Rest Day 10/22/15: How do you get motivated? Share!

Rest Day:

Racing the Single at HOCR!

How do you get motivated?

The Head of the Charles took place last weekend in Boston.  A lot of rowers used the Head to get motivated by setting goals to place in the top 20, top 10, or top 3.  If you got a chance to check it out please share your thoughts and pictures.  Did witnessing one of the most awesome rowing events in the world get you motivated to commit toward your own goals or an upcoming event?

I’m looking forward to getting the Renegade Rowing Club up and running for the winter and training for CRASH-B’s.  More details on the Renegade Rowing Club and the Renegade Rowing League will be out next Thursday, so keep a look out!

Approaching Western Ave. Bridge at HOCR!

Below is an excerpt from a great blog on motivation by Alex Black of Wicked Good Nutrition.  Check it out and tell us how you’re getting motivated this Winter!

The Land of Motivation

Motivation can be tough. It can be hard to find your way to Motivation-land, and once you get there, it can be even harder to stay. It takes at least a month to turn a behavior into a habit, and that month will typically be rife with challenges. Because, you know, the minute you decide to give up sugar or beer the next three social outings your friends plan are a baking pot luck and outing to your favorite craft beer bar…

On top of that, some research suggests it can take up to 3 years to reset your body’s homeostasis (sense of balance) at a new weight. What this means is, if you lose 20 pounds, it can take 3 years before you body recognizes this as its new and healthy weight.

But all that aside, there are a few tricks you can use to help you get motivated and stay motivated. These include:

…Read More!

Rest Day 10/16/15: Where do you row? In a Gym? On the Water? With a Rowing Club?

Rest Day:

Where do you row? In a Gym? On the Water? With a Rowing Club?

Rowing as a sport has been exploding over the last couple of years. I’d love to hear from everyone. Where do you row? I’ve been in touch with many followers of the Renegade Rowing WOD as well as gym owners who have started their own rowing clubs. If I can help you take rowing to the next level please let me know.

It’s been said that Rowing Is Passion!

How do you incorporate rowing into your everyday training and what makes you passionate about this amazing sport?

Renegade Rowing was lucky enough to be interviewed by Alexa Pozniak of Boston.com for a video and article on why rowing can be such a great fitness tool and how local rowers are training for the Head of the Charles. Having the opportunity to spread my knowledge and passion for the sport with the athletes of Wayland-Weston Crew, Boston College Men’s Crew, CrossFit Boston, and followers of Renegade Rowing is what I live for. Seeing all of you improve and find passion in rowing is what it’s all about. Feel free to share this video and article with your friends and look us up when you’re in Boston.

Throw Back Thursday: Renegade Rowing Interview via Boston.com

Rowing WOD 10/12/15: Shuttle Run Pyramid (30min Cap) – Post Time or Levels Completed

Rowing WOD:

BC Men's Crew and I doing a Row, Run, WOD, Run, Row! Training as a team raises both intensity and fun!

Shuttle Run Pyramid  (30 Minute Cap)

1,250m Row – 6 shuttles       

1,000m Row – 4 shuttles      

750m Row – 3 shuttles         

500m Row – 2 shuttles       

250m Row – 1 shuttle

The beauty of Rowing lies in the opportunity to push yourself as an individual and as part of a team.  Today’s workout is a shuttle run pyramid and a good example of how training with a partner can take your effort and performance to the next level.  If you don’t have a training partner you can still do this workout, but it would be a lot more fun to grab someone from the gym and show them what rowing is all about.

One partner will start on the rower and one will start on the run.  The rower completes the noted distance while the partner sprints the noted number of shuttle/wind sprints.  For the run, designate a starting line and then setup three cones at 10m, 20m, and 30m.  One shuttle run will be down and back three times to a different cone each time; in other words – touch the 10 and run back, touch the 20 and back, touch the 30 and back.  The partner that finishes each round first gets time to rest!

Post Time or Levels Completed to comments.

Rowing WOD Demo with Renegade Rowing (From a few years ago! Back when this adventure began!)

Rowing WOD 10/10/15: 2x3k Row w/ 6min Rest – Post Avg. Splits

Try this RWOD on the water if possible!

2 x 3k Row w/ 6min Rest as follows …

  • 1k @26 s/m (@5k+5)
  • 1k @28 s/m (@5k+3)
  • 1k @5k Race Pace

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.

At the end of the month we’ll be doing a week of testing to end the fall season and see where we’re at going into the winter.  We’ll be testing all distances, so keep training hard and keep it fun.  Focus on hitting the prescribed ratings and splits.  As we transition into the winter training period we’ll begin focusing on the 2k for the Renegade Rowing League and CRASH-B’s.  They’ll be here before you know it, so get pumped!

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 Distance and enter 3,000m of Work and 6 minutes of rest.  This WOD has the potential to build your confidence for the 5k.  Come up with a plan and execute.  Be consistent with your splits and stroke ratings for both pieces.  If possible go a little bit faster every 1k.  5k Race pace should be at a stroke rating of 28-32 strokes per minute.  Find your efficient stroke.  Novices should focus on one form fix for each piece and work hard.

Post your Average 500m Splits to Comments!