New to Erging, an introduction

[CeeGee]

Hello all, been lurking for a while and signed up for a shorter while, so thought it polite to introduce myself.

I'm Chris, 49 and a newish kettlebell sport competitor who is rowing to help build up my aerobic conditioning and general fitness. Have tried to run several times in the past, but am really not a fan!

Up until about a year ago I had been doing the Japanese martial art of Kendo, but felt that I'd got as far as I was ever likely to get and had just lost the love and simply wasn't enjoying it anymore - every session had become a chore rather than the joy it had once been - and I'm taking an 'extended sabbatical'. I haven't burnt my bridges yet, and there's always a possibility I may go back to it at some point in the future, we'll see.

I've been messing about with Kettlebells since about 2006, but doing so in more traditional reps and sets schemes. I'd always fancied giving the sport side a go and the opportunity presented itself so I took it. My strength is reasonable, my cardio slightly less so - okayish, but needs improvement. Both my coaches are Concept 2 rower owner/users and when I asked about it told me rowing is the perfect compliment to Kettlebell work. Having wanted one for some years (but previously not really having had the room), I messed around with an old magnetic rower my other half had bought (stuck on one resistance setting) for a while before selling a few bits and pieces to fund a purchase. Long story short, I found a black model D with just over 300KM on it for £600, and have been happily using it since, little pieces slowly getting longer, with occasional interval work for variety.

Like lots of newbies my SPM was far too fast at first (though I had the good sense to set the drag factor pretty low), and have since slowed down to speed up as it were. My 5000m time is a shade under 24mins at the moment, but I'm just happy to have managed it. Not setting the world alight, but not trying to, and it's helping build my cardio up.

Been doing lots of reading on here (loads of useful information!) and will likely remain primarily a reader rather than a poster.

Cheers all.

[Dangerscouse]

Welcome to the forum and good luck with it all.