Rest Day 10/13/13: Go For a Run! Good Luck at NH Championships!

Rest Day 10/13/13:

During head race season, crews warmup with a 5k row.  Then they race back.  Epic!

During head race season, crews warmup with a 5k row. Then they race back. Epic!

Go For A Run!

There a couple of awesome half marathons this weekend including the BAA Half in Boston and the Newport Half down in RI.  Good luck to all those competing!  If you’re not participating in a race this weekend get outside a go for a nice recovery run.  Nothing crazy, just get outside, get moving, get warm, and get your breath going.

Good Luck at NH Championships!

This weekend is the second race weekend of the regatta season in New England.  Yesterday was the Head of the Housatonic down in CT and today is the NH Championships.  Good luck to all crews in their final prep race for the Head of the Charles!  Get after it!

Rest Day 10/10/13: Go For a Walk! Along the Charles if Possible!

Rest Day 10/10/13:

BC Men Spinning at the Canoe Kayak Dock - close to the finish line of the HOCR

BC Men Spinning at the Canoe Kayak Dock – close to the finish line of the HOCR

Go For a Walk! Along the Charles if Possible!

Life get’s crazy, especially this time of year as we gear up for fall parties and the holidays.  Speaking of Holidays, the Head of the Charles is known to rowers as Rowing Christmas.  Every year on the third weekend of October, rowers past and present gather to remember the good old days and push themselves to the limit against the best in the world.  If you can get outside today, go for a walk along the Charles River.  You will more than likely see other random people both tall and small looking at the bridges and turns scouting their line for race day.  Keep an eye out for coaching launches filled with coxswains doing the same thing from the water.  The biggest regatta in the world is just over a week away.  Time to get excited!

Never seen the Head of the Charles Regatta before?  Try the following today!  Take 15 minutes today to stop.  Breathe.  And go for a walk.  If you’ve got a river or body of water nearby go for a stroll and watch some rowing.  How does the boat move in relation to the body?  What part of the stroke does the boat move the fastest?  How’s the form look compared to your erging?

If you’re lucky enough to do this please share your thoughts, where you were, and what you saw!

Rest Day 10/6/13: Good Luck Rowers at Textile River Regatta!

Rest Day 10/6/13:

All the oars at last years Textile River Regatta!

All the oars at last years Textile River Regatta!

Good Luck to all rowers competing at the Textile River Regatta today!

I’ve been coaching the Wayland-Weston Men for the past two weeks and it’s going to be fun to see all of the hard work being put to the test.  It’s our first race of the season and it’ll be awesome to see where we stack up against the competition.  Head of the Charles is two weeks away!

If you’re in the Boston area, head up to the Merrimack River in Lowell to check it out.  If not, go find a race near you and see what the sport of rowing is all about!

Share your experience and pictures!

Rowing WOD 10/2/13: 6RFD – 7 Thrusters, ME Row – Post Total Meters Rowed

Rowing WOD 10/2/13:RR Thruster

6 Rounds for Distance

1:30 On, 1:30 Off

7 Thrusters (95/65)

Max Effort Row

Score is Total Meters Rowed

Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to pick up the intensity and push yourself.  Each round you’ll have 1 minute and 30 seconds to complete 7 thrusters and then row as many meters as possible.  Keep track of how many meters you row each round.  During the rest control your breathing and get focused on the next round.  As you fatigue be sure to keep a solid core in both the thruster and the row.  Don’t collapse, keep a big chest, and use those legs!

Post your total meters to comments.

Rest Day 9/26/13: Mobilize!

Rest Day 9/26/13:

RRC getting after some Hamstring Mobility

RRC getting after some Hamstring Mobility

15min of Mobility

Over the last few days my schedule has kicked in to full gear and I’ve had the opportunity to coach a wide range of athletes.  In the mornings I coach athletes from CrossFit Boston and Boston College Men’s Crew in the gym.  In the afternoon I coach high school athletes from Wayland-Weston Crew.  The biggest thing all three teams need to improve their performance is mobility.  Today is a good day to focus on improving your mobility.  Let’s get after it!

In rowing the longer your stroke the further you can move the boat and ultimately the faster you can go. Same thing applies indoors, rowing on the erg. The only problem with that equation is your positioning. Are you in a strong position at the catch and finish? Today is a day to work on mobility and improve that positioning. Take at least 15 minutes, ideally longer, to work on your tight spots. What limits you? Ankle flexion at the catch? Shoulder mobility at the finish?  Tight hips/hamstrings at Bodies Over?

Share where you tend to be tight during a row as well as your problem areas for WODs. What are you doing daily to work them out?