A fetching group

CrossFit Eastside Team 0900

Boat racing

Concept 2 offers a Venue racing software package on its website, free to C2 rower owners. Venue racing enables you to race up to 22 ergs at once and display the race and results onscreen. Using a laptop and affordable USB hub, we were able to get the system up and running in about 20 minutes. Configuration and usage were pretty straightforward.

Venue racing software is a great tool for managing team rowing events. You can assign boats to users, set the distance and pacing of the rowing heat and warm-up cycles, etc. Once the athletes are warmed up and ready to rip, they are given a five-second countdown from the computer, and a loud horn starts the event. The software also catches any false starts by overeager competitors.

Aside from displaying the event live on the LCD, which is great for both competitors and spectators, the venue racing program also gives feedback to the racer on the PM3 monitor right on each erg. As you row, you know who in the racing heat is number one and two and how much time separates you from the lead.

As a motivational tool, this program rocks. Live data and onscreen visuals letting you (and everyone else) see just where you place and how you are going to finish is a carrot everyone can chase.

Fifty-one

Scott Chamberlin, despite his overly cautious approach to indoor rowing (and some gender confusion in his fashion sense), just exceeded his pull-up goal for 2007. Fifty-one--yes, 51--pull-ups in a single set gives him the gym record.

Congrats, Scott!

Who's next to 50?

Soon it will be time to start thinking about your goals for 2008.

Slammed

Dustin, great having you around. Be safe on the mountain this winter.

Three in a row

Firefighters from Redmond and Tukwila fire departments, getting under the bar at CrossFit Eastside.

With a little help from my friends

Wednesday team 6 post-workout (and Heather's birthday song surprise).

Partner up

Go team!

Tally your points

Strong work, everyone, on last week's five-round Fight Gone Bad! Congrats to all who bested their previous three-round scores.

And, remember, this coming Saturday, September 29th, is the CrossFit affiliate-wide Fight Gone Bad event. We are excited to open the doors at 10 a.m. and take part locally. You need to register by this Wednesday, the 26th, so no lollygagging!

We hope to see you all there.