Launch into the World of Rowing

Venture Outdoors is partnering with Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA) to offer an Age 50+ Learn-To-Row class this fall. The 8-week course takes place at the boathouse on Herr’s Island at Washington’s Landing. We will be utilizing a barge as opposed to a traditional racing boat (aka shell). The barge is extra wide (which means it is very stable!) and allows for rowers to row on the same side as those in front and behind them, which is an easier way to learn stroke mechanics. We will be right there with you, along with two expert coaches from TRRA who will teach rowing mechanics, safety, vocabulary and more.  

So. There’s this wild movie from the 90’s called “The River Wild” about a family’s vacation down the Snake River being hijacked by criminals. Meryl Streep plays the strong, athletic Mom. Kevin Bacon is the bad guy. David Strathairn, John C. Riley and Joseph Manello are sprinkled in there, too. ANYWAY – Meryl is a bit haggard and broken as a parent (totally unrelatable) and her happy place is cruising down Boston’s Charles River at sunrise in a single rowing boat. The movie opens with this gorgeous, peaceful scene: the sunrise reflects the water ripples from her oar’s blade. All you can hear is her steady rowing and breathing, like a metronome. A train whistle blows in the distance and Meryl picks up her pace. You realize she is racing the train! She pulls with all her might and crosses the finish line/rail bridge just ahead of the train. It’s exhilarating.

I saw this movie when I was 9 years old, and this scene stuck with me. When the opportunity to learn to row presented itself, 30 years later, I pounced. The stars had aligned: My husband would be in town all summer so I wouldn’t have to hire a babysitter. I had discovered Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA) classes were affordable. Bonus: it was only a 10-min drive from our apartment.

I inquired about sculling lessons (the style of rowing Meryl does in the movie) and was told that it is very difficult. I assured them that I’d been a longtime kayaker and had a lot of water experience. They stifled a laugh and assured me the two were not comparable and encouraged me to sign up for the newly reinstated adult learn-to-row class. I’m so grateful that they did! 

The folks that I met in my class were as diverse as the chemicals found in the Allegheny River. An actor whose day job was in HR, a graphic designer who was a victim of the recent tech layoffs, a sales rep, a special needs parent, a retired federal agent and a (very tired) doctor finishing her pediatric residency. Everyone expressed a desire to build new relationships and learn a new skill. It wasn’t until we all got into a boat that I realized: these are my people. 

Rowing is hard. Like. HARD. Not necessarily because it’s a power sport performed in an endurance capacity, but because the subtleties of the technique are numerous. But, when everyone swings their body in just the right way, their blades hit the water simultaneously, causing a backsplash that arcs up above the water and the bow lifts slightly as the boat cuts powerfully through the water. The speed is exhilarating! The feeling of synchronicity with your teammates thrills — such that you don’t know if it’s the effort or the joy that’s making your heart beat so quickly.  

Molly blows a kiss the photographer before going on the water. Photo by April Uzarski

My wonderful experience in learning a new skill at (almost) forty is why I approached TRRA to create an age 50+ learn to row class with us here at Venture Outdoors. As a parent, it can be hard to prioritize yourself and carve out time in the family calendar that is just for you. As an adult, it can be tempting to rely on what is familiar because it is predictable.  The age range on my Masters team spans almost fifty years. There are people who have thirty years of rowing under their belt and didn’t start until middle age! There are also many parents on the team. While it was initially hard for me to leave my cell phone in my locker and be unreachable to my husband and children for two hours, it’s now a source of relief. I row six hours per week. It is my time. It is meditative and soothing to fall into a steady rhythm, pressing through your legs and pulling your blade through the water. I am a better parent for it. I am a better partner for it. I am better for it. 

I took the helm of the 50+ programming at Venture Outdoors in February of this year. I have had conversations both on formal panels and over casual coffee with many folks over the age of fifty. It’s an intense time in life. Many people are sending their children off to college and are suddenly confronted with something called “free time.” Some are newly retired. Some have lost a spouse and are creating a new identity, living alone and planning only for themselves for the first time in their life. An opportunity like this to make friends, learn a new skill and be welcomed into a robust community can be hugely beneficial. Not to mention the physiological, cognitive and emotional benefits of outdoor experience. 

If you would like to join us, please click here for registration information!