Done it!Two and a half years after starting regular use of the Indoor Rower, I've achieved the Five Million Metres. It was a slow start beginning with 5 one-minute rows at around 75% of my Maximum Heart Rate, with two-minute rests between, but by June my trusty training partner Mike Longley and I finished the distance at Nottingham Boat Club under the glare of the Nottingham Evening Post cameras.I was strongly motivated to use the machine for two reasons: firstly, I'm part of the Concept 2 Education Team that delivers instructor courses to the Armed Services, schools, sports instructors, personal trainers and private users of Concept 2 machines, so I clearly needed to have some experience in the regular use of the machine; secondly, I needed to maintain my personal fitness and flexibility in order to combat the effect of multiple sclerosis. Since the machine is weight bearing, I can do very effective CV work without the problems of balance or spasming experienced in other forms of exercise.The first million metres took a year, while the next four took eighteen months. I use the programme set out on page 51 of the Indoor Rowing Training Guide. As pieces over 30 minutes tend to cause leg spasms, I cut longer sessions down into smaller chunks, so instead of a 60 minute UT2, I row 3 x 20 minute pieces with 10 minute rests between. Current personal bests are 7:52.5 for the 2000 metres, 22:20.0 for the 5000 metres, and 47:30.0 for the 10,000 metres. The maximum one day distance over the period was 25,000 metres, done in pieces. I average around 40,000 metres per week. I do have holidays – I've generally had two 2-week breaks a year since retirement, but would choose if possible to stay at places where I could continue to train.I'm often asked how I manage the time spent on the machine. I either listen to music – Queen, Blondie, film soundtracks such as Last of the Mohicans or The Full Monty, or watch videos. I've got through Robocop, Full Metal Jacket, All Quiet on the Western Front and Gunfight at the OK Corral! Long on action and light on plot.I had the good fortune to win the bronze medal for the 60+ Lwt at the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston in 1999 and again this year – the last year of one century and the first of the next. I'm currently trying to improve my basic strength on the Concept 2 DYNO, the new strength-training machine. As it is designed with rowers in mind, I'm very optimistic about the outcome.I'm pleased to say my walking and balance have improved. My aerobic fitness is considerably better, with a heart rate down from 74 to 48 over the two and a half years. The greatest gain? I feel good, look well and have a very positive view on the future.