Feeling That Connection

Erging was always a necessary evil for me. I saw it as a way to keep fit as opposed to a useful tool for rowing. The saying 'Ergs don't float', was used a lot at my old club as a reason for not taking erg scores too seriously. Performance on the water is ultimately more important. It's easier to get a good erg score because you don't have to worry about balance or water / weather conditions.

Being on the water feels natural and comfortable to me, so getting my rating up on the water was never a problem. Feeling the connection between my oars and the water, and feeling the consequences of my actions makes it easier for me to correct and adapt my technique. On the ergs, however, I struggled to make the mental and physical connection between my actions and the numbers on the screen. I couldn't quite work out how erging was supposed to feel.

Like a Fish Out of Water

I didn't know what the connection was supposed to feel like. I wasn't quite sure what it meant to squeeze with my glutes, as I thought I was doing enough by pushing down with my legs. I didn't have a discerning eye when looking at other people's technique. I felt like a fish out of water on an erg!

Thanks to some great erg coaching from John Gill, and the support of a couple of the experienced ladies during our squad erg sessions, things are finally clicking into place. My sequencing is improving and I now know what the connection feels like, and my glutes just keep on firing! Even a relaxed session on the ergs now is more powerful than what used to be a hard session for me!

Milestones

I did a session on the erg this afternoon, and my times are better than they ever have been, and that was just during the warm-up! Rowing is a journey that I came to quite late in life, and it has taken a lot of perseverance to get this far, but it has totally been worth it! I'm still a novice and this will be my second regatta season, so who knows what will happen!

Gold star!

Looks can be deceiving...

It was an absolutely beautiful and summery weekend on dry land, but the River Thames had other ideas!

Because an odd number of people turned up for the ladies squad outing on Saturday morning, the coaches decided to put together a IV, three doubles, and a single scull. I am the only person in the squad who actually enjoys single sculling, so when they said that I would be in the single, I was so happy!

I pretty much shot up the river right away to do my warm up, whilst the others sorted their boats out. The sun was shining, the river was calm, and although I was rowing against the stream, it felt easier than usual, which was great. When I got up to the weir to turn around, I took off a couple of layers because it was such a warm day.

You can't step into the same river twice

Normally the journey downstream is the fastest, because you're carried by the current to a certain extent. On Saturday, however, the river seemed to have had a personality change. The usually helpful and accommodating downstream journey was tough! The currents were so strong that it felt as though I was hardly moving! I had to push down with my legs as hard as I could with every single stroke! The waves were lapping over my boat from every direction! It was bizarre to say the least! My warm up was definitely complete by the time I got back to the water near the boat club! I turned my boat around again to do the second loop of the river.

On the way back upstream, we had to do a continuous 16 minute piece, which meant that we had to do 2K at race pace, turn at the weir, and shoot right back downstream again without taking a break. The conditions going upstream were as lovely as they had been when I did them the first time that morning, so I assumed that the freak conditions on the other side of the river had been just that - freak conditions. So I happily raced up to the weir, turned and raced back downstream. But again, on the downstream journey, I was moving, but the boat wasn't. It was a battle to get that single scull to shift against the horrible currents and the wind and the waves. It was like rowing on two different rivers going each way!

Sea-legs

As I was powering along, I passed some quads, IV's and doubles, and they were not moving much either. They didn't catch up with me or overtake me, which is very unusual! So I realised that the conditions that day were affecting everyone.

My legs and glutes were struggling! I did one more loop, and I could feel the lumps of tension forming in my glutes as I crunched over them! It was a real test of endurance and willpower! I gave that third and final loop everything I had, and then I took my boat back in to the boathouse.

When I paddled up to the landing stage, I couldn't actually stand up! I had to roll out of the boat onto the landing stage (and the bird poo...) for a second before my legs were of any use to me! I put my boat away and went up to the cafe to wait for the rest of the ladies squad to finish their outing.

Small Victories

As the ladies started to drift up to the cafe, they each congratulated me on surviving out there in my single. I was really pleased with myself, to say the least, and even the coaches were impressed, which is unheard of! Andy likened the conditions to the North Sea! Charlotte, who had been in a double, said that I deserved a gold star, so I will take that and allow myself to enjoy that small achievement for a while until the next challenge!

Persevere & Doors Will Open!

It has been a long day! Went to work, did some work; came home, did some more work; went to a little leaving do for a colleague; and then to the rowing club to do an erg...!

When I got to the rowing club, there were a couple of people in their who I knew, so I chatted to them for a bit, before finally sitting down to tackle the beast.

