Just Shut Up And Row! -- World Erg Challenge 2015

Participants Seek To Accumulate Maximum Distance From 15 March To 15 April

Just why would anyone want to sit down on a device -- seen by many as an instrument of torture -- and go through a repetitive series of often agonizing, sometimes painful (it's a "good" pain though), grunt inducing, heavy-breathing-causing motions for 30 days?

"Greetings shipmates,

It is time for the World Erg Challenge.  Join us again for the chance to win prizes and represent the Navy."

It's official. Not only was it time once again to test my physical and mental endurance, will power, and quite honestly, the durability of my behind (hours and hours sitting on your butt!), but I was being officially invited/reminded by the team captain. And for this there's only one way to respond.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Until I saw that simple message from team captain Clay Christensen, I'd totally forgotten all about this yearly event. What has become a spring time rite of passage for me.

For hyper competitive former athletes like myself, even simple things like a two sentence email are hard to ignore.

As the first week of the challenge nears completion, my body is adjusting to the rigors of rowing. Especially rowing on an ergometer.

More importantly, my scheduling and time management ability is adjusting as well, as fitting in the time to do this is a immense challenge unto itself. Giving new meaning to the "challenge" part of the event's title.

This is my first blog of the event, I'll save the more nitty gritty details of what it's like to do this, and the physiology and mental state involved for future posts.

Despite entering the challenge nearly two weeks late in 2014, I'd like to think I still kicked butt!

We Take This Seriously

Of the teams all around the world participating, all have slightly different approach to the World Erg Challenge. Some are more hardcore while others see it as a purely fun and social thing.  For Team Navy, we're somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards hardcore.

Last year out of over 220 teams from around the world, we placed 22nd with a total of 5,415,474 meters! Salute to Peter who topped our team at 500,504 meters. Insane!