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!

Rowing WOD 10/11/13: 6RFT – 250m Row, 15 Wall Balls, 1min Rest – Post Time and Splits

Rowing WOD 10/11/13:

BC Men's Crew getting after some Wall Balls earlier this season

BC Men’s Crew getting after some Wall Balls earlier this season

6 Rounds For Time

250m Row (@2k – 2 Pace)

15 Wall Balls (20/14)

1min Rest

Wall balls are great because they’re a pushing movement to counteract the pulling on the erg, but even more important they can mimic the explosiveness and rhythm of the rowing stroke.  During the drive phase of a wall ball you’re driving through the heels and finishing on the toes with full extension of the hips.  As soon as the ball leaves your hands you begin the recovery just like in rowing and your body has a second to gather itself, find balance, breathe, and then begin to load up the legs for the next drive as you catch the ball and sit back into a squat.  In competition you may be focused on cycling through them and bouncing out of the bottom, but in training you can focus on being smooth and adding some control on the way down.  This will give you a sense of the feeling you need during the recovery on the erg.  When rowing we want to stay light on the foot-stretchers as we swing and slide up to the catch.  Just as we approach the catch we should feel the weight start to come on to the big toe/balls of our feet.  Then when we’re ready to connect the chain to the fly-wheel and drive we put all of our weight on the footboards and push through the whole foot trying to suspend from the handle.  As you warmup for Today’s Rowing WOD try to feel these things.  Gaining awareness of our bodies as we move through full range of motion is key to mastering all of the general physical skills we’re developing.

Post your Time to comments!

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!

Rowing WOD 9/21/13: RR Warmup then “Iron Bill” Inspire WOD – Post Score

Rowing WOD 9/21/13:Captain William Dowling

Warmup: Row 2k @5k Pace, 1 Mile Run (easy)

“Iron Bill” Inspire WOD

Iron Bill (men’s weight) WOD: 200m run with a 50# bag of absorbent or sandbag, 50-75# thrusters, 200m (1) foam bucket carry or 50# dumbbell, 20-16kg Kettlebell or 35# dumbbell Turkish get-ups, 200m run, 50m overhead walking lunges w/1 ¾” rolled hose, 200m (1) foam bucket carry or 50# dumbbell carry, 50-75# back squats, 200m run with a 50# bag of absorbent or sandbag.

Jacki (women’s weight) WOD: 200m run with a 50# bag of absorbent or 25# sandbag, 50-45# thrusters, 200m (1) foam bucket carry or 25# dumbbell, 20-8kg Kettlebell or 15# dumbbell Turkish get-ups, 200m run, 50m overhead walking lunges w/1 ¾” rolled hose, 200m (1) foam bucket carry or 25# dumbbell carry, 50-45# back squats, 200m run with a 50# bag of absorbent or 25# sandbag

1173843_195907660584110_1124055243_nToday’s Rowing WOD is in honor of Captain William Dowling of the Houston Fire Department and his family.  If anyone would like to join me I’ll be performing this wod tomorrow at 1pm at CrossFit Boston.  No matter where you are performing this be sure to take a picture or some video and post it on the Iron Bill Facebook Page to show them our support.

Iron Bill, Jacki, and Family you are in our prayers.

The following excerpt is from YourHoustonNews.com:

Houston Fire Department Captain William Dowling was one of 14 severely injured  in the deadliest blaze in the Houston Fire Department’s history.  He has been in a medically induced coma since the accident and is listed in critical but stable condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center. As a result of his injuries, both of his legs had to be partially amputated.

HFD received the call shortly after noon on Friday, May 31 for a fire in a restaurant at the Southwest Inn hotel off Highway 59 in southwest Houston. Dowling’s unit was the second on scene.

According to reports, the heavy, tile roof collapsed on Dowling, trapping him. Despite his injuries, Dowling was able to hit his mayday button, alerting others to his location and resulting in his rescue.

Dowling has been with the Houston Fire Department for 13 years. He has worked at Stations 12, 19, was an EO (driver) at 25, transferred to 48 as a Captain, and started at 68 as a Captain in January. He was also a part-time employee at Champions Emergency Services District 29.

Rest Days 9/1/13 − 9/2/13: Enjoy Labor Day Weekend!

BC Men's Crew and I doing our first Row, Run, WOD, Run, Row on Friday afternoon!

BC Men’s Crew and I doing our first Row, Run, WOD, Run, Row on Friday afternoon!

Congrats to all those that tested their 5k yesterday!  It looks like there were a number of PR’s and everyone executed a solid game plan.  Labor Day Weekend is a time to rest, relax, and have some fun with family and friends.  With that in mind get outside and be active.  Grab a friend and go a hike a mountain or hit a swimming hole.  Play some golf or go for a ride.  I wish you all a happy Labor Day Weekend and I look forward to hitting training hard with you on Tuesday!

All the best!

Coach Pat