Steady State Podcast Steady State Network

When Bonnie Garmus learned to row, she was intrigued “by the skinny boat, the long oars, and how ‘easy’ and graceful it looked.” She was a competitive masters rower for years before an offhand comment during a business meeting prompted her to begin writing her first novel, ”Lessons in Chemistry,” which has been adapted into a hit Apple TV+ series.

Everyone wants to talk with Bonnie about the book’s main character, Elizabeth Zott, but we turn the tables to ask Bonnie about the role rowing plays in her life – and her book – which has been on the New York Times bestseller list for nearly 100 weeks.

Peter Kermond has been the face and voice of Burnham Boat Slings since purchasing the business in 1999. When he’s not in the shop, or out rowing, he is probably manning a Burnham booth at a regatta. That’s where we met him - at Head of the Charles - in 2022, just a month after he survived a widowmaker heart attack. Peter and his wife Carin Reynolds are both successful national team and masters rowers. They are a testament to teamwork, as they navigated Peter’s health emergency and rehabilitation, and his return to racing.

Established in 1892, ZLAC’s unique structure allows for both competitive and social memberships. You don’t have to row. New members are added to generational Crews to bolster cross-program and boathouse interaction and provide personal connections to members in a similar age range for support. As far as we know, ZLAC is unique in this offering. Be prepared to take notes and consider what more your club could do to help build and sustain community.

A member of the first U.S. women’s Olympic team and a longtime masters rower, Sue Hooten has a lifetime of rowing memories. She learned to row in California in the early 1970s, really appreciated the boathouse sock box in Philadelphia, and has raced around the world. In March 2018, her husband, former National Team and Vesper Boat Club coach John Hooten, had a medical emergency on the water while training in his 1x. He was out with his training partner, without a coach, and – like most rowers – was not wearing a PFD.

We’re launching a multi-part series on heart attacks, emergency preparedness, and response with Willamette Rowing Club couple David Setter and Sarah Copeland. Together, they recount the day in 2018 that David had a heart attack, explain why he survived, and delve into recovery and returning to the boat. We also come to terms with erg splits going up as we get older and talk about learning to enjoy rowing for the sake of rowing. We also tap Tom Rooks, USRowing’s Director of Safeguarding, for top tips that coaches, rowers, and teammates can use when there’s an emergency on the water, or around the boathouse.

Elizabeth Gilmore has had in insanely meteoric trajectory from indoor rowing newbie to indoor rowing champion and world record holder, to Head of the Charles course record breaker.

It all started with getting on the erg to rehab a running injury. Then came the Concept2 Logbook and challenges. Then virtual racing (and winning), before stepping onto the gym floor at Erg Sprints for her first in-person event where she took home two gold medals.

She was scouted by Capital Rowing Club where she learned to row sweep on the fly with the competitive women’s program, and today is to training for a row across the Atlantic.

And all of this in the span of just about two years.