Rowing WOD 4/24/14: 3RFT – 500m Row, (21-15-9) Push Ups, (21-15-9) Power Cleans – Post Time and Game Plan

Rowing WOD;

Working the skill of Suspension with athletes from MSCF!

Working the skill of Suspension with athletes from MSCF!

Complete For Time…

500m Row

21 Push Ups

21 Power Cleans (95/65 lbs.)

500m Row

15 Push Ups

15 Power Cleans (95/65 lbs.)

500m Row

9 Push Ups

9 Power Cleans (95/65 lbs.)

Today’s Rowing WOD is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of ratio and suspension.  Come up with a game plan that you can focus on and execute when the pain starts to kick in.  For the first 500m try sticking to a 28 stroke rating with good suspension to keep your breath and take advantage of your fresh legs.  Whatever you hold for a split, your goal will be to hold that split for the second and third rounds.  Each time you return to the erg your legs will be a little more gassed, so focus on keeping suspension, but rowing at a higher stroke rating to make the same split feel lighter.  For example, if you row the first 500m at a stroke rate of 28 s/m and a split of 1:50 /500m, then try the second 500m at a stroke rate of 30 s/m, and the third 500m at a stroke rate of 32 s/m.  If you aim for the same split of 1:50 /500m for both, the pressure exerted on the handle should feel lighter and easier to maintain.  Once you finish rowing be sure to practice a quick release and fall to the floor to begin your push ups.  For the push ups be sure to stay fresh and avoid going to failure so that you can keep moving and not wait around for your muscles to recover.  On the power cleans use your hips to move the weight and focus on fast elbows.

Have some fun creating a game plan and get after it!

Post your time to comments along with how you attacked this one!

Rowing WOD 4/23/14: AMRAP8 − 750m Row, 15 Plate Burpees – Post Score

Rowing WOD:

Putting Renegade Rowing to the test over 2k!

Putting Renegade Rowing to the test over 2k!

As Many Rounds As Possible in 8min …

750m Row (@2k Goal Pace)

15 Plate Burpees (Do a burpee and hop onto a 45 lb. Bumper Plate)

In competition and training there is usually a prescribed time domain whether it’s a Chipper, AMRAP, Distance, or RFT setup.  When you’re training for competition or focused on achieving a goal/standard it helps to know you’ll have the energy and mental toughness required to perform for that entire time domain.  A 2k requires full commitment both mentally and physically for 6 to 8 minutes depending on your ability.  In preparation for our next 2k test and other summer competitions, we will be training this time domain at least once a week to focus on the intensity and mentality needed on race day.

Today’s Rowing WOD should be performed at high intensity as if it were race day.  Be sure to get a good warmup in that includes a few bursts at race pace.  The first 750m should be completed as if it were a 2k race.  Get a good start, 7-10 high strokes, and settle to your goal 2k pace.  You should be focused on efficient rowing that allows you to hold one split and one stroke rating all the way through.  During the 15 burpees focus on breathing and resetting your mind for the next 750m.  The burpees should be a fun challenge because they require a little accuracy to hop onto the plate without missing it.  The plate will ensure you’re being consistent with the work you do each rep.  As you start the second 750m dig deep and be ready to fight mentally with positive self talk.  The second 750m should be performed like the third 500m of your 2k.  The third 500m of a 2k is your opportunity to reach your goal.  If you can crush your splits in the third 500m of a 2k you will crush your goal.

Reaching your 2k goal starts today.  Get after it!

Post the number of complete rounds plus additional meters/reps to comments!

Rowing WOD 4/22/14: 6 x 750m w/ 2min Rest – Post Splits

Rowing WOD:

Matt Substituting a 2k Row for a 1 mile run at CFB last week!

Matt Substituting a 2k Row for a 1 mile run at CFB last week!

6 x 750m w/ 2min Rest

1st & 2nd @2k Pace (w/ Start)

  • 3rd @2k+5
  • 4th @2k+3
  • 5th @2k+1
  • 6th @2k (w/ Sprint Finish)

Some of our best results are found when training at high intensity.  In order to develop as an athlete you’ll need to develop an ability to go hard and bring your “A” game.  Today’s Rowing WOD provides an opportunity for just that.  Set the monitor for 750m of work and 2 minutes of rest.  Use the first two pieces to practice the start of your 2k and the last to practice the finish.  There should be a focus on power per stroke and solid intensity across all six pieces.  Write down the splits you would like to hold (ex: 2:00, 2:00, 2:05, 2:03, 2:01, 2:00) prior to starting and make a commitment to attack each piece and execute every stroke.  Know what mental cues you will go to when it gets tough – breath, legs down, sit tall, swing, smooth, breath…

Post your Average 500m Splits for each piece to comments.

Rowing WOD 4/21/14: “Earth Worm” – 2x14min varying rates – Post Distance

Rowing WOD:

Renegade Rowing Workshop - You game?

Renegade Rowing Workshop – You game?

“Earth Worm”

2 x 14min w/ 4min Rest as follows …

  • 2min @20 s/m
  • 2min @24
  • 2min @22
  • 2min @26
  • 2min @24
  • 2min @28
  • 2min @26

Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to work on your rhythm and ratio.  Focus on controlling your recovery to hit the prescribed stroke rating.  If you need to work on adding a gathering point as we talked about yesterday be sure not to stop.  Make it a slower, rhythmic, controlled motion as you come forward toward the catch.  Also, try to keep the pressure up.  Every time the rating goes up your split should go down.  If done properly you should finish pulling consistently faster splits every stroke then you did at the beginning of the piece.

Post your total distance to comments and share your thoughts on varying the stroke rating.

Rest Day 4/20/14: Where should we gather during the stroke? – Share

Gather just before sliding forward.

Where should we gather during the stroke?

When performing cleans or snatches in a wod with moderate weight it is possible to touch and go.  In order to touch and go there is a gathering point just above the knee when returning the weight to the floor where athletes lock in their posture and prepare their body for the next repetition.  When rowing on the water many coaches talk about body preparation by half slide to be ready for the catch.  This usually involves thinking about or feeling a gathering point as the bodies swing forward out of the finish so that everyone in the boat can get together and time the catch correctly.  When rowing by yourself on the erg it is possible to slow yourself down on the recovery and gather yourself and your body preparation as you start to slide forward toward the next catch.

Take 5 minutes today to row nice and slow and see where you tend to gather yourself.  Too often competitors or athletes in the gym gather at the finish and dump their weight to the floor.  Instead think about the finish as a continuous movement and put a gathering point just after you swing the body forward and begin your slide.  This will save energy, improve your sequencing, and make everything much smoother.