This issue's Me And My Rower is by Terry Harkin. If you've got a story about, well, you and your Rower, send it to [email protected]. My rower and I have a love hate relationship, I think. He doesn't like me a great deal because I spend all my time in the garage under a dustsheet, of all things. When you consider what I have done for him! It's comfortable enough, I suppose but most of my compatriots live indoors. Some even live in gyms. Word is they suffer the most awful abuse. My rower keeps me clean and even protects my seat with a foam pad, that's so considerate and I appreciate little mercies.' We came together about two years ago and I was put straight into the garage. For Heaven's sake, it was January! I froze most days. Usually I was exercised once or twice a day, it all depended on his shift pattern for work. By summer he gave up sprinting and pampered me with some long restful sessions. I remember Saturdays best of all; an hour sub-2:00 split. Nice. He never thought he could manage it to begin with but he persevered. He would open up that big garage door and the light streamed in, next a quick rail polish, set the PM2 and radio to Classic FM finally we were off.Ha! He tried so hard. The heart rate monitor just kept creeping up and up but he remained steadfast and completed all the tasks despite cardiac drift and a little dehydration. It was lovely in that summer sunshine.I'll always give my rower credit where due. Pre-season and during the season, bless him, he tries SO hard. 30 or 32 spm and good split times. I enjoy that part of my exercise too, hard, fast but pretty limited and punctuated by rest periods. He knows he can't beat me, ever. As hard and fast as he can pull, it will never be enough. It's a fait accompli!' Perhaps I sound too harsh? Forgive me. Other people have sat on me and taken up the challenge.My rowers' friend once set me to 2,000 metres. I knew before he began the outcome of the exercise. He flied and died. 300 metres! For heaven's sake! Please!The father-in-law worried me and my rower. I was gentle and he appreciated the potential of an unfit man. He never returned.A few neighbours try occasionally.My rowers' wife will keep me warm through the New Year. She has been ill and is looking forward to our relationship. She wants to lose some weight and tone up again. I am the obvious candidate to achieve these goals. We'll be happy together. My rower trains well and we enjoy our relationship. The more he invests in me the bigger the benefits. I've witnessed his body fat content drop, his resting heart rate slow. He is slick and very fit. He keeps me warm and well exercised. Our relationship is maturing. I see more competitions in our future also more diversity. As he becomes more confident there will be more adventures into long rows. There are 5,000m competitions now! Perhaps a full marathon in time? So, that's my relationship with my rower�He will wear out though. I have been keeping my eye on his children and I think