INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #121 ======================== 24-March-2005 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. Concept 2 Diaries 2. Interactive Weight Training Programme 3. Cartoon By Rog 4. Indoor Rowing Glossary 5. Graham Benton: Getting His Water Wings 6. Tsunami Row 6. Forthcoming Races And Events **************************** Feedback Back Issues Subscription Information ________________________________________________________________ With Bells On ***************** For a glitzier, HTML version of our newsletter with pictures, cartoons and all the funny jokes (possibly), go to: http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/newsletter.htm. To receive the newsletter in HTML format, send an email to subscription@concept2.co.uk with HTML as the subject title. How To Write To Us ***************** Please don't reply directly to this email, 'cos we won't ever see it. Instead send your bouquets or brickbats to editor@concept2.co.uk. ========================================================= Concept 2 Diaries ========================================================= The Indoor Rowing News recently came across an old diary we used to keep in our younger years. We were immediately transported back to days of bad haircuts, secret crushes on people who didn't even know we existed, fears the world was going to end and bitter railings against friends and family. While we were lost in a mist of nostalgia for 2003, we thought how good it would be to keep a diary of all our training exploits, hopes, fears and targets. Right; that introduction wasn't going anywhere fast, so cutting to the chase: we've now added a "Diary" facility to the Concept 2 website. All you need to do is log onto the Forum (http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/) and click on "Diary Control Panel". Within a couple of minutes (we reckon about four, tops) you can be up and making like Bridget Jones for the entire world to see. Alternatively, if you'd rather the entire world kept their eyes to themselves thank you very much, you can make it so that your diary can either only be read by people on your "friends list" or keep it for your eyes only. The diaries have only been up and running a couple of days and already there's over a couple of dozen people recording their experiences, including at least one world champion. We reckon these could prove to be the next big thing so that, by the time the next British Indoor Rowing Championship comes rolling around, there should be hundreds of competitors all detailing their thoughts before and after the championship. For a list of current diaries: http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/weblogs.php For more information: http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/weblog_help.php ========================================================= Interactive Weight Loss Programme ========================================================= One of the most popular uses for the Indoor Rower is weight management, and it's probably the single biggest topic in our inbox that doesn't involve the offer to actually increase in size in various places. We're looking to expand the Weight Loss section of our site over the next couple of months and we've recently added an Interactive Weight Loss Programme to proceedings. There's no more need to plod along doing the same old 40-minute steady state row; instead you can know exactly what is it you should be doing in each session. Just think of the programme as being like your own personal trainer and exercise coach, but without the annoying abs of steel and smelly trainers. All you have to do is plug in a few details such as your height and weight and how much you want to lose and the Programme sorts everything else out for you, producing a detailed schedule that should be enough to get you at, or at least near, your target. You can find the programme at http:/www.concept2.co.uk/weightloss/interactive.php As ever, any feedback or problems should be sent to editor@concept2.co.uk. ========================================================= Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= ========================================================= Indoor Rowing Glossary and Competition ========================================================= Last newsletter we said that we'd be running a glossary on basic indoor rowing terms in the next issue. What we should have said, and we assume most people picked up on the error, is that we'll be running said glossary in the one after the next issue. We also said that we were looking for humorous indoor rowing definitions, specifically asking for a good word to define the sort of well-built bodybuilder types who jump on a machine, lump up and down ineffectively for a minute or two and then stroll off, congratulating themselves on a job well- done. Here are some of the entries we got in: "Ergonought" – Derek Walker "...it can only be...Drag Queens... on the grounds that they put the drag on maximum no matter what, and spend more time looking in the mirror than they do training. I find it even funnier when a Drag Queen is confronted by a Squergonaut (a small (read squirt) ergonaut) who sits down next to him and pulls a 500m split some 15-20 seconds faster on half the resistance - its called technique." - Alex Barnett "Stupid Berger" – Chris Speed "Mr. Non-Conceptual... he thinks he's got the idea, but we know better!" - Joanne Crowley "Premature Evacuator" - David Bartholomew Chris Speed and David Bartholomew also sent in a number of other definitions. David Bartholomew: Parker Knoll - someone who reclines at the end of the stroke (apologies to Andy Ripley) Shapeshifter - someone hoping to lose weight on the Ergo Stringfellow - a lightweight in a thong at the weigh-in Tentacle - a fat person who's pleased he's done 2,000m in 11 minutes but thinks he can do better Six-shooter - someone who's done 2,000m in 7:01 and has aspirations Chris Speed: Errging = erging with poor or incorrect technique En-ergose = Captain Kirk's way of going places on his Concept 2 An ergomaton = a rowing robot. Ergspiration = working up a sweat on the Concept 2 Vergo = never erged before Constergpation = straining to get the training started Eric and Ergy = Concept 2's comedy double act Thanks to everybody who took part. The prize of a signed copy of Matthew Pinsent's autobiography goes to Alex Barnett, while we'll also see what we can find for Chris Speed as Errging made us laugh (although we nearly took it back for En-ergose). ========================================================= Graham Benton ========================================================= Indoor rowing British and World champion Graham Benton has been signed up for the World Class Start Programme – an Amateur Rowing Association initiative designed to find the Olympic champions of tomorrow. At the tender age of 31, Graham becomes the oldest person to be 'talent-spotted' for the programme, which to date has focussed on promising youngsters mainly under the age of 16. Despite that, the current World 30-39 champ thinks he's got lots to offer the sport. "I'm certainly older than the majority of the other athletes," explained Graham. "I don't feel any extra pressure because of that. I think that the fact I have been successful, albeit on land, is good preparation for the pressures and training volume that I am going to have to deal with. I do have additional life responsibilities that a 14 year old, for example, does not have but we're all working towards the same goal. "I know that I have as good an engine as anyone else on the programme so I think that I am under no more pressure than anyone else." Graham will be learning to scull and improve his rowing at Reading University under the tutorage of coach Mark Earnshaw, but his 'dry rowing' programme will continue to be overseen by indoor rowing coaching guru Eddie Fletcher. Realistic goals are yet to be formalised, but as Graham added; "Clearly time is of the essence and my coaches and the programme administrators will be looking for me to reach a high level of competence very quickly." And with water-born rowing now becoming the primary focus, does Graham still have any goals off the water? "I still want to go sub 5:50 and will look to achieve that this year. I should have done it already by now but it has just not happened. My longer term goal is to go sub 5:46, which I believe would make me the second fastest Brit ever. "I'd be very happy to achieve that and believe I have it in me. I don't think I will be competing in the regional indoor races now but I want to race at the British IRC again and will try to win the Open again. I would also like to retain my 30-39 World Title next year. And I'd like to beat my time for the mile - it's a distance that I really enjoy and one that I think I can really fly on." For more on Graham's adventures in a boat, you can check out his diary at http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/weblog.php?w=6. You'll need to be logged into the message board to access it. ========================================================= Tsunami Row ========================================================= On March 5th, Robert Tighe organised a charity rowing event to raise money to help the Tsunami Disaster Emergency Committee. The aim was to get as many people as possible to help out in rowing 1,674km, the distance from Banda Aceh (the epicentre of the tsunami) to Galle (the bungalow where Robert was stopping when the tsunami hit). Here's Robert's account of the day: "Well, we made it in just under 12 hours, with much thanks to the guys of the Forum. "The machines turned up and were all lined up ready to go at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. Some early arrivals meant that by 6:45 six slots had been done and we were on our way. What looked like being a quiet period between 7 and 8 saw the arrival of Staines Rowing Club en masse. They took up 12 machines and all knocked out 7,000m plus, which was a real bonus. "Throughout the rest of the day there was rarely a gap on any machine, mainly due to people doing extra slots without being asked; it was a real boost to the final distance. "The highlights of the day include: - For the crowd - watching Graham Benton cruise over an hour to 16,868m. I think he broke into sweat in the last minute or so. - Gary Blackman doing a massive 60km on the day, finishing the last slot at the same pace as the first. - Michele Stevens who, despite having Multiple Sclerosis, did two 2-minute slots and wanted more. - Liam Tighe, aged nine and doing 1,000 metres on the ten minute machine at any free opportunity - The people new to indoor rowing who just kept coming back for second and third rows "There were several PB's on the day from people on the Forum, members of the BA Hurricanes and invited rowers. Top ten distances are as follows: Gary Blackman: 60,000m Kevin Tighe: 50,858m Charles Roberts: 47,425m Ian Grundie: 46,701m Robert Tighe: 46,684m Brian Garner: 42,297m Jarred Willoughby: 40,707m Andy Jones: 39,920m Jeanette Grundie: 38,189m Niall Williams: 36,389m "It was all a bit tricky managing the distance and around 5pm I was warned we were well towards the end. "Just before 6 p.m. I sat down to row the last 1km with my wife Fiona and my two children, Liam and Rebecca, as seemed fitting. "There are so many people to thank so I will do it en masse. To those that provided, rowed or worked behind the scenes, a very big thank you. £10,000 is looking a very realistic figure so, despite the blisters, sore backsides and the general fatigue, it is worth it. Personally, I have not been near a rowing machine since but intend having a blast again next week. I want to get my 1km, 2km, 5km distances posted." ========================================================= Forthcoming Races and Events ========================================================= Name: South London IRC Date: 27/03/05 Venue: Sutton Arena Leisure Centre Distance: Rowing Bleep Test, 1,000m Sprint & 1,000m Team Pairs Organiser: Phil Morris & Neil Ridge E: thepirate@teammorris.fsnet.co.uk Other: More info at http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6298 ____________________________________________________FEEDBACK You like? You dislike? You want to write something for the newsletter? Want to mock us on making a basic error? Make sure to tell us at editor@concept2.co.uk. Or, of course, you could always say something at our message board: http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/ _____________________________________________________BACK ISSUES Have a blast from the past by going to http://www.concept2.co.uk/news/newsletter_archive.php and checking out the hidden treasures of the Indoor Rowing News. New issues are posted on the release date of the following newsletter. _________________________________________________SUBSCRIPTION To subscribe to the Indoor Rowing News (yay!), send a blank email to subscription@concept2.co.uk with SUSBCRIBE as the message title. To unsubscribe (boo), send a blank email to subscription@concept2.co.uk with UNSUSBCRIBE as the message title. Concept 2 Tel: (0115) 945 5522 E-mail: info@concept2.co.uk Web: www.concept2.co.uk Printed from: www.concept2.co.uk/news/newsletter_archive.php