================================================================ INDOOR ROWING NEWSLETTER #145 ======================== 25-August-2006 ========================= _________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S 1. New Concept2 Indoor Rower Model E 2. Cartoon By Rog 3. Concept2 Ranking Challenges 4. Jenny Bolland 5. Health Club Games 6. ErgChatter 7. Concept2 British Rowathlon Series 8. Nick Gittings 9. 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. Indoor Rowing Glossary ***************** A guide to some of the more common terms used in indoor rowing can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowing/glossary.php ========================================================= New Concept2 Indoor Rower Model E ========================================================= If you were at the World Championships in Dorney Lake recently, as well as the superb performances by the British team, you might also have caught a glimpse of the latest version of the Concept2 Indoor Rower, the uncontroversially named Model E. In 1981, the Model A, made mainly out of bike parts, was first launched. 25 years later, the Model E includes all the proven features of the Model D plus several changes and improvements. The frame is now six inches higher, positioning you at a comfortable seat height and the chain is now nickel plated for low-maintenance and a clean look The real revolution is the new PM4 that comes as standard. As well as all of the features of the PM3 it has some cool new features. The main one is that the new PM4 now supports wireless racing out of the box. Up to eight machines can race against each other without the need for a PC. This is a feature that has been requested for years by schools, gyms and clubs, and is finally available. Other features include built in compatibility with Suunto heart rate technology, and a rechargeable battery pack. Now, as you row, you will actually be recharging your battery. The battery can also be recharged by connecting the PM4 to a PC through the USB port. The PM4 also has increased memory capacity to allow for future expansion and features. Unlike previous new Models, however, this machine is not a replacement for the existing model but will instead be sold alongside it. As the PM4 Monitor can be retrofitted to a Model D to make a Model D2, this means that from September, there will be three versions of the Concept2 Indoor Rower available for purchase. The D is available to order now from http://www.c2shop.co.uk, while the D2 and E can be preordered for delivery in September. ========================================================= Cartoon By Rog ========================================================= http://www.concept2.co.uk/email/images/cartoon145.jpg ========================================================= Concept2 Ranking Challenges ========================================================= If you're not yet taking part in the Concept2 Online Ranking Challenges, now is definitely the best month to dip your toe in the water, as this month, all you're asked to do is row a one minute piece. Every month throughout the year we've set a different challenge. All you have to do is complete the challenge and register your result on the Online Ranking. Everyone from the UK who records the time or distance will automatically go on the Honour Board at the end of the month and into the prize draw, for which Gaiam have provided eight excellent prizes each month. As well as the Ranking Challenge, there is also a Participation Challenge. Each calendar month, if you log over 50,000m if you're an adult, 20,000m if you're under 18 or 10,000m if you're under 15, you'll be entered into a prize draw, with six winners getting a prize of a Gaiam Stretching Starter Kit with a RRP of £24.99. For more information, visit http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/uk/challenges.asp while to sign up for the Online LogBook, just go to http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/log.asp. ========================================================= Jenny Bolland ========================================================= Jenny Bolland, a 15 year old from Calverton in Nottingham has suffered from Cerebral Palsy since birth. Her condition causes her to have bad posture and sloppy body movements and, due to being wheelchair-bound, she does not do much exercise to combat these symptoms. After seeing a feature in the Nottingham Evening Post about adaptive rowing on the Concept2 Indoor Rower, Jenny's Mum Sally contacted Concept2 and bought an Indoor Rower for her to exercise on. Along with the Indoor Rower they also purchased an adaptive seat, which enables easy positioning on the machine. "As I'm in a wheelchair I don't get much opportunity to raise my heart rate or take part in exercise," explained Jenny. "I've also been studying for my GCSEs and haven't had much time to even think about exercising. However having the Concept2 at home has made it ideal for me to do a few minutes training each night." Cerebral Palsy is a chronic condition affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually during foetal development before, during or shortly after birth. Concept2 has developed an adaptive rowing seat for those people who require a greater degree of support than is offered with the standard Concept2 seat. It is manufactured from glass fibre with a polished gel coat and is available in a range of colours. Jenny's Mum Sally is delighted with the way the Indoor Rower has helped her fitness. She commented: "Jenny's not even been using the machine for two months yet but the difference in her fitness is clear. There's more definition in her shoulders and she's more supple and therefore finds it easier to put on her school uniform. "Jenny's tried other equipment machines in the past but bikes and other machines are difficult to lift her onto and nothing works as well as the Concept2. It's very easy for me to lift Jenny on and off the machine and the adaptive seat makes it very accessible." Many Cerebral Palsy sufferers have a tendency to lean forward or backward from the hips due to their poor muscle tone and unstable hip joints so by using the Concept2 Indoor Rower they can stretch their hamstring and back muscles and improve their posture. "I'm feeling great now I'm using the Indoor Rower," added Jenny. "I feel much more energetic and I think it's reflecting very positively on my lifestyle. "So far I've not been timing myself but I'm going to start to and then see if I can beat my own times." ========================================================= Health Club Games ========================================================= The Annual Health Club Games starts on the 1st September. This event is a great competition in the lead up to the British IRC. You can enter individual or team rowing challenges, or take on other events from running, biking, to the hardcore Superthon, a combination of six events. The Grand Final takes place on the 21st October at Next Generation in Hatfield. Individual and team trophies and awards are up for grabs with title of UK Health Club Games champions. All results