N.a.t.e. (it's Not About The Erg) Team

[old] oakydaisy · Post by **[old] oakydaisy** » December 31st, 2005, 6:37 pm

Erika - you are in for some sickly weather here on the east coast, sorry about that. I live in connecticut and just cancelled my new year's eve plans for tonight. I hate to drive in snowy/icy weather! i just finished my first 10K row, which is a big deal for me. i'm a new rower, so every day is some sort of milestone. i feel really great physically, and have noticed a great change in my posture since i started 3 weeks ago. i usually row in the evenings, so when i'm done, i reward myself with a hot shower and some great gingerbread scented lotion. it's too sweet to wear all day, but it's a great scent to fall asleep to. happy new year to everyone - it's great to be part of a team! oakydaisy

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » December 31st, 2005, 6:44 pm

Welcome Crane as a new member! from Crane: started erging for real on 11/27/05, made it for 200K HC! work full time, developing family business part time, have 10 yr old daughter and 18 yr old step son (can't wait to be a great grams like you!). Been a martial artist and self defense instructor. Like the challenges of erg and how it fits with my self-motivation (plus stress relief and break for the brain!). Now aiming for 1st million meters before turning 48 this summer. Will be sending healing thoughts etc on Jan 5 a.m. also. thanks, and best wishes, Crane

[old] wellborn · Post by **[old] wellborn** » December 31st, 2005, 7:49 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(oakydaisy @ Dec 31 2005, 02:37 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Erika - you are in for some sickly weather here on the east coast, sorry about that. I live in connecticut and just cancelled my new year's eve plans for tonight. I hate to drive in snowy/icy weather! i just finished my first 10K row, which is a big deal for me. i'm a new rower, so every day is some sort of milestone. i feel really great physically, and have noticed a great change in my posture since i started 3 weeks ago. i usually row in the evenings, so when i'm done, i reward myself with a hot shower and some great gingerbread scented lotion. it's too sweet to wear all day, but it's a great scent to fall asleep to. happy new year to everyone - it's great to be part of a team! oakydaisy </td></tr></table> oakydaisy, I'm off in a few minutes to do a 10K workout myself. Thought I would check in for some inspiration. Seeing that you just did your first 10K, I won't the rainy weather ihere n SoCal deter me. My rower is in the garage, and actually it's kind of fun to erg with the door open and watch the rain come down. I don't even need music, because the sound of the rain is very enjoyable. I am hoping to better my 10K ranking for this season. Right now I'm pretty far from challenging my personal best, but I think I can drop 30 seconds or so off my previous 10K for this season. We'll see. I doubt our weather here is as bad as yours, but my city does a "First Night" celebration downtown every New Year's Eve. I think tonight's will be kind of soggy. And the rain tends to put a damper on the fireworks show at midnight! Hope you all have a fun and safe holiday celebration. Tomorrow begins our Challenge. I am shooting for 4 workouts a week, 8K - 10K each. That should put me in the range of 150,000 meters for the month, which will be a big improvement over what I did last year in January. It's a busy month for me at work, and I expect to be getting home after 7:00 PM several nights each week. If I can get on the C2 twice between Mon. & Thurs., and both Saturday and Sunday, that would be a good week. Thanks for being teammates in this endeavor. Gene

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » January 1st, 2006, 4:47 pm

I just did my first meters. I am dedicating them to my 40 yo stepson who is home from college until the 11th. Yes, we are paying for him to go through college (again). Ths holiday season has been a quick refresher in living with a teenager again. It does motivate me to work off some tension on the erg, but the nervous tic in my right eye is getting worse... Today's music: Styx - 2 albums. One song was especially appropriate for him: "Too Much Time on My Hands" The rest of today will be nice. My husband and I are having a 'togetherness day'. We both work at home, and althogh we see each other all the time we don't actually spend enough qualty time together away from the house. So, we will go to Seattle Center and see Lance at the Imax, and then the SciFi Museum. I'm a long-time fan. Grams

