Now that we are approaching the spring season I thought this would be a great time to discuss the difference between Roworx and the “other gyms” that people have to choose from. I had received an email a few days ago from a few Roworx & Gold’s Gym Members about the impact that our specialized rowing instructors had made on their lives.
In 2009 on the way to Florianopolis, Brazil my flight was cancelled because of a broken windshield on the runway at LAX 3 days before my Ironman race was set to go. I barely made it to Brazil on time in order to register for my race. The flight to Florianopolis, Brazil was about 20 hours on 3 connecting flights.
I hope all of you are enjoying all your success in accomplishing your goals for 2011. As I look back to the past 3 to 5 years I can’t help but think about a very different journey I had in my completion 2 full Ironman’s.
Beach Sprints are here! The once a year unique virtual indoor rowing race is presenting its 30th Annual Concept 2 Sponsored Event.
Karla Burgess’ experience training for a triathlon was life-changing. I am so proud of her accomplishments and her commitment to fitness. In my previous job as a trainer in the South Bay near Hermosa Beach I had the joy of coaching and training Karla in her triathlon. I held her accountable and she was very responsive and dedicated as she began seeing results quickly. It drove her to become very motivated. She is a true inspiration to everyone out there looking for an amazing workout.
Published in City Sports Washington and City Sports Florida, March, 2000, then later in City Sports and Competitor California.
I can totally relate to this article from my own training when I completed my first Ironman in Nice, France in 2008 and my second Ironman in Florianopolis, Brazil in 2009. Approximately 90% of my cycling training was on the Spinning bike! Also, while training at Cal Berkeley on the Men’s Varsity Crew Team a group of us took up cycling as a perfect way to cross-train for rowing.
Jake Wetzel, my former teammate at Berkeley, was recruited to row from the Canadian National Cycling Team and several years later ended up winning several Olympic Medals in rowing, Silver Medal in 2004 Athens, and a Gold Medal in 2008 Beijing. He explained to all of us that throughout his childhood and training as a cyclist, it was a direct cross-over to rowing. This was a testament that cycling does in fact contribute to the leg power that you use when rowing. Cycling along with Rowing is yet another low-impact sport that you can do your whole life. -Jack Nunn
 Three-time Olympic rower, Miroslav Vrastil of the Czech Republic has taken his love of competing to a new level. Vrastil, 58, plans to break a world record by completing 22 Ironman triathlons in one year and the father of five has already begun. Vrastil started rowing when he was 12 years old in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia. For 18 years he competed in rowing while representing his country up to the age of 35. After competing at three Olympic Games (1972, 1976 and 1980), Vrastil was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his leg.“I was not sure if the doctor was telling me or somebody else,” says Vrastil. “I could not believe it and my hands started shaking. I was only 30. Their final diagnosis was a necessary amputation of my right leg. I made my decision of not having my leg amputated even if that meant living for three months only or less.”Vrastil received no cancer treatment, opting just for surgery to remove the tumour. He estimates he stepped back from training for just six months.” I was not doing sport actively during this six-month period – my knee was out of function and I was trying hard to make it move with the help of my father no matter how painful it was. It went very slowly but it went. The tumour  was still growing but it stopped after three months from the operation. I started to train again slowly in a rowing swimming pool with the help of my colleague Pavel Konvicka in the spring of 1982.” That year Vrastil rowed at the world championships finishing fourth in the men’s four. After retiring from competitive rowing, Vrastil remained involved in the sport as a professional coach. He continued this for five years but with the political change and his country becoming the Czech Republic, Vrastil stopped coaching to become a school teacher. Even when two of his children started to row, Vrastil did not come back to the sport. Then triathlon entered Vrastil’s life. After a 10-year period of doing very little physically, Vrastil was persuaded to try triathlon. His first race, a duathlon, is memorable in his finish.”The result was horrible for me, in fact I was nearly the last out of 130 competitors of all age groups. It was there (in 1988) that I decided to change it and go for it with all that it takes,” says Vrastil.”My rowing experience and sports experience in general have helped me in life. To strive, to compete, and not to give up, and that reflects in triathlons too,”says Vastil.Then along came the idea to beat the world record of doing 20 Ironman races in a year. Vrastil has set a target of 22 races and his list includes races around the globe. An Ironman consists of a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and a 42.2km run and to reach the target of 22 Vrastil will be doing two, sometimes three, in a month. |
Dr. Mitra Ray, PhD,
Dr. Mitra Ray, PhD, Stanford University, Bio-Chemist: talks about Exercise Induced Oxidative Stress, Exercise and Diet.
Typically, when a person decides that they are ready to take their health seriously, one of the first things they’re taught is to begin to exercise. There’s all sorts of logic to this, as the benefits of exercise are dramatic, however it’s actually NOT the first thing a person should do when they set out to get healthy. For many people (including myself) adding exercise to their lives is easier than dramatically changing the way they eat. And we have been taught that if you exercise enough, you can eat just about anything to stay healthy. If you exercise enough, you may be able to keep the scale weight stable, but again that’s NOT necessarily ‘healthy.’ In fact you may become unhealthier in certain ways if you exercise vigorously but don’t eat the right food.
Guess What?? We are going to be unique this year and offer class at 9:30AM at the Warehouse (1347 Loma Ave, L.B.) on Thanksgiving Day in order to kick off the 2010 Holiday Challenge. Jack Nunn will be leading class and making sure that can maximize your Thanksgiving Day.
Be sure to join in the fun on the Holiday Challenge and log your meters online at www.Concept2.com under team affiliation Powerhouse Fitness . It’s FREE..It’s FUN.. It’s VERY MOTIVATING and..It’s for CHARITY!!!
As in the past two years, we have selected several charities to choose from for those who wish to allocate their meters to a good cause. This year, the theme is water—protection of this resource for both health and conservation.
Louie Zamperini Photo by Franklyn
This past Friday November 19th, I was sitting down at the Potholder restaurant getting breakfast and picked up the local Long Beach Press Telegram Sports Page. As I opened to the first page I found a little article about a family friend of ours, Louie Zamperini. I have met Louie at numerous U.S. Olympic reunions that my father John Nunn would invite me to as a kid. As I grew older I would have the pleasure of hearing more and more about Louie’s life-inspiring story. A story for the ages, one that will sure keep with me for the rest of my life. As we all approach Thanksgiving and the Holidays I just wanted to share this truly amazing story.
By the way.. I did give Louie a few rowing lessons 🙂
The Press Telegram had this to say about Louie Zamperini and the new book that was written about him by Laura Hillenbrand. You can find Louie’s other book ‘Devil at My Heels: A WW II Hero’s Epic Saga of Torment, Survival, and Forgiveness’ in book stores as well.