Some of the ladies went out for a night time outing, whilst the others presumably had other commitments, so I was ready to erg solo. One of the guys said he'd keep an eye on me, so I didn't feel quite so alone. It was a great help. I couldn't just wimp out and go home.

The first 5 minutes were tough, and I felt like giving up, but I didn't leave my colleague's leaving do and go all that way for nothing! So I carried on. Mark came over when he'd finished his weights session and sat with me for a bit so he could give me some pointers. It felt like a good solid session.

Once I'd finished the set piece, I grabbed my stuff from the changing room and headed downstairs to go outside to my car and I reached the door at exactly the same time as Sir Steve Redgrave!!! Sir Steve Redgrave!!!!!!!!!! He opened the door and very kindly held it open for me so I could come out first. He is a giant of a man! I walked under his arm and barely got within sniffing distance of his armpit!

The moral of the story. By sticking with my set piece on the erg and not cutting any corners, my path collided with a shooting star of Olympic greatness! Go hard or don't even bother leaving home.

New Highs! The 'C' Word & Personal Bests

The 'C' word...

Circuit Training was amazing this evening! I was like the Duracell bunny! Everything was at full intensity, top speed, and max fun! I really enjoyed it! And that's something I thought I'd NEVER say about the 'C' word... i.e. 'Circuit' training!

The instructor couldn't believe it either! If there was a prize for enthusiasm, I would've won it tonight! The moral of the story, perseverance makes light work of anything. If I put the same amount of hard work and determination into my other goals, it won't be long until they move from the 'To Do' list and join the 'Done' list!

Personal Bests

Yesterday evening's erg session was fantastic! I'm still floating on the high from slashing a whole 6 seconds off my personal best split time!

We started off with a 34 minute set piece, alternating between rating at 18 and 20 strokes per minute, and then we did some intense sprints! 10 x 30seconds burst of flat-out power! I have never been so fast! It was like I was an out of body experience - as though someone else was erging, but using my body to do it.

It's amazing how much more one can achieve if they just ignore their limiting internal dialogue.

Don't Let Fog Stop You From Seeing Clearly

It was very foggy this morning, so one of the coaches made the call to cancel our outing. I got the text message at 6:30am, just as I was stepping out of the door... Total anticlimax!

Rather than let the weather dictate my next move, I was determined to at least do a session on the erg. I decided to wait for the fog to lift a bit, so it was safer on the road. Whilst I was waiting, an email pinged over from Catherine. She, like me, was all dressed up and jeed up ready to go! So I sent an email out to say that I'd be at the club by 08:30am for an erg session if anyone else fancied joining us.

Myself, Catherine and Donata did some pyramid interval training, which was great. I even managed to squeeze in some shorter 2 and 3 minute sprint intervals at the end of our session! I'm building up to doing double sessions on the ergs by the summer, so I'll be ready for the regattas!

There's ALWAYS something left!

Yesterday night, Circuits was tough! Our trainer changed it up, and the session was more focus on getting a cardio / aerobic workout. I didn't want to, but I almost gave up.

Whilst I was doing one of the skipping sets, I decided to imagine that someone was aiming a gun at my head, and they would shoot if I stopped. That worked for a little bit, but then I decided that a clean death would be a sweet release from the nausea in my stomach. So! I imagined that they were aiming the gun at my right knee, and the thought of real pain spurred me on!

There were a couple of other crews training in the gym at the same time, and when I finished, one of the guys said that it looked like I'd breezed through Circuits. If only he knew that it was a life or death situation!

After all that hard work, I was still able to keep my balance and walk down the stairs without falling on my head. Essentially, I was fine. And that's the thing. No matter how hard you think you're training, you still have something left. It's not advisable to train until you pass out, but it has been known to happen at ergathons!

One of the coaches at the club summed it up nicely. You need to be able to give your best performance in every race. At some regattas, you may have to race 2, 3 or 4 times in a day! Every race has to be your best. So you need to train smart. Get your body to the point where it gives everything that it's got and finds the same to give again.

Sculling & Circuits - A quick catch up

Single Sculling Ecstasy!

I had my first outing in a single scull at my new club on Sunday!!!

The ladies squad had competed at Wehorr on Saturday, so after their epic efforts, they understandably decided not to train on Sunday. So, I had the river and our coach all to myself at 7am on Sunday morning! The river was on a green light, so I went out in the single scull. It was amazing!

