Rowing and Running

regular rower who just started serious running too.
conceptc2.com is a superb resource.

Its most likely a concept2 as they are pretty standard the other possibility is a water rower, with the comfy seat and the swishy water (like the one in House of Cards). I have a couple of nice friendly ergers on my list. Its my main from of cardio and i have gone from couch potato to not a couch potato, so can give you some decent feedback on the experience. Its a shame there arent more rowers on these forums, its a fantastic bit of all body exercise, interesting, challenging and dull at the same time.

The average time on the rower in my gym is between 2.5 - 5 minutes. Just back from the gym now and going back to row some more later. Music and sunshine makes it so much nicer. Am trying to master zoning out then opening my eyes and seeing the clock having progressed a lot.

rgeres also an elite rower knocking around somewhere, as well as an mfper who rows and posts her times and distances on the exercise for today on a regular basis.

Most of the equipment is matrix at my gym. Concept is the dominant brand, but am sure the matrix is perfectly fine. There are 2 aspects either row for a fixed time, in which case the distance you get during that time will vary or row a fixed distance in which case your times become important. Either is fine.

Your first few weeks should be spent on technique till you are comfortable. Technique will help you row safely, lessen the chance of injury aches and pains. It will also let you row more efficiently thus you will go faster or further.

Dont compare yourself against others, its just about you finding your feet at the moment. Do record your times and please sick with it , as it can be good fun as well as helping your fitness and burning a reasonable amount of calories.

I record the following

Distance
Time
Pace (thats the time over 500m)
Calories
Watts

Please look at this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai64EEexI0I

Erging at the gym is to rowing what the treadmill is to running!

It's still a pretty good workout however. The video posted above is a pretty good reminder for technique--it should be smooth and purposeful and not at all spastic (though I see that at the gym all of the time). Checking in with a trainer (if your gym has good ones) wouldn't hurt.

I will use the rower for ~15 minutes when I do use it--I'll usually combine that with a 20 minute stairclimbing workout to make the trip to the gym worth my while. Our gym has televisions set up near the rowers--I try to zone out watching those to make the time go more quickly. Alternately, our rowers have a performance monitor--I'll watch that to make sure that my strokes are consistent in strength and duration and that I maintain a consistent pace.