Yesterday’s rowing session on the rowing machine took me to 999,316 meters.

My next rowing session will be my next cold shower day, May 4, unless it’s as beautiful a day as today and I feel like running outdoors, and I’ll hit 1,000,000 meters.

One million meters is a nice milestone. It’s small compared to a competitive rower, but that’s the point. I’m not a serious rower. I’m 45. I write, coach, and teach, and I live a regular life.

The emotional reward of crossing 1,000,000 meters, however fleeting the rowing session, means more and endures longer than anything I’d get from watching Game of Thrones or eating ice cream and cookies.

Rowing takes away excuses. I can row 20 minutes and burn over 300 calories in less time than to lace up and get to the river and back, not counting the time running along the river. Rowing indoors doesn’t depend on the weather.

The machine cost me $500 used on Craigs List about five years ago. Since then I’ve oiled the chain a few times and dusted it. I can’t see any risk of injury, just soreness from working hard, which I like.

The one missing element

The one missing element is that I’ve still never rowed on open water. I’d love to do that, especially with a team I practiced with. I hope I get the chance sometime.

In the meantime, I have my millionth meter to look forward to.

Update

EDIT: I crossed the million meter mark:

Only 993,522 meters to the next million.

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