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.

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

Rowing WOD 12/27/13: “Beach Burner” – Post Time

Rowing WOD 12/27/13:

The Ladies getting after it in Heat 1 of the Renegade Rowing League last Saturday!

The Ladies getting after it in Heat 1 of the Renegade Rowing League last Saturday!

“Beach Burner”

500m Row, 20 Push Ups

500m Row, 20 Lateral Hurdles (Just Below Knee)

500m Row, 20 Split Squat Jumps

500m Row, 20 Burpee Box Jumps (24/20)

500m Row, 20 Toes to Bar

500m Row, 20 Air Squats

500m Row, 20 V-Ups

Today’s Rowing WOD is inspired by the beach to warm-up those that aren’t lucky enough to live in warm weather year round.  This week I am lucky enough to travel down to Ft. Lauderdale for a quick vacation.  Last year we found a great workout area on the beach with about 10-15 workout stations.  We chose 7 of our favorites and went at it with a 400m run in between each.  You might not be doing this one at the beach, but it should be just as fun.  Try to remain consistent on your 500m intervals.

Post your time to comments!

Rowing WOD 12/26/13: 6RFT – 10 Push Ups, 250m Row, 10 Pull Ups – Post Time

Rowing WOD 12/26/13:

The Ladies from North Shore CrossFit's Rowing Club getting after it last Saturday at the Renegade Rowing League!

The Ladies from the NSCF Rowing Club getting after it last Saturday at the Renegade Rowing League!

6 Rounds For Time …

10 Push Ups

250m Row (@2k Pace)

10 Pull Ups

:30 Rest After Each Round

Now that Christmas Day has passed it’s time to get back to work.  We’ve got a few more solid days left in 2013, so let’s make the most of them!  Today’s Rowing WOD is a chance to commit to your new 2k split from last Saturday and work on digging deep when the going gets tough.  Every round is an opportunity to fight for that split, just like in the third 500m of a 2k.  Focus on good form with the push ups and pull ups to strengthen our shoulders in different planes and promote good connection through the core.  Attack each round like it’s your last and rely on that 30 seconds of rest to reset and do it all again.  A good goal is to go sub 20 minutes.

Have fun and do good work!

Post your time and splits to comments.