Rowing WOD 8/10/15: “Snow Drifts” – 2x17min w/ 4min Rest – Post Distance

Rowing WOD:

Larry's Post WOD Chalk Prints from last weeks 25min AMRAP!  Nice work Larry!

“Snow Drifts”

2 x 17min w/ 4min Rest

as follows …

5′ @22 s/m, 4′ @24, 3′ @26, 2′ @28, 3′ @26

4min Rest

5′ @20 s/m, 4′ @24, 3′ @28, 2′ @30, 3′ @26

I know there’s no snow drifts out the window, but they’ll be here before you know it.  I hope you’re having an awesome Summer, because it seems like it has just flown by.

Last week we hit “The Castle” to focus on ratio and rhythm.  Today’s Rowing WOD is another opportunity for everyone to keep working on a sense of form and rhythm without the pressure of intensity and competition.  Sometimes it’s good to slow down and dial in that technique.  Pressure should be a moderate to hard steady state.  That means you can get out short sentences but it’s difficult to maintain a detailed conversation.

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.

Slingshot Hands Away will be key when we get on the water!

Slingshot Hands Away will be key when we get on the water!

When going from a 26 stroke rating to a 28 you should focus on more pressure with the legs and quickly redirecting the hands through the finish.  Think of a slingshot as you pull the hands in and release them quick and smooth away.  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.  When the rating shifts down from a 28 to a 26 be sure to perform a ratio shift and try to maintain the same split.  Focus on pushing a little harder and take an extra second to breath on the recovery to bring the stroke rating down.

Post distance rowed to comments along with songs that helped you stick to each rating!

Music can motivate us to push harder and row longer, but it can also give us a sense of timing.  We might have to start calling it Music Monday’s if this catches on, but for now just have some fun trying to row to the rhythm of the music.  Please add to the playlists any songs that help you stick to a certain rating and keep pushing hard!

Below is the start of a list of songs for various stroke ratings.  If you were to use a music editing program like garage band to clip the songs into segments then you could perform today’s Rowing WOD completely in time to your favorite jams.

If you have Spotify, I’ve created a playlist for each stroke rating.  Each playlist is named “Renegade Rowing @(insert stroke rate)”, so for songs that you could row to at a 20 the playlist is named “Renegade Rowing @20″.  If you have favorite songs that go well at certain stroke ratings please feel free to add to the playlists on Spotify.  Thanks Mike T. for kick starting this project and I hope this helps motivate everyone to find better rhythm and ratio!

20 s/m: Renegade Rowing @20

22 s/m: Renegade Rowing @22

24 s/m: Renegade Rowing @24

26 s/m: Renegade Rowing @26

28 s/m: Renegade Rowing @28

30 s/m: Renegade Rowing @30

32 s/m: Renegade Rowing @32

34 s/m: Renegade Rowing @34

36 s/m: Renegade Rowing @36

Rowing WOD 8/8/15: RR Total – Post Score

Rowing WOD:

RR TotalRR UVM Men Alumni HOCR 2012

Row 1′-1′-1′

Squat 1-1-1

Press 1-1-1

Deadlift 1-1-1

The last time we performed the CF Rowing Total was in March and I wrote the following post.  I wanted to see where everyone is at before testing our 5k next week.  The CF Rowing Total is meant to test your power and strength in the 1 minute range on the erg.  It’s also an opportunity to test your functional strength.

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National Erg Standards

Many countries post national standards that athletes need to hit in order to tryout for the national team.  Below I’ve linked to the standards posted online by US Rowing and Rowing Canada.  In the coming month I hope to define Renegade Rowing standards for athletes looking to be competitive in both Rowing and CrossFit.  A good starting place is for athletes to see how they compare to elite rowers.  It’s a goal of mine to find a group of athletes that can train regularly on the water and in the gym without having to rely on hours and hours of steady state.  Would you like to help me?  How far off are you on the 1 minute test, 2k, and 6k?  Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject and what you’d like me to include in the Renegade Rowing Standards.

