Tag Archives: NIRC

The week that was – Zero to Hero

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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.

The Week that Was – Row Row Row

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Well it has been 2 week since I did a weekly wrap up, last Sunday night I was still in Singapore on a Family holiday and had a less than productive week of exercise. I did manage to get a run in whilst I was away, a quick trip to the gym at 4am (with a toddler on Australian time) and did stacks of walking, theme parks, shopping etc.

So arriving back on Tuesday morning I considered going to the gym that day but with mountains of washing, unpacking and cleaning to do, it just never happened. I did have to go to Indoor Rowing relay training that night and was feeling very flat, luckily our training was very short easy rows with the focus on the transition from rower to rower. With a relay event the team rows 2000m with each of the 4 rowers completing 500m and the clock continues to flow whilst the changeover takes place, so transition is important.

Wed still extremely jet-lagged I did nothing beyond going to work late; work, eat sleep. Still very very tired.

Thursday I had an extra Indoor Rowing training with a relatively short training but at a rapid speed. 1 minute flat out and then a 2-3 minute rest and repeating 3 times.

Friday I was ordered to rest, apparently no housework or strenuous activity of any kind.

Saturday was the NSW Indoor Rowing Championships at Blacktown, Australia. We had a great team of 12 from the Pioneer Fitness crew. I was competing in the 4 minute race, and the 500m as an individual and then in the Relay team.  I was in the A-team for the Relay but once we got there it was found out that they do not require a mixed team (as at some other events) so my trainer stacked 1 team with guys, the big guns, to give our group a great chance at a medal.

All smiles before my first row.

My first event was the 4 minute race which entails rowing as far as you can in 4 minutes, my previous best (last year) was 1021 metres and my goal was to beat that distance, unfortunately or fortunately (whichever way you look at it) I equalled my PB exactly (currently puts me at 4th in the World Rankings which finish in April 2013). My next event the 500m my previous best time was 1:46.4 and I only managed 1:50.2 (currently puts me no. 21 in the world rankings which finish in April 2013), I was disappointed but I know my training focus was taken off Indoor Rowing for a bit and put towards Traithlon, really hard to keep the balance right to make you feel like you are doing enough. I did scoop the pool in both these events winning gold, but unfortunately there were no other competitors in my age group. I find this a little disheartening and believe this may have contributed to not racking up PB’s. The final event was the team Relay, we had 3 teams for the Pioneer Fitness contingent. As a team we managed to win the event with our Gun guys team “Pioneer Storm” and my team “Pioneer Lightening” finished 4th, we were the best placed Mixed team in the event out of 8 teams.

As per usual the Indoor Rowing event was great and I look forward to competing again next year in this state competition and the National Indoor Rowing Championships.

Sunday was a well-deserved day of rest.

This week’s goal is to get back on the food track after holidays and I now have my progam from my Exercise Physiologist to get started on bright and early in the morning. Have a great week everyone.

Here are some pictures from the Indoor Rowing event, including funny rowing faces.

The truth about Indoor Rowing

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When I talk to some people about Indoor Rowing, they often look at me quizzically and ask where I go to do something like that and how far do I row, when I say we row 2 kilometres they are astounded that there are “Indoor” venues that can accommodate that kind of thing. They thought that I rowed on water indoors and that there are massive lakes or pools undercover for us rowers. Pretty funny, when you think about it. So to dispel any myths you may have, Indoor Rowing is contested on a stationary Rowing Machine.

At my first Australian Indoor Rowing Championships in 2007 with my bronze medal. I was “Fat and Fit”.

I have learned that being fit in 1 exercise does not make you fit in another. Since starting with my Trainer in 2006 our focus has been on Indoor Rowing on the Concept 2 Rowing Machine. Getting fit in Rowing does not give you the fitness to run, swim or do anything else you desire, it helps. You must train in the sport/s your desire. Likewise if you can run, swim, cycle it doesn’t mean you would be “row fit”.

Indoor Rowing has been great for me; it gives you a great Cardio workout, using more muscles in your body than all other stationary equipment and is low impact.I have competed in numerous events in Australia over the years, winning 2 Bronze Medals at the Australian Championships in 2007 and competing again in 2008 and recording 2x PB’s, I was “Fat and Fit”. In 2009 I went to the NSW Indoor Rowing Championships at almost 9 months pregnant, I went along to support the team and found out there were only 2 others in my age category, so I decided to have a row, I was huge (nearly 150kgs) and wasn’t there to break any records and of course secure last place ie a Bronze Medal.

Indoor Rowing @ 9 months pregnant, 6 days before Ella was born. Blossoming at 146kg’s.

I have racked up well over 1 MILLION metres on the Rowing machine which is quite an achievement, for which you get a T-shirt and a Certificate from Concept 2, unbelievable, all those hours on the rower and that is your reward.

Post baby and lap band surgery I got back on the rower and trained to compete at the NSW State Championships in 2011 and scored 2x Gold Medals and both PB’s in the 4 minute event (placed 4th in World Rankings for 2011-2012 season for my age category 30-39 years*) and the 500m (placed 22 in World Rankings for 2011-2012 season for my age category 30-39 years*), I was also part of our team relay who secured a Bronze medal in a highly contested Open Relay event.

So my next challenge is the upcoming NSW Indoor Rowing State Championships on 17 November 2012 (only 3 sleeps to go) where Pioneer Fitness has a 10 strong team. My goal is to do PB’s in my 2 events the 500m and 4minute and for our Relay team to place in the medals.

I am also on the Event Committee for the National Indoor Rowing Championships being held 14 Sept 2013 in Wollongong Australia. Don’t think you have to have years of experience to contest this event, it is open to all levels, all ages from school kids to 80 year olds. The events for the NIRC are 500m, 4minute (how far you can row in 4 minutes), 2000m and the relay event where 4 competitors each row 500m and change over. There are many online training programs out there, especially on Concept 2 websites including technique videos. If you are interested in learning more feel free to contact me and I can point you in the right direction or follow NIRC on Facebook. Next time you go to the gym, get on and have a row.

*Researching these Rankings have just blown me away, never looked at them before, 4th in the World – wow.