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

[marathonoflife]

Hello,

Am a 40 yr old woman, I play wheelchair basketball, and am involved in road racing (have only done several 5km events but am currently training for a half marathon on Oct. 1st).

I discovered the concept2 ergometer at our local YMCA (where I train 4 days a week) and instantly fell in love with it after I was given a stationary seat (a chair placed atop the slider where the real seat moves on).

I started using ergometer a month and a half ago, and have absolutely fallen in love!

My time has come down from 2:58/500m to 2:20/500m in a month,
and I love longer distances (keeping a 2:48/500m average pace over a 5,000m session).

Hopefully there are other disabled rower's here, and they can share their experiences with me.

What I find dificult to 'judge'/gauge is how well or poorly I am doing
regards to the fact that I have no leg muscle use whatsoever.
Thus, my rowing is strictly abs, back and arm strength.

It may be, that rowing will surpass my love for road racing, but I think that the two complement each other well for a wheelchair athlete.

In using a chair, it is the abs, back shoulders and arms doing all the work,
so perhaps this is why I have fallen in love with the erg. so deeply....
it fits in with what I can work with.

Sept 2nd 2005 was the day that I 'landed' in this wheelchair,
and having been hospitalized until dec. 10th 05 it took me until Jan. 06 to begin any physical excercise.

I am glad to be at this forum, and believe I will learn much from you all.

thanks,
-marathonoflife

[Tyn]

Welcome on ( or is it ' to' ) the forum,

I'm sure you can learn a lot here, I did, and have a good laugh!!

My time has come down from 2:58/500m to 2:20/500m in a month

I think 2:20 is a great time!
I:ll try it this week, only rowing with core and arms! I'll let you know how I did.

Happy rowing!

[Bob S.]

Hello,
I am glad to be at this forum, and believe I will learn much from you all.
thanks,
-marathonoflife

Use Google to check out Angela Madsen. She is in charge of the adaptive rowing program at the Long Beach Rowing Association. She is mostly active on the water, having competed in a number of adaptive ocean races off of Southern California. She was scheduled to attempt an Atlantic crossing in an adaptive team of four sometime this summer, but I have misplaced the URL for the site reporting on this event so I haven't checked on it recently. Perhaps one of the Google hits on her name would give this. I did see an e-mail address on one of them, so it is possible to contact her.

Bob S.

[chgoss]

Hi,
I have no experience with adaptive rowing, but I did try to sustain a 2:20 pace with arms and back only... As I could NOT do it, and am a 44M heavyweight with a 7:04 2K, I would say you are in excellant condition!

I remember seing that last year WIRC had an adaptive rowing competition session.. You might want to check that out.

Hope you find the forum supportive

God bless
-chadgoss

[becz]

Hi, and welcome!

You may already be aware, but Concept2 has an adaptive rowing section on their website here: http://www.concept2.com/05/training/tra ... others.asp

Good luck!

[marathonoflife]

am back to see the
reception here is most welcoming
and encouraging.

thank you.

yesterday, was a slow day on the erg. I managed 5 km on it
and three 500m ;sprints; is what I call them,
because in a wheelchair road race,
such a distance is a sprint to get into a better position,
to get over a small crest in the road for a good
;run at; a downhill, or other such occurrence.

last night found the most interesting site.

it was the http://www.cdnindoorrowing.org/index.htmlNational Indoor Rowing Championships held every feb.
in Toronto Ont. (about a 5 hr drive from me).

These were done on concept ergometers.

The 1000m times for my class ( which is TA) gold was 5:27.9, silver 5.55.3 (no one had bronze!)

currently got yesterday's results as follows:
4:55.4 for the 1000m, 2:20.9 fror the 500 (they only have a race for the 1000m in adapted rowing at the championships).
http://www.cdnindoorrowing.org/document ... veW-TA.pdf

in the next class ( which used to qualify for, prior to having more and more muscle contractures in some fingers and parts of hands,
and places of no sensation due to spinal cord lesions in c6, c8- a class labelled LTA) ,
the gold winner's time was 4:13.1/1000m and there were no silver,
or bronze medal's handed out. (why? i wonder)

this seems insane to me (until I read the reply from chgoss, I thought
I pretty much 'sucked' at this, considering I was looking
at the times you folks get [1min. 30 plus secs. for 500m etc.])

they must be doing something different -harder then me,
have some how 'more difficult'
ergometers then am using.
(I did put that little peddle at the right side
up to 10 right away, because there doesn't seem to be much resistance,
I think it is because my stroke rate is so high, if I only had more
power in each stroke and slowed it down, i think the resistance would follow, is that right?)


what do you think?
maybe i would not waste my $20 if tried to race in
the adaptive erg. championships next Feb.

well regardless,
I am very glad to be here,
among people who love the erg. as much as me.
(I can't imagine the excitement I would have
in a single scull, my ultimate goal)

Where I live, people think I am the 'town crazy' because
I ride my wheelchair at 4 or 5 AM for an hour or so
with my dog..

(i call it my 'pyjama run' )

thank you again, for the exceptional welcome,
and for the link to the adapted rowing site becz,
that is helpful, i signed up and found a yahoo adapted rowing
email list also...

now, i am starting to feel like i am not the 'town crazy' anymore,
unless we all are..

I am off to meet the Ontario Paralympic coaches who are bringing a demo
to our town... in a few hours.

-minna

[Bob S.]

am back to see the
reception here is most welcoming
and encouraging.
-minna

Minna,

Did you check out my suggestion on Angela Madsen? I think that she would be happy to heaar from you.

Bob S.

[marathonoflife]

am back to see the
reception here is most welcoming
and encouraging.

thank you.

yesterday, was a slow day on the erg. I managed 5 km on it
and three 500m ;sprints; is what I call them,
because in a wheelchair road race,
such a distance is a sprint to get into a better position,
to get over a small crest in the road for a good
;run at; a downhill, or other such occurrence.
At least was able to shave 3 secs. off the 1000m time.


last night found the most interesting site.

it was the http://www.cdnindoorrowing.org/index.htmlNational Indoor Rowing Championships held every feb.
in Toronto Ont. (about a 5 hr drive from me).

These were done on concept ergometers.

The 1000m times for my class ( which is TA) gold was 5:27.9, silver 5.55.3 (no one had bronze!)

currently got yesterday's results as follows:
4:52.4 for the 1000m, 2:20.9 fror the 500 (they only have a race for the 1000m in adapted rowing at the championships).
http://www.cdnindoorrowing.org/document ... veW-TA.pdf

in the next class ( which used to qualify for, prior to having more and more muscle contractures in some fingers and parts of hands,
and places of no sensation due to spinal cord lesions in c6, c8- a class labelled LTA) ,
the gold winner's time was 4:13.1/1000m and there were no silver,
or bronze medal's handed out. (why? i wonder)

this seems insane to me (until I read the reply from chgoss, I thought
I pretty much 'sucked' at this, considering I was looking
at the times you folks get [1min. 30 plus secs. for 500m etc.])

they must be doing something different -harder then me,
have some how 'more difficult'
ergometers then am using.
(I did put that little peddle at the right side
up to 10 right away, because there doesn't seem to be much resistance,
I think it is because my stroke rate is so high, if I only had more
power in each stroke and slowed it down, i think the resistance would follow, is that right?)


what do you think?
maybe i would not waste my $20 if tried to race in
the adaptive erg. championships next Feb.

well regardless,
I am very glad to be here,
among people who love the erg. as much as me.
(I can't imagine the excitement I would have
in a single scull, my ultimate goal)

Where I live, people think I am the 'town crazy' because
I ride my wheelchair at 4 or 5 AM for an hour or so
with my dog..

(i call it my 'pyjama run' )

thank you again, for the exceptional welcome,
and for the link to the adapted rowing site becz,
that is helpful, i signed up and found a yahoo adapted rowing
email list also...

now, i am starting to feel like i am not the 'town crazy' anymore,
unless we all are..

yesterday met Ontario Paralympic coaches who were bringing a demo program to our town... for a few hours.

-minna

[marathonoflife]

Did you check out my suggestion on Angela Madsen? I think that she would be happy to heaar from you.

Bob S.

Hi Bob S.

No I didn't yet contact Angela Madsen,
mainly because I am so shy (almost a hermit -I rarely communicate
much of anything with those around me even, rather listen to audio books on
quantum physics, budhism or perhaps just music, then talk to people).

I will thought make a dedication to sending her an Email
after I have thought out what exactly I will say,
after "Hi".. (thats always the problem.. what comes after 'hi').

thank you Bob for pointing her out to me....
I never knew of her and am totally awe'd
by her aspirations, accomplishments, and attitude.

-minna (off to get ready to go training.. bus leaves in an hour)

[TabbRows]

Minna--

By all means contact Angela! If you don't know what to say...just copy what you've said on this forum! Get into TA and GO GET 'EM at Ontario!!!
or where ever they hold these events!

Quit mumbling excuses...pay attention to and act on your Lemayi quote!!

All the best and keep coming back to here and tell us, brag to us, of your progre ss!

[Carole]

Minna that is just so cool.... and a I am in awe of you .... fantastic.... also on the British circuit there is Tracey Brown and she posts on the uk Forum sometimes as Hat trick tracks ...here is a link to a post from April.... http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... highlight=

she doesnt erg as much in summer as she rides and competes she is in a wheelchair and has a special seat ....

