Rest Day 8/27/15: Go Eat Some Watermelon!

Rest Day:

Image c/o Tony Alter http://www.flickr.com/people/78428166@N00/

Go Eat Some Watermelon!

Below is a blog post from Alex Black of Wicked Good Nutrition.  Read all about a recent study on watermelon and then tell us what you think.  Will you be sucking down some Watermelon after our 5k on Saturday?

Super Power for Watermelon

We all know watermelon is a delicious summer fruit. But some new research has indicate that it might also be a recovery aid – results of a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry showed that a compound found in watermelon juice may help athletes recovery after exercise.  … Click here for the whole post! …

Rowing WOD 8/22/15: 2 x 4k w/ 7min Rest – Post Time, Splits, and Stroke Rate

Rowing WOD:

Another great week of training is in the books!

2 x 4k w/ 7min Rest

  • 1st @26 (5k+5)
  • 2nd @28-30 (5k+2)

Executing a game plan during a competition can really help keep you mentally strong and allow you to push right until the end.  A big part of developing a game plan on the rower is to develop your ability to control stroke rating and effort, how many strokes do you take per minute and how much force do you apply to the handle.

Today’s Rowing WOD is all about dialing in that ability to be precise, hold a stroke rating, and put out a consistent effort every stroke.  I’ve recommended splits, but pick a split that you can maintain at 26 s/m and be consistent with your effort each stroke, it should be hard to say a full sentence.  Crush this with a game plan and positive self talk.  Next week we test our first 5k of the Fall Season.  Build your confidence today and get pumped for another great week of training.

Post your time, average splits, and average stroke rating for each piece to comments!

Rest Day 8/20/15: What’s your favorite mobility move for Rowing? – Get Loose!

Rest Day:

The Renegade Rowing Team drilling by Moonlight!

What’s your favorite mobility move for Rowing?

Get Loose and Enjoy 15 minutes of Hamstring and Hip Mobility.

Over the past week we’ve hit it pretty hard with intensity and higher volume.  Our ability to sit up and maintain a solid core through the stroke has a lot to do with our hamstring flexibility and the work we do on off days to promote recovery and rebuilding of the muscle fibers we tear.  Use today as an opportunity to stretch out and rebuild those hamstrings, increase your flexibility, and eat some good quality food.

Share your favorite mobility move, where you’re feeling it today, and how you mobilized!

Rowing WOD 8/4/15: 3x2k w/ 5min Rest – Post Goal and Experience

Rowing WOD:

3 x 2k w/ 5min rest

Checkout the Renegade Rowing Membership if you'd like to row in Boston!

1st 2k: 

  • 750m @ 2k+5
  • 250m @ 18 spm (paddle light)
  • 750m @ 2k+3
  • 250m @ 18 spm (paddle light)

Rest 5min

2nd 2k: 

  • 750m @ 2k+4
  • 250m @ 18 spm (paddle light)
  • 750m @ 2k+2
  • 250m @ 18 spm (paddle light)

Rest 5min

3rd 2k: 

  • 750m @ 2k+3
  • 500m @ 18 spm (paddle light)
  • 750m @ 2k+1

Have you ever wished you could get a feel for Fran before competing so that you know what to plan for mentally and physically?  If you’ve been trying to break a 7 minute or 8 minute 2k, you’re probably wondering, what will it feel like?  How should it be paced?  What can I do to improve upon my last 2k?

Today’s Rowing WOD is a great way to test out the race pace you’d like to hold on your next 2k.  Set the monitor for 2,000m of work and 5 minutes of rest.  During the first 750m hold the prescribed pace and really execute with form and efficiency.  Then paddle out for the next 250m .  At the 1000m mark build back up and row the next 750m at the prescribed pace.  Finish with a  paddle to recover.  The second and third 2k will be executed similarly.

To see your consistency during the race pace portions set the monitor to record split lengths of 250m.  This is done on the screen when you enter the work and rest.  After the workout go into the memory and check it out.

Post your goal 500m Split and how you executed the 750m portions of today’s Rowing WOD.

Rowing WOD 7/29/15: 2RFT – 800m Row, 60 DU, 40 KB Snatch, 20 Box Jump – Post Time and Avg. Splits

Rowing WOD:

Active Shoulder at the Top!

2 Rounds For Time …

800m Row (@1k Pace)

60 Double Unders

40 KB Snatches (1.5/1 Pd) (20 Each Arm)

20 Box Jumps (24/20 in.)

Why do we train?  Why do we compete?  …  Fun!

What makes training and competition fun? … Variety, Challenge, Training Partners, and Intensity!

Load the hips!

Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to have a ton of fun pushing yourself and others through a variety of skilled movements while executing a game plan.  I’d like you to challenge a training partner to this workout if at all possible.  Talk to them about your 1k pace and how you are going to execute it on this workout.  Get comfortable consistently pulling your 1k split under pressure.  Be mentally strong and stay positive on every stroke and every rep.  Remember to breathe deep after the row so you can fall into a rhythm and flow through the double unders.  During the KB Snatches make sure you have an active shoulder at the top and keep your arm close to your ear.  Use the hips to move the weight and punch through quickly as the weight becomes weightless so that you don’t bang the wrist.  Dumbbell Snatches can be substituted for the KB Snatch if needed.

Post your time and average 500m splits for the 800’s to comments!