Normally when I've been training in a crew boat for a while, I get a bit nervous about getting back into a single, but because it had been almost two months since I was last out in a single, I was too excited to remember to be nervous! I swooshed across the river and rowed it like I stole it!

Andy, the coach, filmed me so I could have a look later. I thought my blades would be splashing around all over the show, but it wasn't too bad at all. There are always a few things that I need to work on, but that's the fun of it.

Double Trouble

After my session in the single, I went out in a double called 'Double Trouble'. It was a full-on morning, and I've never felt so tired in my life, but it was worth it.

Circuit Training Insanity!

Last Wednesday it was hard! Rather than just do the usual skipping between each set, our trainer, Jacqui, mixed things up a bit. We did burpees, squat-thrusts, mountain running (or something like that), and skipping. It was intense!!!

After the success of the previous week's competition, there was another competition to see who could do the best skipping. It was the only thing that kept me going! I think Jacqui took petty on me, because I won the skipping contest! My prize was a sherbet dib-dab! #RetroCool!

Just Keep Swimming!

Motivation

This morning was interesting. I spent an hour outside in the freezing cold wind, carrying, rigging and de-rigging boats. I was cold to my bones!!! After a while I was so cold that got in the car for a while and turned on the heated seats to warm me up! I switched on the radio and this guy was talking about some epic long distance swims that he'd done. Each swim took between 10 to 17 hours!!! He described one swim that he'd done when after a few hours he had lost all sensation in his spine. He thought he'd have to stop and get into the boat that was accompanying him. So what he did was to give himself a goal of swimming for just one more minute. And when he managed that, he swam for a minute longer, and so on. He was still swimming 3 hours later! Well! That got me out of the car and back to the boats! 20 minutes later, I'd finished the job! I was cold again, but it didn't matter!

Afterwards I did some pieces on the erg to warm up again. Once I was warm, I did 10 x 300m sprints and hit my ultimate PB (personal best)! It was amazing! A little bit of hardship goes a long way! Whenever I feel like giving up again, I will think of that dude who couldn't feel his spine, and I'll keep on going!

Work / Life / Rowing Balance

I have no life. I work, I row, I sleep. Training is increasing in intensity, and I'm needing more sleep as a result.

This is what my life looks like at the moment. When I get home from work in the afternoon, I have something to eat right away (so my food can digest before heading out to the rowing club) and then I'll usually rest for an hour. That is the only rest I get all day, so I savour it.

A Stretch in Time Saves Your Ass!

After that, I'll head to the boat club and train for an hour or two, which includes warming up and stretching afterwards. The stretching is the most important thing! For every hour of exercise, I stretch for at least 15 minutes. Usually some yoga poses along with the traditional P.E. stretches we all had to do at school.

When I get home I jump in the bath or shower, followed by dinner and bed.

Sweet Dreams

Now that my training is consistent again, I sleep so well and deeply. I love it. I'm exhausted when I go to bed, but I feel refreshed and energised when I wake up in the morning. I get between 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.

Life

Friday's are my only day off training, so that's when I can catch up on my life. Last night I went out for a meal at the Cattle Grid in Windsor, which was really good. The best milkshake ever! The cobbled streets of Windsor look great on a postcard, but they're not so great when you're wearing stilettos!

Back on the river after a month!

Today was my first outing in a boat in exactly 4 weeks! It was so exciting to have my first outing with the new club this morning! I went out in a quad with some of the ladies. A 6am start has never felt so good! I didn't care what the weather was going to be like, I just wanted to get out there into the elements!

There is a 2k stretch of river upstream from the club to the lock, and we did 8 lengths in total, which was 16k. It felt so good. We did a few 1k and 2k race-pace pieces at around 28 s/m. Such a treat after coming from a club with just a 700m downstream stretch; although, rowing on the Avon did have its advantages. It is fairly narrow, which means you get very good at steering. On the Thames, it seems that people don't get to hone that particular skill. We crashed into two other boats and narrowly missed a swan. There was another collision near the boat club when a double and a single collided and their riggers became locked into place so they couldn't separate. They then crashed into another boat, and it was the impact of that crash which separated them. So, I'd best look out when the responsibility of steering falls to me.

My core muscles are still feeling bruised from Thursday's session, but I'm not aching, thank goodness. I could really feel my stomach muscles engaging as I did the rock-over at the start of each stroke today. They're definitely getting stronger!

16k? Try 8446 miles!

