anyone using an adapted rowing machine? (an intro of sorts)

[marathonoflife]

strangely,

today tried a 20 min. session,
eyes closed (my watch beeped when it was 5 secs to go)
and concentrating on 'form' alone
(actually visualized that was on the water)....

did 3728M in 20 min.

while yesterday, trying it "normally"
(concentrating the best that I could on form,
while also looking at the ave./500m as well as
time and distance covered -was going for a 5000m)

did 5000m in 30 min.

considerably slower is it not?
I am 'dense' enough that I forgot to check the ave./500m on those,

-minna (or am I that 'dense' that I can't calculate the speed correctly either?)

[DavidA]

Minna,
It isn't actually a particularly complex calculation, but you can use the Pace Calculator to do the calculations for you.

David

[marathonoflife]

thank you for pointing out the calculatr.

there is a HUGE difference,

the 3728m was done at a pace of 2:40.9/500

while the 4000m was done at a split of3:45/500.

can there really be such a difference if one is concentrating with eyes closed....


yesterday I was happy with the results.

did 2 x 5000m
and each was almost identical @2:52/500.

one was at drag factor 133, the second one at a drag factor of 154.

(only difference in time was 6/100ths of a sec.)

thank you for pointing me to the pace calculator...


am now on my way to the million metre club...
with about70,000 metres in 2 months.

I think at this pace it will take me a few yrs to reach a million....

got to get out there a row another 10K today...

Handitransit (wheelchair bussing) can't get here fast enough...
(@ 7:30AM)....

-minna

[DavidA]

Minna,
Good luck on getting to the million meters. There is no time limit and no rush. You seem to be doing quite well.

David

[marathonoflife]

got a rowing log book from Concept2 in the mail (along with a dvd)

the log book showed me quickly something that didn't
really think about....

until filling in dates, times, distances etc.
and having a visual representation.

first month of trying to row: (june),
did 5 days, and totalled 17,861m

the next month,
did 20,596m in 5 days
(am still trying to figure out why,
other then that my track log book indicates
tons of mileage on the road, time trials, and basic
long distance riding in July)

now, so far in august (in 11 days)
have rowed 27,352m in 5 days

and still have 20 more days to go this month.

also, in June was concentrating on sprinting 500m distances
August will be concentrating on getting up to about 15,000m
in one session...

that should be good enough, along with a 20KM road-steady-slow day....
for August,
and then concentrating on shorter rowing sessions (but again some speed work mixed in there) until tapering down the 3rd wk. of Sept.
for my half marathon on Oct1st.

I think rowing has made me a much better road races
in the realm of concentration.

Having allready enough arms, shoulders and back to carry me to the finish line,
is not enough.

there has to be an element of concentration,
focus....
which i could never get at the YMCA (even while listening to mp3 player while riding the track),

or on the roads,
until started to row
with deliberate concentration on form.

now, when get in my racing wheelchair
feel myself starting to focus on form....

there are also 4 "steps" to a good stride in wheelchair racing,
like in rowing...

and each 'step' must flow like it was all one motion
meant to be the natural method of propulsion
for the racer.

when that 'flow' comes...
(in road racing)
it is a feeling of total freedom
and control

a feeling of absolute concrete motion
yet gliding on the road
as if merely touching the surface.

-minna

[marathonoflife]

to get a personal record on my 5 km road race aug. 20th
(and 2nd overall in age/gender category and 14th over all of all contestants)

I was able to shave off over 2 min. from my previous personal best in 5km roadrace.

am very happy with that,
and the fact that have been able to join the canoe club and started kayaking
on the water one way or another

[chgoss]

Congratulations! I suspect the erging helped just with general fitness level, as the road race was all "push" with the upper body as opposed to "pull" on the erg?

