Holiday Challenge

[Sally126y]

Oh it is good to hear you are all doing well with this!
Holly, I row in the spare bedroom, so it is pretty straightforward. For a while I had it in the basement but I like being upstairs much more. I will have to put it back in the basement for the holidays so maybe joining a virtual team would be helpful for keeping me on the rower for January. I haven’t been on a team before, Sharkey.
Jill, have you switched to Christmas music yet or still on David Bowie???
48 k left to go! Let’s row!
Sally

[lindsayh]

Oh it is good to hear you are all doing well with this!
Holly, I row in the spare bedroom, so it is pretty straightforward. For a while I had it in the basement but I like being upstairs much more. I will have to put it back in the basement for the holidays so maybe joining a virtual team would be helpful for keeping me on the rower for January. I haven’t been on a team before, Sharkey. Jill, have you switched to Christmas music yet or still on David Bowie??? 48 k left to go! Let’s row! Sally

Sally you would be very welcome to join the Forum Flyers for the next challenge if you would like (and you can do the C2CTC challenges each month as well!)
We are active on this forum though not huge and based all around the world.

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=75382
http://www.c2ctc.com/

Best

[Admers]

Hi everyone - reading through your latest posts, a post of a different variety is now definitely in sight for us … The Winning Post! Great going girls!

Much admiration there Sharky, for grappling with, and seeing off, the ‘ I don’t want to do it demons ‘ .

Holly, when I started erging, I could not stand on one leg, left or right, for more that a couple of seconds, before losing my balance. Now, four years later, with my balance much improved, because of stronger leg muscles, I can. So keep positive and persevere with your training and you will gradually reap the benefits. I think that being consistent is the key.

Sally, apart from Greg Lake’s I Believe in Father Christmas, I am rather allergic to Christmas music … but, I do hope that your own selection is providing you with a huge amount of pleasure.

Sharky, I belong to the virtual team, Free Spirits and as far as I know, we will be competing in the January Challenge.

The club has its own website and various forums - which are easy enough to look up if you are curious.

One of the attractions is the Meterboard which is unique to Free Spirits and is used by members to monitor their current season’s metres. The more they row, the higher their place on the board - most people find it very motivational and in lots of cases quite addictive.

My husband encouraged me to join FS when I took up erging because I was overweight and unfit and I found chatting with others on the Weight Loss thread an excellent morale booster.

Of course, like other clubs, people come and go, but I have always found those who contribute to the forum to be respectful, friendly, supportive and always willing to answer queries. On three occasions now, I have even met some of them - lovely to put a face to a name.

I see that a member of Forum Flyers has already kindly passed on some info for Sally.

Our erg is in the garage. When I began rowing, ( first thing usually ) it was springtime and I did worry that come the winter months, the cold and dark mornings might test my motivation. Luckily, by the time winter did arrive, I was in a good routine and it didn’t bother me. Layers helped of course.

I am a little bit ahead of schedule at the moment with 28,343m to go - possibility of losing two days before the 19th, so as an insurance policy, I thought it would be wise to bank some extra metres.

Nearly there,

Jill

[Sally126y]

Thanks Lindsay and Jill for the info about virtual teams. I’ve found the forum to be a great help to me and pretty interesting with so many people from different places geographically and otherwise that I do plan on continuing to take part in some way,
Yay Jill...you are almost there! Prepare for the Victory lap! not sure how that would work out in a rower
Today was pretty easy going. I stopped watching my monitor like a border collie and let my mind travel instead. It was sll good.
Holly, how is hubby doing? Are you getting time to row?
Sharkey, did the swag from Concept II arrive yet? I live in Canada so figure my $$ wouldn’t have much shopping power

[wildrover]

Hello team! I'll certainly miss you all after Christmas, this has been fun for me!

The 2 teams you have mentioned look like fun. I've been worried about joining one, because my schedule is so erratic these days, and I certainly don't contribute well to the 'average meters' category. Let me know what your plans are!

I have 440m to go for my 100K (plan well Holly?). But we have no plans to leave the house for a few days, so I'll be able to add a few more meters.

Regards,
Holly

[dykebert]

Getting excited!

Just under 20K to go for me! Should be adding another 5K+ this afternoon. (trying to avoid another 1 hour row! ) I could probably finish on Monday, but I'm going to schedule things so I finish on Tuesday. That way I'll finish both the Holiday Challenge and the weight loss challenge at work on the same day, And then there is a department party after work with pinball and pizza!!!!

