The above images of people focusing on their indoor rowing effort were found on a website called “Breaking Muscle,” in an article on their website called “The 17 Commandments of Rowing-My Journey From Hate to Happiness“. The author’s first experience with rowing was unpleasant and as a result he “hated” it. But – he was trying to compete, the very first time he rowed. It would have been frustrating to a lot of people, I imagine.
My first experience at rowing was the opposite of his experience – it was very pleasant. So pleasant, that I “fell in love” with it after that first half hour experience. But I wasn’t competing, during my first experience. I was doing the opposite – because I realized that I might not be doing it right, I rowed extremely easy, trying to row so gently as to not perspire at all, just to get the feel of it. The next day, I ordered a Concept 2 rowing machine.
Today’s 5,000 meters was easy, really. I’m taking my time to the approach of an all-out effort at a 5,000 meter season best. The effort of today’s 5K raised just a little sweat, but nowhere near enough to saturate a sweatband.
Today’s 5K was done at the average pace of about 2:10 for the first 4,500 meters, then worked harder for the next 300 meters and sprinted almost all-out for the last 200 meters.
Happy and relaxed rowing to you.