[marathonoflife]

Congratulations! I suspect the erging helped just with general fitness level, as the road race was all "push" with the upper body as opposed to "pull" on the erg?

yes, that is really the only difference...
although a big one.

as you indicated, the general fitness,
especially vo2max seems to have truly increased immensely
once started the erg.

also, have continued this erging addiction
with hoping to join the rowing club here,
and learn to row on water, but they do not seem to be very
interested at all in having folks in wheelchairs
around their club...

as sat upon the dock one day this summer
and looked with yearning
as youth got in their sculls and sweeped
on by silently.

could not stop that one large stone
tear from falling on the useless legs
which just laid there in front of me...

as if some foreign object
to me by now.

then the canoe club commodore showed up.

that changed everything.

have begun kayaking,
the instructor has always wanted to teach people with disabilities
to kayak, but never had the 'right moment'.

there i was,
his right moment.

and there he was,
the link to getting myself on the water.

what a beautiful experience it has been,
kayaking for up to 6 hrs in a day
from island to island on the lake right in our city.

he truly has made a remarkeable difference in
my quality of my life.

[Bob S.]

then the canoe club commodore showed up.
that changed everything.
have begun kayaking,
the instructor has always wanted to teach people with disabilities
to kayak, but never had the 'right moment'.
there i was,
his right moment.
and there he was,
the link to getting myself on the water.
what a beautiful experience it has been,
kayaking for up to 6 hrs in a day
from island to island on the lake right in our city.

It is really great that you have found an alternate path to getting out on the water. There are a few clubs, like the Long Beach Rowing Association that accomodate adaptive rowing, but kayaking doesn't require any adaptation — and you can see where you are going.

Bob S.

[marathonoflife]

It is really great that you have found an alternate path to getting out on the water. There are a few clubs, like the Long Beach Rowing Association that accomodate adaptive rowing, but kayaking doesn't require any adaptation — and you can see where you are going.

Bob S.

Hello Bob S.,

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate you taking the time.

Am also greatful to get out on the water...

as for kayaking needing adapting, actually there is some needed.

Bracing (typically with ones knees) is impossible in a typical manner.
It has been difficult to learn to balance the kayak
(without rolling over,
have not rolled yet, unless was told to do so by my instructor)

Finally, some of us actually have very little ability to balance,
and therefore we need a type of outrigger attached to the back of the kayak (luckily after doing 6 months of abs, and back work,
am able to balance on the kayak fairly decently).



.

I realized that the wellness ball exercises have helped immensely
( some doudted my ability to get on the ball, but I insisted and after months of falling on my face, I have been quite successful withh sitting on the ball for lengths of time so am able to do a fair bit of core strength exercises.)

I am still very much hoping that our rowing club would accept me,
but the canoe and kayak club shares the same facilities and perhaps if kayak there often enough will be able to finally get an adapted rowing program. I volunteered writing for the newsletter production for these clubs (they share newsletters), have two interviews coming up in the near future with our local media (once I come back from my half marathon road race next weekend) because they somehow find it remarkeable that less then a year after I could not hold up my own head (not to mention pushing my wheelchair around), I have raced several road races this summer and will be commencing my road racing season with this half marathon. I do not actually understand at all as to what is so remarkeable about any of it.... I know many face larger challenges and keep on going.... it really is an embarrassement to have these interviews and I now regret having said that I will do them. I hope the media "attention" will help the rowing club realize that we are out there and not giving up....


Here in Ontario until recently there have been only 4 adapted rowing programs (all in the South, and I live 6 hr drive North-without a car)

I just have to keep hoping...
and not loose perspective despite the obstacles our rowing club is throwing at me....

I would love to join the long beach adapted rowing club, but that wont ever be possible.

I don;t think I could afford to purchase a cardboard hut in the slums if I lived in California.... living on less then $20,000US/yr supporting two autistic kids seems to keep us barely able to "make it" as it is.

[TabbRows]

marathonforlife:

Take all your writings, prose, poetry, musings, highpoints, lowpoints, the whole schmere, put them into either a blog or a book! Work on this for a couple of years, or pull out what you've done over the past couple of years. And share this with the world! I'd buy a copy. I enjoy reading them.

Keep kayaking and erging and wheelchair racing your way through it all.