[old] wellborn · Post by **[old] wellborn** » January 1st, 2006, 10:35 pm

Looks like 3 of us so far have entered meters today. A good start. Our team is small, but mighty! grams, What movie about Lance is showing at the Imax? I have not heard about this. When we vacationed in Seattle back in June, we went to the SciFi Museum, Experience Music, and saw "Batman Begins" at the Seattle Center Theaters (although I don't think it was the Imax screen). It was lots of fun. And what a great rowing city Seattle is! Well, tomorrow it's back to work for me after a week and a half vacation. That's when the meters get tough. Hope I keep my contribution for the team up there. Happy erging all, Gene

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » January 1st, 2006, 11:16 pm

Hi Gene, Its raining again here in Seattle outside my open door when I erg. I got a barometer for Christmas and it says more rain for a week... Hard luck to California folks. You aren't used to it like we are. The IMAX show was about how Tour riders program their minds so they are motivated to perform at very high levels. It was a combo of Tour footage and computer animations of brain parts. It fits very well with what we are doing to our brains when we erg. I am finding that the instant feedback I get from my Ergmonitor computer program is improving my form and training me to be more efficient. Its a Christmas pressie. $100 from Coach Paul's businsess, PS-Sports. I run it on my laptop next to my erg. Its a bit twitchy about having other stuff running at the same time but I think I have it figured out now. And the heart rate monitor is great too (andother pressie). When my stroke form is better my heart rate goes down a bit. tonight I will take a look at all the old scifi paperback I have from the 60s-90's and reread a classic or 2. Grams (a favorite scifi author of mine is C L Moore)

[old] cwcesario · Post by **[old] cwcesario** » January 2nd, 2006, 4:26 pm

Hi Grams and everyone, thanks for the welcome to the team! Managed to row over an hour past two days, altho I'm working the long slow plan I read about on an article linked to C2 site - to build heart infrastructure. So my distance isn't what I'd like - well, another reason to love this team for the positive support/no pressure stance. I'll review that article and be able to be more specific if anyone's interested. Found that I was pushing hard to make 200K Holiday Challenge, which was fun, but I really want to be in for the long haul and it sounded like a good development plan. Grams, your info on good form and efficiency (as well as use of our brains) is really interesting, and a great reminder. When I really pull from the core, shoulder blades down etc., it is easier (ah, but we knew that!). Hey Oakydaisy, I live in western Mass but work in Hartford. We're in for something like 8-14 inches of wintry mix to snow tonight thru tomorrow here. I haven't checked weather to know if Erika will be okay in NY, with an early start to the hospital you should be okay. Erika, we'll all be sending goodness and healing your way, for sure, remember that, ok? BTW, I've learned about the music of Enter the Haggis from kids and friends, they are great! Upbeat fusion of Celtic-rock-bluegrass from Toronto... always hard to describe any fusion! Check out their website enterthehaggis.com for some clips. If up-tempo plus modern bagpipes appeals to you, you might really like them! I have CD "Casualties of Retail" and it helped me row those 200K last month, esp during some sprints! My other goal for today is to get out the sewing machine, thinking about a robe for the tall "long drink of water" 10 yr old girl of ours!

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » January 3rd, 2006, 3:00 pm

grams wise counselling for the week-I posted our NATE resolutions in a new thread called 'resolutions and priorities'. I worked long hours all weekend, and now its time to pay attention to something besides web pages and broken emails and other computer stuff. For myself I will try a fast erg piece today and see what happens to my maximum heart rate. Its gone up since I started erging, and now it falls rapidly too. Must be good for me to do all this work. The rest of the day will be spent doing things for other people. Except for an hour before bed reading. My husband usually works on his business until 10p every night, so our quality time occurs sporadically. Today's quote: "nothing ever goes as as planned" keep erging anyway!! grams

[old] mmracing · Post by **[old] mmracing** » January 3rd, 2006, 9:41 pm

Just starting back with the rowing and need to shed 15 pounds for the upcoming karting season. Also, my younger cousin is on the crew at his school and wants to have a competition. I told him that when he rows 10K at full baffle to come see me. Problem is that he is running 10Ks and several times a week. Not at the full baffle, but I'm sure he can take me in the shape that I'm in. I've got work to do to win this one.