Emma Mitchell, one of the women who recently completed an epic 8446 mile row across the Pacific Ocean, was at the boat club today. What an incredible achievement! Unfortunately I live in a cave with no TV, so I didn't see the news or know anything about it until today. She was very friendly and unassuming, and smiled shyly as the coaches told me all about her exploits. So impressive! And there I was, feeling good about my 16k!

By the time I got back home it was lunchtime, and I hadn't eaten any breakfast, so I was hungry! A nice bowl of chicken and spaghetti went down well. No more outings until next Saturday, but plenty of land-training to keep me busy until then.

Mad Dogs and Rowers

The ladies squad had priority use of the ergs yesterday evening, but people had other commitments so I was the only one who could make it. Our coach had said that she would come along to give me some pointers, but that didn't happen, so I did my own thing for 20 minutes. I just worked on my technique and trying to get a feel for the sequencing. I felt like I made some good progress.

It was fairly quiet at the club. There were 3 or 4 other people on the ergs at the same time as me, and the mens squad was using the weights for their strength and conditioning class.

Strength and Conditioning

When I was finished erging, I did some stretching on mats and I was in two minds about whether I should call it a day, or do one last set piece on the erg. Luckily I had an offer I couldn't refuse. The mens squad came over to the mat to finish off their session with some core work. They needed even numbers to do some of the exercises, but they were missing a body, so their coach asked if I wanted to join in and make up the numbers. Always one to embrace the punishing regime it takes to become a competitive rower, I said yes. The coach paired me up with his son, who was really encouraging and helpful throughout the session.

Train Like a Man

When I've seen the men training before, they make it look so easy. I thought us girls worked hard in our circuit training class... I stand corrected! Those guys work hard! It looks easy because they've worked for it! I felt like I'd been in a fight when I woke up this morning! I'm not aching, but I feel bruised! My ribs, and my lower back had a work-out like non other!

We did some exercises that I don't know the names of, but they were tough!

Don't Be a Push-over!

We did a variation of straight-leg leg-raises, were you lie on your back with your arms extended behind you so you can hold onto the ankles of your partner as they stand behind your head. You raise your legs straight up so your body and legs are at a right-angle, and your partner then shoves them back down (with force) but you mustn't let your legs hit the ground. They push your legs away either straight ahead, to the left or to the right, so you get to twist and strengthen your core at the same time. It was brutal! You do 20 reps, and only two sets (which I suspect was more for my benefit than the norm). You swap over between sets so you can stand for a bit whilst you recover, and you get to do the shoving.

The Crunch

Another exercise we did was crunches. Your partner holds your feet and you do crunches whilst holding a weight behind your head. I couldn't even do one of those, so that's one for me to practice! I held the weight on my chest instead.

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things... said no one ever!

We did some of the usual suspects, like lunges, lots of planks, some Russian twists with weights.

There was another exercise that the guys made look easy, but it was serious! You kneel down and keep your body upright from your knees. Your partner holds your feet in place, and you must gradually lean forward (keeping everything in line) as slowly and with as much control as possible before you fall completely forward into a push-up position. You must then launch your body back up in a single push-up motion, and lean forward again. Repeating the whole process. That worked out my legs, back and abs and shoulders like nothing else!

At one point, the coach took me away from the group to one of the pull-up bars. First, it was too high up for me to reach so I had to jump up and grab on! And then, he wanted me to pull my knees up and do a type of reverse crunch, but suspended in mid air. I did not think I could do it, but I managed a few. There was no limit on how many of those I had to do. I stopped when I was losing my grip on the bar.

One Plank Too Many... No Such Thing!

The class was punctuated with planks, and we ended the session with a plank. One of the guys next to me was chatting to me as we planked, but that was a punishable offence, so he had to do crab planks whilst the rest of us finished off. Brutal! I felt bad, but it's good for him.

The coach and the guys in the squad were very kind to me and very patient. It was a great session, and I shall certainly join in again if I am invited. The exercises are so effective, and I'm sure they get great results very quickly if you put the time in.

For the Love of Rowing

There are some things a competitive rower does for the love of the sport. Erging comes quite high up on most people's list. As do the early starts when it's cold and unpleasant outside. Another thing that features on that list will be circuit training.

Circuit Training

It is like passing through the seven rings of hell (if that's even a thing). Each hellish exercise is designed to make you stronger and fitter, and ultimately a better rower.

I get absolutely no satisfaction from circuit training. There are all sorts of things that the coaches find new and horrible uses for, such as Swiss balls, medicine balls, kettle bells, dumb bells, steps, benches, and ropes. The ropes are for skipping not for hanging yourself with, although it is very tempting!