ST

[marathonoflife]

marathonforlife:

Take all your writings, prose, poetry, musings, highpoints, lowpoints, the whole schmere, put them into either a blog or a book! Work on this for a couple of years, or pull out what you've done over the past couple of years. And share this with the world! I'd buy a copy. I enjoy reading them.

Keep kayaking and erging and wheelchair racing your way through it all.

ST

Am humbled to read such words of accolade,
but I can't write a book because i would never want money for it,
and noone will print it for free.

So, the internet IS my book


but regardless, thank you for your generous and kind words.

-marathonoflife

[marathonoflife]

It actually started early Monday25Th,
the preparation that is.

Rowed (ergometer) a slow 2 hr for 20 km,
did a bit of strength work etc.,
but basically worked on feeding myself
and keeping myself hydrated
so I also could have that magical
colourless urine before race day.

It worked. By Friday I was certain
the calenders ALL must be wrong
and the race day had arrived.

Partially succumbing to my whims,
partially trying to keep myself
from going "insane'
(or did I all ready go there??
I have short term memory loss,
I often forget where I go Wink)
or trying to get high once more
on lactic acid and endorphins.

Went for a short 5 km 'round the block'
and waited...
for Sat. AM to arrive, for the traveling to start.

I knew I would feel like I am all ready "half way there"
if I just start traveling South.

It worked, until I saw the rain and the amazing wind
on Sat. night.
After picking up the great Mizuno technical shirt,
the PEC Marathon socks, and other items such as
a Mizuno bag, and munchies I headed on to drive the route.

I was shocked to see that those which I interpreted as
hills in the elevation map, seemed more like
humps in the road in Sudbury

(seriously, we have a
6 degree hill on our 5 Km course, which I race here)

I apologize to those whom I overheard saying these hills to be
somewhat difficult, I mean no disrespect for your
challenge, and applaud you for toughing it out
and getting to the finish!


That was the best thing I could have seen,
(maybe I will be kind of the mountain" some day)
those hills.
I quickly told myself that the hill at 16 Km
I would need to just work it, and forget about the watering station.

I had brought with me, 2 water bottles, 2 gator-aide bottles
and a pouch full of power gels.

They had a slightly earlier start for the half marathoners
who either considered themselves to be slow,'
and/or were doing their first half.

Of course I joined, finally a group i FIT IN! Laughing
the first timers.

So off I went, and carefully tried to get past the majority of the congestion,
and apologize to the lady whom I almost frightened as I came up to her,
thought I could squeeze by her, but realize i needed to ask her to move
within metres of me behind her.

After that I stayed clear of the people.
Only one way to do that...
get ahead of them, and stay there ;lol;

By km 3 1/2 km I realized there were only 3 of those early starters left
to pass and I could have the road to myself!

at 4 Km I realized that my heart beat was finally slowing down.
It was recording 109 when I woke up the AM of the race,
AND at the starting line I was sitting there with a 154 heart beat!.

It quickly rose to 177/bpm but at 4 KM, when there were only two runners
from the 'early half marathoners' left,
I decided to take them on the outside of a corner,
since they were on the bumpy part of the road anyways,
and after that I never saw them again
(when I tried to look back after a km or so on a flat section,there was on one left for a km stretch it seemed).

Then it occurred to me, that at 7KM, I was all alone, I could ride
where ever I wanted on the road, AND I was
clocking in at 32 min. @ 7km and I quickly
assessed my condition to be such that
i knew I could keep that pace, and do a bit of negative splits
before the hills began.

I also noticed a distressing and potentially very dangerous problem
with my wheelchair.

The left fender (made of magnesium) had bent so slightly bent during transport
that I had been rubbing on the tire and eaten
through the black surface, the red one below and exposing
the fibers which hold the tire together.

Realizing that there are no "pit crew' vehicles permitted on the route,
what option do I have but to continue.
Quitting now, would be out of the question,
I would have taken the chance of getting a flat, and waiting for ever
to get it fixed and still finish the course.- I was determined to do it.

