Rest Day 1/1/14: Happy New Year!

Representing at CRASH-B 2013! I can't wait to see our Renegades at CRASH-B 2014!

Representing at CRASH-B 2013! I can’t wait to see our Renegades at CRASH-B 2014!

I wish everyone the best and hope 2014 treats you well!  Take some of that into your own hands and commit to a certain number of Rowing WODs per week.  Mixing in just 2 or 3 with your regular training can step up your game to a whole new level.  Comment with your results and let other Renegade Rowers know how you’re doing!

Also, get excited for some additional programming.  This Holiday Season I’ve been working on the Renegade Rowing Training Plan.  I’ll be adding in additional training blocks to each day so that if you are on your own or you’re looking to step up your performance you’ll have what you need to get the job done.

Enjoy your day and have some fun with Family and Friends!

All the Best!

Coach Pat

Rowing WOD 12/31/13: “NYE Challenge” – 1k Row, 50 Burpees, 1k Row, 50 Burpees – Post Time

Rowing WOD 12/31/13:

Allan crushing it in Heat 2 of the RRL! He pulled a 6:45 and is primed for a solid winter of training!

Alan crushing it in Heat 2 of the RRL! He pulled a 6:45 and is primed for a solid winter of training!

New Year’s Eve Challenge

Complete for Time:

1k Row @20s/m

50 Burpees

1k Row @22s/m

50 Burpees

Happy New Year’s Eve Everyone!  I hope you all had a great year and are celebrating with some fun tonight!  Here is a little challenge I dreamed up if you’re game.  I’ll be doing 100 Burpees For Time to end my burpee challenge for the year and I figured this would be a solid challenge to work on rowing and still fit in 100 burpees.

Some rowers may ask why we would combine anything else with rowing when it’s a great workout in itself and gets results.  By learning to move our body in different planes and push our boundaries in other domains we can further improve our body awareness and control.  In all sports the ability to move through your hips and utilize a solid core will give you a step up against your competitors.  While rowing requires a certain amount of skill, those with skill and greater work capacity will win the race.  Burpees are a challenging movement that will help increase your work capacity and teach you to use your hips.  Rather than doing a perfect push up, lift your chest off the ground first and then pop your hips up to get off the floor.  Everyone should have the ability to quickly get off the floor and that is the idea of the burpee in today’s Rowing WOD.

Setup a clock and give it your best to finish 2013 Strong!

Post your time to comments!

Rowing WOD 12/30/13: “Double Pyramids” – 2x19min w/ 2min Rest – Post Distance

Rowing WOD 12/30/13:

Dave getting after it in Heat 3 of the Renegade Rowing League!

Dave getting after it in Heat 3 of the Renegade Rowing League!

Double Pyramids

2 x 19min

w/ 2min Rest

  1. 4′ @18, 3′ @20, 2′ @22, 1′ @24, 2′ @22, 3′ @20, 4′ @18
  2. 4′ @20, 3′ @22, 2′ @24, 1′ @26, 2′ @24, 3′ @22, 4′ @20

Today’s Rowing WOD is a great opportunity for any athlete, experienced or not, to get a sense of form and rhythm without the pressure of intensity and competition.  Sometimes it’s good to slow down for an active recovery day in order to go harder and faster later on down the road.

Rhythm and Endurance are two necessities for successful competition in longer WODs.  A great example would be the KB Swings and Pull Ups found in “Helen”.  Those who find a consistent rhythm can flow through the movements naturally and rely on their aerobic endurance without dipping into their anaerobic energy supply.

In today’s Rowing WOD the focus is developing rhythm and endurance.  Another word for rhythm in rowing is Ratio.  By varying the ratio of the drive to the recovery rowers can maintain the same pace or split, but work more efficiently and make the stroke feel lighter or heavier.

When going from an 18 stroke rating to a 20 you should focus on more pressure with the legs and quickly redirecting the hands through the finish.  This will help increase the stroke rating while leaving you the same amount of time to sit up, breathe, and relax as you slide forward on the recovery.

Post you’re distance rowed to comments as well as your thoughts on Ratio.

Rest Day 12/29/13: What were your goals in 2013?

Checkout the Juniors getting after it at the Renegade Rowing League!

Checkout the Juniors getting after it at the Renegade Rowing League!

What were some of your big goals for 2013?  Did you achieve them?

As 2013 comes to a close it’s a good time to look back on the year and reflect on what we’ve accomplished.  Did you have a goal for the year?  A New Year’s resolution perhaps?  How did that go?  It’s time to start thinking about what you’d like to accomplish next year.  Start by looking back at December.  Did you set an appropriate goal?  Was it positive, specific, and controllable?  Try to figure out what you did well to work toward that goal and what you need to improve.

One thing I have been working on and will continue to work on  is setting appropriate smaller goals that can help me on my way to a larger goal.

Share your successes and thoughts!

Rowing WOD 12/28/13: 4x1k w/ 2:30 Rest – Post Splits and Times

Rowing WOD 12/28/13:

Heat 2 of the Renegade Rowing League!

Heat 2 of the Renegade Rowing League!

4 x 1k w/ 2:30 rest

While it’s good to constantly vary your training to push your boundaries, there is something to be said about repetition to build your confidence!  Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to build your aerobic capacity and work on a couple of tactical and technique fixes.  Have a game plan for each piece including the split and stroke rating you want to hold.  Ideally each piece will be done a little bit faster.  If you’re working on efficiency or sequencing, focus on one fix each piece.  Perhaps you find your breath and rhythm on the first.  Or maybe it’s sequencing and body preparation that needs attention on the second.  If you choose the right pace it will build your confidence and you will be ready to tear up your next rowing WOD. Below are some goals and times to think about.

Post your splits as well as your fastest and slowest times!

Interval Time = 3:15; Goal 2k Time = 6:30

Interval Time = 3:30; Goal 2k Time = 7:00

Interval Time = 3:45; Goal 2k Time = 7:30

Interval Time = 4:00; Goal 2k Time = 8:00

Interval Time = 4:15; Goal 2k Time = 8:30

Interval Time = 4:30; Goal 2k Time = 9:00