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The Gather

The Gather

By: Alicia Cushman Kim O'Connell Ed Hasecke and Jessica Lenard
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About this listen

 In rowing, the term gather refers to a technique where the rowers pause slightly at the finish of the stroke. This micropause, as the boat is at its fastest point, allows for a brief, almost imperceptible moment where rowers sync up their strokes, gathering their bodies perfectly together as the boat moves underneath them and they prepare to move forward as one towards their next catch. Merriam-Webster defines “gather” as “to bring together.” For us, The Gather takes both concepts and combines them into one: a place where we gather as friends that, through rowing, have become family, where we can talk about the passion that brought us all together. Rowing has a way of doing that–gathering people into its fold from all walks of life. Kids putting their hands on an oar for the first time, octogenarians looking for a way to stay gently active, competitors who push through weather, pain and defeat for that one chance at perfection, rowers who just love that feel of the boat gliding across the water and the sound of the oars clicking as one, the parents and spectators who fall in love with the sport from the banks of the river watching the beauty and grace of the rowers flying over the water while the birds race them from above, coaches who see the things the rest of us don’t and inspire new generations of rowers to see beyond what was and to become something better…. and so much more. Rowing has a way of gathering people into its fold and holding us there - no matter where we are in life. This is a podcast for all of you! For those who hold a love for the sport like we do; for those who are searching for it, and for all of you in between! Welcome to The Gather - an independent podcast about rowing and life. Episodes will be shared bi-weekly.© 2025 Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Episode 10: The Stroke Rate

    Episode 10: The Stroke Rate
    Feb 23 2026

    Ever listened to a rower throw around “thirty rate twenty” or “rating up!” and thought… are we counting or casting spells? In Episode 10 of The Gather, we break down why 20 strokes per minute can be just as powerful as 30 — and why low rate never means low effort — on the erg, on the water, and in life. Because your cadence is strategy, your power is choice, and knowing when to grind or go is the real race.
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    29 mins
  • Episode 9: The Split

    Episode 9: The Split
    Feb 9 2026

    Ever heard a rower talking about their split and wondered what it actually means? It’s just a number on the screen… and somehow the loudest voice in the boat. Part stopwatch, part truth serum, it reveals what you can really hold when the piece gets long—and we’re unpacking all of it in this episode. ‍♀️✨
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    28 mins
  • Episode 8: ERGs and Winter Conditioning

    Episode 8: ERGs and Winter Conditioning
    Jan 26 2026

    Ever wonder what rowers do when the water freezes? Do they just hibernate? Spoiler: Nope. We erg. A lot. Hear about it in this episode as we dive into ERGing and winter conditioning.
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    30 mins
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