[old] cwcesario · Post by **[old] cwcesario** » January 3rd, 2006, 10:20 pm

Hey Todd Cool karts you have there. It'll be interesting to see how rowing will affect your racing in a positive way. I bet you'll get to work with that cousin on your heels. Not that the work isn't important, but do remember that brain power is more than half the battle, and brain power is stronger for those of us with a little more seasoning (read age)! [no assumptions here as to your age, but you did say younger cousin, ok?!] Once I get over the hurdle of the 5 minutes around 15-20 into a long row, the will really takes over and I don't want to stop! Must say I've had plenty of experience with using brain power/ will power as I have 2 black belts plus, gave birth naturally, and then the rest of life, but every endeavor is a bit different. Grams had a great reminder about good form leading to efficiency and lower heart rates, so working smarter will also give you an advantage. best wishes, Crane

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » January 3rd, 2006, 10:56 pm

Welcome aboard Todd. Now we are 8 - the great 8 of course. In your line of work you must be subjected to many jokes about speed. I looked at your class schedule and it sounded really neat, but scary for me. Now my husband the daredevil cyclist would love to give it a try... I believe that your meters for January will show up on our team listing now, unless I didn't have the correct email address for you. I have sent you a message to the one I used in your team registration. Let me know if you don't get it. Otherwise, you should have a 'Team' link in a new orange box link on your personal log page. grams tomorrow I start the income tax thing. Aarrgghh.

[old] cwcesario · Post by **[old] cwcesario** » January 3rd, 2006, 10:57 pm

FYI Here's a link to that article I found interesting, about The Heart Muscle "A revolutionary three-month plan that will help you put more strength -- and more time -- in your ticker" from the articles section of this forum. <a href='http://www.mensjournal.com/healthFitnes ... heart.html' target='_blank'>http://www.mensjournal.com/healthFitnes ... rt.html</a>.

[old] mmracing · Post by **[old] mmracing** » January 4th, 2006, 12:39 am

Thanks for the welcome. I got excited and pulled the rower out. Started watching , "Kill Bill Vol. 1" and went to 5K. It took almost 26 minutes on the 10 damper setting. Question: What is everyone running for their damper level? I feel more musle exhausting with the 10 setting, but my times are better with the lower level. I'm not in it for the times, but to lose weight and build up some lean muscle. As for martial arts, I did some Tae Kwon do in my early 20s, then moved to Mui Tae Kick Boxing after college, then Brazilian Ju Jitsu three years ago. I've never stuck with it for long, just enough to keep myself sure that I can defend against attack. I feel it is time to start up again. Karting is a blast, we pull 3Gs in the karts on a sprint track and it is the closest you can get to Indy racing without the cost. My cousin Rob got me into mountain biking last year and I just started. I'm also going to take up indoor rock climbing again. It has been too long for me and I'll need a refresher, but I have all my gear ready to go for this Sunday. I see my 5K just showed up on the board. I'll try for another 5K tomorrow. Slow and steady...

[old] Citroen · Post by **[old] Citroen** » January 4th, 2006, 10:22 am

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(mmracing @ Jan 4 2006, 04:39 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I feel more musle exhausting with the 10 setting, but my times are better with the lower level. I'm not in it for the times, but to lose weight and build up some lean muscle. </td></tr></table> You've answered your own question. Drop the damper and you'll dramatically improve your technique. You'll be less likely to hurt yourself and you'll enjoy your rowing more. I row with the damper just at the top end of 4. (Drag factor 120 seems to suit me.) I lost 33lbs rowing on damper 3.

[old] grams · Post by **[old] grams** » January 4th, 2006, 1:09 pm

I go by the drag factor # displayed on my PM3 monitor. You have to go to the 'other options' secti8on and then click on 'display drag factor'. My regular workouts are at 105, and my speed stuff is at 110. Any higher and my 'golfing elbow' tendon problem starts to twinge. For good form (and better endurance development) try longer slower sessions without having your feet strapped in. And 10 meters/stroke and 20 strokes/meter. You will be surprised how the strapless method forces you into a better form. I don't really start burning fat until 1/2 hour-45 minutes into my workout, so I normally do a 1 hour or more session every other day. That and eating a large healthy salad with protein in it for dinner. grams

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