Luckily that tire held together for the whole event.

Also at 15 or 14, or 16 km I realized that I had plenty of water,
and Gatorade left.
Only drank half of the water, 2 power gels, and 3/4 of a Gatorade,
throughout the race.

I did load up on 3 jars of baby food squash, and sweet potato,
with mashed potatoes, flax seeds and yogurt the night before
as well as more sweet potatoes, a can of Ensure Plus and extra salt
the AM of the race.
(I woke up at 2:30AM and could not sleep).


At the next drinking station I gave myself a little shower
with a cup of water, and threw my empty Gatorade container
towards their garbage, and the empty power gel packs I had been
carrying around.
I used the station's water as I was slowing down for the aid station,
to help my head remain cooler under the helmet.

I had one of those under armor 'skull caps' to catch the sweat under
my helmet so I didn't have the stinging eyes problem I used to have.
I wore dark prescription sun glasses despite the sun-less sky, because
I need my polarized sun glasses every day on the roads, for
they point out the areas I must avoid with these tires.

By km 16 or so, when that hill came up
(the first of the two
'biggest hills' this course has,)

Realizing it was honestly NOT bigger then one of the 4 hills we have on our bicycle track (the safest location to ride my racer),
I started to feel confident.
I KNEW I could do this....

there was only one such hill at km 18 and only slightly steeper.

Sure enough, two of the elite runners (the man who won the marathon)
coming up with only about 1/2 km behind around 17km.

I decided that if they can't get me on that last hill,
I might just be riding into Picton alone, as the first person.

Surely it happened, I do not HOW, because I climb hills like
a baby learning to crawl.

These elite's were gaining, but luckily for me
I was able to get on to the crest of km 19 and

guess what!!??

IT WAS DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY!,
except for a slight incline at the very end ([perhaps 1/2 -3/4 of a km)

When I rode the distance the night before,
I thought that was going to be the toughest hill,
since it was right at the finish.

I was wrong
(I really should get used to that notion...
its not uncommon for me to be wrong)

I started having fun with the crowds.
I finally dared to look at the watch again,
it was not yet at 1:5o @ less then 1 KM to go
so I decided that this was the best time to thank every
one I met....

I kept on riding, smiling, waving and continually saying things like:

"thank you sir for being here" to an elderly gentleman watching alone.
"Thank you volunteers, without you we could not do this -thank you!":
"thank you officers, without you we would never be able to do this" to all the officers looking after road closures.
"Thank you! I am HONOURED to hear your words" to the spectators
shaking their cow bells, waving signs and generally cheering me on as if I was their relative whom they cared about.


Spectators came in large groups,
various ages and sizes. ALL were cheering for me.
At one point about km 20, I slowed down to take one last drink
of everything I still had (LOTS left over)
and a police man drove by on his motorcycle
encouraging me very much..
telling me I could make it in less then 2 hrs if I just
push a little more.
I did give it a bigger push with each stroke of the wheel
propelling me forward, and with increased speed.

Finally the last corner came,
that last hill which I didn't at the time feel like it was a hill even....
I saw the blue finish arch, as well as the time clock and realized that
I could easily make this under 2 hrs.

The white flag held along the finish line told me my suspicions
were right.
No one had yet finished.
(although within 5 min. or so the two elite runners showed up at the tent,
AND they had just done a FULL marathon! )



Despite the fact that I got into the finish line first,
does not make me the first place finisher.

I ended up with a chip time of 1:54:20,
about 5 min. faster then I hoped for,
I going was for my "gold" time.

(everyone had told me, to make 3 goals, 3-finish it,
2-your realistic finishing time, and 1_gold-the best time
you think you can realistically do-which I agreed to switch from
2 hrs to 2:20 for gold and 2:30 for silver,
but 1 day and 17hrs prior to the race
I realized i love racing too much to settle for a goal any less then what
I wanted it to be. 2 hrs or less!.

I NEVER once felt like I had ran out of water,
glucose or electrolytes.