This evening's session was no different. An hour of pure torture! We did each exercise for 1 minute, followed by 1 minute of skipping, and then the next exercise, more skipping, etc. for 1 hour.

Did I enjoy it at the time? No. Am I happy I did it? Hell yeah!

After the hour of fun, we did some resistance and core work on the mats, followed by stretching.

The gym at the rowing club was pretty much packed tonight. There were three squads using the ergs and the weights, and my squad doing circuits. We're all in it together!

And Beyond

The river is still quite high, so I don't hold out much hope of getting onto the water at the weekend, but I'm sure the coaches will find lots of stuff to keep me busy!

I've got a one-to-one erg session with my coach tomorrow so we can work on my technique. And then Friday is our day off. I have visions of Katsu curry with sticky rice and a crappy movie...

Anyway! I had a nice hot bath to soothe my muscles when I got home this evening, and I'm feeling good as new. How I feel in the morning will be another thing entirely...

Goodnight! :)

Power and Symmetry

Land Training

I wasn't able to get out onto the river again this morning, but I did a 2K erg (rowing machine) piece. I really need to get my erg time back to where it was, and better! An erg a day will get me there. I'll mix it up with some sprints, pyramids and distance pieces.

Power and Balance

The only downside of doing all this land-training, as far as I can tell, is that it could affect your balance. Working on your power with an erg or with weights isn't the same as building up power and speed in a boat on the river. When you're in a boat, you cannot decide to concentrate on power and forget about balance. You have to do both, otherwise you will capsize.

Power Without Balance

Training on land does allow you to concentrate on power without worrying too much about balance, but that could create imbalance in your body, and you may not notice the consequences until you get in a boat again.

Doing yoga or pilates can bridge the gap, because all of the moves require balance and strength, and each move strengthens both sides of your body equally.

Symmetry Before Death

There's a great saying in yoga, that I really like, and it's 'symmetry before death.' Essentially, if you do a yoga move on one side of your body, you must do the same move on the other side to create balance and harmony.

A Good Stroke

A good stroke is all about power, balance and symmetry.

In rowing we are all aiming for that illusive 'good stroke', when the boat is perfectly balanced, the blades move in perfect unison and hover over the water without touching it. We start squaring the blades at the right time so they are ready for entry at the perfect moment; and we hear that single splash as both blades enter the water in stereo. We push off equally with both feet and feel the boat run underneath us as it cuts through the water. When it happens it feels amazing! And I'm sure we all want every stroke to feel like that.

Work more balance into your land-training routine today and feel the difference!

A Rowing Club to Call My Home!

A Steak Holder

I have finally joined a rowing club on the mighty River Thames! I had a look around the club last Saturday (6th Feb) and I knew it was the one. Plus, one of the members (who just happens to be a 2012 gold medalist!) recommended a great steak house in town for lunch afterwards, and it was the best fillet steak ever! It's a no brainer really!

Circuit Training

My first session was on Wednesday (10th Feb) evening, and it was a veritable baptism by fire! Circuit Training... A necessary evil if you want to win races. It was a really good session. We did each exercise for 60 seconds, followed by 60 seconds of skipping (with a skipping rope), and then move on to the next exercise. The playlist was good, which always helps, and there was a beep every 60 seconds so we knew when to move on.

The facilities are world-class, clean and modern, which is a far cry from circuit training in a cold and dusty school gymnasium. But I'm not complaining, because if you can consistently train in a horrible school gym at night when you'd rather be in bed, it will make an athlete out of you!

The Early Bird

My second session was at 7am this morning. Unfortunately, because the river is quite high and running fast, the coaches did not allow any small boats to go out. So, the senior ladies 8 went out, which left 2 of us to do some land training. Normally that would mean doing a couple of pieces on the rowing machine. But because we were dressed in our outdoor gear, my training partner suggested that we go for a quick jog around the town.

It's been months since I went for a jog, and it's a different kind of fitness required for jogging, but whenever I move to a new area, I tend to pick up jogging again as a good way to scope it out. It was drizzling this morning, but it wasn't too cold, so my lungs didn't go into shock. The jog was really good. We chatted a bit as we went along, and it came as a big shock to me that I could talk and jog, because I did not think I'd be fit enough! I normally jog alone, and I'm not in the habit of talking to myself generally, so that was a small victory.

