move up a boat class, rowing when the weather is bad, and going to a regatta alone top the list. Masters don’t have teammates to guide them, coaches to push them, or parents to support them. We, indoor and OTW alike, “muscle up” every day to get it done. This was definitely a “muscle up” type of weekend except that the weather was actually very nice.

It took longer than expected to derig (Microsoft Word says this isn’t a word, but it is) and load the boat. Between traffic and my children’s amazingly small bladders, it took about 4.5 hours to make the 3 hour trip. We arrived exactly at sunset which meant I was unloading and rigging my boat in the dark – not cool.

I got up too early the next morning, was one of maybe 3 people to show up to the coach & coxswains meeting, and otherwise stood around until my race. Meanwhile, my wife and kids were taking rides in helicopters, spraying water out of real live firehouses, and otherwise enjoying the festival.

I did race and finished the 1k sprint with a PB time of 4:09.27. I made a novice mistake or two during the race that cost me the gold, but I will be a stronger rower for it. I’ll spare you the details of the race itself. You know what it is like: your lungs burn, legs melt, heart screams, and hands molt. It is pretty much like a 1k sprint on an erg with the added fun of trying to maintain your balance.

We made it home without incident. Everyone had fun and now sprint racing is over for the year (for me). It is time to train for head racing.

-Andy

[CONLEJM]

Well done Andy! It's interesting to hear from you and Mark about on-the-water racing. Something I will probably never try because it's just too easy to walk into the next room and sit on the erg and start rowing. So I respect that you both put in the major extra effort to row on the water. Congratulations on doing so well!

[damselfly]

Sounds like a great time, Andy!! Helicopter rides? Wow!

You've come a long way in the last year or so. Congratulations!!!

Speaking of OTW, we haven't heard from our Blacksmith in a while! The Blackburn is only 20 days away. Mark, are you out there?!?!

[Izzzmeister]

All hands on deck, some of those hands sitting idle! 8 of 43 members (19%) logged 87,715 total meters Sunday!

Milestones achieved: Yisroel surpassed 400K, Kyle smoked 300K while Matthew slammed 150K!!
Approaching milestones: John a row from 300K (-3,427m), Kevin seeking 150K (-11,452m) while Karen's takes aim at 15K (-9,439m)!

Posted Meters:
Yisroel H – 24,097 HM plus!
Kyle J – 12,758 A strong week of rowing happening!
John S – 11,165 Getting back some of the old form...
Andy I – 10,799 As the flywheel turns...

Kevin K – 10,000 10K!
Matthew R – 10,000 10Ks building up!
Marco S – 6,603 Every other day...
Karen W – 2,293 Switching out kettlebells for an erg handle!

[Quatroux]

We are due a Blackburn Challenge update.

Thanks for the congrats. I enjoyed the race almost as much as my kids enjoyed the festival.

[Izzzmeister]

All hands on deck, posting big meters! 12 of 43 members (28%) logged 140,565 total meters Monday!

Milestones achieved: Adam topped a half million, John passed 300K, Keith, Jamie & Lisa all topped 100K!!
Approaching milestones: Jim one row from 700K (-10,000m), Kevin close to 150K (-5,452m), Gary in range of 50K (-7,709m), Dale nears 35K (-4,257m) while Tom's approaching 15K (-6,000m)!

Posted Meters:
Keith J – 40,262 Been busy this week!
Jamie B – 18,329 Strong!
Jim C – 15,000 New distance...
John S – 13,620 Serious row!
Kyle J – 12,616 Four!
Adam M – 10,000 10K!

Lisa H – 6,064 Good to see a strong row from you!
Kevin K – 6,000 The man with the plan!
Dale C – 5,023 Can we start a habit of rowing?
Marco S – 5,022 Back to back!
Gary G – 4,629 Even longer!
Tom W – 4,000 Second post this week!

[Izzzmeister]

All hands on deck, pulling to rise from 10th Place! 9 of 43 members (21%) logged 93,754 total meters Tuesday!

Milestones achieved: Jim jammed 700K, Kevin conked 150K, Bob bopped 100K while Elisa elicited 35K!!
Approaching milestones: Yisroel now approaching 450K (-15,614m) while Kyle nears 350K (-17,027m)!

Posted Meters:
Bob G – 15,000 Tops!
Jim C – 15,000 Good distance...
Kyle J – 14,357 Over 66K in 5 days!
Yisroel H – 11,627 Strong 45-minute race!
John S – 11,225 Strong!

Adam M – 8,500 So solid!
Marco S – 7,045 Fifth row in 7 days!
Kevin K – 6,000 Streak up to 3...
Elisa H – 5,000 Becoming more consistent!

[Izzzmeister]

No, I didn't cut my meters, or forget about y'all. My diminished presence on this team thread is due to 2 things, one good, one bad.
First, the bad. The company at which I've worked 38 hours a week for the past 7 years as an outside contractor is moving most of their corporate offices to a higher taxing state, as they are very eager to Pay Their Fair Share (and because they got great tax breaks). It seems that every week, 2 or 3 people with whom I feel close are getting fired or leaving. (Of course, the work load remains the same, just distributed among fewer people.) I'm surprised by how much this is affecting me emotionally, considering that my job is likely safe until at least September, 2014.