Never once was my mouth dry, skin shivering or teeth chattering.
I feel good that I was able to pace my intake for my needs.

The weather was perfect, slightly breezy, not hot, and
the rain was not a huge issue....
I discovered a long time ago it does not do permanent damage,
nor is it lethal....
so now I actually love to race in the rain.

This was an exceptionally fast course,
and I feel confident that if I can keep up the pace I want to
develop during this winter,
I will be able to come back to PEC next yr.
and give a decent try towards getting a Boston Qualifying time.
This first half I was not too far from my Boston qualifying time.
I had thought it was 2:40 but in fact for a class 3 or 4 disability
the qualifying time for Boston is around 3:40 or 3:50.

It definitely is true,
i LOVE LONG DISTANCE racing.

PEC marathon is probably the fastest Boston qualifying course
there is, if I can do the half in less then 2 hrs without ever racing
anything longer then a few 5 km's,
without knowing what lsd, tarflek or intervals are In January,
then anyone who has ran a marathon and wishes to try for Boston
this would be the course to get your qualifying time.
The first half of the course is even flatter then the second half
I came to discover since I drove the whole route..

the motto for PEC should be,
"if she can do it, so can you!".

_marathonoflife

[marathonoflife]

Much has happened since the last time I wrote here.

@ CIRC last winter I met Thomas, from our local rowing club.

Thomas was just as interested in an adaptive rowing program as I,
and we banded together, wrote a grant proposal, (in 3weeks! to meet the deadline).

After getting the grant, we bought the equipment, and got myself and a second adapted rower on the water.

I was invited to the National Adaptive Team selection camp, and on the first day did a back flip in my wheelchair giving me a concussion... taking me off water for the summer with "post concussion syndrome"

I had to DO something, so taking my skills at, tumbling, I decided to get into sky diving... (figuring i was pretty good at falling!)

That's when I discovered I one of only a handful of paralyzed folks around the world who sky dive.
Sure many do tandem dives and leave it at that.
I'm not satisfied with tandems, i want an A license. When I get it, I;ll be the first woman in the world with an A license who is in a wheelchair (Lonnie, Peter and Russell are the only others documented and licensed, who leave their wheelchairs at the dropzone to go solo)

I made a couple of videos of my sky diving progression
(yes I'm still learning and in the "tandem progression" program with a "strap on instructor" [his words not mine!], ready for the AFF program leading me to go solo next spring).
Here's the videos if anyone wants to see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWtiQyGVJl4

and the instructional video of how we do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdTmmJDjn1o

BUT BEFORE I discovered sky diving, and while Rowing Canada had me grounded off the water, I decided to dedicate my time to sprint kayaking.

Went to the Nationals, raced at CanoeKayakCanada's first ever adaptive paddling race (2nd place), and went to the 1st ever World Sprint Trials for adaptive paddlers in Rochester in Sept. (second again, and qualfied for the World Sprints in Sacremento Aug.08)
I was also the first ever paralyzed athlete at CanMas (Canadian Masters sprint championships) this Aug. 07. Placing 23rd over all in my age category (not bad for racing a group of women with two good legs!), and 5th/9 in my heat.


OK NOW TO ROWING!

While at the NART selection camp, I met some GREAT athletes and coaches.
Got classified Internationally as a TA (trunk and arms only) rower.
Since, my disability has taken some more muscles from me (ALS seems to want to do that-the b*st*rd!)
So now I'm rowing as an A (Arms only) rower.

Training for CIRC and hoping to go out there to bring home some hardware in my new category.

It will be a tough race, against "timbit racer", a young woman packed with muscles and selected as a spare for the NART (National Adaptive Rowing Team). She won the A catgory last yr, and right now I'm chasing her.

Life is good. I have Rowit helping me figure out my most optimum power output at various stroke rates,
I have an excellent rowing coach Thomas who is an inspiration and extremely supportive.
A high performance coach from the University who puts me through some tough workouts weekly.

I started to cross train by playing wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey and kayak polo during the winter.

-minna

[BobD]

May I add "No Pain, No Gain".