The Ladies on the Lake

Rowing in the Arizona desert

Written by Kristine Hedlund
Photos by Mike Mertes and Mark Susan

It is 3:45 a.m., and once again I ponder the thought of turning off the alarm clock and going back to sleep. But with the hot Arizona sun on the rise and fellow rowers waiting to see who rows a single, a double, a quad or an eight-rower sweep, I roll out of bed and make my way to Tempe Town Lake.

In America's love of sports, rowing has never been considered the sport with a high influence of fanfare. It is a sport that is seldom reported in the local newspaper, and certainly not a sport of painted faces and expensive fan jerseys. Rowing does, however, come with an assumed Ivy League elitism that lends a sense of exclusivity – which is no longer valid. Rowing is a sport where willpower can be channeled easily with a minimal level of skill, and that's one of the most appealing things about it. If you're willing to work really hard, you will find a place in rowing.

Meet the Ladies on the Lake:
Name: Judy Stowers
Age: 30

Name: Leena Carriere
Age: 44

Name: Raye Thomas
Age: When I turned 50, I decided that was good for a decade…so you can say I’m in my 50s

Name: Helen Griffin
Age: 54

How long have you been rowing?
Judy: Nine months.
Leena: I began in January of 2007.
Raye: Just entered year three.
Helen: It will be five years in October.

What inspired you to row?
Judy: I love the water and really wanted to find something new to do on the water that I could do on my own or in small groups. I had a few friends who started to row and I thought it might be fun. After watching the Head of the Charles race in Boston last fall, I knew I wanted to start rowing. I signed up when I got back from my trip to Boston.
Leena: I belonged to an Outrigger club when living in Southern California. After moving here 12 years ago, I didn’t think participating in water sports would even be a possibility. Having had a history of lower back problems, my hope was that the motion of rowing would be better for me than the twisting involved with the outriggers or kayaking.
Raye: Poetry and Art. There are pylons around the lake with poems by Albert Rios and tile cuts by Karla Elling that I wanted to see, but got distracted when I found myself at a restaurant sitting next to Shay Pausa who invited me to join the Girlfriends Rowing Crew.
Helen: I wanted to be doing some new activity by the time I turned 50. Coincidentally, a woman I knew who had already started rowing suggested I give rowing a try based on how hard I liked to work out.

Describe your passion for rowing?
Judy: Being on the water is very liberating. While most people are still curled tight in their beds, I am out on the water, watching the sun rise over the mountains. As I feel the boat move across the water, I forget about the day ahead of me and can focus on the now. In my busy life, this time to step back from the daily grind is refreshing and always welcome. I have never had a morning that I regretted getting up to go row. That is motivation all in itself to continue getting up. I love it!
Leena: I love how it occupies my mind so that I forget about whatever else has gone on that day and being unaware of the awesome workout I’m getting. I just love being on the water, especially when I get to observe the traffic snarl on the 202. A little piece of heaven in a big, congested desert city.
Raye: It started out for me as a very sensory activity. I loved the sounds of rowing, especially in the mornings. I became hooked as I improved enough to realize there was so much more to learn. For me, it’s the constant search for the moment when a boat comes together and everyone is working hard, and you can feel the focus and hear the water run beneath the boat.
Helen: When you row, you really can’t think about anything else. You must be in constant awareness of the finer details of the stroke, the efforts to “be one” with all members of the crew, and to feel both the boat and the water. In that sense, it is the perfect therapy – you have the release from thinking about work, family, etc. It is also a constant quest for perfection. The stroke won’t be perfect, the synchronization won’t be perfect, and the set of the boat won’t be perfect. But then you hit just one stroke that is and you know the quest is worth it.

Does rowing require a certain breed of character?
Judy: Those wanting to row must first start with a desire to do it and a determination to succeed. Although getting up early is not a requirement, the early morning hours have proved to be the most rewarding, as that is when those dedicated to the sport are out (in my experience). As a beginner, you will get blisters on your hands and perhaps a few on your feet. This stage will pass as you learn to hold the oars properly. You have to be willing to push through frustrations that may arise from not getting the oars in the water quite right (called catching a crab).
Leena: As with any activity, you have to enjoy it. Sculling, however, requires a unique blend of both physical and mental tenacity. Trying to coordinate all the movements while maintaining balance in a skinny boat can be a daunting task. A common thread among rowers I’ve met thus far is they all seem to be energetic, successful, very attentive to detail, and passionate.
Raye: I think it attracts people who are interested in the relationship between the body and the mind. Rowing is focused, and there seems to be an intellectual element to it. It retains people who want to strive for excellence. Of course, having a sense of humor helps a lot, as well.
Helen: There is a certain type of person you know will stick it out. They can take some pain, have a sense of perfectionism, like to work hard, enjoy the social aspects of working as a team, like the outdoors, and are not totally deflated when a row goes particularly badly. We are those who are very inspired by intermittent reinforcement – those strokes or rows that just feel fabulous.

Describe the workout you get when rowing.
Judy: I get a great total body workout. Because the power comes from pushing with your legs and your arms follow along, all your major muscle groups get worked. The workouts can be as easy or hard as you want them to be. When doing power or speed sets, my heart rate gets up and I feel like my time on the water has been productive.
Leena: Total Body! Prior to this, martial arts for me had been the most complete workout. With rowing, however, you can get a superb cardio workout as well. What else I like is that you can tailor your workouts, putting more emphasis on upper vs. lower body, fat burn with a slow consistent row, or get an amazing cardio workout with some fast 500 meter sprints. Not many activities can offer that. It is an extremely efficient way to get in shape and stay healthy.
Raye: Rowing started as a great cardio workout. I dropped twenty pounds during my first year. It’s a great workout for your entire body and mind. I workout on land now to improve my rowing.
Helen: We alternate between a variety of workout modes that allow cardiovascular gains both aerobically and anaerobically (long, steady-state pieces as well as interval work). Rowing is rated 5 out of 5 as a top-notch aerobic workout and 4 out of 5 for muscular strength and endurance workouts. Since it is a full body workout, all muscle groups gain fitness.

What is your advice for others who have interest in rowing?
Judy: Just do it! The lake is waiting for you! Take some lessons to start with and then move forward from there. You will certainly be glad you did!
Leena: If you’ve ever thought just once about it, DO IT!
Raye: Keep after it! Open yourself to as many rowing experiences as possible. If someone invites you to row or to race, say “Yes!”
Helen: Give it a try! You will know quickly if the rowing bug is going to catch you. If it does, you will be proud to know you are participating in one of the most demanding sports with all kinds of fitness, fun and friendship benefits.

The Tempe Town Lake has been providing a quality rowing program since 2000, when the lake was opened to the public. Rio Salado Rowing Club serves Valley residents and countless guest rowers from all over the world. A variety of programs and instruction are available for beginners of any age through competitive masters. You can row solo or with a crew. Row competitively or simply enjoy being on the water.

RSRC welcomes new members of any level of experience, male or female, to enjoy the great water and weather while benefiting from a full-body, low-impact workout.