[marathonoflife]

stopped mumbling excuses,

and wrote to Angela (well to the president of the Long Beach Rowing club where she rows, since didnt see any addresses for her, asked if he[president of the club] would pass the message on to Angela.


I took the advice,
and basically sent her what wrote here.

thanks for the kick in the butt...

thank you for your supportive attitude.

yesterday erg'd for 3k and rode the roads for 10k.

erg times were not great,
4:52.2/1000M (ave. pace 2.25.5/500m)
but am hoping that after I get this months road race, and Oct 1st half marathon out of the way I will dedicate totally to trying to do well in Toronto at the Nationals in Feb.

You all have encouraged me enough,
i will follow the words of Hugo (Canadian Olympic freestyle snowboarder)

and 'go for it'....

(I will regret it, if I don't -life is short)

-minna
(going out to ride the roads with my racing chair)

[marathonoflife]

is not wanting to stop.

even when one knows it is time to do so.
stop.
and rest.

yesterday got dehydrated, delusional pretty much....
got lost in a place where have been daily,
for months... and could not find a way back to the ymca...

today, for about a week the intensity
has transpiredm but
today,
it hits hard.. the pain.

during the movement,
there is minimal pain,
but immediately upon sitting still
the pain starts to present itself.

the neck on right side only
is tight, hard and hot.
then the end of shoulder blade area closest to
the spine
hurts like a radiating pulsating pain,
to the point that need to keep resting that elbow
(the weight of my arm, is too painful
all through the neck
down mid shoulder, back to the beginning of the lumbar
region.
need to take breaks in writing,
to rest arm on something.

ice it liberally,
and need to
to the point that the area is numb from the cold
except when it thaws again,
it is has ferosious as before.

have had to keep head tilted towards the right....
so as to 'compress' the muscles...
it helps only on the neck section.
the shoulder pain accentuates
if try to lift elbow
(elbow itself parallel to ground but the 'bend'
at the shoulder is about 45%0)


*(it was a week on thurs. when massage therapist said
if it lasts a week, go to a clinic, and get referred to the only
sports medicine MD we have in the whole city_at that
time she wondered if had torn something,
but at that time i didn't feel any pain while riding around
or moving the arm.)*


strangely though,
once start riding,
(on track or roads)
after about 5 min. the pain is either forgotten about,
(deminished that much - I do focus on stroke length and power
so the way i 'feel' has not entered that thought),
or gone.


nice weather,
strong enough arms to get there,
and the desire to travel all sorts of
paths, scenic areas,
have gotten the best of my judgement i fear
if plan to train this much,
need to either stop riding from one end of the
town to the other.

and now i need to stop...
for a while.
unfortunately my massage therapist is not in town
but fortunately for her
she is at the training camp for
the national dragon boat team,
and will be competing soon herself.


looking at the logs,
the km's on road this week werer only 23, and 14 on the rowing machine...
which is low, considering was 'overtraining' before
by riding the roads 50-60 miles/wk... and weights.
now no weights
some pilates,
core stuff,
stretching, and lots of mileage.

-minna
(going off to whack at the weeds for a while, and then try to rest)

[marathonoflife]

I do not think it is the rowing.
I think it is from the roadwork I have been doing,
getting ready for a 'stepping stone' 5 km race in 15 days....
on route to the half marathon that registered for on Oct 1st.


Found the online logging,
signed up.

I think we need more adapted rowers, because my name comes up
2nd in the 1000m distance,
and 1st in the 5000m distance
(heavy weight, 40 yr old, class LTA )...
( http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/get_wrankings.asp)

come on all you folks out there,
do you know anyone who is in a wheelchair,
or otherwise would not have tried rowing due to disability....
perhaps they too can try out rowing by merely placing a chair
instead of the sliding seat,
and row.

i CANT be 1st and 2nd... it only means that all
the good disabled rowers didn't sign up yet....

help me find some competitors.

I went to the women's forum
where a loonylady invited me to join
Ducks In A Row!.

that sounds good to me,
having never been invited to a rowing team, virtual or otherwise
thank you.....

I joined.

-minna (the 'greenest' duck )

[marathonoflife]

am feeling much better....
two days of rest for the shoulder was enough.

the pain is not there.... (all the time anymore),
although it appeared around the 9 km mark yesterday while did 10 km on the erg,

(two sessions of 5000m each, best time yesterday was 30:02.2 (one second slower then my best time ever in the 5000m ), the second time was 30.07.9,

yet still was somehow able to come out with an average of 2:59.7/500m over the whole 10K.

I am getting 'hooked' for sure.....

-minna