Monthly Archives: October 2014

Rowing WOD 10/27/14: 5k Test – Post Results

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Rowing WOD:

Home stretch at HOCR!

5k Test

It’s been about a month since our last 5k, how has your aerobic capacity and endurance improved?  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.

The Head of the Fish was last weekend and the Head of the Charles was the weekend before.  They were both awesome.  Beautiful weather, tons of boats, and lots of hard work paying off.  For many crews the Charles and the Fish are the end of the road in the fall or at least the last big regattas.  Before we head indoors for the winter it’ll be good to know where we stand.  That’s what this week is for.  Also, if you’ve never done a 5k this will give you a sense for what the Head of the Charles is like.  Just imagine an ever-changing stadium around you with killer bridges and collisions galore as you row.

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 10/26/14: Good Luck at Head of the Fish!

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HOCR 2014 DrewRest Day:

Good luck to all of the competitors at the Head of the Fish Regatta in Saratoga, NY this weekend!  The Boston College Men’s Crew Team has been working hard all season.  Have fun and race hard everyone!

Rowing WOD 10/25/14: 5x1k w/ 3:00 Rest – Post Splits and SR

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Rowing WOD:

It's been a great fall on the lake in Wayland, MA! Good Luck to all crews competing at the Head of the Fish this weekend!

5 x 1k w/ 3:00 rest

  • Execute 5k-1 Pace
  • Row like it’s the middle of your 5k

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 consistently or 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 5k and Rowing WOD.  Next week we test everything!  Get focused and pumped by crushing it today.  We did this Rowing WOD in September.  Look back and see if you can go faster!

Post your average splits and stroke ratings for each piece to comments!

Rowing WOD 10/24/14: “Farm Erg” – 4RFT – 1k Row, 100m Farmer Carry – Post Time and Splits

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Rowing WOD:

How will you carry the erg?

“Farm Erg”

4 Rounds For Time

1k Row

100m Farmer’s Carry (w/ Erg if Possible; otherwise {2/1.5 pd} each hand)

The Farmer’s Carry can be used to train core stability, grip strength, balance, and coordination.  Usually it’s done lifting odd objects like yokes, water filled pvc’s, sand filled kegs, or any other heavy objects lying around the gym.  Today we’re carrying the Erg.  Ensure you keep a solid core and let us know what you think is the most efficient way to carry an erg 100 meters!

It’s starting to get cold, but if you can get outside and you have an area to walk 100m with the erg then do it!  Otherwise you can sub a farmer’s carry with kettle bells in each hand.

The goal for each 1k Row should be to hold your average split for 2,000 meters plus 1 or 2 split seconds.  In other words, row each piece at a pace of 2k+1 or 2k+2.  Be consistent and work on improving one aspect of your form during each round.

Use this as an opportunity to test out the Undefined Rest feature on your Performance Monitor.  Select Intervals Distance, set the distance for 1,000m and then set the rest to “Undefined Rest”.  This will give you a running clock for the whole workout and allow you to sit down and row 1k each round without having to mess with the monitor.  If your monitor doesn’t have this feature you’ll have to use a stop watch.  Check here to find out how to update this feature on your monitor.

Post your time and splits.  Let us know how you carried the erg!

Rest Day 10/23/14: How do you get motivated? Share!

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Rest Day:

Racing the Single at HOCR!

How do you get motivated?

The Head of the Charles took place last weekend in Boston.  A lot of rowers used the Head to get motivated by setting goals to place in the top 20, top 10, or top 3.  If you got a chance to check it out please share your thoughts and pictures.  Did witnessing one of the most awesome rowing events in the world get you motivated to commit toward your own goals or an upcoming event?

I’m looking forward to getting the Renegade Rowing Club up and running for the winter and training for CRASH-B’s.  More details on the Renegade Rowing Club and the Renegade Rowing League will be out next Thursday, so keep a look out!

Approaching Western Ave. Bridge at HOCR!

Below is an excerpt from a great blog on motivation by Alex Black of Wicked Good Nutrition.  Check it out and tell us how you’re getting motivated this Winter!

The Land of Motivation

Motivation can be tough. It can be hard to find your way to Motivation-land, and once you get there, it can be even harder to stay. It takes at least a month to turn a behavior into a habit, and that month will typically be rife with challenges. Because, you know, the minute you decide to give up sugar or beer the next three social outings your friends plan are a baking pot luck and outing to your favorite craft beer bar…

On top of that, some research suggests it can take up to 3 years to reset your body’s homeostasis (sense of balance) at a new weight. What this means is, if you lose 20 pounds, it can take 3 years before you body recognizes this as its new and healthy weight.

But all that aside, there are a few tricks you can use to help you get motivated and stay motivated. These include:

…Read More!