Holiday Challenge 2006!

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 12th, 2006, 1:18 pm

Widgeon, Super! Way to go! WOOHOO! and the kids are doing great also, personal best is what matters and they are surpassing last years...so a BIG HIGH 5 to them!
I'm doing hour long rows these days also...got so busy yesterday that I was doing it at 10pm, watching March of the Penguins...kept telling myself if those little dudes can stand all that then I can row with 'em...got 12k + so felt good for an hour's work at my age and condition. I would have never guessed I could row 10k+ on a daily basis but am thinking of keeping this up now even after the challenge. I am better than last year too. Like you say, some fast ones inbetween are fun too. I'm working on the 'fat burn' so the long and steady is my main focus.
GO DUCKS!!! Fend off all challengers!!! GIRLS RULE! QUACK!!

Best Wishes to all out there...
Birdi

Hapa · Post by **Hapa** » December 12th, 2006, 1:51 pm

Birdi wrote:WOOHOO! DUCKS still holding #5 place!! I missed yesterday, due to chasing down some mail theft at our box out here in the country...carrier left a package from my pal in UK right there on the road at the box! HELLO! If it doesn't fit in the box you bring it to the door or leave a pickup slip! DUH! The package was pilfered thru but most of the real personal heartfelt stuff was still there, thank God. Ruined my day, hubby put a lock box out there...anyways...
Nahongvita!! (Hopi for: stay strong physically) Any Native Americans out there?

Birdi, sorry to hear about the mail theft. Did you report it to your post office also? I've heard they're pretty responsive, but I don't know if there's a risk of the mail carrier then getting back at you (sort of like the feeling you get if you ever complain at a restaurant). But, glad to hear that most of the important stuff was still there.

I'm not Native American, but thanks for the Nahongvita! I definitely need it!

Good luck with the rest of the challenge!

Aiko

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 12th, 2006, 2:26 pm

Dear Hapa, Yes I've reported it by calling our local office to see what was up with the package like that and no address...they said it was a 'sub' carrier and that was WAY wrong to leave it like that...duh! and she said it was 'intact' when she left it, well it wasn't when we got home! They asked if I wanted to file a formal complaint and I said no, just let her know what this cost me...we got a locking box now ($100) and I've placed a 'reminder' note inside the door to NOT leave ANYTHING out here on a rural road!

In the rain in WA!!?? What's wrong with this person???

My pal who sent it was equally upset as it cost her a great deal to send. We don't often mail each other from US to UK as it's expensive! wondering if it's the thieves or the carriers I should be worried about? Hope for no retaliation as you say, that hadn't come to mind...yikes! I'm missing stamps I ordered too, I have 'case numbers' now and they are 'working' on it...whatever that means... Thanks for your concern, I appreciate it. It got me so mad and hurt that I rowed like crazy for two days stewing over it... a good thing I suppose! Stress relief!

I'm caught up for the missing day now too.

Hapa · Post by **Hapa** » December 12th, 2006, 4:17 pm

Birdi wrote:Dear Hapa, Yes I've reported it by calling our local office to see what was up with the package like that and no address...they said it was a 'sub' carrier and that was WAY wrong to leave it like that...duh! and she said it was 'intact' when she left it, well it wasn't when we got home! They asked if I wanted to file a formal complaint and I said no, just let her know what this cost me...we got a locking box now ($100) and I've placed a 'reminder' note inside the door to NOT leave ANYTHING out here on a rural road! In the rain in WA!!?? What's wrong with this person??? My pal who sent it was equally upset as it cost her a great deal to send. We don't often mail each other from US to UK as it's expensive! wondering if it's the thieves or the carriers I should be worried about? Hope for no retaliation as you say, that hadn't come to mind...yikes! I'm missing stamps I ordered too, I have 'case numbers' now and they are 'working' on it...whatever that means... Thanks for your concern, I appreciate it. It got me so mad and hurt that I rowed like crazy for two days stewing over it... a good thing I suppose! Stress relief! I'm caught up for the missing day now too.

Especially with the rain we've had the past few days. We've had some problems as well with substitute carriers leaving a package on the mailbox ledge that serves the whole block (no way of knowing without looking at the package who it was for), and once they shoved a large cardboard envelope into the mailbox so hard that I almost couldn't even get it out and it was completely ripped up! I know I'd be completely P*!@ssed if they did that to a package I got from Japan, shipping is probably just as bad if not worse than from the UK.

Well, at least there was a silver lining in that you let loose on the erg.

Aiko

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » December 12th, 2006, 6:03 pm

Birdi wrote:We don't often mail each other from US to UK as it's expensive!

You should use DHL, they are an excellent courier. I had a great experience with their call centre and their driver (who collected my consignment from my door) today.

