Introduce yourself

[Queen]

Hello all!

Since it's winter here in Illinois and my kayak hangs forlorn and lonely in the garage I decided to row in the winter at the gym. They have a couple of old model D's that I get time on (when the UI rowing team isn't using them) and I LOVE it!

Looks like a nice board here, I hope to read a LOT and contribute some if I can.

[Taking_flight]

Hello All!

I stumbled on this forum while searching for some workout ideas for getting back into rowing shape. Or really any kind of shape to start. I have been out of the rowing loop for about 4 years and can't wait to get back to it now that I'm living in a place where that is an actual possibility. Of course, before I hit the water I want to increase my fitness level a bit so I don't drag down everyone else in the boat. The erg I've had since high school has seen little use over its 10 year or so life span, mostly because I've always just had a negative association with it. In reality, I know that my body is not capable of pulling the kind of splits I did when I was actually in competitive shape, but I seem to have a hard time remembering that when I get on the erg. It makes for a much shorter than intended workout. If anyone has suggestions to overcome this, I would love to hear them. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

Alicia

[PJM]

Hi there and welcome to the forum.
If you are getting back to rowing on your erg and need motivation..try joining a virtual team via your profile..just go into edit.
There are many teams that row together for motivation and fun..sharing workout hints etc.We even have team rooms here on the forum.
I am team captain for Team TimbukTOO and the challenge team TIMBUK2.We would be happy to have you join us in TimbukTOO if you want to be a part of a virtual team.
Welcome and hope you enjoy the ride..rowing!!!

Pat

[margaret]

Sure quiet here. After a year and a half mostly off the erg, I'm committing to get back on it most days to row 6k. My goal is 50 to 100 km a month. My pace has severely dropped, so another goal is to bring it up by 10 kW each month.

I want my goals big enough to make a difference, but low enough to be realistic without sacrificing more time and energy than I have. The challenges to meeting my goal are a new baby (9 mos. now), a young boy (6) prone to mischief, and being busier than ever before in my life. My DS e has to earn his computer game time by first letting me row for 30 minutes without getting into trouble. This is the first year bargaining sometimes works.

Goal met for July.

[Surf Scoter]

Hi Margaret, I applaud your goal and the challenges you face. I have no excuses--retired, but I can't believe how busy my life gets. I was rowing a lot this last winter and finished my first 1 million meters. Then...spring and summer arrived and it's time for yard work, tennis, biking. I think that must be where people are. I am trying to stay with the rowing so I can make a million meters this year, but I've already dropped behind my scheduled goal. I have been aiming for 100k m/month. So, hang in there. It sounds like you are motivated. I'm glad to hear you made your goal for July. I'm on the Ducks in a Row team and watching the weekly standings tends to motivate me. I hate to get dropped down, down, down further. Good luck!! denise

[margaret]

Thanks, Denise. Some days I really can't row, but even when I do have time, it's so tempting to fill it with other things. I can definitely relate to that. Your goal of 100km a month sounds great. It's my aim, but I'm mentally allowing myself the range so I won't give up if I slip up. After mostly not rowing the past year, I'm humbled to realize that even if I'd rowed just 3km daily, I'd be much "further"....(1 million in a year)..and fitter.

I was a duck earlier and enjoyed it, but for now I need to keep my head down and not be tempted to do more, just 6k at a time.

Good luck climbing up,up,up the ducks' standings.

[Bufflehead]

Hello Fellow Ducks!
I'm sad to say that I have only looked at my rower sitting in the living room for some time now. I really need to get motivated again. I'm so close to hitting the 2 MM mark! I thought if I splashed into the pond and saw some familiar ducks that maybe I'd get off my tail feathers!!

I'm glad to see that the Ducks are alive and well. Hopefully you will start to see some meters coming from this old duck.

From Bufflehead

[MsLisa]

Hi! I have been using this site for logging my rows for a few years but didn't realize there were forums! I'll look into the ducks too.

Anyway, I am Lisa, 39, and live in coastal Maine. I have two sons (aged 7 and 3), am a librarian and have a hubby whos a landscaper.

I come from a family of rowers and inherited my uncle's C2 (not sure which model but it is older and doesn't have the damper). I was very overweight when I got pregnant with my first son and after he was born I decided it was time to not only lose the baby weight but an additional 30 pounds. I got down to 170 within a year by rowing 30-45 a day and tweaking my diet a little. Well, another son and 5 years later, I am hovering around 180 and decided to get back into rowing again. For the past 3 weeks I have rowed about 6 out of 7 days a week and am pretty proud of myself! I have been playing around with different kinds of rows...I was doing a straight 5k (about 27 minutes for me) but am playing around with going slow and steady for 45. If I remember correctly its those over 30 minute rows that burn the fat.

Any training tips or ideas would be great! I'd also love to buddy up with someone or a group to keep each other on track and motivated. I find if I don't row early on I find many excuses to NOT row. But after 3 weeks of this I find I can't WAIT to row! 45 minutes all to myself!!!!!

Lisa

[Bob S.]

I come from a family of rowers and inherited my uncle's C2 (not sure which model but it is older and doesn't have the damper).
Lisa

The only model that doesn't have a damper is the model A, and it seems unlikely that it is the one that you have. The A is not really comparable the later models. The construction is quite different and the measuring device is an odometer rather than performance monitors of the later models.

The model A uses a bicycle wheel with vanes attached and no cage. The others have cast aluminum flywheels. The B has an open cage made of a heavy plastic-coated wire, with a damper on the side that is a plastic disc with alternating open and blocked panels. The disc has a plastic handle projecting to the side that can be used to rotate it in order to change the amount of damping. The later models have "closed" cages. These are not really closed, but have a lot of small vent holes — a much safer design, especially if there are young children around, but prone to collect dust inside that eventually tends to clog up with the result that the drag factor is reduced. I am not familiar with the damping mechanism of a model C, but the Ds and Es use a spiral device on the side of the cage. The handle for that projects from the perimeter of the cage directly in front of the user.

Bob S.

[margaret]

Hi Bufflehead and Lisa. Lisa, glad you found the online group. I've enjoyed it quite a bit, though I'm more careful now not to spend too much time reading rather than rowing...Congratulations on the 3 weeks of rowing, a great start.

I recommend this forum and the ducks for motivation. pm me if you'd like to try buddying up. I posted my goals a few weeks ago. It's a struggle to be consistent; I missed 2 full weeks due to being too busy one week and too exhausted the next, but got back on the rower today since I need the exercise to be fit. I can still meet my 50k goal for the month if I'm steady for the rest of the month--easier since my kids return to school Monday.

I'm not working outside the home, but like you have young children at home which adds its own challenges. I was inspired by some messages on the general forum about how to row with young kids--some good ideas there. I think your goal of a long steady row is right on target for weight loss; some variety or goal helps keep it more interesting for me.

[dixiedd]

I purchased my rower...3-4 years ago. I really don't remember when. I thought if I had the rower in my home I would be more likely to use it. It would be a total body workout. The only thing it's been used for is to hold some quilts or for my nieces and nephews to play on.

I've attempted to row several times but have never stuck with it for any length of time. I always found one excuse after another. It's too late. I'm too tired. I'm too fat. I've got a bad back. Bad something. The only thing I do have is a bad self image.

I don't know what I expected. I guess I thought I would get on and row off into the sunset. Tonight I could only manage 5 minutes/864 meters but it's a start. At tiimes I have no clue if I'm even rowing properly. I did check out the video link that was posted on You tube. It imspired me to at least get the quilts off and row.

I plan to row for 1 more minute than the previous row every other day. I have to get rid of the jiggle. The weight I carry around is not healthy. I'm only 51. If I don't adopt a more healthier lifestyle with proper exercise, diet and sleep I'll be in the same shape as my mom. I don't want my life to be like her. She's a quad by pass patient with more stents than you person should have. At last count 14.

I have too much life yet to live.

Dixie
Southern IN

[margaret]

Relieved to meet my rowing goals for August:
1)rowed 50k
2)increased pace by 10w to row 5k at 116w average

The pace increase has me breathing harder, but I'm starting to feel the benefits from exercising--a bit more muscle & my "big" pants fit slightly looser.

Goals for September:
1)row 50-100k
2)increase pace to row 5k at 125w average

Hope you others are reaching your goals.

[Linda T]

I'm a 59 year old woman of normal weight but I really am not all that fond of exercise. But we all need to get more as we get older. I just bought my Concept2 so I'm a newbie. Sort of. A few years ago I bought one of those rowers that works with pistons and I liked it, but I came down with elbow issues. After a cortisone shot and some accupuncture I'm good to go again. I always liked the the Concept2, especially the monitor and the support of the forum, so eventually I took the plunge and bought one. I think this rowing motion is much smoother than my older rower and hopefully I'll not have a repeat of the golfer's elbow (a cortisone shot in an already sore elbow is definitely not fun!) Anyway, my issue will be to stay motivated and take care of those elbows. If anyone has suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

[Cheryl M.]

Hi All,
My name is Cheryl and I am so very new to rowing...after being introduced to the idea of rowing, I could hardly sleep until I had a rowing machine in my home. My sweet husband and I made a deal that I could buy my rower and later he could buy something he's been wanting. My rower arrived yesterday (10/2) and yes, I already love it!!

I'm 47 years old and a tad overweight for my short height of 5'2". I hope to change that overweight bit - also to build strength, stamina, and keep this aging body from going completely over the hill!

I probably won't be posting much, but will certainly be reading and gleaning as much info as I can as there are no rowers in my area that I can find.

edited to add...the compromise with my husband included a model E

[WDDF]

Okay - this is my first post to the C2 forum. I am 51 (52 in a couple of weeks) and was told that rowing was a good low-impact machine to try. I started erging seriously at my local YMCA at the end of September and really love it. I had tried the rowing machine a couple of times here and there in July and August, but decided to take a more serious look after watching rowers on the water in Vancouver during my 30th wedding anniversary trip to Alaska. I will probably never row other than indoors, but oh well!

I have cruised through several of the different training forums, including music to row by - have a few new ones to add to my list now! This web site/forum has been a good find for me as not only have I found good information on technique, but also motivation. I finished the Skeleton Crew challenge. I am finding I can't wait to get back to the gym to erg again as it is a great stress reliever. - If you stumble - make it part of your dance!