Strava For Friends and Family

Extroverts are welcome also…

Everyone who monitors etherealrowing.com for new posts is aware that I’ve switched regular daily activity from rowing to jogging. Haven’t given up on rowing, but am dealing with atrial fibrillation and trying to “reshape the heart” through jogging on the assumption that after enough time running (jogging) the atrial fibrillation might go away. If it goes away, good riddance to it.

I’ve been to three cardiologists looking for guidance on getting rid of A-FIB through diet and physical activity but none of those three even wanted to entertain the possibility.

My current coach and cardiologist for dealing with atrial fibrillation with diet and activity is God. If you are born again and are familiar with the Scriptures, you know what I’m talking about. If you are not born again… stop what you’re doing and pray to accept Jesus Christ as your own personal savior … then go on to study Scriptures (The Bible) and you’ll know what it is that I’m talking about.

If anyone who’s reading this is starting to worry or suspect that I’m going to preach a sermon… relax. I’m just going to write a little more of the relatively boring stuff about daily physical activity. Plus: NEWS for how any of you who are interested can see/read/be automatically notified about any of my jogging sessions.

One member of the immediate family, whom I’ll refer to by the thoughtfully chosen pseudonym of “Desi,” explicitly requested that I keep her and everyone (“keep us posted” or something to that effect were her exact paraphrased words) informed about the A-FIB and running/jogging.

I have only been doing that once in a great while but … because I remember that I said I would… and I should keep my word… but to keep my word would mean I’d have to share in boring detail about each and every session. And I don’t really want to do that, though I thoughtlessly said “I will.”

So I’ve got a problem. But there’s a solution. The solution is, to give Desi and any others of you access to my Strava account. That way, if you really want to know about my jogging and related data, you just click and view.

So here’s how you can see the most recent (or ANY) jogging session data available through Strava: If you have Strava, search for me using my first and last name, then request to “follow” me or whatever it’s called if it’s not “follow”.

Two guys with whom I’ve rowed online have already done that after they learned I share session data with Strava, so I can tell you what happens after you request to “follow” me: I receive the request and I approve it and then you can see any and all of my jogging, walking, and any other sessions logged to Strava.

PLEASE NOTE (for those of you who use Strava and prefer NOT to share your own session data with others): Strava will also give you the option to allow or not permit me to see your Strava data. I don’t care if I see what you do or not, so if you want to maintain privacy with regard to what you do and log on Strava, simply don’t give permission to me. I’m fine with that because I’m not a Strava nut. (I use the term “Strava nut” in friendly humor…because some people spend a lot more time with Strava than I do and they give out “kudos” to all their Strava friends everytime one of them logs something, post photos of where they were doing their session, etc)

Though not all rowing sessions are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, the “live” (interactively viewable) data for each and every erg workout session for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail by clicking this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

For other than Concept 2 erg sessions, refer to the Strava information, above.

Happy rowing, jogging, running etc to you!

Had I Overreached?

This morning I woke with atrial fibrillation for the first time in several days. And when I looked at my watch its algorithm said that I may have been “overreaching.”

That’s the main reason I got this watch, to find out if it could help me in determining how much workout is okay.

For the past few days I’ve been setting the distance to 5 miles, walking 1 out of those 5 miles and jogging the other 4.

Just in case the algorithm is correct, I’ll do less jogging today. Perhaps only a mile instead of four. (note: this is being edited after today’s jogging. See further below).

There was another possible contributing factor which may have figured in to the atrial fibrillation happening again, but it was something the watch and its software don’t measure.

It’s message this morning showed “Overreaching.”
The “overreaching” is in reference to load on the heart, whatever that is…
A view of the first part of its explanation.
The second part of its explanation.
The last part of the explanation from the watch algorithm.

Afternoon workout time was about an hour of walking with 1 mile of jogging in the middle. Heart rate started out in atrial fibrillation and finished in normal rhythm. Praise God!

Though I could feel the atriral fibrillation all morning, the Apple Watch was ECG feature was used twice, to confirm. Both times it showed atrial fibrillation with a rather high average HR of 85.
Heart felt peaceful after today’s walking and jogging. Checking with the watch ECG again, it showed a lower average HR of 64 and Sinus (normal) rhythm.

Though not all workout sessions are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, the “live” (interactively viewable) data for each and every erg workout session for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail by clicking this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing, jogging, running etc to you!

From Rowing to Running

A typical sky on a typical day of jogging. Plenty of sunshine.

Since sometime in late January of this year, I’ve switched from mostly erg work to mostly running. More accurately, it should be called jogging, because the pace at which I run is about as slow as I can manage without walking.

Here’s a link to a Strava view of yesterday’s jogging: click here . If you don’t have Strava you won’t be able to view it but you should be able to see it on the Polar version, whether or not you have any of the Polar apps. Polar isn’t trying to force people to use their apps, like Strava is, because Polar is more interested in selling their gear.

To see the Polar version, click here .

Though not all workout sessions are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any and every erg workout session for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail by clicking this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

For jogging sessions… I’m working on making the data available.

Happy rowing, jogging, running etc to you!

Slowest Fastest Season Best 10K

Today’s 10K was faster than a speeding sloth.

