LWRC's Senior Master's Women Aced Out by Bainbridge Island by Five Seconds in Row for the Cure!

LWRC's Senior Master's Women rowed a brisk pace in Sunday's Row for the Cure with an age-adjusted time of 22 minutes, 38.7 seconds.


LWRC Senior Master's Women prepare for Row for the Cure.


We came in fifth of ten women's eights. But in our Senior Women's division (our boat age is 57), we came in second, with Bainbridge Island winning by only five seconds!

Coxswain Ellie Burg brought her singular focus, superb motivation and technical skill - along with her extraordinary ability to keep the event fun.

We've all been working hard under Coach George Andreadis' capable direction, and our team is beginning to coalesce. Just look at us!

The Team returns to the LWRC dock.

The real purpose of the row, however, was to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation - for breast cancer research and patient support. There's nobody in our club who hasn't been touched by breast cancer.And as women, we know that one in eight of us - who lives to age 85 or so - will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fortunately, the breast cancer picture is changing. As a doctor, I remember when breast cancer was a death sentence. Today, most women do very well - particularly when the diagnosis is made early.

 For the LWRC Senior Master's Women, this event was a grand way to kick off the Fall racing season. We rowed well, and we had fun!



 

Ellie Burg, in blue jacket, led the charge! The team poses for a victory shot.

(All photos by Megan Kruse)

Take care,

Linda Gromko, MD

First Time in a Pair - and a Sighting of the Ocean Rowers!

What a fabulous morning! Five a.m. proved to be way too early for most on this foggy August morning, but there were two pairs among our tiny turnout. I'd never rowed a pair before.

But, with lights on our boats, our two pairs ventured out. Pairs can be tippy; they are the ultimate balance exercise! Now, I've been in plenty of tippy boats before in sculling - and I've certainly tipped them, too.

But Caroline and I got our rhythm to match quickly. A tugboat aligned perpendicular to the massive gravel barge across from SPU cast out a perilous wake and pushed us up against a pleasure boat. We had to maneuver quickly to recapture our one oar which was sliding under the pleasure boat. But, we managed.

Caroline - a fisheries researcher - pointed out the "sea smoke" rising from the water - the product of warm water colliding against cooler air. We went on to the locks.

On our way back to the Ballard Bridge, we came upon the team that rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in their huge open water boat. They are gearing up for another ocean voyage, this time from mid Africa to South America. Today, they are working on flip tests!

Our two pairs had a wonderful morning. No disasters, and no seriously close calls. I am enjoying the adventure of trying different boats and different rowing combinations. Without a sculling foundation, though, I can appreciate that the pair could be the ultimate in "instant karma!"

Take care,
Linda Gromko, MD

LWRC Senior Masters Women Take a First and Third Place at Greenlake

The Lake Washington Rowing Club Senior Masters Women entered two fours and an eight in the 50th Annual Greenlake Summer Rowing Extravaganza on August 6, 2011.

For our Fours, we entered a Senior Four and a "senior" Senior Four. The younger group took an "easy" first place, beating out the rival Martha's Moms. The "senior"  Senior Four came in fourth. Our Senior Masters Women's Eight won third place.

Connie, Sally, Nancy, Linda, and Ann display their Third Place ribbons.


That's the news; now for the color commentary:

During our warmup in the "senior" Senior Four, I discovered that my rigger's backstay was loose. As I jiggled it to investigate, the whole back rigger came completely off the boat, and all of the nuts and bolts fell irretrievably into Greenlake! I was mortified!

Then, some resourceful soul - maybe our coxswain Ellie - handed up a roll of duct tape. I taped that rigger in overlapping bandage fashion; it was so sturdy - it could have set a fractured femur!

Then, someone said, "No duct tape on a boat!" Evidently, if my duct tape came off, the front of the rigger could shear off - severely damaging the Azure. The referee breezed up in a launch, and helped us secure the rigger with fresh nuts and bolts - and it held.

*  *  *  *  *

During the first race, I thought I might die. Where was my leg drive? What would have happened if I just stopped rowing? Has anyone ever died while racing before? Why was I doing this anyway?

But I didn't die. I attributed my "near death experience" to inadequate hydration.

*  *  *  *  *

And, after congratulating the younger Four on their impressive win, we all scattered back to our "normal" lives before the late afternoon race.


