TimbukTOO Team Room

[The Blacksmith]

Hey all,
Took it easy a few days and went for a 30 minute trying to see how I could do. New PB 2.03 per 500, total of 7260 meters. I'm pretty pleased with it. I ranked it and am #640 out of 1240. Last time I ranked something I was in the bottom 25%. Sweet!
Mark

[CONLEJM]

That's awesome Glen and Mark! Taking some rest did you guys some good. it has helped me a lot also. I'm setting new PBs a couple/few times a week since I started taking days off again.

I have never done a 2K before yesterday; never saw them as being a productive part of my fitness regimen (or any row < 5K for that matter). But I tried one yesterday for the first time and did it in 6:54.3, or a 1:43.5/500 pace. I am pretty happy with that for a first try. But I like the longer rows much better.

[Quatroux]

Congrats guys! It's nice to see that others saw some benefits from the VTC as well.

[damselfly]

You guys are all studly!!

Rest day for me today (well, gardening and housework, but you know what I mean). 8 mile trail run yesterday with lots of tough hills. After the row Tuesday and then yesterday's run, my legs are crying "Uncle!"

[BoB/335]

What's a Bullworker? Anything like a Bullwinkle?

A bullworker is a simple piece of equipment to help using Isometric exercises. Many Isometric exercises can be done almost anywhere without any equipment.




The newest Bullworker has some improvements over my "Original" Bullworker. They have 2 current models. One specifically for women and one for me. The smaller one has some great reviews for men also and incorporates different exercises with some movement as compared to the traditional form of isometrics.
http://www.thebullworker.com/mens/

[BoB/335]

I try to remind myself every time I row that - first and foremost - I am doing this for general health and fitness. Next month I go for a six-month cholesterol check, and I am hoping all this hard work pays off. I don't want to have to take drugs, and I love to hear how others on the team have improved their health by using their rowing machine.

I admit I can get caught up in the competition and obsessed with speed, but I'm not a real rower; I'm not training for any regatta or the olympics. I'll never go to the Crash-B. I'm never going to be the fastest, or row the longest. I am amazed at David's distances and Izz's times! But I can compare myself to myself over time, and I love to see improvement. Since I started rowing in earnest a little over two months ago, I have lost eight pounds, I can actually feel my abdominals (can't quite see'em yet though) and I think I am even adding a little muscle. My pants are looser and I am using a different belt-hole. Good enough for me!

Well, that's really what it's all about! All the rest is fluff (for me anyway) and is why I didn't let myself get all caught up. I'm doing way too good to risk an injury trying to "prove" something. I have been doing 10k every other day and am feeling great doing it most likely because I didn't try to kill myself during the challenge (although I may try to up my goal a litle bit nex time) Doing good with my jump rope too and broke out my OLD Bullworker here and there just to keep things interesting.

OOps!!! Looks like I did it again! I meant "prove something" to myself. I really did! In the past when I have exercised and started feeling really good I would think (actually don't know what I would think) and then would end up doing too much in too much time. I would either end up hurting myself OR end up thinking I didn't have the time to exercise (within the time frame I had established) and end up not doing it for a day. Which became two. Which became three and so on and so on.............. I try hard now to keep up with something that I find reasonable to fit into a busy life and that I can continue till I die. I've worked too hard to get where I am to get bogged down with something that might cause me to stumble. Please understand that I do not wish to offend any here that enjoy rowing for 2 hours everyday.

[glenmbaker]

Please understand that I do not wish to offend any here that enjoy rowing for 2 hours everyday.

Oh for heaven's sake. And here I was looking forward to getting myself all lathered up into a self-righteous huff. Now what am I supposed to do? I mean...I could have spent literally moments being totally offended and now you take THAT away from me?? Geez!


(and just in case it's not obvious: , or in other words: no...I'm not at all serious!)

[CONLEJM]

I imagine these same conversations take place on running forums. Distance vs speed vs both vs neither. It's all good!

[Izzzmeister]

This Wednesday, an even better 16 of 57 members (28%) logged 146,686 total meters! All non-military hands are on deck!

Milestones: Kyle J impressively passed 900K!
Approaching milestones: Mark E pursues 2.6M (-15,755m), Matthew R nearer 1.8M (-17,673m), Adam’s next stop is1.6M (-23,271m), Jim nearly halves the distance to 800K (-14,346m), Mike E near 700K (-23,640m), Matthew P (-385m) & Allen H (-1,493m) converging on 100K while young Katerina is conquering 35K (-5,806m)!

Posted Meters:
Heather R - 20,000 Our “Rosie the Riveter”!
Adam M - 13,250 Long!
Glen B - 12,465 Back from some solid rest…
Kyle J - 12,072 Congrats on your 1st TimbukTOO milestone!
Jim C - 12,000 Three nice rows!

