Post Your Row!

CrankyGoatWECHANGED

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but by the attitude we bring to life."

"The oars gave me power, but also taught me humility."

"Winning medals is good, racing is better, loving the sport is best!"

This forum topic is meant to be supportive and motivating - not aggressive or competitive ... please feel free to post your rowing workouts and share your thoughts on whether it was good or bad workout and why.

Let's help encourage each other to keep rowing...

DavidMW1

I'm using a Water rower, and try to complete a "piece" most days, varying from 20 mins to 45 mins. At the moment, I start off rating at about 22spm, for the first 10 mins or so, and slowly pick this up to 24, 26, and finish off with a two or three minute push at 28. Depending on how good I feel, sometimes I can raise this to 30. My self imposed splits I set at minimum of 1.5K per 10 minutes, so in 45 mins I expect to complete 6.75K minimum. 20 mins, I can usually increase this to at least 3.2K.
Next goal is to get up to 9K for an hour, then move onto intervals, to increase my pace.
I've found a Concept II at a local gym, so when it's quiet, I'll try a test to see how distances compare.

Today; 45Mins 6.75K , average 2.5M per second.

DavidMW1

I've been a little busy workwise recently, so haven't managed to get onto the Concept II yet. I have however, just ordered an upgrade from my SIII monitor on the Water Rower, to an S4. This wil have calorie counter and 500M splits as per the Concept monitor, and I'm hoping it will be a big improvement. I do things by time, rather than distance, and am currently on 20, 30, or 40 minute sessions. I might try the distance thing, once I have the new monitor.

DavidMW1

Took delivery of a new S4 monitor for my Water Rower today. What a difference! Easily comparable to the Concept II.
As I expected, (hoped), my 500M splits are around the 2.04 mark, and in 20 mins I was able to cover a little over 4800 metres, which is pretty close to my last set of figures for the Concept II.
Exceptionally happy with that.

DavidMW1

5000M 20.41.

DavidMW1

3 x 20 mins today. Last one, hit 4986mtrs. That's frustrating, as I wasn't particularly aiming for it at the start, but came close to a 5K in 20 mins. Last couple of minutes upped the pace and hit splits of 1.52. Didn't think I could do that!

DavidMW1

Tried again today. After 10 min warm up, did 20 min piece, and hit 5037Mts. Warm up made all the difference, especially as I drank one glass too many of wine yesterday evening!

264 cals off in 20 mins. That's a lot of grease!

DavidMW1

No need for apologies CG. I don't consider your time slow at all. When I started out, at the beginning of May, I could barely complete three minutes without getting pains in the hip joint muscles, and had to keep my feet on the floor some days!

Most days, I keep a fairly steady pace, and hit around the 4900 mark for 20 mins, so I suspect you are pretty much at the same level. Takes me 10 mins to warm up, concentration on technique, and a feel good factor, to hit the 5k in 20, and that doesn't happen every time, but it is getting closer.

DavidMW1

Nice little technique video here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IXAIsc2p52c

From Water Rower.
Just discovered that they also have a piece of software called WeRow, which is free to download, and can be used with their monitors to race against others on the web, or against a computer generated opponent. I think you can set your previous row too, so sounds similar to the Concept II software.

DavidMW1

5 months in, and I've gone from zero to hurrah! Just broke my personal best for 30mins, and hit an average split of 1.59.

7547 metres. Very chuffed with that.

DavidMW1

20 mins, 5115 metres, Avg split 1.57 Best yet.

cfrandall

Just joined the group. I'm using rowing (Concept2 at my gym) for my non-running cross-training days. I'm not very fast (seeing some of your times in this thread is intimidating!), but enjoy the motion and the all-over workout. My typical rowing workout is a 5k or 6k session, and I've recently added in a 10k workout once in a while.

DavidMW1

Please don't be intimidated by the times posted here, the important thing is that you are enjoying the exercise, and 5, 6, and 10k workouts are perfectly fine, at your own pace. Get the technique right, and you'll be surprised at how quickly you'll develop, and be able to tick along quite happily at an improved pace. Good luck, and let us all know how you're getting along.

