Just how far is 630,325 meters?  It’s 391.67 miles, about the same distance as it is from Akron to Raleigh, North Carolina (396 miles) or Akron to New York City, NY (398 miles). 

That is how far Barak Kraus, a local rower with Portage Lakes Rowing Association,  rowed in the month of January in the Concept 2 January Online Virtual Challenge.
In the rowing club division there were over 500 rowers from 47 different clubs who competed. Overall, there were over 3,800 rowers from around the world and Barak placed 49th overall. 

Next you might ask how can you row in the snow? The type of rowing that was done was done on indoor ergometers or “Ergs” for short.  These devices simulate the natural rowing stroke with resistance & are used by rowing athletes as a training tool when getting in a boat is not possible.  “The thing that motivated me was the competition and rowing with my teammates,” said Barak Kraus. “Collectively we rowed 1,833,508 meters (1,1139 miles) as a 10 person team and came in 47th out of 227 teams overall.Our meters per person average was much higher than most established clubs so we were really pushing it. I think we really made a name for ourselves to the indoor rowing community.”

Kraus and the members plan to continue their erg training programs throughout the winter until the spring rowing season starts in April.  With the spring rowing season coming up, anyone wanting more information about the Portage Lakes Rowing Association (and their learn to row programs) can visit their Web site at  www.portagelakesrowing.com or can call Kraus at 330.807.4010.  Anyone wanting information on the Concept 2 online virtual challenges can go to www.concept2.com.