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Today’s Rowing WOD

After doing a dynamic warmup, do a good 10 minute warmup on the erg where you build up to race pace above a stroke rating of 30 for a few bursts.  When you’re ready to go, set the monitor for intervals time with 1 minute on, 4 minutes off.  The goal is to do as much work as possible in a minute.  Be sure to paddle for a minute after each attempt to help your body deal with any lactic acid that may start to build up.

Heavy DeadliftThe stroke rating is open, but keep good form.  Don’t compromise you’re body.  Maintain a strong posture at all times.  Anyone can pull hard for a few strokes, but those with functional rowing form can build throughout the minute test, stay safe, and produce the most power.

In rowing there are three things you can vary to go faster.  Force, distance, and time.  The best rowers know how to combine all three… row harder, row longer, and row faster.  Basically, put more force into the handle, row as long as possible every stroke without compromising your body, and increase the stroke rating.

After making three attempts on the erg, setup for and perform the three lifts.  Make sure to roll out your back, hips, and hamstrings as needed in between lifts.

Renegade Rowing Team Pushing Their Boundaries!

How much Strength and Power do you have?  Your score for the CF Rowing Total will be
Max Average Watts + CF Total Score.

Post your total as well as each individual result from the row, squat, press, and deadlift to comments.  Report the max average Watts for the best Row.

Rowing WOD 8/7/15: 6RFT – 500m Row, 20 Push Ups – Post Time and Splits

Rowing WOD:

RRT Getting after their first Rowing WOD on the Water earlier this year!

6 Rounds for Time (20min Cap)

500m Row

20 Push Ups

As we begin training for the fall season it’s important to work in some longer pieces to build up our endurance and prepare ourselves for head races.  Head Races are anywhere from 4k – 6k in distance and take around 15 minutes or more to complete.  They are run like time trials with one boat starting at a time.  Mental toughness is key to keep intensity up and push hard enough to catch the boat in front of you.

In today’s Rowing WOD you’ll need mental toughness to keep pushing through the middle rounds.  Imagine there’s a crew just ahead of you.  Chasing them down is the only option.

Pick one split you can hold all the way through each piece.  If possible try to negative split each round.  On the push ups get full range of motion and scale as necessary.  You can scale by elevating your hands, giving yourself a target, or decreasing the volume to 15 or 10 per round.

If you’re looking to spice things up and have some more fun try this on the water.  I’ve done this workout in a single off of the docks at Community Rowing.  It was pretty epic.  Can’t wait to have a group of Renegades doing workouts like this on the water with me.  If you’re interested let me know!

Post time and splits to comments!

Rest Day 8/6/15: What Competition are you training for this Fall? – Share

Rest Day:RRT13 Racing at ROR

What Competition are you training for this Fall?

An easy goal to kick-start a training cycle and get yourself motivated is picking an event to compete in.  As we come to the end of Summer and Fall picks up there are tons of fun competitions to look forward to.

What are you training for in the next couple of months?  Who are you training with?  Challenge a training partner to compete with you.  Share what competitions you’re training for to comments!

Rowing WOD 8/5/15: AMRAP25min – Row, GtO, Push Ups – Post Rounds + Reps

Rowing WOD:

As Many Rounds As Possible in 25min of…Renegade Rowing League December

Round 1

  • 250m Row
  • 5 Ground to Overhead (135/95 lbs.)
  • 5 Push Ups

*Every Round double the distance and add 5 reps to each movement

Round 2

  • 500m Row
  • 10 GtO
  • 10 Push Ups

Round 3 

  • 1k Row
  • 15 GtO
  • 15 Push Ups

Round 4

  • 2k Row
  • 20 GtO
  • 20 Push Ups

etc…

Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to practice mental toughness and pacing.  When you feel fresh in the beginning try to remain efficient and don’t blow up.  The goal is to keep an even pace all the way through.  Try to pick one split and hold it for each erg piece.  Also have a game plan for the clean and jerks and push ups.  Try to touch and go unbroken, but know exactly how many you’ll do before taking a short break.  Manage your rest and keep moving.  When things start to get tough and painful through the middle focus on form and have a couple of positive thoughts ready to go.  Stay focused on making each rep clean and staying in the moment.

Row well and work hard.

Post your score, rounds + reps, to comments.