You’d think that I of all people would have tried every conceivable piece of gym equipment out there. And trust me, that’s on my list of 100 things to do before I die. It falls somewhere after making a cheese souffle (which requires something called a “ramekin” which I totally don’t have) and before figuring out who killed JFK (somebody did it, by golly). So it is with some embarrassment that I tell you that I only recently discovered the joy of the rowing machine.
Gym Buddy Allison and I were a little baffled when “rowing” showed up on our CrossFit WOD (workout of the day). It didn’t say how heavy we were supposed to go or whether we were doing body rows, upright rows, bent over rows, single arm rows or frat rows. Which is odd for CrossFit since they usually spell it out for you to the letter, i.e. “deadlift 1.5 times your bodyweight.” Seeing as I have a hard enough time deadlifting my toddler (although to be fair he’s WIGGLY), I think somewhere CrossFit is having a good laugh at my expense.
Anyhow, after a minute or two it finally dawned us. They meant the row, row, row your boat kind of row. Allison and I stared suspiciously at the rowing machines, of which our Y has exactly two shoved back in a corner by the stretching mats. Finally we walked over and sat down on the slidey seats.
“How do they work?”
“Like I know.”
“How do you change the resistance?”
“Can you?”
“What do those numbers mean?”
“It means we’re slow.”
“So go faster already!”
Why? Is someone chasing us?”
“Probably just some local fisherman, out for a pleasure cruise, at night… in… eel-infested waters… “
And then I looked over at Allison intently rowing her way across a fake lake to the island of Guilder and burst out laughing. Hilarity ensued. We raced. She “won.” But only because I fell off my seat giggling. Then we tried synchronized rowing. With arm movements. I was about to “splash” her with the dregs from my water bottle but people on treadmills were staring. And I do have some sense of propriety. Somewhere.
It was fun!
After our CrossFit was done for the day (I still can’t lift my arms over my head, thank you very much), we headed back over to canoe side-by-side across the still waters of our Cybex lake. Until we hit the rapids. And then I might’ve fallen off again. I can’t believe it has taken me this long to try these things! It was awesome!
I don’t know why but it never occurred to me to try it before. Maybe I thought it was just for old people – you know, like those bikes that you pedal with your hands. Or maybe it was just because I’ve never actually seen anyone on them before. Or maybe – shhh – I was secretly scared of a big ol’ contraption that I had no idea how to use.
But no matter, Allison and I are going back tomorrow – to see if we can row fast enough to tow a skier. I’m totally going slalom;)
So what piece of gym equipment have you been avoiding? And, also, does anyone have a ramekin?
hilarious video clip!
I avoid those arc trainer things. I can’t seem to get the rhythm of arms and legs and always feel like I am getting pulled back and forth like taffy. Maybe my arms/legs are too short for it?
Hi, Not even sure what an arc trainer is, but at my Y, here in Redlands there is a Spider web looking thingy that is black, it’s against the wall and I have no idea what to do with it.?? It’s placed near the mats with the medicine balls and stuff.
I really hate that my current gym doesn’t have a rowing machine… I love those things! 🙂
I never use the knees-together/knees-apart weight machines. I just haven’t done it… Maybe someday I’ll use that machine… once… and then be TOTALLY BUFF!!! Or maybe not.
I overtrained (or overstretched?) (or understretched?) my calves about a week ago. Hurt for 5 days!
I love the rowing machine!
Of course, I’m not a gym member at this time so it’s a moot point.
I do have ramekins though – you make creme brulee in them too 😀
I think rowing machines/ergs tend to get the Grandma rep because whenever people use it they do it really really badly!
I have a love/hate relationship with that piece of gym machinery – takes me back to my training days when I was rowing for my Uni (people would go so hardcore, there would be post-erg vomit – yech!). It’s a serious workout if you know how to use it though.
I’ve never really tried the step machine myself – or those cool hand operated thingymejigs – they just look too complicated.
I don’t belong to a gym, so there’s tons of equipment I’ve never tried. I’m pretty okay with that. But the machine that is a stairclimber and has things for your arms to do at the same time, what’s that called? It scares me just seeing it on the TV. I imagine my hair getting caught in it.
I have a set of 6 ramekins. You can make individual chicken pot pies in them.
@Rachel – the black spider thingy is for stretching 😉
I rowed in HS briefly…never again. Please enjoy for me!
Have never tried the big pilates machine contraption…scary looking.
I have used the rowing machine a few times – funny, I “raced” with the person next to me too!
I avoid the elliptical for some reason….feel too uncoordinated. Also it’s too hard – wah.
I tried the rowing machine thing years ago, but after the first couple of times found it to have a higher chore/fun ratio than machines where there’s an up and down motion. I don’t like exercise bikes for the same reason. I need to do some up and down boing boing bouncing to the beat of my iPod. Thus I can run or do elliptical. But for some weird reason, back and forth doens’t do it for me.
But then I never tried fantasy boat races in a lake filled with eels, perhaps that was my problem!
Not a big fan of the rowing machines, but I’m sure it can be a good workout if the effort is put into it. Ever since I’ve been kayaking, I’ve been spoiled by being able to see where I’m going!
Do you have a kayak machine at your club? Ours has the traditional rower, kayak, and bicycle style hand machine.
