Nick Gittings was the subject of Reader's Stories back in Indoor Rowing News #136 (http://www.therowingcompany.com/news/newsletter_archive.php?edition=136) where he told how he went from 27 stone to competing at the British IRC. Nick's now sent us a follow up to that story. If you've got an indoor rowing tale, make sure you send it into editor@therowingcompany.com. I thought that the British IRC was an exciting time! The World IRC in Boston last February was amazing. One particularly poignant moment out in Boston was when I met Eddie Fletcher for the first time. We agreed to meet out there to discuss how he could help me. It was straight after the team briefing and he asked, 'What's your race plan for tomorrow', to which I replied, 'To turn up and go as fast as I can'. When I saw the expression on Eddie's face and heard his reply of 'We need to talk' I knew I had a mammoth task ahead. That was further endorsed by Eddie's comment to me straight after the race. He informed me that 'we need to work on your technique.' I said, 'Why, what's wrong with it', to which he pointed out I hadn't got one! I can't remember too much about the race apart from that I was disappointed to only just about match my PB. The whole experience was staggering though. Anyone that has the opportunity to take part in these events should do so. It will leave them with a lifelong memory!Since Boston I have been tested by Eddie and he has put me on a training program to try and build on my current abilities. I purchased a Powerbreathe and a Suunto T6 to assist me in my training. I started following the plan and apart the occasional holiday and illness I kept up with it and I found myself on the machine three and four times a week. I am very excited about the progress I am making and I have improved my 2,000m time by over 12 seconds since Boston. I visited a couple of the smaller competitions at the end of the season. In April I was at the Southern IRC in Southampton and knocked six seconds of my PB as I achieved a 6:36 time. As it was a less well-attended competition I actually got a medal! In May I visited Kingston to attend the race there. I was a little anxious at this competition as we were all competing on the older Model C machines. However I got focussed, warmed up and then rowed for my life and was completely dead as I fell off the machine, but was ecstatic to have knocked another six seconds off my PB in a time of 6.29.9 This race was even more significant as it now meant that I had broken the 6.30 mark. I also got another medal! Recently I attended the Golden Mile event in Evesham and achieved a PB of 5:17 for the mile distance. It was not a staggeringly fast performance but I was very pleased with my technique and it was a good race practice.I am going out to Malta in October to compete in the Maltese Indoor Rowing championship while my British IRC application is already in and I am hoping to attend the Europeans in Amsterdam.Eddie has now placed me on a mainstream training plan and I am now working on ever increasing distances. Yesterday I completed my first 18,000m training row. I was staggered when I got off the machine. I cannot believe that two and half years ago, I would not have been able to row for 18 minutes let alone 18 kilometres! I actually now enjoy using the machine and I am now seeing my body shape change. I do no other physical training apart from the rowing machine. I am developing biceps and my belly is getting smaller. All this from the rowing machine! I think people should forget gym memberships, multi-gyms, fad plans and diets. Just get a rowing machine! You just cannot beat using it. It's loyal, it never lets you down, and you go as quickly or as slowly as you need. It doesn't judge you!My weight is about the same at about 20 stone although I believe without the machine I would not be able to maintain this weight.So although I still have a long way to go, I am planning to keep training, getting faster, fitter, leaner and I hope to be sub 6:20 for Boston next year.