The good news - at least, if you revel in my pain - is that I've upped my training a few notches.
I've been lifting weights heavily the past month, doing well more cross-training (bicycling after rows, walking/running & stair-climbing before resistance training), hard rows and speed work.
For the first time in my life, I'm actually lifting weights in order to increase muscle mass, not simply to increase strength. This isn't only so that I don't lose to Pamela in arm wrestling. It's also to increase my basal metabolic rate, so that I don't struggle to maintain 260 pounds on an amount of food that used to keep me at 215. It's to push my 2K times closer to 6:30, so that as Father Time smirkingly pulls me towards The Pit, I'm at least standing on higher ground. And maybe to beat some of those RowPro adversaries that stay just beyond my reach...
The bicycling is for when I go on bike rides with friends, the running is to get some of my loping stride back, and the stair-climbing is in case I absent-mindedly get on the wrong escalator one day. Also, it increases my endurance without putting undue strain on my elbows, and while putting different strain on my knees and lower back.
Still, I managed to get 200K erging in during June, though I needed to do a Half Marathon on the last day of June to hit the mark.

The weight amounts are going up a lot faster than the erg times are coming down. I just keep slapping on another 5 pounds each outing until I can't do the required reps. I make sure to always leave the gym totally wasted & to infuse some quality protein into my system within an hour of my workout. I also eat extra protein upon awakening the next morning, so that for as many minutes of the critical 24-hour post-workout period, my body should be in an "anabolic" (muscle-building) state.
The rest of the time, I'm eating like a bird, though I try not to use grains of sand for roughage. I'm eating things like nuts and berries and apples and kale and lentils and barley and flaxseed and nut butters and baby spinach (Swee' Pea's favorite food) and other things too horrible to mention. I'm shopping in places like Whole Foods, which makes no sense to me - if God wanted us to eat Whole Foods, why did He give us teeth?!
Everyone I knew who started eating this way always said that they never had so much energy in all their life - but I think it was just their attempt not to have to suffer alone. So, in a couple of weeks, I will excitedly tell you that I NEVER HAD SO MUCH ENERGY IN ALL MY LIFE!!! But, if I add statements like "honestly", "I swear" or especially "It's G-d's honest truth!", you'll know I'm bluffing, and it's just my sadistic streak breaking through.
In the meantime, I've lost 8 pounds this past month (from 264 to 256), which puts me within a pound of the weight I was at before I tried to eat my way out of New York last summer during an 11-day, 11-pound protest against moderation in all its forms. Carrying less weight should help me most in longer rows like HMs & FMs, but should at least be worth SOMETHING in 2Ks as well.

I'll try to keep y'all posted, but I also need you to help pull TimbukTOO out of 10th Place. I liked 8th Place so much better - how about you?

Izzz

[rockenmama]

I've been lifting weights heavily the past month, doing well more cross-training (bicycling after rows, walking/running & stair-climbing before resistance training), hard rows and speed work.
For the first time in my life, I'm actually lifting weights in order to increase muscle mass, not simply to increase strength. This isn't only so that I don't lose to Pamela in arm wrestling.
Izzz

Go ahead and take advantage of my "weakend" state

Having lots of stuff going on. CTA today, Endoscopy next Tuesday. I was told that more than likely I have MALS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_arc ... t_syndrome. I"ll find out for sure once the doctor gets my CTA results. Hope everyone else is doing well and rowing strong!

[damselfly]

Izz, Sorry about the job situation... It's hard to lose folks like that. I hope your position continues to be secure for as long as possible.

You are such an animal with the workouts!! Good for you. I admire you and folks like you and Andy who just seem constantly to up the ante. It's just not for me. And welcome to better eating land. It really does help. Keep up the great work!!

Pamela, sorry to hear about your continued struggles. Keep fighting the good fight!

Happy 4th to all!! I'm off to the pool for some laps.

[Izzzmeister]

All hands on deck, getting ready for the fireworks! 7 of 43 members (16%) logged 72,944 total meters Wednesday!

Milestones achieved: Yisroel topped 450K!!
Approaching milestones: Andy racing to 350K (-16,157m), Marco marching towards 300K (-23,098m) while Jamus pursues 200K (-7,941m)!

Posted Meters:
Yisroel H - 16,837 Short WU plus a strong hour!
Jim C - 15,000 Three days, 45K!
Andy I - 12,610 Stars & Stripes Forever!
Adam M - 8,000 Non-stop!
Jamie B - 7,027 Never count him out!
Marco S - 7,021 Sixth row this week!
Jamus M - 6,449 Great to see you back after a 2-week hiatus!

[Izzzmeister]

Izz, Sorry about the job situation... It's hard to lose folks like that...

So right after I post that I get an e-mail from this lady who has worked there for over 42 years, wasn't offered a new job (she wouldn't have left her farm & horses anyway), so is leaving a couple months ahead of time. She was one of the few people (besides Dilbert) who truly know how the place works & are able to get stuff done, besides being a delightful human being... Au revoir...

