Well, I managed to finally convince Rob to come rowing with me. Now, I am not naive; I know Rob did not decide to start rowing with me because he wants to spend time with me doing something I love. After witnessing the power that Olympic hopeful rower, Matthew, can generate on the bike, he became very interested in rowing. Rob and I went out in the sculls yesterday after he finished teaching a Pilates Barrel Teacher Training course around 4:30pm. It was a little muggy, but there was no wind, nobody on the lake and the water was glass. This was Rob’s third time in the scull and he was doing great. He has phenomenal balance and great strength and endurance in his legs from cycling, so he is a natural at rowing. We rowed past the 2K and spun the boats after the orange buoys. When we got back to the 2k I suggested we try some starts. Normally I would not have a beginner practice this because they are likely to flip the boat, but Rob is a stud. We did a fraction five start of 3/4, 1/2, 1/2, 3/4, full. That means you start at a 3/4 slide with your blades squared and buried, take that stroke then your next stroke is only half a slide, then another half and so on. These are short strong strokes to get the boat up and moving. We had already done two starts and Rob was doing well. I told him to try and go a little faster with no layback, just legs and arms. Did he ever! 3/4, 1/2, 1/2 3/4, BAM! There was a loud noise and Rob’s boat dipped drastically to starboard. His starboard gunnel was under water and he is struggling to keep the boat upright. I involuntarily scream No, no, no, hold on! His strong legs and balance came in handy. I think anyone else would have gone into the drink. He rights the boat and is fine. What happened? On the last full slide, full power stroke, Rob sheared off part of the track that the foot stretchers are in and his entire foot stretcher came out of the tracks. It wasn’t because they were loose either. I rowed over and I locked our riggers together and as Rob put his foot stretchers back in he said, “The Legend Begins”. Rob is the least braggadocios person I know, so that comment was unexpected. I laughed so hard I almost flipped us both. Foot stretchers fixed we headed back to the dock. It was a great row back and as we moved our boats quietly down the lake side by side, I was very happy that rowing is great cross-training for cycling. The Legend Begins.