Marius S - 12,000 Great!
Jeff S - 11,000 Back in the groove!
Matthew R - 10,664 Solid state!
Andy I - 10,015 Three 10K+ rows the past 3 days!
Chris H - 8,000 Staying in the ballgame…

Allen H - 6,416 The couple that rows together,
Sharon H - 5,825 …grows together!
Kathy B - 5,149 Rested & strong!
Matthew P - 4,258 Row, run, lift… repeat!
Ulla D - 2,081 Please maintain the habit!
Kevin K - 1,491 That’s two!

[Izzzmeister]

This Thursday, an expected 15 of 57 members (26%) logged an unexpected 252,080 total meters! All non-military hands are on deck!

Milestones: Jim C achieved 800K, Steven F flamed 500K & Allen H hammered 100K!
Approaching milestones: Mark E on the cusp of 2.6M (-1,576m), Matthew R nearest 1.8M (-6,899m), Adam snaking towards 1.6M (-12,771m), Jeff toughing out 1.1M (-30,000m), Mike E nears 700K (-23,640m) as Matthew P (-385m) converges on 100K!

Posted Meters:
Steven F - 112,825 Thanks for [rowing &] posting!
Heather R - 20,000 Three 20Ks in 3 days!
Jim C - 15,545 Long row!
Kyle J - 15,000 When’s your rest day?!
Mark E - 14,179 Great speed improvement!

Jeff S - 11,000 That’s three!
Matthew R - 10,774 The terrific season continues!
Adam M - 10,500 Wow!
Andy I - 10,002 Four…
Bob G - 10,000 Another 10K! Terrific!

Yisroel H - 7,613 Good speed work!
Allen H - 6,790 Now in six figures!
Elisa H - 3,250 Finding the time no matter what!
Daiva S - 3,000 Won’t take a back seat to Marius…
Kevin K - 1,602 Good!

[damselfly]

I imagine these same conversations take place on running forums. Distance vs speed vs both vs neither. It's all good!

NO. All of us runners agree 100% on everything. Training methods, hydration and nutritional strategies, cross-training exercise regimens. WE ARE BORG. RESISTENCE IS FUTILE. YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED.

[damselfly]

Good morning, campers!! A few, a proud 9 of 57 members (16%) logged 114,635 total meters on Friday... Keeping the fires stoked!

Milestones achieved: Smitty topped 2.6M! Woot!! Congratulations!

On the horizon: Heather is two rows from 2.8M (-40,000m), Adam is closing on1.6M (-9,771m), and Jeff is sneaking up on 1.1M (-19,000m). Row strong!!

Posted Meters:
Mark E - 33,311 Yow!! New form working out!
Kyle J - 23,000 Big!!
Heather R - 20,000 Four big ones in a row!
Jeff S - 11,000 Dah dah dit dit dit, dah dah dit dit dit
Jim C - 8,010 Light after yesterday's big number...
Sheryl M - 7,241 Two good rows this week!
Andy I - 7,006 Looking good....
Adam M - 3,000 Light day...
Kevin K - 2,067 Four in a row!

[damselfly]

All hands on deck, all quiet on the western front (and eastern, etc.)... A hushed 9 of 57 members (16%) logged 87,080 total meters on Saturday...

Milestones achieved: Matthew R hit 1.8M!! Yow!! Nice rowing, Matthew!!

Approaching milestones: Gary is nearing 1.5M (-23,741m), Glenn is steaming towards 900K (-25,487m), and Elisa is a few good rows away from 800K (-21,083m). Rowstrong, team!

This week's frequent rowers (Sat 2/4 through Fri 2/10):
Adam M, Jim C & Kyle J - 6
Andy I & Heather R - 5
Allen H, Jeff S, Kevin K, Mark E & Matthew R - 4

Posted Meters:
Glenn Y - 17,193 Big day!!
Mark E - 12,734 Still a gym rat?
Elisa H - 12,015 Very nice!!
Matthew R - 10,825 Milestone row!
Bob G - 10,000 Steaming ahead....
Ulla D - 9,240 Nice row!
Gary G - 6,459 Nicely done...
Jim C - 5,000 Six of the last 8 days!
Mark S - 3,614 Back for more after a short hiatus!

[damselfly]

And wishing our intrepid Cap'n GOOD LUCK tomorrow, at the Cincinnati Indoor Rowing Championships tomorrow.

Row strong, Cap'n Izz!!!!

[The Blacksmith]

Hey All,
I decided to do a 5k and see how I could do at it. Did it in 19:57.2 and 1:59.7 per 500. Then I went and ranked it and I placed # 769 out of 1619--woohoo! I'm faster than 50% of us fat old farts! Well, not so old. I'm happy-not bad for 46 I thought. Not nearly as fast as some of the other guys on our team, but I have had a disc removed out of my back (the lowest one down) and 2 blown right above it-so I think it's pretty darned good, for me anyway!