Rowed to Nowhere... UPDATE
Added 26/11/2009 by Emma Drew
I just wanted to say a MASSSSSSSIVE thanks to all those who sponsored me in the “Deloitte Rowathon” At last count, a total of £70,000 was raised!
I thought I would let you know how I got on, for those of you that would like to know how it felt to row for 42.19 km (or 26.2 miles) on Concept 2 or ever fancied trying it for a laugh...
...It hurts....quite a lot really – especially if suffering a cold at the same time..totally worse than man flu and everything!
The first 10k started off relatively well – they placed me directly in front of a TV, Brucie bonus or so I thought, but Sky news gets reeeeally boring after a while, but at least it gave me some distraction. One of the guys sitting next to me had a personal DVD player set up in between our rowing machines with Lord of the Rings playing, so I got to watch a bit of that (albeit with no sound, but I made up the words in my head which kept me amused).
The second 10k was the worst, it still seems like a massive distance to row and you are not even halfway yet...let’s not discuss this bit – it was evil and I am still trying to wipe it from my mind.
At last, hit the halfway point – this is my ‘safe’ distance...20k to go and I know I can do this distance...I have done it before in training, just a case of keeping a steady pace, so start talking to myself in my head to keep me going (‘could be worse, could be running it, and I run like a chicken...not good’...’could be worse, this is easy compared to that woman in the US who gave birth to 8 babies, now that’s hard work!’...’could be worse, could be forced to eat bugs in the jungle...next to Jordan’)...and look!! I’m down to the last 10k!!
Make the mistake of stopping for a stretch and stand up...the PAIN in my bottom sitting back down is almost unbearable...but I soldier on as I’m good like that...
The last 500m I wound up to my fastest pace, am hearing Diego and Kathryn’s coxing voices in my head ‘EMPTY THE TANKS...WIND OR DIE’!! thanks peeps!! The guys who had already finished are cheering me on, and I’m excited that it is nearly over – also do NOT want to be last in the team of 8 and want to beat the two other girls (well, it IS a race after all!)...managed it!! WOO HA!!
3 hours, 23 minutes and 34 seconds later...
Considering my aim was to complete it in 4 hours or under, I am very very pleased with myself...some might say smug...some might be right!!!
Thanks again for your sponsorship, for those of you that haven’t donated and would like to – it’s not too late!
original.justgiving.com/rowathon2009tax
Right – next challenge???
Emma
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