You are such an animal with the workouts!! Good for you. I admire you and folks like you and Andy who just seem constantly to up the ante. It's just not for me.

I hadn't upped the ante for 3 years, which is why my times slipped a bit, my weight rose a bit... And for a trail runner + erger, you ain't doin' so bad yourself, sis...

And welcome to better eating land. It really does help...

I'm grazing so much in Better Eating Land that my only comment to you right now is "MOO!"

[CONLEJM]

The rest of the time, I'm eating like a bird, though I try not to use grains of sand for roughage. I'm eating things like nuts and berries and apples and kale and lentils and barley and flaxseed and nut butters and baby spinach (Swee' Pea's favorite food) and other things too horrible to mention. I'm shopping in places like Whole Foods, which makes no sense to me - if God wanted us to eat Whole Foods, why did He give us teeth?!

When I found out I had high cholesterol I picked up a copy of Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat to "Live" and he espouses the very diet you mention; whole food plant-based diet. I'd say I am about 70% of the way to full adoption of this diet. My cholesterol and pulse and blood pressure are all perfect now thanks to diet and exercise. I am currently reading T. Colin Campbell's "The China Study" and it is fascinating; essentially the same diet plan.

I have been focusing on my overall average pace this season; currently at 1:52.5/500m to date. I'd like to keep it there the whole season, but it's so darn humid here lately that it's getting difficult to maintain this pace. Giving blood a couple weeks ago didn't help either. I was running 1:52.3/500m prior to that.

Pamela, I am hoping that you heal up quickly.

[Quatroux]

Izz-

Sorry to hear about your challenges at work. I was laid off unexpectedly once and it turned out to be one of the best things to ever happen to me. I feel a story coming on....
Hold on! Perhaps these will inspire you a bit.

I once smoked a pack a day until I moved to a town of nonsmokers (prevailing culture is a funny thing) and worked for a company that paid me $100 to quit (the first incentive I ever had to do so). This led to two surprises.

One, I was surprised how easy it was to quit despite the fact that coffee and beer didn’t taste right for months.

Two, I lost 50 pounds. It turns out that I had picked up a nasty habit of drinking a Dr Pepper every time I took a smoke break at work. At one point I was up to six 20 ounce drinks per day (that’s 1,500 calories)!!!!

My point is that sometimes challenges aren’t so challenging and rewards can be more rewarding (and in unexpected ways). Let's flash forward a few short years and see where this gets us.

I had been diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder as a child and barred from playing sports. The major risk was a weakened aorta which would have to be repaired to prevent rupture and sudden death. At 25, it was finally time to go have my chest split open. Think about this: best case scenario was I’d wake up in the ICU. If that is the best thing that will happen to you today then you are having a bad day.

You might have guessed this, but I did wake up. What you might have not guessed is that I was suddenly an extrovert. Seriously. I went under an introvert and came out a very happy extrovert. Much like the unexpected 50 pound weight loss after smoking, I underwent open heart surgery and came out with an unexpected gift of finding the true me.

You won’t find that in a medical journal, but it reinforces the idea that a lot of crazy positive things can come out of scary challenges.

My last story takes us to work. I was in the metals & mining industry working for a Fortune 500 every bit as poorly managed as Initech (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/). One Friday afternoon, they called an all-hands meeting to tell us that a bunch of coworkers had been laid off. “It had to be done.” They had made some tough choices that morning, but those of us left behind were part of a company destined for profitability. Most importantly, there would be no more layoffs.

On Monday, I got the chance to meet my boss’s boss for the very first time. It turns out that they had forgotten about IT. Seriously. They forgot about IT and were laying us off the day after telling everyone there would be no more layoffs.

I spent the next 16 months selling used books on Amazon and doing a bit of consulting. That wasn’t very fun, but the world did not end. It was like boot camp for my inner employee. Simply by surviving I became a fearless champion of me.

I am in a far better place because I’ve seen the other side. We now call out savings account the “go to hell fund”. People make too many compromises when they are afraid of losing their jobs. I saved up a little money so that I can walk out the door the next time I work for an Initech.

I take far greater risks at work and enjoy far greater rewards. In fact, my employers can sense my freedom and independence. I think I’m rewarded for that as well.

Those are my three stories. I hope we all learned that some challenges aren’t so challenging, some rewards are surprisingly rewarding, and Izz is still faster than me on the erg. I also got to write about me which is always fun.

[mathineer]

My latest long row in my quest to complete a halfathon: 12 Km this morning. Looking back through my log, I couldn't find a piece longer than 10 Km, so I have broken new ground today. I didn't have any problem with blisters on my hands today, the lower back is complaining a bit, but a new voice was added to the chorus today - that part of the anatomy upon which I sit! At least "the boys" didn't go to sleep like happens on long bike rides. I am grateful for that!

The good news is I have a bit of that good feeling I used to get after a long run. Tired, a bit sore, but a feeling of accomplishment.