Newly addicted to erging

weintraub · Post by **weintraub** » December 9th, 2006, 9:20 pm

I discovered erging two Thanksgivings ago when I was visiting my friends in Colorado. I went to their gym, sat down on a Model C, and fell in love with the motion. Came back to St. Louis and discovered that there are two model Cs at a gym two blocks from me.

I rowed irregularly last winter, with a personal best for 60 minutes of about 13,900. I thought that it would be impossible to go higher than that. However, I started erging regularly this past September and I have fallen completely in love. I am 51 and I have learned that frequent rest days are important, however, I hate the rest days and I can't wait to be back on the erg. Some of my PBs are 19:49 for 5k and 14,302 for 60 minutes. I have done 91,000 meters towards the holiday challenge and I intend to do 10,000 meters tomorow and then 60 minutes every other day, and that will put me over 200k on Dec. 24th. I plan on doing a half marathon on Dec. 26 and then I will start doing intervals in preparation for the St. Louis Indoor Rowing Championships in early Feb.

This forum has been a great source of information and encouragement, so thanks to all.

Steve Weintraub 51 y.o., 6'0", 180 lbs. Dreaming of a sub 7 2k.

csabour · Post by **csabour** » December 10th, 2006, 12:49 pm

i really really really wish i had the same feeling for the erg

weintraub · Post by **weintraub** » December 11th, 2006, 9:57 am

I only row every other day. Days off are either a real day off, a bike ride, or a run. That is how I keep from going stale. I have been a hard core bicyclist or runner my entire adult life. Variety and rest are the key to avoid going stale. It took me a long time to convince myself that complete rest days are important. Once I started taking them, I got much faster.

csabour · Post by **csabour** » December 11th, 2006, 12:57 pm

at the moments my routine is about 4 erg sessions a week and 4 weight sessions a week.

the extent of my cross training is warming up and down with the bike

I love lifting weights though. wow its so much fun.

i look forward to deadlifts B squats and chin ups

Rocky · Post by **Rocky** » December 11th, 2006, 3:21 pm

I find it ironic that I now look forward to the workouts I used to hate in college. That's what sitting for 9 hours a day at a desk job will do for you.

citiusaltiusfortius9 · Post by **citiusaltiusfortius9** » December 15th, 2006, 12:38 pm

It's great when people "discover the erg..." but it also makes me laugh because if that's a posative thing they probably haven't discovered it's full extent. Don't get me wrong, erging is incredibly important- but as a water rower it's one of those things I don't particularly love.
It's been amazing this year I am rowing on the water today! Usually the water is frozen- or at least too cold and the Coast Guard won't let us row. I'm trying to do the holiday challenge but doing extra erging along with water training is dificult.... but I'll make it I hope!
Csabour, I love weight training too, it breaks up the monotney of erging and provides a great challenge and a competetive atmosphere. I'm not so great at chin-ups though.
-sara