Rowing Gloves – Sentinel2Sentinel

Update: Dogs Days of Summer almost over

Today was the last day to get all of my meters in for Week 3:30k of the Dog Days of Summer Challenge 2017. Tomorrow begins Week 4:40k and the thought of muffing up on completing this week’s challenge was weighing on my mind over the weekend for on Saturday, after I finished my last 2,000 meters, I thought I had shorted myself by 1,000 meters. Therefore, the plan was to take advantage of such a short row and to finish off the week by way of 30 seconds rowing followed by 30 seconds of rest for 10 rounds.

Being alone and without music was the nicest part of my row. It was great to feel my heartbeat, to feel my pulse elevate and to hear me regulate and control my breathing for each stroke. I could huff and puff and grunt all I wanted through each round. And I was spectacular at challenging myself, round after round, staying focused. (Well, at least it felt that way in my own mind.)

Setting the lever to 8, then launching off of each round with a quarter, a half, a three-quarter pull followed by ten regular pulls seemed a brilliant strategy. The goal was to maintain a reasonable number of strokes per minute (SPM) to maintain at minimum 100 meters in thirty seconds per round and then row all out on the last round.

It was great having a series of short rows. It has been a long time since having to merely row 1k in a day. It was really wonderful to row in silence and alone as previously mentioned. But the best part was realizing that I had already met my 30k for the week when I stopped to think things through. I forgot all I had to do was look at the Dog Days 2017 board to see they had tracked and categorized each week’s row for me. (Gibbs-slap my own head with my Crew Stop rowing glove on.) FullSizeRender

Turns out I did not need to row that last 1,000 meters. I rowed them simply because I wanted to and now I am securely over what is needed to complete this week’s requirement.

Now on to formulate tomorrow’s 40k strategy!

#TeamEmJoKim #TeamGunsOutCrossFit

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Week 3: Day 1 Dog Days Challenge

Screen Shot 2017-08-15 at 10.31.26 PM Today was a much happier rowing day. My head is back in the game. I managed to squeeze out 11,000 meters while enjoying each stroke.

The music that inspired me came from The Ultimate Bee Gees and The Spirit of America with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

All is right again in my rowing universe.

Now I can sleep happy. Truly.

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Rowed my 1st Half-Marathon

The goal was to get out the door to start rowing by 8:30 a.m. To make a long story short I finally got to the rower about 9:45 a.m. with my iPhone jack for my portable CD player, my headphones, my Vitamixed Watermelon water bottle, 3 bottles of water and a babyfood pouch containing a lots of potassium veggie-fruit blend for during the row, a Zone bar and a single serving pack of NutriBiotic protein powder as needed for post row, all while managing to forget the socks for my shoes.

My new shoes. My Tovos. The shoes I have never before worn, ever, and I forget socks on top of forgetting to keep my old shoes just a few days longer so I could row in my old, comfortable, non-blistering shoes.

My hands held up really well, thanks to my fanstastic Crew Stop Rowing Gloves. I love them! I have a total of four, minor blisters and I think that due to the fact I was concentrating on telling myself to push past my feet therefore not paying attention to my grip.

Oh my goodness, one thing I learned is to have my own personal rowing fan for those hot, sultry southern days. It is a Lasko 3-speed and was absolutely perfect for today’s row.

It took me 2 hours 24 minutes 19.3 seconds to finish the row. I was hoping to stay on a three minute pace but am happy with a 3:25.2 for my first half-marathon. I finished strong.

Not too shabby for a little old gray haired lady, who jumped 500 single unders with a 1/4lb rope the day before for the newest CrossRope Challenge. Oh yes I did and I do it all at Guns Out CrossFit.

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