Monthly Archives: July 2012

Rowing WOD 7/17: CF Rowing Total – post score

Posted on by
Reply

Rowing WOD 7/17:

CF Rowing Total

Row 1′-1′-1′

Squat 1-1-1

Press 1-1-1

Deadlift 1-1-1

The CF Rowing Total is meant to test your power and strength in the 1 minute range on the erg.  It’s also an opportunity to test your functional strength.  

After doing a dynamic warmup, do a good 10 minute warmup on the erg where you build up to race pace above a stroke rating of 30 for a few bursts.  When you’re ready to go, set the monitor for intervals time with 1 minute on, 4 minutes off.  The goal is to do as much work as possible in a minute.  Be sure to paddle for a minute after each attempt to help your body deal with any lactic acid that may start to build up.  

The stroke rating is open, but keep good form.  Don’t compromise you’re body.  Maintain a strong posture at all times.  Anyone can pull hard for a few strokes, but those with functional rowing form can build throughout the minute test, stay safe, and produce the most power.  

In rowing there are three things you can vary to go faster.  Force, distance, and time.  The best rowers know how to combine all three… row harder, row longer, and row faster.  Basically, put more force into the handle, row as long as possible every stroke without compromising your body, and increase the stroke rating.  

After making three attempts on the erg, setup for and perform the three lifts.  Make sure to roll out your back, hips, and hamstrings as needed in between lifts.  

How much Strength and Power do you have?  Your score for the CF Rowing Total will be Max Average Watts + CF Total Score.  

Post your total as well as each individual result from the row, squat, press, and deadlift to comments.  Report the max average Watts for the best Row.

Rowing WOD 7/16: 5k Row – Post Time

Posted on by
Reply

Rowing WOD 7/16:

5k Row

How well does your body process and use oxygen to do work?  How long can you sustain work?  Today’s assessment will give you an idea of both your aerobic capacity and endurance.  Set your monitor for 5,000 meters and get after it.  Be sure to record your time, average 500m split, average stroke rating, and average watts.  This will give you an idea of your work capacity over about 20 minutes.

For those wondering why we’re doing such a long test and how to attack it, think of this as a Girl Wod like “Mary”.  The athlete who can efficiently and effectively move their body weight will be able to consistently do more work aerobically without having to dip into anaerobic energy stores.  Also, when tackling “Mary”, good competitors will go in with a game plan based on what they know they can maintain.  The first couple of rounds may be used to ease into the work without flying and dying.

Whether you’re a Vet or Novice, the goal should be to maintain a consistent 500m split and stroke rating throughout the whole piece.  If this is your first 5k aim to build your confidence by negative splitting.  Start the first 1k at a moderately hard pace that you can consistently hold.  Then every 1k after that try to pull a little bit faster, perhaps 1 split second every 1k.  What you should avoid is going out to hard, say 1:45 /500m, and then dying half way through to limp in at a split of 2:00 /500m.

Novices should try to maintain a stroke rating of 24 to 26.  Vets should work on executing a race plan, maintaining their splits, and rowing at a stroke rating of 26 to 28.

Let us know how you do!  Post your results to Comments.

Rest Day 7/15: What nutritional guidelines do you follow? Share!

Posted on by
3

Rest Day 7/15:

What nutritional guidelines do you follow?

Here’s a great post on the Paleo diet from Alex Black of Wicked Good Nutrition.

Have you heard…a very old diet, the Paleolithic diet, is regaining some popularity. It’s been covered by Shape Magazine, The New York Times, and ESPN Page 2, just to name a few. The first articles on this diet were published in the mid 1970’s in theNew England Journal of Medicineby Dr. Loren Cordain, a professor at Colorado State University and author of The Paleo Diet. It’s been widely popularized by the CrossFit community and bloggers around the world. This post will explain the Paleo diet, discuss some of the research, go over pros and cons, and end with a delicious Paleo rib recipe.
 
The Paleo diet –  also known as the “caveman diet” – is a way of eating inspired by the diet of our Paleolithic ancestors, the men and women who lived 2.5 million years ago, before the agricultural revolution began about 10,000 years ago and provided mankind with a steady supply of grains, corn, dairy, and domestic meat. The theory behind Paleo eating is that our bodies are genetically programmed to eat certain foods, and that many modern health problems like obesity result from the introduction of grains, dairy, and other processed foods, which wreak havoc on our metabolic systems. The diet, and it’s “allowed” and “restricted” foods, are based on anthropological research providing insight into what pre-agricultural humans ate.   … Read More …

Rowing WOD 7/14: 4RFT – 500m Row, 10 Deadlifts 225/155 – Post Time

Posted on by
Reply

Rowing WOD 7/14:

4 Rounds For Time

500m Row

10 Deadlifts 225/155

How do you game your WODs?  When attacking a 2k row a good way to game it is to think of 4 different races in your head.  Each one is a fresh start to hold your ideal split, stick to a stroke rating, refocus and fight.  Today’s Rowing WOD is all about that mentality.  Before going into it be sure to warmup your deadlift and do a few bursts on the erg at the split you aim to hold for each piece.  Think of each set of deadlifts as a power 10 to walk through your opponents.  Drive those heels down, make that boat feel light, and crush them!

Post your time to comments.

Rowing WOD 7/13: Max Pressure 2x1k w/ 5′ r, 2×500 w/ 3′ r, 2×250 w/ 1:30 r

Posted on by
Reply

Rowing WOD 7/13:

Max Pressure

2 x 1k w/ 5:00 Rest

2 x 500m w/ 3:00 Rest

2 x 250m w/ 1:30 Rest

Have you ever seen a WOD like 5-5-5-5-5 Front Squat and that’s it?  Did you think that would be a good day to take off because there’s not much to it and you’d rather go to a session with more stuff?  Well snap out of it and hit that WOD hard next time.  High Intensity and you’re ability to push your boundaries a little further everyday will get results.  If you never test your limits you’ll never know what you’ve got.

Todays Rowing WOD calls for Max Pressure and is a test of your ability to consistently perform at your highest intensity.  Set the monitor for Intervals Variable and input 1k, 5min rest, 1k, 5min rest, 500m, 3min rest, 500m, 3min rest, 250m, 1min30sec rest, 250m, 1min30sec rest.  Pick a 500m Split and a Stroke Rating you plan to hold for each distance.  The first time you perform that distance execute that pace (split and SR) as consistently as possible.  When you repeat the distance try to be more consistent and go a little bit faster.  

Remember, the goal is to row at max pressure for every piece.  Focus on your split and stroke rate and row at high intensity with good form.

Post your average 500m splits to comments.