The diary of a pint-sized rower
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 28th, 2011
It’s a bit of a cliché, but one I’m always grateful for. However feeble my erg score (and it’s feeble enough to be kept a closely guarded secret), I can always comfort myself with the thought that ergs don’t float – by which I mean that what you do on a rowing machine doesn’t necessarily [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 27th, 2011
I know it’s unlikely. Me, pint-sized, featherweight and spectacularly unsuccessful novice rower, firmly in the Masters *cough* category, rowing the Tideway with two of Britain’s finest U23 rowers. Has to be a joke, right? Well, actually, no. Today I joined GB U23, Olympic hopefuls Ben Duggan and Nick Middleton in a mixed quad for a paddle out of London [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 23rd, 2011
Although rowing legend Matthew Pinsent declared this week that #FF stands for Friendly Follow rather than Follow Friday (and who am I to argue with the likes of him?), I shall continue with my three-week-old tradition of running a Friday blogspot. A last-minute recommendation has had me clicking on Carlos Dinares. Its raison d’etre is the promotion [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 21st, 2011
Forgive me for being indelicate, but I can’t help noticing that with the head season nearly upon us, there’s rather a lot of testosterone in the air. The gentlemen of the rowing world seem to be greeting the prospect of long ergs and distance rows with more than their share of grunting and posturing. The [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 19th, 2011
The sporting world has come a long way in the last few decades, losing a lot of its old prejudices and practices. But as soon as it comes to the medals ceremonies I find my hackles rising . Invariably the athletes – tough, determined men and women who have pushed their minds and bodies to [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 16th, 2011
Since last week’s blogroll post, lots of you have been clicking away on their sites, so time to roll out another one. First on this list is the fabulously named Rowing Is Awesome – well, how could I ignore a blog with a title like that? It’s full of rowing awesomeness, with some funny stuff, [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 15th, 2011
Bumping into your fitness instructor when you’re skiving their class is always a bit awkward. You feel you have to explain why you’re dressed in civvies (assuming they recognise you out of your lycra), and you feel you need to apologise for your laziness, too. This week was different. I was bunking off bootcamp as [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 14th, 2011
There are some things that I just can’t do with an audience. Parking. Singing (not that it stops me). And, of course, rowing. As soon as I become aware of someone watching from the bank or the launch (especially if it’s someone I’m keen to impress), it’s a guaranteed fact that my rowing will go [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 11th, 2011
Picture this. We’re fit, race-ready and have planned our start. We’re a bit older (OK, a lot older) than our opponents, but we’re a good crew and we’re quietly confident that we can beat them. What could possibly go wrong? Well, the sea, for a start. Just getting into the boat involves an awful lot [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Sep 9th, 2011
Over the last few weeks I’ve been adding a few blogs to my blogroll, but according to my stats not many of you have been clicking on them (go straight to the naughty step). I think this is a shame, so I’m going to introduce you to a few of them in a bid to [...]
