Introduce yourself

[kit44]

Still lurking, and taking advice (and yes, I know it's a women's forum, and not just ducks, but thanks, Schenley! No one else in my family wants to play either, Shannon, husbadn rows, but won't post his metres and they all think I'm nuts!)
Grams, I just did your 8k @ 10 mps - nice workout! I confess I didn't take the straps off - I'm still too off-balance to really enjoy a long row without them, but I'll work on it. It's a good pace to really concentrate on technique - I thought I'd get bored half-way through, but I just tried pulling harder for 200 m or so. Next time I'll go strapless....maybe! Thanks for the suggestion, and I hope others try it.
Kit

[grams]

The 8k is good. If you want to work a little harder you can bump up the drag ever so slightly, or simply slow down to 18 or 19 strokes per minute from the standard 20. The slower stroke rate makes each pull a bit harder.

grams

[Wood_Duck]

I second that. Women supporting women, regardless of the team affiliation! So lurkers out there--introduce yourselves and join in the fun.

[southerngalgonemad]

Hey all! Another newbie here. Reside in Raleigh, North Carolina with 2 girls, hubby, dog and a frog.
Going on my 3rd week with 55,500 under my strap of my c2 model d. Each day seems to get a bit more challenging but am loving every minute. Have the blisters to prove it
Would love to hear any tips/stories - I am making my way down the threads.
Oh, do have one ?. My feet rock, seems like I am pushing off with my caves....any suggestions? I have the straps on as tight as they will go. I have watched the dvd and other videos on technique and don't see it happening to them.

[MomofJBN]

Welcome, Southern Gal! I'm not sure exactly what you mean by your feet "rocking." However, for me and I think for most people, the heels do come up at the catch. Then the heels drop back down almost instantly at the beginning of the drive so that the power can come from your thighs.

[kit44]

Southern Gal, try not to slide so far forward that your heel come right off - try rowing a few km without letting the heels coming up at all, and feel the dirve coming from the heeels and the thighs. Then slowly relaxe until you have a natural motion - you'll find your heels will still come up, but not as much. Or try the strapless row instead of tight straps - I still rock strapless, but still get the power from the thighs and glutes rather than calves.
And BTW, great rowing on the JVC, Ducks - Schenley, you've done well. Weren't you sick or injured during the HC? Are you going to try to complete the 100 for JVC? (sorry - not trying to put pressure on you - you're just so close!) It's a great way to keep moving in January, especially with all the weird and wacky weather going on all over the place - can't count on winter sports as much this year, and even walking isn't much fun in the rain. I've been happy to crank out the metres snug at home!
kit

[southerngalgonemad]

Thanks! I will try all of the tips tomorrow on my workout. kit44, you are right, I think I am coming up to much.

[lzcait]

Have been lurking for the past month waiting to get on the erg! I'm an endurance kayaker, love to scull also. Have just finished radiation for very early stage breast cancer...which is why I couldn't get on the erg until now. I strenth train with a trainer (who also happens to be my tandem kayak partner) 3 days a week and do my cardio on the new erg at the gym...right now about 40 minutes. So I'm reading all the tips and hints from everyone! And since southern Texas has been under a cloud of rain and unseasonable cold with no end in sight...I'll be getting in plenty of time on the erg before I get back on the water. In the meantime, music and visions of the spring races keep me rowing rowing rowing!

[fleabane]

Hi Izcait - welcome to the forum - good news re your treatment being very early stage

What counts as an endurance in kayaking terms - have done plenty (years ago!!) but never very long distance - anyway take care

Jean

[lzcait]

Thanks for the welcome fleabane...not sure what the "official" distance is for being an endurance kayaker...my longest was the Colorado 100 last September...did it in tandem in 22h51m. Trying to talk my kayaking partner into the Yukon 460 this July without much success...but both he and my husband have this thing about cold water and bears! I know we'll compete in the CO100 again and should start training in earnest for that the first if April.

[MomofJBN]

And BTW, great rowing on the JVC, Ducks - Schenley, you've done well. Weren't you sick or injured during the HC? Are you going to try to complete the 100 for JVC? (sorry - not trying to put pressure on you - you're just so close!)

Thanks, Kit. Would you believe, I actually hadn't noticed how close I'd gotten to 100K until you pointed it out. Unfortunately, at that point I only had 1 planned erging day left for the month. However, if we get a snow day tomorrow, I'll finish off that 100K. If it's a "normal" day tomorrow, I won't have time.

[fleabane]

Izcait - thats a huge distance - longest I have ever done in a canoeing race was a 26 mile marathon when I was 16!!. Bloomin hard work wind and tide against us with plenty of capzised K1's & K2's to rescue on route - I came in last but had a huge write up in the paper for the number of people I had placed back in their canoes on route - felt quite the hero

An now nearly 40 and have just got into this rowing lark -all of four weeks ago - and loving it - it was supposed to be a weight lose exercise but am now addicted to trying to get my times better - am currently just shy of my first 200k.

I guess I now need to sit down and work out some sort of training plan - so if anyone has any ideas let me know - have looked at the training plans over at the UK forum but not really sure what to do.

I get enjoyment out of seeing how many calories I have burnt - so I guess something that burns about 800 cals a go - would keep me happy

Take care

Jxx

[lzcait]

Jxx, you are most definitely a hero to all the racers that you helped! Wow! I flipped once in a pre race training session and if my trainer hadn't been just down river I will probably still be hanging from the tree I grabbed. I took up rowing only 2 years ago and am proud to say at age 56 I was the second oldest female to complete the 100 mile race...I can't wait for September to race against the 64 year old that came in ahead of us! Good luck finding a training program. Right now I only erg 3 days a week for 40 min, following a one hour weight lifting session with a trainer. I'm not really trying for distance right now...smooth consistent technique that will hopefully translate to the kayak. Hopefully this coming Friday our unseasonably cold weather is going to break down here in Texas and I can get to some water rowing! 800 calorie workout...you are moving there, lady!

[fleabane]

Thats amazing - only canoeing for 2 years and you entered a 100 mile race at 56 - crikey - I have a long way to go to get that fit.

How do you find the weight training - does that help - am worried I will end up looking like the Hulk and not a thinner greener version

Fingers crossed for the weekends weather

Jeanxx

[lzcait]

Hi Jeanxx...the nice thing about weight lifting as a woman is that we don't bulk/Hulk up, unless we use steriods. Men's extra testosterone is what builds all the bulky muscle. In fact I'm 2 sizes smaller now than I was at the same weight when I only exercised with aerobics, walking, etc. When I'm working out and lifting the increased blood flow definitely makes my arm muscles, biceps, shoulders, etc. "show." But that dissipates quickly for women. Men will keep that bulky look alot longer. Mine go back to just looking well toned. And even better, the more muscles mass we have to our overall body mass, our bodies use calories much more efficiently...means I can take in more calories (ie chocolate!) without it going as quickly to my hips! I've only been weight lifting for 2 years, but I'm hooked on it! So yes, you can get slimmer lifting...greener I'm not sure about!