Starting over . . . anyone else like me out there?

[SarahG]

I've been browsing the posts on the forum, there's not a lot of activity in the women's section, and this is made up of some pretty elite, advanced athletes. I'm in kind of a strange position. I may be the only one like me out there.

I rowed 2 yrs. in high school and 1 yr. in college (had some health problems and had to transfer to a school that did not have crew). While in college, I was pulling respectable times, though we did not do 2k or 6k tests. Women's crew was fairly new, and no one else there had experience so the winter was spent in the tank, on the weights, and familiarizing ourselves with the erg.

Anyway . . . so it's twenty years later, two children later, and many, many pounds later. I was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago. Lost a lot of weight, gained some back after my second child was born. I finally joined a gym here in the sticks (rural Louisiana) and was thrilled (well, not really) to see they have some Concept 2s. Needless to say, I'm the only one who's ever on them. I'm terrified they're going to sell them and I'll be out of luck. One of them has a bum flywheel and the chain keeps jumping off---well, I'm the only one who pulls hard enough to jump it, I guess. They won't get it fixed.

I am coming into these workouts out of shape, with fairly poor cardio conditioning. I have always been stronger than I have been able to endure, even in college. I have occasional exercise-induced asthma, and I never know when or how it will affect a workout. I am three weeks into my workout program. I have hit some personal goals--- a sub-2:10 split on my 1K, a 2:15 split on my 2k. That's an improvement from my first day on May 30, when I had to stop after 1k, and with 2:30 splits at that!

I'm getting the callouses on my palms (ah, the good old days!) and blisters on my tail. Never had those before! I was always an on-the-water rower, and where I live, that is just not an option. I don't know if I'll ever live somewhere where I can be on the water again. Today, finally, I convinced myself to watch my knees and stop letting my left arm go between them like I do for sweep rowing. It's kind of like finally saying goodbye to a pet. I miss it so much it hurts, I love the water so much. Erging is just not the same, but at least it's good for me!

I pulled a 6K today, not as fast as I could have (there was no strategy, I just wanted to try it, so that in itself was a milestone), in a dismal time, even for a 36 yo. woman, 5' 9" and 175.

Is there another lady out there in a similar position? I'm reading about all these super-fast times and wanting to throw up. My last power 10 at 5500m today came in at a whopping 1:49 at 28SPM. Ugh.

I would like to set some realistic goals.

Thanks!

Sarah
Monroe, Louisiana

[mjl1261]

Maybe what you need is some good old perspective.

I am older, shorter, and heavier. I'd never rowed anything but a canoe in my life until February. Now I erg six days a week. I've lost a whopping two pounds and I am thrilled. My blood pressure is 96/58. My clothes fit better (not great, but better).

I can't speak for those who used to row real fast times back in the day because I was never one of those. But I love my rower and I love that I can get up at 4:00 a.m. and row before work. I'll probably never be even in the shape you are now, but I'm here long-term and it's something I can shoot for.

Hang in there and enjoy that you can do things many of us can't!

[DavidA]

Sarah,
Welcome. I think that you will find there are actually a number of people in similar situations to you here. There is quite a range. You might want to look at some of the fora for the virtual teams like TimbukToo and Luna-tics. I think it is good to set goals for yourself, and to not get too caught up with what some others here can do, as some are very accomplished athletes, or have been doing this for a longer time, or both.
Good luck to you and on meeting, and beating your goals.

Sincerely,
David

P.S. I once had a job interview in Monroe.

[jamesg]

S, well done on everything, especially that 1:49@28, shows you know what a rowing stroke is all about. A few more stiff ones like that, well let's say 50.000, albeit at lower rating, and you'll be among the fittest on the planet.

[Rhubarbarian]

Good for you for jumping back in. I'm 58, once upon a time reasonably fit, but time and tide have taken their toll. Never rowed in college, so I have no clue what is a respectable time, but I know that since beginning on the erg in December I have made tangible improvements in over all fitness and endurance and gratifying improvements leg strength. My opinion is that if you are willing to spend the time in the seat and pay attention to technique, you will reap the benefit, even if you wouldn't win any races should you chose to compete, which I don't.

[GetSet2Go]

Hi There,
I'm very short, five foot nothing and 56k so I'm not exactly built for this erg thing. By the time my legs are fully extended I've hardly moved
And I'm real slow. I can row a half in about two hours! But you know, my doctor says I have the blood pressure of a teenager ( I'm 45), my cholesterol is great and my asthma more or less behaves! I'm still hoping to get faster on my half marathon time, I'm sure I will. I went thru a stage of wanting to give it away feeling like I was so unsuited for the erg. But I love it, and isn't that the point
Good luck, and have fun.
Laura

[Bob S.]

Hi There,
I'm very short, five foot nothing and 56k so I'm not exactly built for this erg thing. By the time my legs are fully extended I've hardly moved :lol:
And I'm real slow. I can row a half in about two hours! But you know, my doctor says I have the blood pressure of a teenager ( I'm 45), my cholesterol is great and my asthma more or less behaves! I'm still hoping to get faster on my half marathon time, I'm sure I will. I went thru a stage of wanting to give it away feeling like I was so unsuited for the erg. But I love it, and isn't that the point :)
Good luck, and have fun.
Laura

It not whether or not you are suited for the erg. It is whether or not the erg is suited for you. The results say that it most certainly is, so go for it!

Not all ergers are going to be speedy. At least half of them will be slower than average. If you can make improvements in your time - great! But improvements in your health are far more significant.

At my age (84) improvement is out of the question, but I erg to keep the rate of decline down to a dull roar.

Bob S.

Bob S.

[slwiser]

For me it is not a matter of starting over since I never started before May this year. I hope to regain some of the strength that I lost over the past several years having heart trouble. I think I am making good progress. As Bob S. suggests; fitness and therefore quality of life as a goal is not something to take lightly no matter how fast one may be.