Rowing WOD 7/12/13: “Row Downhill” – 10 HSPU, 1k Row, … – Post Time and Splits

Rowing WOD 7/12/13:

The Renegade Rowing Team in their lineup! Tryouts are next Friday! Sign Up Today!

The Renegade Rowing Team in their lineup! Tryouts are next Friday! Sign Up Today!

“Row Downhill”

Complete for Time …

10 Handstand Push Ups, 1k Row

5 Handstand Push Ups, 500m Row

2 Handstand Push Ups, 250m Row

Today’s Rowing WOD provides a chance to work on maintaining a tight midline and finishing strong on each row.  No matter what scale you’re doing for the Handstand Push Ups, be sure to lock your ribs down with a tight belly, squeeze your butt, and point your toes to create tension throughout your whole body.  This will work both your core stability, needed for better posture in the boat, and your and ability to transfer force to the oar.

After each set of HSPU get right on the erg and get the wheel spinning.  Try to keep steady pressure and hold a consistent split until you get your breath back.  Once your breath returns try to negative split the rest of the piece with a solid sprint in the last 100m.  The idea is each piece will get shorter and you should be able to sprint out the last 100m like your running down hill.  Dig deep and get after it!

Look at your results from Tuesday to get an idea of what splits you will try to hold for each piece.  Just like the HSPU, focus on a solid core as you approach the catch and initiate with the legs.  Try to get as much power as you can from the legs to save your upper body for the HSPU.

Post your overall time, average splits for each piece, and any scales to comments.

Rowing WOD 7/9/13: 2k, 1k, 500m – Post Times, Splits, and Stroke Ratings

When should you break the elbow? Learn more about the stroke on the Renegade Rowing Team!

When should you break the elbow? Learn more about the stroke on the Renegade Rowing Team!

Rowing WOD 7/9/13:

2k Row

3min Rest

1k Row (@2k-3)

3min Rest

500m Row (@2k-5)

Why is rowing fun?  One reason is that it provides a challenge in learning technique to be as efficient as possible while working everything from your head to your toes.  Elsewhere in sports and training, if you’ve tried the Pose Method of running you may understand the beauty of focusing on technique and the perception of what your body is doing in space. Focusing on form and technique gives your mind something to work toward rather than complaining about how much your legs burn.

Today’s Rowing WOD is a good opportunity to focus on one or two form fixes but get after it as well.  Set the monitor for Intervals Variable and enter the work/rest accordingly.  This WOD will give you an idea of where you might need to focus your training in the coming months.  At the end of today you’ll have three benchmark rowing times that can be used to game other Rowing WODs.  These three times will also come in handy if you’re trying out for the Renegade Rowing Team on July 19th!  Sign up for tryouts here and input your scores from today!

Come up with a plan and execute.  You want to have mental cues on form, breathing, and effort to fall back on the second your mind starts to wander.  If possible grab a friend and take turns coxing each other through each piece.  Be consistent with your splits and stroke ratings through each piece.  The stroke rating for this workout should be around a 28-32, but everyone needs to find what works.  Find your efficient stroke.  Novices should focus on one form fix for each piece and work hard for consistency.

Post your Times, Average 500m Splits, and Average Stroke Ratings to Comments along with an answer to this question…

Why is Rowing Fun?

Rowing WOD 7/2/13: 5 x 500m w/ 2min Rest – Post Splits

Rowing WOD 7/2/13:

Rowing Warmup at CFB

5 x 500m w/ 2min Rest

1st/2nd – @ 2k Split

3rd/4th – @ 1k Split

5th – @ Max Effort

We’ve attacked a similar Rowing WOD earlier this Summer.  Look back at your results and see if you’re ready to step it up another notch.  This is a great opportunity to get in some solid race pace work and prepare for our next benchmark.  This Saturday we will test the 500m.  Try to keep a consistent pace over all 5 or “negative split” toward the end if you’re feeling good.  Negative splitting means you pull a faster split than you did the previous piece.

As a quick review for novice rowers, race pace is at a stroke rating of 30 − 34 strokes per minute and a consistent 500m split.  The lower the split the better.  Good things to focus on include breathing, getting the knees down, driving through the heels, quick hands, and being smooth.  I also like to coach a smile or grin 10 just to take yourself out of your body for a second, have some fun, and then refocus with a fresh mindset.  Focus on one positive thought for 10 consecutive strokes and you’ll be that much closer to your goal.

Post your split for each piece and share what you focused on!

Rowing WOD 7/1/13: 2 x 15min Power and Ratio – Post Distances

Rowing WOD 7/1/13:

Get some ratio on the Renegade Rowing Team!

2 x 15min w/ 5min Rest …

Get some ratio at the CrossFit Rowing Course June 8-9 in Boston!
  • 5′ @ 20 s/m
  • 5′ @ 22
  • 3′ @ 24
  • 2′ @ 26

5min Rest

  • 2′ @ 26 s/m
  • 3′ @ 24
  • 5′ @ 22
  • 5′ @ 20

Today’s Rowing WOD is a chance to work on Rhythm and Timing while building some aerobic endurance.  In long chippers rowing can be used as active recovery and a chance to catch your breath.  Try to find the efficient rhythm and consistent pressure you’ll need to recover mid WOD.  Every five minutes the rating will change to keep you focused.  Try to fix one part of your stroke each five minutes.  Your effort level on this should be such that you can get out sentences to a neighbor, but breathing is labored.  In the last five minutes keep your efficiency but really try to bring the split down as the stroke rating increases.  In the second 15 minutes the stroke rating is going to decrease.  Try to get ratio and keep the power up.  Don’t let the split jump up.  Focus on pushing the legs down faster and taking longer on the recovery.

Post your distance rowed each piece!

Rowing WOD 6/29/13: 1k Test – Post Time, Avg Split, Avg Stroke Rate

Come learn to row on the water and race in 8+'s! Renegade Rowing Team Tryouts!

Come learn to row on the water and race in 8+’s! Renegade Rowing Team Tryouts!

Rowing WOD 6/29/13:

1k Row For Time

How well does your body operate at its anaerobic threshold?  How much power can you maintain and still remain aerobic?  Today’s assessment will give you an idea of your work capacity in a 4 minute time frame.  You’ll be pulling from both anaerobic and aerobic energy systems.  If you can make the middle two minutes more aerobic, then you’ll be able to go harder in your start and sprint to the finish.

Set your monitor for 1,000 meters and get after it.  Be sure to record your time, average 500m split, average stroke rating, and average watts.

For those wondering why we’re doing a 1k test and how to attack it, think of this as your next attempt at the Girl WOD “Jackie”.  The athlete who can efficiently and effectively move their body weight will be able to consistently do more work without having to dip into anaerobic energy stores during the middle of the workout.  Also, when tackling “Jackie”, good competitors will go in with a game plan based on what they know they can maintain.  Athletes will want to be ready to crush the thrusters and pull ups to get a fast time.

Whether you’re a Vet or Novice, the goal should be to have a strong start, settle and stay strong through the middle, and absolutely crush the sprint in the last 200m.  Stroke rating should be high, above 30 s/m.  A good goal would be 3 split seconds faster than your 2k split.

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