Move It: On the water with Wilmington Rowing Club

I met my guardian angel last Thursday.

After being stuck in traffic she emerged from the Wilmington Rowing Club's boathouse lithely and at ease, as the sun tickled the waves on the Christina River in Wilmington.

Her name: Lydia Turner, 88, of Wilmington, but originally born and bred in Germany. She had first rowed at age 16, before settling in the United States with an American soldier where she picked up the craft off and on. Now a stalwart member of the Wilmington Rowing Club, she's most definitely on.

And if she can do it, what did I have to lose, right? As we've moved through the 10 week of of Move It Delaware, our spring health challenge sponsored by Christiana Care, I've been trying different activities in hope of inspiring participants to try something new, and maybe help them find new physical outlets. Lots of readers and participants have sent in suggestions for things to try, and the Wilmington Rowing Club suggested I try rowing as a new way to log minutes for the challenge.

Word to the wise: rowers make it look easy to us land-folk. I nearly jumped out of the boat crying less than 10 minutes into a rowing session on the Christina.

"Just relax," Lydia told me over and over in her soft-spoken accent, completely in synchronized motion with her oar rows.

But I stuck with it for the next hour, going 4.2 miles with seven other rowers of all ages and experience levels. It was tough, but completely and utterly rewarding. Here's what I learned:

What is it?

Rowing, known as crew, actually dates back to ancient Egypt. Essentially it worked exactly as it does today, with multiple people propelling a boat with oars.

It became competitive by the 18th century and has been a strong, elite sport since. The Wilmington Rowing Club, which just celebrated its 30th birthday offers learn-to-row classes each spring and summer as well as masters and scholastic programs.

The club also has sponsored the popular Howard M. Smith Diamond State Masters Regatta in Middletown, DE since 1991.

"Come with us," says Betsy Rowland, avid rower and one of the leaders of the Wilmington club.

What types of exercise do I do?

First thing's first – get the jargon down. The crew boat is known as the racing shell, a slim vessel with attached oars. The shells come in different sizes, from the standard eight-person to four to a single. A coxswain sits at the stern of the shell, facing the rowers, and directs their power and rhythm.

There are two types of rowing, sweeping and sculling. In sweep rowing you use one oar with two hands; in sculling you use two oars with two hands.

Last week, I tried out sweep oaring, where I came to learn directions mattered. Each oar is staggered along the length of the shell. The rowers are known as port (left side) or starboard (right side) depending upon where the oars are located.

Here's a tip: don't row with your arms, row with your legs. John Schoonover, chair of the Diamond State Masters board for the club told me that rowing requires a whole new level of skill and safety.

You don't even need to wear sneakers, inside the hull of the shell (the body) are small sockets where you can place your feet for stability. The actual seat you have moves as your body does.

Try practicing with an erg machine (a la Claire Underwood in House of Cards) to get the momentum of each stroke. To push the oars first into the water, called the catch, use your arms, then body, then legs. To release the oar out of the water, backtrack by using the legs, body, and then arms.

I felt like I was doing a sitting version of "the worm." At the same time you propel the oar, you need to intricately move the oar up and down to get the speed just so. When you pull the oar blade up from the water, you need to learn how to "feather the blade" which means you have to hold the oar parallel to the water.

The movement is completely complicated and it takes some time to get the finesse, so don't feel discouraged if you are a newby like mef. It is a team-coordinated activity, so don't worry about tipping the boat. Everyone has your back.

"Just try to be comfortable and warm," Rowland advised.

You will build long, lean muscles and have a toned back and legs with a lot of practice. On top of that, rowing helps to clear the mind. It can be a completely cathartic experience if you let it.

"You just get all rinsed out," said Brooks Reinhart, a club member.

Where?

Boathouse: 501 A Street, Wilmington

How much?

A learn-to-row session is $250. It's a week-long series of two hour classes where each person learns training safety, rowing stokes and clean-up. You must pass a swim test. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The only session still open this summer runs from June 14 to 19.

Annual membership fees are $600 for adults over 26 years old and $300 for under 26. There is a $200 non-refundable initiation fee.

Call (302) 652-5339 for more information or go to www.wilmingtonrowing.org

Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.

How to sign up

It's not too late for individuals to sign up for the "Move It Delaware" challenge. Register at www.delawareonline.com/moveitde. (Group registration has closed).

This year's goal is to accumulate 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week – you choose the activities that work for you.

Weekly prizes will be given to participants and include tickets to the Phillies and 76ers, $150 gift card to The Grand Opera House, tickets to Longwood Gardens and more.

The grand prizes are a $1,000 gift card and a $500 Shoprite gift card.

Move It Delaware is sponsored by Christiana Care, the DE Center for Health Promotion at Delaware State University and The News Journal.

Have an activity suggestion for Jen?

If so, she can be reached at (302) 324-2386, jrini@delawareonline.com or @JenRini on Twitter.