Introduce yourself

[bassongirl]

Thx for your answer. Is there a team thread in the forum? Do all team members know each other in real or are there "virtual" teams also?

[Dangerscouse]

Thx for your answer. Is there a team thread in the forum? Do all team members know each other in real or are there "virtual" teams also?

There are threads for Sub 7 and Forum Flyers, but most are on Facebook, as Team Oarsome is.

There probably are some people that know each other, but the vast majority of us are virtual teams. I've only met a handful of my team members, and that's been at an all too rare competition.

I always row at home and we all communicate via a team Facebook page and the CTC website (www.c2ctc.com)

[DavidA]

Thx for your answer. Is there a team thread in the forum? Do all team members know each other in real or are there "virtual" teams also?

There are threads for Sub 7 and Forum Flyers, but most are on Facebook, as Team Oarsome is.

There probably are some people that know each other, but the vast majority of us are virtual teams. I've only met a handful of my team members, and that's been at an all too rare competition.

I always row at home and we all communicate via a team Facebook page and the CTC website (www.c2ctc.com)

Lunatics is another popular, virtual team. They are largely on a thread here. Similarly, I know a few have met in person, but most only know each other through this site.

David

[Annisotropic]

Hi,
I'm surprised no-one has introduced themselves for over a year - maybe it's "not the done thing" any more?
But I've rarely done the done thing in life, so here goes.

First sat on an erg about 43 years ago, at college - it was a new-fangled device that our coach borrowed from the club next door, and we all stepped on it with bemusement. I have no idea what my result was, I only remember falling off it when I finished, and being taken more seriously thereafter.
Didn't see an erg for another 20 years, then I had a long phase (6-8 years?) of using it fairly regularly at the gym. I rowed on the water too and my times were respectable, but I never competed indoors.
I stopped rowing, stopped going to the gym, got dogs, and had an active job, so stayed moderately fit. Bought a model E off ebay, but used it rarely.
Now I'm retired, my mother's carer, getting no exercise, and grazing on snacks all day. Got exactly the wake-up call I needed when I bought new jeans in a larger size and they STILL didn't fit .
The only diet that works for me is to faithfully record every morsel that passes my lips, and I've lost 7.5kg in 10 weeks, with at least another 10kg to go. Any extra calories I can burn is a bonus so I dusted off the erg and started with a very modest 100 cal the first day, 101 the second day etc, with one day off per week. I'm up to 148 cal due to row today. Some days I can't believe how long it takes, other days I'm in the zone and get pleasantly surprised. I've just learned that the calorie counter isn't reliable, but it's just a ballpark figure, I don't need it to be accurate.
The loose plan is to increase daily until I'm up to around 5k, which equates to around 300cal/30 minutes which seems like it will be sustainable long-term. If I get keen and want to play with improving my times, then great - but I'd rather be slow every day, than fast for a week and then give up under the pressure.
I like playing with data, seeing what other people are up to, getting ideas, learning more about nutrition and physiology - and the history of the erg. Would love to collect some historical models if I happen to come across them. There surely must be a few model A's in attics across the land, waiting to be re-loved???

[Annisotropic]

After posting the above, I had a good dig around on the concept site and found the "row the distance" challenges. It's possible to enter miles already rowed, so with the 70 miles done already this year, it should be realistic to reach 500 miles by 31st December, if I increase immediately to 5k per day with a few extra sessions here and there.
Next discovery was the BPP. I already knew about the full-fat version but had never been willing to commit to that consistent intensity. The BPP is perfect for where I'm at now, and the timing and distances covered will fit well with the 500 miles, so that commenced yesterday.
Finally, I registered on the concept logbook - it already existed when I last rowed regularly, but computers were a bit of a luxury back then - I had one, but it took up the entire cupboard under the stairs and took about 10 minutes to switch on and boot up.....

[Dangerscouse]

If I get keen and want to play with improving my times, then great - but I'd rather be slow every day, than fast for a week and then give up under the pressure.

Welcome to the forum, and I really like this paragraph.

[Annisotropic]

Thanks, Dangerscouse .
It has taken a long time to learn how to ignore the lizard brain, urging me to record a PB every time I go near the machine...... That never ends well