The week that was – Zero to Hero

The 2 weeks prior to the start of this week were a blur of painting and decorating, morning/all day sickness, work and everyday life and then to top it all off a head cold. So after being down and out for a few weeks once the head cold began to subside (as did my all day sickness) it was time to get back into some exercise, towards the end of those 2 horrid weeks I managed 1 weights session.

So starting fresh this week here’s the low down:

Monday – I went to my PT session with focus on the Indoor Rower because there was a little Charity Rowing event coming up this weekend.

Tuesday – Got to my outdoor class with EnVie and even tho the ground was really soggy we did a good workout, running and toning exercise and I could feel the glute’s the next day.

Wed – no workout.

Thurs – I invited some friends whom I met at Mothers Group over for some training on the Indoor Rower. My trainer Ian from Pioneer Fitness came over to give the girls some tips and we practiced technique and transition for an Indoor Rowing relay. Some ladies had never been on a rower, others very rarely and some not for many years so it was a fun day of learning for all.

The younger generation learning the ways of Indoor Rowing.

The younger generation learning the ways of Indoor Rowing.

Friday – no workout

Saturday – I was helping to set-up the small rowing event and spent a few hours lifting and shifting rowing machines.

Being a sponsor the work ute gets put to good use with a load of rowing machines.

Being a sponsor the work ute gets put to good use with a load of rowing machines.

Sunday – The day of the Indoor Rowing event. The event was being held at a local Public School in conjunction with a fitness expo as a fundraiser for the school. They had workout demo’s with a Bosu class, kids gymnastics, martial arts and Yoga for kids and people exhibiting healthy ideas, a great expo for the school.

The Indoor Rowing Event had 80 competitors testing their stamina in the 500m Fly and Die, 4 minute and 2000m events as well as the highly contested men’s and women’s relays. The competitors ranged from teenagers to 80 year olds and even included Olympic Rower Hannah Every-Hall. The local WIN TV camera crew was there and filmed a stack of angles including my wardrobe malfunction. For some reason when I row hard and fast my shirt rides up at the front and by the end of the race my belly is poking out, this happened just as the camera man panned on to me, awesome.

with Olympic Rower Hannah Every-Hall

with Olympic Rower Hannah Every-Hall

I managed to round up 8 ladies for 2 teams in the Women’s Relays “Mummalicious” and “Bulli Shores” (thinking of team names is tricky so I took my inspiration from the TV shows of Jersey origins).

Some ideas for hairstyles and overdone tanning or bronzing for the next rowing meet with Mummalicious and Bulli Shores.

Some ideas for hairstyles and overdone tanning or bronzing for the next rowing meet with Mummalicious and Bulli Shores.

The relay is contested over 2000m with each team member rowing 500m then transitioning whilst the clock is ticking. The race can be won or lost in the transition. I even convinced them to have a go at the Individual 500m event and use it as a warm-up. They all did very well, I came 3rd in my heat (official results to come) and I held back a little bit due to my pregnancy.

So after a good break and recovering from the Individual 500m it was time for the relay. Ian from Pioneer was very excited about the relays, making all the teams line up on the side and march us all out onto the rowing deck like something from an Olympic swimming telecast, talk about building up the hype. There were 8 teams in the Ladies event, a long 8 minutes later my team “Bulli Shores” were victorious, a really exciting race with seconds between 1st and 2nd placings, the “Mummalicious” girls also did fantastic with several of them juggling breast feeding and getting babies to sleep in between races, to my pregnant self these girls are an inspiration.

The ladies relay Champions "Bulli Shores" featuring L to R; Kim Walker, myself, Kim Arnold and Amanda McDowall

The ladies relay Champions “Bulli Shores” featuring L to R; Kim Walker, myself, Kim Arnold and Amanda McDowall

I have a feeling there will be a few of them in training for the National Indoor Rowing Championships in Sept in both individual and Relay events.

I need to give a special mention to Ian Gibson from Pioneer Fitness for once again giving up his time and effort for my friends and others with his ability to entice more people to his passion of Indoor Rowing, he does so much for the sport, local charities and fundraising and I know with him at the helm the National event will be a success.

Indoor Rowing Guru, Ian Gibson from Pioneer Fitness, does so much for the sport of Indoor Rowing.

Indoor Rowing Guru, Ian Gibson from Pioneer Fitness, does so much for the sport of Indoor Rowing.