When we got back to the boat club, we stripped off a few layers and did a 6K piece on the rowing machine at 20sm (strokes per minute). My last session on an erg (rowing machine) was Monday 11th January, so I was a bit out of shape. About 45 seconds slower than usual for a 6K piece. I fully expect to get back to my former level of fitness (and beyond) again, now that I will be training regularly again.

Races Are Won in the Winter

Here's what my weekly winter training schedule is going to look like until the Spring when we'll have mostly water-based sessions.

My next session is tomorrow at 7:15am. No more leisurely weekend mornings for me, but I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Yoga will Body Rock You to Fantastic Rowing

Flexibility in the hips is absolutely essential if you want to row without hurting your back. I see countless rowers hunched over as the reach for the catch, and it's a ticking time-bomb for their poor back and shoulders.

Forward Fold and Body Rock

The 'forward fold' is a key move in the yoga repertoire, and it simulates the rowing 'Body Rock', or 'Rock Over', move, which is at the beginning of the sequence of taking a stroke from back-stops. It stretches out your hamstrings and relieves the pressure on the back.

Stretch Your Way To Health

Stretching in general is so important for wellbeing. Whether you're an athlete or you sit at a desk all day. Our routines are full of repetitive movements with a limited range of motion, which can lead to tension and injury.

From Treat to Treatment!

Before I started yoga, the muscles in my back and shoulders would get really tight. A back massage was not a treat for me, it was a treatment! Since doing yoga, however, I don't need massages anymore. Yoga has made my core muscles so much stronger and my rowing is so much better!

The Core of the Problem

To clarify, the core muscles are not just your stomach. The core includes your sides and back. The centre of your body is your core. They are your muscle power-house! If the core is strong, supple and stable, it means that the rest of your limbs can get on with their jobs without having to overcompensate.

Start Your Yoga Practice Today

A friend of mine introduced me to this great website called DoYouYoga.com After randomly trawling through YouTube previously, it was nice to have a central location with a library of fantastic yoga courses. I started off with the Erin Motz 30 Day Yoga Challenge and moved on from there. I have subscribed to a few of the course over the past year, and they are great!

Whatever your body goals are, yoga will change your body and your life in ways that you couldn't imagine. Hey, and if it's good enough for the England Rugby team, it's good enough for me :)

Rower Without a Paddle

I literally cannot wait to join a new rowing club! I have way too much energy, and I am not sleeping!

Being 'between clubs' is the worst experience! There's no point joining a gym, because I won't need it when I start rowing. But if I don't do something soon, I will have a meltdown!

I need the sweet pain of rowing! I need to hear my blades on the water! I need to be in a boat!!!

To keep myself sane(ish), I am doing weights at home, but I haven't been on an erg for 2 weeks! I never thought I'd miss those horrible things!

I visited three clubs at the weekend, and I'm going to one more on Saturday. I may just sign up with that one out of sheer desperation!

The non-rowers among you may think that there are too many exclamation marks in this piece, but for the rowers out there, you know there are never enough!!!!!!!!!!!!

Danielle. Rower without a paddle...

Nobody likes to be the Newbie...

Nerves...

I'm so nervous about joining a new rowing club! It's especially nerve-wracking because I was so happy at Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club! The friends I made there are like my second family and I miss them so much! The coaches were fantastic, and the club dealt with any problems quickly so as to avoid developing political factions, which is no mean feat! I'm scared that no other club will live up to that.

Decisions, Decisions...

I'm visiting two clubs this weekend, and arranging visits with four others. It's such a big decision to make, but one that has to be made pretty quickly so I don't forget how to row! Getting into a single scull is a surreal experience at the best of times! It feels like you're actually levitating over the water. I love it, but I have a healthy respect for the couple of inches that separates me from the murky depths!

Get Your Kit On!

The other thing that I haven't mention is the club kit. There are some weird and wonderful colour and design combinations out there! Stratford was very conservative with its black and burgundy kit. Warwick boat club is blue and white. Evesham Rowing Club was navy blue. But I have seen some kits that would make even the Power Rangers go blind! Ultimately, it is not a deciding factor, but it is a very visible part of the experience. At least if I end up with an outlandish get-up, I'll be very easy to spot at competitions! Which, now that I think of it, may or may not be a good thing...

Rowing: The Inside Scoop on My Training Schedule & A Little Secret!

Now that I'm starting to get settled in the new place, I decided to re-started my weight training routine today! It felt so good!

Choosing to use a 'man and van' rather than a removal company, I did a lot of the actual moving myself. Woman + man + van. So, that was quite hard work, but lugging boxes around the new flat has been great exercise!

