rowing

Girl on the River’s 10 year anniversary

Ten years ago I pressed “publish” on my very first Girl on the River post, and I don’t think it’s overdramatic to say that in that moment, my life changed. In August 2011, I was very new to the sport. My rowing was extremely scrappy. My kit was extremely shiny. I was a novice in…

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Getting steamed up over Covid

  I’m a pretty law-abiding person by nature, and throughout the pandemic I’ve gone along with the restrictions with as much patience and good humour as I can muster. Sure, it’s been frustrating at times, especially living on the border where we have to grapple with dual and often conflicting restrictions (not to mention being…

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Get your sweat on – indoor rowing classes on trial

Girl on the River tries out indoor rowing classes in both Toronto and London and finds out whether they live up to the hype.

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Pimp my ride – it’s time for a makeover

I have a lot in common with my rowing machine – a slightly rusty Concept 2 Model B. Its heyday, much like mine, was the late 80s. Its once smooth exterior is now a bit rough in places. Its action occasionally gets stiff, especially when it’s damp outside, and it could probably benefit from a…

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Operation ergo – Girl on the River gets serious

Since my resolution a few weeks ago to stop whingeing about the erg and make it part of my life, things have improved enormously. My splits have started to get better and I’ve stopped dreading the sessions in the way I used to. There is still one problem, though – I’m just not good enough….

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Ergometer blues – Girl on the River is singing a new tune

My relationship with the ergometer is what the tabloids would describe as stormy. There have been tears. There has been shouting. There have been protracted periods of separation followed by grudging reunions. Throughout all of this, as with any difficult relationship, my friends have patiently supported me as I wail, complain, obsess and generally navel-gaze….

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Ergs, cars and a damsel in distress – Girl on the River’s snowy adventure

My legs are shaking as my foot stamps ineffectually on the brake. The car slides another foot backwards. I’m right in the middle of the road on a sharp double bend on the most notorious hill in the county. The snow is falling thick and fast and even rugged 4x4s are sliding all over the…

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Rowing – how hard can it be?

There are a lot of non-rowers out there amongst my readers – and some pretty impressively fit ones, I’ll be the first to admit. Now, I’m guessing some of you runners and triathletes and body builders have had a go on the rowing machine in the gym every now and then (forgive me while I…

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Do you row to live or live to row?

It happened when I was having an extended moan about my latest erg score. About two minutes in, my long-suffering husband – clearly keen to talk about something (anything) else – dealt his trump card. “Well”, he said, “You’re looking very good on it.” This should have been a dead cert, guaranteed to stop me…

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