EvieCat78

My first rowing post: 2.5 laps of the lake (about 10km) in about 75 min. Single scull. Weather: sunny and cool, slight cross-wind

Elle408

So, my rowing club ask us to row on the erg machines once a week and then post our scores, last week was two 15 minute sets, we weren't watching any numbers at that point, but I took a picture of my numbers anyway, and then this week we were asked to look at numbers and stay within 18-23 s/m and do two 20 min sets.

Last week 2x15min sets:
1st - 2:34/500m with a total of 2628m (25s/m)
2nd - 2877m, 21s/m and didn't get my split as i was on the wrong screen, I did burn 150cals though! lol

This week 2x20min sets:
1st - 2:36/500m - 3865m 26s/m
2nd - 2:35/500m - 3883m 24s/m

Have a ways to go! lol

DavidMW1

Had a bit of a fail yesterday through tiredness, so cut my session short.
Ate a bowl of beef stew and potatoes last night, to try and put some energy back in.
What a difference today! Did an effortless 30mins, rating a steady 26, heart rate a constant 124, and easily hit my 7.4K+ target.
Just goes to show, you can't run on empty all the time.

DavidMW1

Hey Elle, at this stage, that looks pretty fine, and quite a bit above average. A few more sessions, and you'll break 2.30 splits for 20 mins easy!

DavidMW1

That sounds nice EvieCat. Haven't managed to get into a boat for a while, and being out on a lake makes me a tinge green.

Elle408

Hey Elle, at this stage, that looks pretty fine, and quite a bit above average. A few more sessions, and you'll break 2.30 splits for 20 mins easy!

I hope so! I peeked at the senior crews scores and they're averaging 2:05 - but they've had a years more practice than me! We're out on the water tomorrow and then have more erg session on Sunday, just 2x500m though so I'm going to really push it and see if I can get under the 2:30's!

I couldn't imagine an effortless 7.4k+ Barely 4k does me in! lol

DavidMW1

2.05 splits is why they are the seniors!

For your 2 x 500m, just remember to do some feet out, and fixed seat rowing, as part of your warm up, that will help get you into the right posture. It's all about maintaining the technique whilst the body's under stress.

I think you might surprise yourself.

Good luck.

Elle408

I was really worried before doing the 500's because I wanted to get it right and really knock down my splits. It did go ok, I went to a different gym where I was rowing in front of a mirror so I could really focus on my technique which I think helped!

The two 500's were 1. 2:17 with a rate of 26 and 2. 2:14 with a rate of 27.

I then decided to try a 5K and just see how I get on, no pressure to get great splits etc. Just wanted to finish and maintain my technique as my arms get sloppy when I get tired.

Avg split was 2:33, with a rate of 24 and overall time was 25:33 - there was definitely less strain on my back, but I don't feel like I was getting the power out of my legs that I should have been. I'm always bow side on the water which you can see when I'm on the erg with the way that I lean, which I thought was quite interesting! I think I'm going to do my own 5K once a week just to see how I improve on that without the pressure of having to record scores anywhere!

m1311

Hi all! I'm just beginning my first indoor season of rowing. I got a used Concept 2 B machine, and my husband and I did the necessary maintenance on it. It doesn't have a meter on it, and I'm happy about that because I tend to get obsessed by the little numbers on machines. Our rowing club has ergs with meters, so I will check my time/distance occasionally. Right now, having found that a relaxed pace at the erg room gave me a 2:25/2:30 split over eight K, I am just counting that every ten minutes is 10K. Twenty-five minutes in the morning before school is a reasonable goal for me.

It's nice to have found you. I'm signed up for the Concept 2 logbook, so I might not be here too often (looks as though you aren't all super regular; that's kind of nice!) but I want to keep motivated: my team is going to Torino for the World Masters, and I want to be in the best shape that is reasonable for me as a 54-year-old rower with an active teaching job (10-12-hour days).