I, for example, went back to the 3-day conference I'd been attending: Gender Odyssey - a fascinating program dealing with transgender issues, surgeries, and the sincere efforts people make to remedy gender when body, heart, and soul are asynchronous. (I have a wonderful transgender population in my medical practice.)

*  *  *  *  *

Back to Greenlake for the eight. We pulled hard; our set was better. And when I got to the point where I thought I might die before, it happened again. This time, though, it felt more normal:

"Oh yes, this is the part where I contemplate my premature demise - but it won't happen. Quiet that busy mind and just keep rowing!"

We appreciated the buoyance of the age adjustment; here's one situation where being older is great!

*  *  *  *  *  

Now, about those Unisuits. I ended up wearing capri tights under the suit; that helped some. Nobody sees my knees unless I've paid them to do a physical exam. But I learned that most of us have "body issues" - and that we just ignored them completely during the race.

You simply can't worry about flabby underarms or a 34-year postpartum tummy when you're racing - particularly when you think you might die! You just let it go...what freedom!

All in all, the Greenlake Extravaganza was special. We had such great young enthusiastic coxswains in Leah and Ellie. We all learned something. And I think we'd all do it again in a heartbeat!

Take care,

Linda Gromko, MD

Senior Women's Sweep Team Offers Unexpected Opportunities: Early Mornings and a Unisuit!

I started rowing with the Senior Women's Sweep Team on Monday - a very nice bunch of women and a great rowing experience. We are preparing for some Greenlake race in August - who would have thought?

Actually, I wouldn't have seen any of this coming. It has been three months today since my husband Steve died. His care needs were so enormous - home dialysis, 24/7 care due to Critical Illness Myopathy, diabetes, renal failure, and finally a leg amputation due to a gangrenous foot.

Until three weeks ago, all activities were at least coordinated with him in mind. And while I love the more liberal rowing schedule that is probably saving what sanity I can claim, I'd give it up in a heartbeat to have Steve back.

But rowing, writing, and work keep me feeling at least sort of normal. There is always so much to do in a medical practice. And the world just keeps going on.

I was feeling pretty good about this rowing thing - and even about racing, until I asked if I needed to get a special shirt or something to wear for the race.

"Oh, you'll need a unisuit," the women told me.

A unisuit? There isn't enough time for liposuction - or enough psychotherapy to get me through this!

Oh, I'll get through it. It'll even be a victory - stretching my vision of what I can and cannot do. Sort of like Spandex, I guess.

It's so great to have a team sport - the regular drill of getting there, the accomplishment of even showing up, and the chance to challenge our bodies - and our minds - with new adventures!

Take care,
Linda Gromko, MD

Rowing Through an Injury

One of the frustrations of physical activity is that you can get hurt now and then. Hopefully, not seriously hurt - but there are aches and pains and bruises that go with carrying boats to and from a dock.

Three weeks ago, when I broke a rib trying to get into my boat after my unfortunate Emergency Stop Drill, I had to re-do what I do  for exercise.

Sweeping is tough because it's asymmetrical; you pull into one rib.

Sculling is better, but not perfect. And I'm wearing that blow-up vest like a girl scout. I don't dare take another flip test until this flippin' rib is healed, or else it will surely break again!

OK, so then I tried a spinning class. I have done hundreds of spinning classes over the years. Again, all of our core muscles seem to anchor onto the rib I broke!

Walking is fine, but a "lesser" substitute.

I've had musculoskeletal issues before: two episodes of frozen shoulder treated by forceful manipulation under anesthesia. Then, there was a distal tib/fib fracture from a fall years ago.

I am exercising for my physical and mental health - not to win any medals!

It's been a good reminder that those of us who do rely on exercise to keep ourselves sane and healthy need a sizable stash of alternative activities as the injured body heals. When my exercise-reliant patients are injured, I tend to ask about depression - and at least make sure that they are addressing self-care.

Be careful out there.
Linda Gromko, MD

Just when things were going so "nicely" - a flip and a broken rib!

Yesterday, I took Hugh Lade's "Sculling Skills" class. It was Mother's Day - and the weather was cool even for Seattle. There were three other women in the class. Hugh was in his beautiful wooden single, the other women were in Aeros, and I took the LeMieux - which is very skinny by my standards - but a boat I row often and really like.