will be published online and in FitPro. Everyone that registers will receive a welcome pack which includes training advice, a training plan, goodies from sponsors as well as going in to a prize draw to have the chance of winning holidays, mountain bikes to Concept2 Indoor Rowers. To sign up, go to http://www.healthclubgames.com ========================================================= ErgChatter ========================================================= ErgChatter is a free software tool designed with the vision-impaired rower in mind. ErgChatter gives a voice to your PM3. As you row, ErgChatter announces your performance data at regular intervals. When you're in Just Row, or doing a single time workout, your data will be announced every 20 seconds; when doing a set distance workout ErgChatter will announce your data every 100 metres. To download ErgChatter for free, go to http://www.concept2.com/05/rower/service/ergchatter.asp. ========================================================= Concept2 British Rowathlon Series ========================================================= A rowathlon race is similar to a triathlon except it replaces the outdated and frankly wet swimming leg with a far superior indoor rowing one. Rowathlon is the fastest growing multi-sport in the UK and this year sees the fourth Concept2 British Rowathlon Series. There are five events and six races to choose from, with the best three performances counting towards the final series score. The first two races in the series, both at Castle Combe, have already taken place, and results can be found at http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowathlon/results.php. The remaining events are: Date; Event; Distance 10/09/05; Reading; 2.5k row, 7k cycle, 2.8k run 25/09/05; Thruxton; 3k row, 21k cycle, 3.5k run 02/10/05; Marlow; 4k row, 25k cycle, 7.5k run For more information on the rowathlon series, or to download an entry form, visit http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowathlon/ ========================================================= Nick Gittings ========================================================= Nick Gittings was the subject of "Reader's Stories" back in Indoor Rowing News #136 (http://www.concept2.co.uk/news/newsletter_archive.php?edition=136) where he told how he went from 27 stone to competing at the British IRC. Nick's now sent us a follow up to that story. If you've got an indoor rowing tale, make sure you send it into editor@concept2.co.uk. "I thought that the British IRC was an exciting time! The World IRC in Boston last February was amazing. One particularly poignant moment out in Boston was when I met Eddie Fletcher for the first time. We agreed to meet out there to discuss how he could help me. It was straight after the team briefing and he asked, 'What's your race plan for tomorrow', to which I replied, 'To turn up and go as fast as I can'. When I saw the expression on Eddie's face and heard his reply of 'We need to talk' I knew I had a mammoth task ahead. "That was further endorsed by Eddie's comment to me straight after the race. He informed me that 'we need to work on your technique.' I said, 'Why, what's wrong with it', to which he pointed out I hadn't got one! "I can't remember too much about the race apart from that I was disappointed to only just about match my PB. The whole experience was staggering though. Anyone that has the opportunity to take part in these events should do so. It will leave them with a lifelong memory! "Since Boston I have been tested by Eddie and he has put me on a training program to try and build on my current abilities. I purchased a Powerbreathe and a Suunto T6 to assist me in my training. I started following the plan and apart the occasional holiday and illness I kept up with it and I found myself on the machine three and four times a week. "I am very excited about the progress I am making and I have improved my 2,000m time by over 12 seconds since Boston. "I visited a couple of the smaller competitions at the end of the season. In April I was at the Southern IRC in Southampton and knocked six seconds of my PB as I achieved a 6:36 time. As it was a less well-attended competition I actually got a medal! "In May I visited Kingston to attend the race there. I was a little anxious at this competition as we were all competing on the older Model C machines. However I got focussed, warmed up and then rowed for my life and was completely dead as I fell off the machine, but was ecstatic to have knocked another six seconds off my PB in a time of 6.29.9 This race was even more significant as it now meant that I had broken the 6.30 mark. I also got another medal! "Recently I attended the Golden Mile event in Evesham and achieved a PB of 5:17 for the mile distance. It was not a staggeringly fast performance but I was very pleased with my technique and it was a good race practice. "I am going out to Malta in October to compete in the Maltese Indoor Rowing championship while my British IRC application is already in and I am hoping to attend the Europeans in Amsterdam. "Eddie has now placed me on a mainstream training plan and I am now working on ever increasing distances. Yesterday I completed my first 18,000m training row. I was staggered when I got off the machine. I cannot believe that two and half years ago, I would not have been able to row for 18 minutes let alone 18 kilometres! "I actually now enjoy using the machine and I am now seeing my body shape change. I do no other physical training apart from the rowing machine. I am developing biceps and my belly is getting smaller. All this from the rowing machine! I think people should forget gym memberships, multi-gyms, fad plans and diets. Just get a rowing machine! You just cannot beat using it. It's loyal, it never lets you down, and you go as quickly or as slowly as you need. It doesn't judge you! "My weight is about the same at about 20 stone although I believe without the machine I would not be able to maintain this weight. "So although I still have a long way to go, I am planning to keep training, getting faster, fitter, leaner and I hope to be sub 6:20 for Boston next year." ========================================================= Forthcoming Races And Events ========================================================= Name: Reading Rowathlon Date: 09/09/06 Venue: Reading Distance: 2.5km row, 7km cycle, 2.8km run Organiser: Rowing Triathlon E: info@rowingtriathlon.com W: http://www.rowingtriathlon.com/ Name: Thruxton Rowathlon Date: 24/09/06 Venue: Thruxton Distance: 3km row, 21km cycle, 3km run Organiser: Rowing Triathlon E: info@rowingtriathlon.com W: http://www.rowingtriathlon.com/ Name: Marlow Rowathlon Date: 01/10/06 Venue: Marlow Distance: 4km row, 25km cycle, 7.5km run Organiser: Rowing Triathlon E: info@rowingtriathlon.com W: http://www.rowingtriathlon.com/ Name: Newark IRC Date: 21/10/06 Venue: Newark RC Distance: 1,609m and 500m; one minute for U12s Organiser: Graham Price T: 07793 437582 E: gprice@itwpromedia.com ____________________________________________________FEEDBACK You like? 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