Rowing? What's rowing? Isn't that where you sit in a boat and paddle around for practice? That doesn't seem too hard! Why are you complaining? It looks so easy!

Welcome to the sport of rowing, where stupid questions like these are a reality and education about the sport itself is limited. If you are a rower or have rowed at some point in your life, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about and maybe even heard some of these same (possibly even worse) questions and rumors. And for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about or maybe had one of these same questions... you should probably keep reading

Isn't rowing like canoeing?

What about kayaking?

Although this sometimes looks like my practices I guarantee you that kayaking is one of the farthest things from rowing...

Why are your arms so small?

What does the small person do?

Just think of yourself walking in a straight line forever... blind. The small person, (coxswain), is the one turning me left or right and motivating me while attempting not to run me into a tree... Except they do it all in a boat.

The rowing machine is my favorite exercise at the gym!

If you look like this on the erg at the gym... trust me when I say I'm judging you

So wait, you have crabs?

You have got to be kidding me... No really... Please tell me you're joking.

How bad can a 2k really be?

Why don't you try it out for yourself (obviously you have to do it right) and then you can tell me what you think

Why don't you wear gloves?

If there was a way I could prevent my hands from turning raw, getting frostbitten, and of course free of blisters I would. But wearing gloves just don't work in this sport.

Isn't the wind good for rowing?

Sure, sometimes it helps, but 99.9% of the time it just makes life difficult

Why do you practice so early?

I would rather take a calm, clear, cool morning over a windy, humid, crowded row any day.

Why are you all so tall?

I think a better question is why are you so short?

Why are you always so tired?

You try getting up at 6 am every day, going to practice for over 2 hours, then immediately going to class for a solid 4-6 hours, then go to another practice and be expected to have responsibilities like laundry, cooking, cleaning, and doing homework... It's a long day.

How can you eat that much food?

I mean who else can put away a pound of pasta like its nobody's business?

How do you not fall in?

Simple: hold onto your oar, keep your weight centered, and don't do anything stupid

How do you not spin in circles?

This concept may be difficult for some people to comprehend but if you have the same amount of people rowing on each side... the boat will go straight!

Rowing is easy, right?

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

Why do you row then?

Because as much as it hurts me and drives me insane I can't imagine my life without it.