As a brief aside, did you know, legend has it, that Evinrude invented the outboard motor so he could get ice cream across the lake to his beloved before it melted? I’ve always liked that one 🙂
Dr. J
I avoid cardio machines that don’t set the pace for me (i.e., rowing machines, ellipticals, stationary bikes) because my inner slacker stealthily takes over. I’m nearly at a halt before I notice.
Strangely, I bought a four-pack of ramekins a few weeks ago because when I saw them, I thought, “Everyone should have ramekins. How have I gone this long without ramekins of my own?” Have I used them yet? No.
My hubby thought the same thing about the rowing machine=for old people. Then he tried it.
I hope you have many more funny water adventures. =)
Ok, the Princess Bride dialogue about had me falling out of my perfectly stable chair, so I can imagine the hilarity on the rowing machines!
Princess Bride LOVE!
If I had a ramekin- or knew what one looked like- I would lend it to you!
When I was little my mum used to have a rowing machine. I liked playing on it. That’s the extent that I’ve used one of those machines (but I’ve always really enjoyed canoeing and kayaking! So much fun).
I’m super jealous. I wish my gym had those (they recently got rid of them) so that i could get ready for the womens rowing team at college this fall.
I took up rowing for recreation last summer with a friend of mine who had rowed and coached through her teen years – she ended up being my personal instructor on those awesome calm summer morngings out on the lake and I loved it! Up until then, I had used the erg at the gym infrequently (and poorly as so many seem to do), but when I was using it to get better at rowing, I found I liked it….then winter came and I wanted to cross country ski, so cardio at the gym turned to running and elipitical again. 🙂
One tip I learned through rowing on the lake is that the pull phase of the movement should be one count and the release (sliding forward) should be two counts…this more accurately simulates the way you want to row in a boat on the water. Happy rowing!
My gym had a weird 4-way “neck machine” that I never saw anyone use. I always thought those big necks bodybuilders have was a natural result of lifting lots of weights, but apparently some people actually work on their neck muscles. Seems pointless.
I’m gym-free at the moment. I do like rowing (in water). And creme brulee.
I LOVE rowing machines- cardio and strength training combined!
i knew they meant a rowing machine because my friend’s dad’s crossfit gym has like 5 and they are always being used.
and yes i have a ramekin. i have two actually if you would like one, because the only thing i ever use them for is ice cream.
psh, like i could make a souffle. i dont even think i spelled it right.
I LOVE the rowing machine!!!!!!
A gym I used to go to in massachusetts had one that let you choose intervals. Whenever you needed to speed up, the computer would play the “Jaws” theme, and a fin would appear on the screen behind the canoe. It was great!
BTW, I’ve been trying to find ramekins.
Fitarella, do not fear the pilates reformer. It may look like a guillotine, but it’s actually quite fun!
I use the rowing machine for a 5-7 minute warm up with the bike isn’t available. I avoid it in general though, as I find I tire really quickly on it. I recognize that this should be the reason I use it more. Good for you and Allison for trying something new.
For me the Stairmaster was a land-war in Asia. I tried it once. I ended up doing bar-dips on its handles because I couldn’t get the pedals to behave, and got off after 1 embarrassing minute.
But my gym has 5 thingees between the treadmills and ellipticals that are like ellipticals and something else perverse like NordicTrac. Couldn’t get it to work.?. Like iocane powder.
Hmmm…gym equipment I’m too afraid to use – that would be the whole gym! When I was 19 I used to go to the gym, but mostly just to play raquetball. There is an awesome gym here in town, but a lot of people I know go there and I just can’t do it (plus I’m cheap). I really do enjoy exercising outside and strangely it doesn’t bother me if my neighbors see me. I’d probably be the neighborhood weirdo if I ducked into some bushes though…plus my iPod gives me courage! Why am I such a shy goober? It seems to get worse the older I get. Perhaps one day I’ll work up the courage to get a free one-day pass from work to the super gym downtown.
I’m all over the ramekins!! Made a frozen coconut souffle in heart shaped ramekins with diced strawberry marmalade for my Mom’s birthday… That’s why I read YOUR blog, Charlotte.
Very imtimated, but intrigued by the rowing machine… working on getting to unassisted pullups, so rowing might help.
oh, you used the gay Teletubby! CUTE!
I just went kayaking for the first time since, like, 7th grade Jewish overnite camp, and I have to admit, despite the nasty water I was in (Chicago River) it was fun! If only I could find a sport that targeted my arse as specifically as that targets your shoulders, I’d be in heaven!
I too remember university rowing (and the awesome unisuits that came with it…and the terrible tans they gave you).
Based on my experience, I would have to say that the erg machine is both the best cardio machine, if you do it right, and the root of all evil.
To this day, I can’t get on one without my back starting to ache and the ghost sound of a tiny coxswain yelling at me to “drop my split.” *shudders*
i like the rower; i just don’t use it often enough.
the versaclimber (stepper with hand thingys) is something i’ve tried once and can’t decide whether it’s a tool of heaven or hell.
i hate the arm bike, but that’s also because i have crappy upper body strength/endurance (working on it!).
and office rowing? HILARIOUS.
oh yeah, and i loathe conventional stairmasters. i like the stepmills (or, ideally, a stadium in which to run in), but regular stairmasters/stairsteppers? yuck.
nice princess bride reference – that’s one you can’t use very often! i hate, hate, hate the rowing machine because i’m not very good at it, so i should probably do it more.
@weightinggame – you’re allowed to kayak on the chicago river? that’s good to hear – i’m moving to chicago in july and i was hoping i would be able to kayak somewhere!
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