Rowing WOD 5/18/13:

Where do you test? Why? Come test yourself at the CrossFit Rowing Trainer Course!

5k Row for Time

How well does your body process and use oxygen to do work?  How long can you sustain work?  Today’s assessment will give you an idea of both your aerobic capacity and endurance.  Set your monitor for 5,000 meters and get after it.  Be sure to record your time, average 500m split, average stroke rating, and average watts.  This will give you an idea of your work capacity over about 20 minutes.

For those wondering why we’re doing such a long test and how to attack it, think of this as a Girl Wod like “Mary”.  The athlete who can efficiently and effectively move their body weight will be able to consistently do more work aerobically without having to dip into anaerobic energy stores.  Also, when tackling “Mary”, good competitors will go in with a game plan based on what they know they can maintain.  The first couple of rounds may be used to ease into the work without flying and dying.

Whether you’re a Vet or Novice, the goal should be to maintain a consistent 500m split and stroke rating throughout the whole piece.  If this is your first 5k aim to build your confidence by negative splitting.  Start the first 1k at a moderately hard pace that you can consistently hold.  Then every 1k after that try to pull a little bit faster, perhaps 1 split second every 1k.  What you should avoid is going out to hard, say 1:45 /500m, and then dying half way through to limp in at a split of 2:00 /500m.

Novices should try to maintain a stroke rating of 24 to 26.  Vets should work on executing a race plan, maintaining their splits, and rowing at a stroke rating of at least 26 to 28.

Let us know how you do!  Post your results to Comments.

Rowing WOD 5/14/13:

When should you break the elbow? Learn more about the stroke at CrossFit Boston June 8-9!

Max Pressure

2 x 1k w/ 4:00 Rest

2 x 500m w/ 2:00 Rest

2 x 250m w/ 1:00 Rest

Have you ever seen a WOD posted in your gym like 5-5-5-5-5 Back Squat and that’s it?  Did you think that would be a good day to take off because there’s not much to it and you’d rather go to a session with more stuff?  Well snap out of it and hit that WOD hard next time.  High Intensity is your ability to push your boundaries a little further everyday.  If you never test your limits you’ll never know what you’ve got.

Regionals is currently underway and we will be performing “Jackie” tomorrow for those competitors looking to dial in their strategy.  It will also be a good opportunity for everyone else to benchmark themselves against some of the top athletes around the world.  As you finish each piece today think about how you feel and if you’d be able to hop off and crush thrusters and pull ups.  Use today to come up with your goal split for “Jackie” tomorrow.

Todays Rowing WOD calls for Max Pressure and is a test of your ability to consistently perform at your highest intensity.  Set the monitor for Intervals Variable and input 1k, 4min rest, 1k, 4min rest, 500m, 2min rest, 500m, 2min rest, 250m, 1min rest, 250m, 1min rest.  Pick a 500m Split and a Stroke Rating you plan to hold for each distance.  The first time you perform that distance execute that pace (split and s/m) as consistently as possible.  When you repeat the distance try to be even more consistent and go a little bit faster.

Remember, the goal is to row at max pressure for every piece.  Focus on your split and stroke rate and row at high intensity with good form.

• Post your average 500m splits to comments.

Props to the Wayland-Weston Men’s 3V8+ and 2V4+ for pushing it this weekend at the Lowell Invitational Regatta!