As part of the performance team at Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club, we had to do weekly 'strength and conditioning' (i.e. weights) sessions - amongst other things. I attended the last session two weeks ago, and then moved house. I'm still looking for a new rowing club to join, but I've got some weights at home, so I can keep in shape at times like these.

Weekly Training Schedule

When I'm in full training, my routine looks something like this:

Monday: Erg (i.e. rowing machine) session (pm)
Tuesday: Strength & Conditioning (i.e. weights) session (pm)
Wednesday or Friday: Single scull - technical session (am)
Thursday: 12K Erg session (am / pm)
Saturday: 2 x Sweep / Sculling - coached session (am)
Sunday: 2 x Sweep / Sculling - coached session (am)

And the secret... 2 - 5 Yoga sessions per week!

Yoga!?

I actually started with yoga before doing weights, and that improved my overall core strength and stability really quickly! It was great to have the strong core already when starting the weights training, because it meant that I could focus on technique rather than balance. Thanks to yoga, I am more mindful and aware of my body during each exercise, which means that I know how things should feel, and where I should be feeling the workout, which reduces my risk of injury.

No matter what your sport, or your lifestyle, yoga is probably the most beneficial thing you can do! It has given me strength and flexibility, regulated my appetite, improved my breathing (which is another massive topic that is vastly underrated / misunderstood), and improved my posture. Again, the benefits of a good posture for your health and wellbeing are immeasurable will be carried well into your old age!

I'm looking forward to getting back into a proper routine again, but until then, I can keep up with the yoga and weights.

Thanks for reading!

Northampton Head Race 2016!

I competed in my first head race today! I am quite new to competitive rowing, having only just competed in two regattas for the first time last Summer. So, today was going to be the deciding factors as to whether or not head races are for me.

The First Race - Division 2

My first race was in a coxed novice 4 (i.e. a coxed sweep boat with four ladies, where we each have one oar and no racing points between us) in Division 2 at 10:00am. We had to boat (i.e. get our boats on the water) at 09:30am, which meant that we had to get to Northampton Rowing Club roughly an hour before the race. Luckily, our lovely coaches had arrived well before us and done all the necessaries with racing control before we even got there.

Wet socks!

It was an overcast morning, but dry and warm enough. Good start! One of the regattas I competed in was at Ross-on-Wye, at the end of the Summer. It was cold and there was a persistent drizzle. No matter what I did, I could not get warm or dry. It was horrible. Plus I as stepped into the river to get out of the boat (because not all boat clubs have nice dry landing stages), I misjudged the depth of the water and found myself knee deep with wellies full of water. Not a pleasant experience.

Anyway! When we got to Northampton boat club we re-rigged our boat and then we went for a walk along the river to check out the course. The river Nene is so nice! So long and wide, which is a real treat after rowing at the lovely Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club with its short stretch of river. Once we'd familiarised ourselves with the shape of the river, we headed back to the boat club and wait to be called down to the landing stage. And that was when the sun made an appearance and set the race off to a great start.

Head Races vs Regattas

Head races are nothing like regattas and not really spectator events, although spectators are welcome. There's a lot of hanging around, and rather than racing to get across the finish line first, you are racing against the clock. The team with the best time, in their category, wins. As I am writing this article, the winners have not yet been announced.

Division 2 was quite small, not many entrants, so once we'd rowed downstream to the start, we didn't have to wait long to be sent off. The race was 1800m in length, but bear in mind that we had to row up there to start with, so that was 3600m in total. In our boat was Amy at stroke position, Simone at 3, Lucy at 2, and me at bow position. Amy and Simone completed their learn to row course in the Summer (2015), and Lucy has been rowing for a couple of months. I learned to row in September 2013, and I started training for competitions in May 2015. Our cox, Jen, is very experienced, having coxed for roughly 8 years, and she is fantastic!

Team Work

As a crew, we have only been rowing together for about a month, but the boat felt amazing! So balanced, and in sync. We were all so pleased (albeit tired) at the end of the race!

In my experience, rowing in a double or in a crew is like a good friendship. You have to be patient, forgive each other, and like each other! You can then trust each other and work together on rowing technique. If you don't have a good relationship, it is still possible to work together, but there will be resistance and slow progress. Either way, there has to be some give and take.

When we got the boat off the river, we de-rigged it and put it back on the trailer because no other crews from our club needed it. We had some really good feedback from our coaches and the other club members who had been watching, which was really reassuring. The girls headed off home, but I had to hang around for my second race at 14:45pm in Division 4. Racing in a double with Emily. We'd only had a few outings together (maybe 4 or 5) and it just worked, so I was feeling confident.