Sally, yes, I got the swag. I've got the sweatshirt hanging up where I can see it. I'm not wearing it until I hit the 200K mark. Likewise I'm not filling the beer glass until I'm done. The decal is going up however. (I bought a cheap frame and I'm posting decals from the events I finish.)

Holly don't worry about how many meters you do compared to others on the team. Whatever you add is more than 0 which is what they would have without you! Also, not to worry about losing us. No reason why we can't do a new thread in January!

Jill, thanks for the information about the Free Spirits team. I'm thinking about joining them. Their forum is active with a wide variety of topics. (http://www.freespiritsrowing.com)

We got this!
Sharky

[dykebert]

Drum-roll please!

• Hit the 200K mark.
  Got 3rd place in the weight loss challenge at work (8.26%)
  Dropped a pant size
  Average pace dropped from 03:28 the week before the challenge to 03:05 this past week.
  Best pace for the season dropped from 02:55 to 02:48

What other successes are there?

Sharky
You row girl!

[Sally126y]

Congratulations Sharkey! Pounds, percents, pace and pants! Loud cheers in my corner of the world!
I have 10,400 m left to go, planning to break it into two and be done on Thursday.
How is everyone else doing?
Sally

[Sally126y]

...annnddd...4.35 k left to row! Easy peasy, one hopes! It is looking good for earning my pin tomorrow. You know, part of the reason I joined the challenge was to raise money for charity. I didn’t realize how insignificant my contribution would be as I made the decision before I did the math. (Kinda like retirement, my inner nasty voice says! ) But through the efforts of all those participating it does become a tidy sum. Pats on the back, all!
Row on!
Sally

[Admers]

Hello there girls - it has been more smile inducing moments for me, as I catch up again with your recent posts.

Hit the 200K mark.
Got 3rd place in the weight loss challenge at work (8.26%)
Dropped a pant size
Average pace dropped from 03:28 the week before the challenge to 03:05 this past week.
Best pace for the season dropped from 02:55 to 02:48

Congratulations and respect, Sharky, on earning your Quintet of Qualifications.

Hope that there are not any beer stains or assorted pizza toppings, spilt down the front of your new sweatshirt?

...annnddd...4.35 k left to row! Easy peasy, one hopes! It is looking good for earning my pin tomorrow.

Sally, a marvellous effort and a big day for you today; as you ‘ breast the winning tape ‘, get ready to physically, ( and yes, it is possible ) give yourself plenty of pats on the back. At the start of the challenge you weren’t very confident about rowing 100,000 metres …

I have 440m to go for my 100K (plan well Holly?). But we have no plans to leave the house for a few days, so I'll be able to add a few more meters.

Holly, if you cock your head and listen, you’ll hear our voices calling out across the virtual airwaves, “ Come on Holly! Come on Holly! Nearly there Holly! “

Holly, what ever doubts you have about your present erging abilities, then think about this. So far, for this challenge, you have rowed approximately … 62 miles!! That’s a wonderful achievement. Lots and lots to be proud of.

I completed the challenge on Sunday as I could see that life in the form of ‘ The Christmas Craziness ‘ was about to finally catch up with me. Sally, I may be allergic to Christmas music, but when it comes to the dreaded CC, vaccination is the only answer. Unfortunately, it only gives me temporary immunity …

Ladies, if you do decide to join a team of your choice for the January Challenge, then the amount of your metres rowed, no matter how large or small, will be a most welcome and appreciated contribution.

Sharky, thank you again for starting this thread - it was mere chance that I saw it as I rarely look at the C2 forum. I have enjoyed exchanging messages with you all - not only has it been motivating, but also great fun.

Girls you have been Champions.

I do hope that you all have an enjoyable Christmas

Jill

[wildrover]

You guys are awesome! Yay us! Thanks for the cheers, and congratulations team!

I finished my 100K a couple days ago, and the rest is a gift. Mostly I aimed for a 2:50 on the long pieces, and a 2:30 for the sprints. Slow but sure huh?

Hope all are enjoying the music of the season (or not) on the erg. I'm watching the Walking Dead.

Thank you all!

Holly

[Sally126y]

Hi Sharkey, Jill, and Holly,
We all did it! I just finished. Sharkey, I add my thanks to Jill’s for getting us started. Really proud of this little group and how we cheered each other on.
Wishing you peace and joy through the holidays.
Sally