Today’s main workout was 10K rowing. Heart rate monitor wasn’t working correctly so that’s the reason this turned out to be a season best 10K… I never saw HR go too fast and therefore didn’t have to slow down for it…ha ha. Maybe I should just not wear a heart-strap?

If you look at the red line for heart rate on the graph, you’ll notice that for most of the session heart rate was around 54. I suspect it had something to do with wher the strap was mounted on my arm and the stroke rate. I was rowing at a stroke rate of about 27 most of the time. Each stroke is two arm movements, one on the drive and the other on the recovery. 2 X 27 = 54 and I think the heart strap was measuring that with its detector lights instead of heart rate most of the time.

This 10K was slower than any other year’s season best but it was the fastest this season so it is the slowest fastest 10K season best.

Graphs of heart rate, pace and strokes per minute for today’s 10K.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any and every workout session for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail by clicking this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!

Four Pieces

Today there were four pieces done. Two on SkiErg and two on Rower.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any and every workout session for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail by clicking this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!

Curiously Curious Clouds

X marks the spot but what is that spot?

It doesn’t have anything to do with rowing but when I was out walking recently I noticed a big X in the sky which looked like it was formed by two contrails. I’ve never seen that before so a photo of it was snapped which you can see above.

Today was a late workout day due to unforeseen but unsurprising procrastination.

The Scosche armband heart strap was used as usual but instead of wearing it around the lower bicep I wore it in the recommended location around the upper lower arm, just below the elbow…unless the arm was raised with hands up toward the sky, in which case the armband would be just above the elbow. Is that clear?

Anyway… most of the Scosche’s readings while rowing seemed a skosh low and that’s an understatement. Click to see the interactive HR graphs to understand what is meant.

During the last session which was done standing up on the SkiErg instead of sitting on the rower, the Scosche heart strap was left in the same place and its readings seemed normal instead of mostly way-too-low as they had been on the rowing machine.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any and every workout session for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail by clicking this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!

Mostly Calm With A New HR High

Today’s erg machine workout time was done early in the morning. It started on the SkiErg with a 110 kilo calorie warmup. The most interesting part was early in the warmup before I was warm when HR climbed and climbed and climbed during one of the 10 kcal intervals. It was easy effort and I felt normal, no sweat, respiration slow etc but when heart rate reached 218 BPM I decided to slow down a wee bit instead of finishing that easy 10 Calorie interval. The graph for that session follows this paragraph and you can see in the graph that when HR spiked to 218, the blue line for Pace dropped way down. HR followed pace down, but did so at its own pace. As I got warmer, HR behaved “normaler” and it did not reach for that ethereal altitude again.

SkiErg warmup session, 110 Calories.

The main workout session was on the rowing machine and heart rate behaved much more like normal while rowing.

Rowing session 450 Calories.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any workout sessions for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail via this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!

Communist China Hates Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance

Practitioners of “Falun Gong” strive for and love, truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. Communist China hates them because for some reason those ideals are more popular than the lies, oppression and intolerance of communism.

Today a news article caught my attention. It was about persecution of people who practice something called “Falun Gong.” The article was in The Epoch Times but I won’t provide a link to it because access to the publication is for subscribers only. However the article included a link to a video which also addresses the same topic. I think it is important enough to mention for the sake of giving the truth more publicity.

You can watch that video at this link if you are interested: Unmasking China’s Gestapo. It is on YouTube and is provided with optional captions.

It has been more than two weeks since the most recent previous post here. There’s been a lot happening but… I’m not writing about it. 🙂

Today’s erg exercise consisted of a 110 kcal warmup on the skierg followed by 450 kcals at varying paces on the rower. Screenshots of their graphs below and link to their interactive graphs and more data are below that.

Graph of today’s warmup, done on skierg.
Graph of today’s rower workout. Heart graph looks a bit messy but that’s mainly because I was doing intervals of varying lengths. Heart rhythm behaved fairly well today.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any workout sessions for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail via this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!

Row to Coffee to Row

Another successful morning reaching the daily kilo calories goal. Rowing one of three sessions was done first today, then there was a break to make coffee before completing all rowing.

The workout session graphs etc can be viewed via the link in the second to last paragraph.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, “live” (interactively viewable) data for any workout sessions for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail via this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!

Skittish

A skittish Equus caballus.

Today’s top workout goal was to start the erg time as soon as possible and reach the goal likewise as soon as possible. But today the heart was skittish and it wouldn’t allow me to horse around with rowing at any effort level much above 100 Watts for more than a minute or so before heart rate BPM surged too high. By “too high,” I mean to a rate that was too high for the effort level and time already expended in the session, based on a couple decades or more of watching heart rate while physically active.

Because of that skittishness I did less than half of today’s kilocalories goal in an hour, then took a break for a little food and coffee. The remaining portion was finished at a bit better pace and though heart was still inclined be a bit skittish it behaved better during the second hour.

First part of today’s two part workout.
Second of today’s two sessions.

Though not all workout sessions for the day are always or even usually mentioned in the blog, data for any workout sessions for any day whatsoever can be seen in detail via this: link to the online logbook. To view a session’s data and interactive graph click the “+” sign in “Action” column for that session.

Happy rowing to you!