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 12th, 2006, 6:59 pm

WOW, thanks girls, you know what you're talking about! I really appreciate the shared stories and advice! We DUCKS of a feather, stick together....

grams · Post by **grams** » December 13th, 2006, 5:54 pm

More Northwest weather on the way. The predicition is for high winds tonight. Perhaps we will be doing our Christmas cards by candlelight.

I'm up to 72,000m for the HC. I skippped some days due to my sacroiliac/sciatica problem, however Eric the pt guy crunched me back into some semblance of normality and suggested that I try Pilates stretching.

My new Pilates dvd is just right. 20 minutes of slow stretching on a mat and I was loosened up enough to enjoy my erg session. I did better at it too-maybe not faster but certainly with a smoother stroke.

Any other ducks out there who do Pilates? How has it helped you with other exercises/sports?

grams

River · Post by **River** » December 13th, 2006, 5:56 pm

Hi everyone,

It's so easy to break a habit that isn't a habit yet!! I haven't rowed since Saturday, so I thought checking in on the forum would give me a boost.

I finally logged all my summer/fall mileage online--and I noticed that in August I was rowing really well for me (about every other day).

Congrats to Birdi, Widgeon, Stargazer, and Fish who are well on their way to demolishing the HC. And congrats to the rest of us too, who are meeting our weekly/daily goals to finish the HC.

How do you sign up for a training partner? Do you just do it by asking on a post like this?

Ok, now I'm going to get on the erg and do a slow 10K to make up for the past 3 days of slovenliness ; )

River

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 13th, 2006, 6:18 pm

Yep, you're right Grams, here we go again with the wind and rain...what a season already, my pals near BayCenter are spending zillions $$$ on their beach front errosion. We here in the Gorge get the wind coming and going with each pressure change! I feel for you with the sciatica problem, mine is result of a bad car accident. I don't do Pilates but I do a little T'ai Chi and it seems to help. I use a 'morning stretch' style of moves. I stand up over my erg every few thousand meters and stretch then hop back on before it stops the monitor...helps your sore butt too!
River, I'm about to go upstairs and row at least a 10k also, will be thinking of you. I'm at 130k + now.....go,go,go,go....stroke, stroke, stroke....!!!! I did a rest day yesterday of 6k after two days of 12k...I sort of go for 2-3 days of long, then a short, then back to long again.
Let's keep that 5th place and go for 4th! See what we can do! Com'on DUCKS, paddle, paddle, paddle!!! (today is our anniv and we're going out to eat, gotta fend off the calories now....take that you fat cells

margaret · Post by **margaret** » December 13th, 2006, 7:48 pm

I also have done Pilates. It drastically improved my posture (made me more aware), which helped relieve stress on my back. The strengthening & stretching for my hip flexors helped relieve some post-natal pain/weakness I was experiencing. It also improved my lower back flexibility more than yoga had. I had an excellent teacher to start with. Correct technique is everything, at least it was for me. I don't do it now for sheer lack of time; I need aerobics more now. I loved it and look forward to returning to it someday.

Don't know which video you have. I tried a few after my class ended. Ana Caban's beginning & intermediate were good, I disliked Moira Stott's intermediate, but I loved Hilary Burnett's intermediate. You can compare reviews on the internet.

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 13th, 2006, 9:11 pm

WOW Girls, did you see, we've moved up to 4th and picked up another member, we are 148 strong now!
Confession: I only rowed 6506 cuz Hubby is chomping at the bit for our anniv dinner out. I got 50 million phone calls this pm and it ruined my rowing time, I know I could have shut off the phone but they caught me before I got on the erg and some were very important...alas... I'm pumped up and so after this early dinner settles down I have an itch to come home and row just a wee bit more, wanted my 10k for today. Did I mention we have been together for 32 years!

GO DUCKS!!

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 14th, 2006, 2:40 am

Just for the record, I came home and rowed another 4K+ Just had to get over that 10k for the day. Eeeewwww, don't row on full stomach, blahhhh!
10,557 today, should have just done it all at once and been a little later to dinner but we had fun.
Best wishes to all out there!

Kiwi_Rower · Post by **Kiwi_Rower** » December 14th, 2006, 9:33 am

Congratz Birdi on your 32 years! Awesome

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 14th, 2006, 1:28 pm

Thanks Kiwi, we even have friends who have been married similar lengths. Hard to imagine these days! My parents were married 47 years when my Dad passed on and Bruce's parents are married still.
I'm at 141,444 on the HC, feeling like a finish over 200k is possible.
To all my fellow WA State residents and the Pacific NW in general, batten down the hatches today, eh? It's blowing and pouring buckets here already, my pond is totally full and my creek is a river now and snow level is coming down this weekend....wild it's not even winter yet!
We may be paddling on water yet! But try to stay in your houses and ERG for the meters DUCKS!

Birdi · Post by **Birdi** » December 14th, 2006, 1:32 pm

Paddle Ducks! We have U of NM and RowPro breathing down our necks and nippin at our tails, paddle, paddle, paddle....

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Holiday Challenge 2006!

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