MFP's calories for rowing are Way Off

drachfit

For a person of my weight,

60 min running @ 9min/mi = 896 cal
60 min rowing @ "moderate effort" = 570 cal
60 min rowing @ "vigorous effort" = 692 cal
60 min rowing @ "very vigorous effort" = 978 cal

rowing has specific speeds as well, usually listed as "500m splits." We don't have to use vague and undefined terms such as "moderate" and "vigorous"; we can quantify this activity just as well as running. In fact, Concept II, the makers of rowing machines, actually publish a calculation of rowing calories burned! (it is published in their marathon plan (PDF warning).

what I will say is that running 9m/mi for 60minutes gives me a heartrate solidly in the "Aerobic" zone which I would define as "moderate effort." Rowing at a "moderate effort" to produce the same heart rate for the same time should burn very similar calories! But it does not!

I would define "very vigorous effort," the closest thing available in terms of calories, to be sprinting, which is obviously unsustainable for 60min at a time.

MFP should fix this.