It's half seven in the morning and my lower back is not happy about it. But that's fine — because rowing through it gave me probably my favourite description yet of what a proper warm-up feels like. Think thin ice on a puddle on a cold day. You'll know what I mean when I get there.

I cover setup and technique early on — posture, drag factor, the idea of "row flow" and why I want your movement to feel like water rather than a series of speed bumps. Then we pick up the backstory from where I left it. It's early 2015, I've just come fourth in Boston, I'm throwing everything at training, and a coach called Sam Blythe does something really smart that pulls me away from the comfortable world of Free Spirits and into something a lot more competitive. It feels like a small moment. It isn't.

The back half goes a bit off-road — posture at Wagamama, a squash lesson I was too self-conscious as a teenager to properly take on board, and something I feel pretty strongly about when it comes to people who worry about being judged at the gym. I think you'll agree with me on that one.

Please consult your doctor or healthcare professional before beginning any new exercise programme, particularly if you have any existing health conditions or injuries.

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