When I "graduated" to removing the floats, I thought they'd just gather dust. I was a beginner no more! Well, it's winter down here in Florida and that means the water is cooler (65deg) but more importantly my normally perfectly smooth conditions have been replaced by breezy and somewhat choppy areas in places. 

I've been trying to improve my stroke to get hands away and keep my knees together. It's slowly getting better as I get a bit fitter and the inches away around my waist reduce. Anyway, one result of this is a longer stroke but a feeling of insecurity just before the catch when its choppy. Together with the wind getting under the blades on the recovery (especially in a side wind) this made me think I'd try the stabilisers again for a while. I was amazed (the Speedcoach doesn't lie) to find my pace improving with a lower heart and stroke rate. I've been out three times now with the floats on and have recorded my best times ever around my 4.3 mile course. Interesting huh?

Just a little update - to all those ancient (I'm 60) and unfit peeps taking up rowing late in life - don't overdo it! I was so enthusiastic I was going out every morning and rowing to my HR limits for 45 mins. In November I could hardly row at all - my legs had this really weird feeling. The back  of my right thigh could hardly rest on the seat of my car without pain.

I stopped rowing completely (quite worried) for over a month and have just finished about 6 wks of every other day, gentle rowing. Starting to get back to where I was when I started... doh.