I know that the team will be taking erg times at different points this winter. I will try not to obsess about it, but I do want to get into the best boat possible. For now, my plan is to start at 35K weeks, aiming for one 10K row a week and doing challenges when they come up on the Concept 2 site.

I am just about back on maintenance after having put on some extra pounds lately, and will keep reading the ideas about nutrition for rowers. Last summer when I was rowing a couple times some days, I had a hard time eating enough. Now I have had to adjust for a more sedentary lifestyle.

It looks as though there are some really experienced people here. I'm looking forward to asking some questions when I know what they are!

m1311

Today I rowed for forty minutes, with a five-minute break in the middle to get the TV working! I have had some good talks lately with rower and runner types. I've decided that I am going to do exactly what I'd planned earlier: 5K rows (approximately) in the mornings, and 10K rows on the weekends. I'll pick one weekday morning, probably Monday, to give my body a rest. The runner I spoke with today reminded me that I'm getting older, and that I need to think about alternating hard and easy days. The rower (former coach) said that in the winter, it's all about building capacity. The runner said that if I take all of November to try for consistency without going overboard, I should be able to tell whether my plan is working.

I'm hopeful that I can lay out a plan and stick to it. The main problem I have is that while I absolutely love being out on the lake in an eight, a single, or anything in between, erg work gets boring for me and I start counting strokes. I need some movies that are so good I forget what I'm doing!

m1311

I had strep throat the last three weeks. Once I was diagnosed and on antibiotics, I decided that I'd probably better not be rowing. Or biking. Now I'm through the antibiotics, I am cautiously starting up again!

Yesterday during the election results, I put in 5,000 meters. Hurrah! The machine felt really easy. Maybe it's because I was sick the last times I was rowing, or maybe because I got a new rowing handle. It's one of the new plastic ones, replacing my old foam-covered wood one that gave me blisters.

m1311

Today: 6K.

m1311

6K this morning; going for 10 tomorrow at our erg to check whether I'm really being accurate with my unmonitored home rows.

Icon699

Hi Everyone! You can see my info and stats on my profile. I've been rowing for almost two months on my Concept 2 and I love it. Been steadily climbing up the rankings on my C2log even though I started in last place LOL. This morning I rowed the 30min workout and finished with 6253 meters! That's my high. For my size I think I'm doing good and the Concept is a great piece of equipment to lose weight on! Love it and glad to be a member here.

m1311

Icon 699, Congratulations! That's awesome.

I love this machine too, even though I have a B and it takes some special care. It gives me a workout!

Do you know about the Concept2 logbook? I'm having fun posting my rows there.

Icon699

Yes I post on the logbook at least once per week when I get around to hooking up my laptop to it. I try to challenge my record once per week.

skillingsrobertj

Hello All,

I've been poking around on MFP for a month or so and just ran into this thread about rowing.

Great to see others enjoying rowing and using it to lose weight / stay healthy !

My experience with rowing was limited to a few workouts with the Crew team as a freshman in college (Univ of San Diego) many, many years ago. I dropped when I discovered they met at the bay at 5AM for workouts (I lived 40 minutes away and love my sleep!).

I picked up a used C2 model B rower 2 months ago and finally found an exercise I can do without feeling like I've been beaten with a stick after a workout. I started out slowly at just 5 minutes each workout to develop good rowing habits with a goal of getting to 2x20 minutes 5x each week. Still working on maintaining good technique throughout my workout and getting in that seat each morning, but it helps to have something to reach for.

Anyone on the forum from the West Coast ?

jeffreyjording

Hello. Just bought a Concept 2 model D and rowpro software. I took up cycling in march. Have logged 2600 miles so far. Rowing looked like an awesome total body exercise for winter. I have rowed twice so far.. 2000m in 10:30 and 5776m in 30 min. I can see I have some work to do. Shooting for a sub 8min 2000m and 7500m in 30 min.