The Second Race - Division 4

Our double had already been used in an earlier division, so it was rigged and ready! I'd already rowed the course in Division 2, so I was ready to steer. Emily was at stroke and I was at bow position. This time, however, there were loads of boats in our division! It was an experience. Because there was a mad rush to get all the boats onto the water, the helpers from the boat club were practically pushing us into our boats and away from the landing stage. My wellies were wedged firmly on my feet because my socks were wet, so one of the marshals very kindly prised them off my feet for me whilst I hoped around!

Parallel Parking...

On the way down to the start of the race we had to 'park' our boats in the riverbank as we waited to be summoned. It was an interesting situation... Normally when rowing you avoid the banks at all cost! There was a bit of a queue to get started, so there was a lot of sitting around. The sun had disappeared, so it was a little bit chilly.

Emily and I were so pleased with how things went! Because it's still early days for us, we focussed mainly on our technique and making every stroke count as opposed to getting a higher rating (i.e. a number of strokes per minute). But we still managed to build up some good speed! Our fellow club members were cheering for us from the bank. It makes such a difference to have people cheering you on.

At the end of the race, we de-rigged our boat and I got changed. One of the perks of being at bow position is that you get splashed. So although it hadn't rained, I was soggy. And then home!

So, will I be doing another head race?

I feel like I was a bit spoilt with the nice weather today. It is Winter, and it would normally be a lot more wintery. You can't predict the weather, but you can prepare and do your best regardless. In future, I'll probably just enter one division instead of two (although the socialising in between was fun), but yes, I will be entering more head races next year.

The End

Catching the Rowing Bug!

When I got into that first boat, I was hooked!

The End.

Learn to Row Course - Warwick Boat Club

I did the Learn to Row course at Warwick Boat Club when I moved there just over 3 years ago. I was new to the area, and I'd just driven over the bridge overlooking the castle when I saw the sign: 'Learn to Row'. I searched online for the boat club and signed up right away!

Warwick Boat Club is relatively small as boat clubs go, and each learn to row course had a maximum capacity of 8 people. I signed up in February 2013 and was on a waiting list, until a space became available in September 2013.

Winter is Coming...

Learning to row in the early Autumn, early in the morning, when it was cold and frosty, was arguably the best time to learn! It's easy to be seduced by warm days on the river, with the beautiful Warwick Castle as a backdrop, and to think that rowing is all about sunbathing and picnics. In the winter, however, the frostbite and runny noses separate the men from the boys.

At the end of our first session, the coaches asked if anyone wanted to go out in a training single. It was a wide yellow boat. More akin to a kayak than a fine single scull, but it was relatively stable, although it had no additional floats. I was the only one crazy enough to jump at the chance. Luckily I managed to stay dry and afloat, but it was at that moment that I knew I'd found my sport!

You've Gotta Go Back to Go Forward

Although I knew that you row backwards - I'd seen it on TV and in Cambridge were I grew up - but doing it is very different. It took me a while to fight the urge to row forwards so I could see where I was going. I managed to row up to the weir and back, and to park the boat back alongside the pontoon. I was absolutely buzzing when I'd finished!

We were lucky in our learn to row course that we did mostly sculling, which is unusual as learn to row courses go, as they tend to favour sweep oar rowing. We did, however, go along to the rowing tank at the University of Oxford to do some practice there. It was very good because the coaches could walk alongside us and really see what we were doing so they could give us some tips. I have only recently started sweep rowing more regularly, and I'll be competing in a IV at the Northampton head race on Saturday (weather permitting).

A Good Fit

Rowing is the best sport or exercise activity for overall strength and fitness that I have ever done! It works out your whole body! The fact that I love it is reason enough for me to row, but the fitness benefits are a real added bonus. Professional rowers also have the largest lung capacity of any sport, so the benefits are truly holistic!

You can row recreationally or as a hobby, but if you want to row more competitively, you can! Whatever you want to achieve, the only barriers to progression are your time and commitments. There are competitions throughout the year, the main ones being the regattas in the Summer, and then the head races and mini-heads throughout the Autumn and Winter.

Warwick Boat Club was a brilliant place to learn. The learn to row course was very well organised and the coaches were friendly and professional. The club had a really good social calendar, so newbies could integrate easily.

If that has piqued your interest, check out the British Rowing website for a club near you.

Get down to your local boat club today and Learn to Row!