Welcome to our “Meet the Rowers” profile series where we are spotlighting our Megunticook Rowing members! Our club is made up of a diverse group of rowing enthusiasts of all ages and walks of life. Find out why they row and what they do off the water.

Stats:

Why she started rowing:

I was in college in Cambridge Massachusetts and always saw the rowers on the Charles River. It looked so cool, and I was looking for something to get me through a stressful and sedentary senior year of college.

Why she rows now:

When I found rowing, I found my joy. I say, “I am a rower.” It became a fixed part of my identity, even when I wasn’t rowing. I love being on the water, working in harmony with a team, pushing myself, and the rhythm of the stroke. It’s wonderful to be part of a team with people of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds. And Megunticook Rowing has such a beautiful venue and is so approachable and supportive.

Goals:

To row in as many races as I can this year, and to keep rowing for as long as possible as I age.

Most unexpected thing she’s learned:

I’ve learned what I can accomplish if I don’t hold back. My limitations are more psychological than physical.

What she does off the water:

I’m a retired college teacher. Now I do workshops for professors and others who work in education, and blog about innovative approaches to teaching. One of my hobbies is sewing and so-called “visible mending,” where you patch and embellish damaged clothing to give it a new life.

Advice for potential rowers:

Try it! Getting started is not as hard as it looks, and we give you a lot of support. And if you like it, you can have a lifetime of learning how to row even better.

Closing thoughts:

Megunticook Lake is the most beautiful rowing venue I’ve ever experienced. And the feeling of pulling an oar through the water is beyond words. I am a happier and better person as a result of being a rower.