When I was in high school, I was just a back bencher – track and football - with many embarrassing stories that are best left to your imagination.

By my late teens, the US Army had turned me into a hard body.  Malaria turned me back into mush for a while but the Army once again came to my rescue.  Carrying heavy packs through the jungle is a great way to exercise - not otherwise healthy, however, and not recommended.

By my late twenties, I had discovered Tai Chi – slow motion fighting which is great for balance and strength.  I got up to the third form (and successfully used it in a bar fight once) before moving away from my teacher and dropping it for lack of company.

By my late thirties, I had discovered hiking and there were lots of “14ers” in my Colorado neighborhood.  Fourteen thousand foot high peaks are only nine thousand above Denver, be still high enough to make “Three steps and then breathe for a while” a good tactic.  I saw some amazing sights – shooting stars, trails beside shear cliffs, snowstorms in August, and cairns with Kisses hidden inside.

Tai Chi, with a different instructor reappeared in my life by my late Forties.  I managed to get through seven forms this time and had my eye on learning the sword forms but again was separated from my instructor.  I just can’t do that alone so I stopped.

My wife prompted the next physical fitness craze – by accident.  The local rowing club was offering a Learn-to-Row class.  She had seen the long skinny boats gliding effortlessly across the water and wanted to learn how – but wouldn’t go to the class alone so I was drafted.  By the end of the week-long class she had discovered it was a lot less ‘effortless’ that she had imagined and never went back.  On the other hand, I was enthralled!  I had found a ‘team’ sport in which I essentially didn’t have to deal with anyone else – All I had to do was get through the pre-rowing pleasantries.  I only saw someone’s back in front of me during the row.  By the time we were finished rowing everyone was so tired that chit-chat wasn’t an issue.  But my wife thought that it would be ‘good’ for me since, in private, I’m not much for socializing.  I've been doing it ever since.

Amazingly enough, my wife was right.  I do now enjoy the socialization to a moderate extent and have even become a go-to guy for the club when they need something done on the computer or something built or repaired. 

A few years ago I had the chance to go in ‘halfies’ on a single seat scull so now I can row all by myself when I want to (or need to – after a rough day at work.)  Besides rowing for pleasure, I occasionally race in my single as well as larger boats and even compete during the winter in rowing machine races – but more on that later.  I’ve used a free rowing log (from Concept 2) to record my time on the water as well as on the rowing machine.  So far I’ve recorded more than 4 MILLION (oops: kilo)meters!  Do you  wonder how many calories that is?  Google shows estimates rowing burns from 600-1000 calories per hour.  I can row 10 km in just over 45 minutes if I push it.  So if I take the low calorie number and the high speed I get… 184.5 (oops:million)  thousand  calories burned!!!  Hey, I think I can have a hot dog once in a while… (My brother called me out on the math. but I can still have a hot dog!!)

 Here I am in my single: