Rowing Update and Other Stuff

First, I'm back.  I needed a few days to wrap my head around what happened.  I'm not there yet, and I doubt I will ever truly understand when a child earns their angel wings.  However, I know I need to get my head back in the game,
so here I am.

As far as the rowing update, I added another 5,000 meters to my total.  But, I gotta admit, I'm sweating this "Row the River" challenge a bit.  It ends on August 14th so I still have time.  However, I still have A LOT of meters to try to get in before the deadline.  Regardless of the timeline, I'll still finish.  I might not finish it by August 14th, but I'll keep updating my meters until I get there!

Since we're talking about rowing, I have to tell you about a common thing happening with the rowing instructors this week.  They're not rowing with us!  Normally, the way it's set up, the instructor's machine is in the front and the rest of the machines face it.  It works out well when the instructor is actually rowing!  But, a couple of the instructors have injuries that prevent them from rowing and our instructor this morning was getting over a cold and needed another day of laying low.  So... they walk around and watch everyone's numbers.

Now, I'm not saying that I slack off when the instructor is rowing with us.  But, they can't see our pace or our stroke rate when they're on their own machine, so it's a little less stressful.  However, lucky me, for most of the class he chose to park it behind those of us in the back row.  I jokingly said that if he doesn't move he's likely to get an elbow when I "drive" back.  He took that opportunity to tell me I needed to keep my elbows in.  I also might have mentioned that the rowers in the front row needed a little attention.  That didn't seem to do the trick either!  It definitely forces you to be on your "A" game when someone is standing over your shoulder watching you!

I should mention that I joke around with this instructor all the time.  I'm really not one of those people that complains during a class.  Joke?  Yes.  But I always do the work.  And, just between you and me, I needed that today.  As nervous as it makes me to have a fitness person watch me work out, I needed to be pushed.  And, since I will be starting my personal training after vacation, I really need to get over that fear.  Today was a good start!