We were practicing emergency stops, and I did a bunch of them without Hugh watching (of course). 

Then Hugh rowed towards me and gave the command, "Stop the boat!"

I responded. Apparently, my oars were pitched assymetrically, and I flipped right into the drink. It was in the high forties yesterday. And I wasn't wearing my Dolly Parton blow-up safety vest. After all, I was in a class - not rowing alone!

I tried to get back in the boat a couple of times with no success. I think it was on the third try, when I felt a right lower rib "give." It was painful, but not disabling. In any event, I didn't want to try flopping over the boat like a beached whale again - this time with a painful rib.

I swam the boat eastward, making it to one of the houseboats. After what seemed like a long time, I got to the houseboat dock and climbed up the litttle dock's ladder.

We strategized that it might be possible to step into the LeMieux from the dock from above - tricky, but it worked.

By this time, my class - plus Jack B. and John A. with their freshly graduated Learn-to-Row I students had gathered around to help.

I'm sure Jack and John appreciated my spectacle - I wonder if there will be any Learn-to-Row II students out of that mix!

I rowed back from East Lake Union to Lake Washington Rowing Club, with Hugh commenting "It's starting to rain; we might get wet." Hugh has a "dry" sense of humor.

I slipped easily back up to the LWRC dock where Hugh and John helped me out of the boat. Somebody threw a blanket over my shoulders - and very kind Lise A. from my class helped me to the shower. I was surprised that even though I could row back to the boat house, my body had somehow converted to jello.

Hugh drove me to the Swedish/Ballard ER, with Lise following in my car.

In the ER, I was heaped with warm blankets and given tea. My body temperature was 97.5 - by no means critical. A set of rib films confirmed at least one rib fracture, and  I have questions about a second matching one on the other side. You don't do anything about rib fractures really, except medicate for pain - unless a rib pokes inconveniently through a lung - which, of course, it hadn't.

Waiting in the ER under a pile of warm blankets, I started to cry. After the fact, of course. The very kind nurse asked if I needed anything.

"No, I think its just that my husband died three weeks ago. It's been a rough month."

I had collected myself before Dr. Kelvin Mar walked in.

"When I worked in Antarctica, we found that giving people sugar helped to raise their body temperature. Let me see what we have."

He returned with Girl Scout Chocolate Thin Mint cookies - the universal treatment for probably everything.

By the time I was discharged, I had made the following observations:

• There's likely to be another flip test in my future.
• You really could get hurt out there; probably a good idea to wear that blow-up vest every time.
• A flip test next to the LWRC dock is different than flipping unexpectedly; read that "easier."
• I think if I had trouble getting back in the boat, there are many others in the club who would have trouble also.

I am very grateful for Hugh's assistance yesterday - less grateful for his "Stop the boat" command(!). I am very appreciative to Lise for stepping up to help.  I am grateful for the folks to "stood by" - it reminded me of how the kids on my daughter's soccer team used to crouch to the ground when someone seemed to be hurt.

I am very sorry that my little spectacle might have discouraged the beginning rowers. Anyway, I'll be back on the water soon -  maybe Tuesday - in a sweep boat!

Take care,
Linda Gromko, MD

Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss Rowing Experience: a Sunny Success!

With Seattle weather so unpredicatable lately, Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss* was graced with a spectacular day of sun for our Experience Rowing Event!

Directed by LWRC's Mike Rucier and Andy Rees - and with assistance from Kim Biggs - our group took an eight for a tour of Lake Union.

The group of six "losers"- who has lost a collective 300 pounds on our Program - was elated!

Nobody fell in; we got back to the dock intact. Better yet, one of our members committed to a Learn-to-Row Class with her husband for later in the season.

This is no small victory for a group of folks who have typically stayed away from physical exercise - particularly activity with the intensity of rowing. Our Program's purpose, of course, is to make such activities approachable. Hopefully, such exercise will become a lifelong part of an effective weight management strategy.

(To that end, our group is hosting a Kayak Event June 12 at Northwest Outdoor Center!)

Sincere thanks to Mike, Andy, and Kim - and to LWRC - for hosting this picture-perfect event. We hope it's the first of many!

Take care,
Linda Gromko, MD
*Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss is a division of my family practice: Queen Anne Medical Associates, PLLC.