Rowing WOD 6/16/15: 4×1.5k w/ 4min Rest – Post Average Splits

Rowing WOD:CFRowing Trainer Course Drills

4 x 1,500m w/ 4:00 rest

  • Execute Race Focus
  • Row Each Piece @28-30 s/m at the following paces: 2k+5, 2k+4, 2k+3, 2k+2

While it’s good to constantly vary your training to push your boundaries, there is something to be said about repetition to build your confidence!  Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to build your aerobic capacity and work on a couple of tactical and technique fixes.

Have a game plan for each piece including the split and stroke rating you want to hold.  Ideally each piece will be done consistently or a little bit faster.  If you’re working on efficiency or sequencing, focus on one fix each piece.  Perhaps you find your breath and rhythm on the first.  Or maybe it’s sequencing and body preparation that needs attention on the second.  If you choose the right pace it will build your confidence and you will be ready to tear up your next 2k and Rowing WOD.  Our next 2k will be on Saturday, June 27th!  An Epic Day for sure!

RR Training Plan and Rowing WOD 6/15/15: 4x10min w/ 2min Rest – Post Avg Splits

Hope you’re all enjoying this Summer weather!  Here is the RR Training Plan for the week.  Keep an eye on the Strength Blocks programmed for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  They will be body weight movements per your request. Have fun and Get After It!

RR Training Plan 6-15-15

Rowing WOD:

4x10min w/ 2 min Rest 

Pre-Season Tank Session

As Follows:

1. 4min @18 Steady, 1min @20 Full Pressure, 4min @18 Steady, 1min @20 Full Pressure

2min Rest

2. 4min @20 Steady, 1min @22 Full Pressure, 4min @20 Steady, 1min @22 Full Pressure

2min Rest

3. 4min @22 Steady, 1min @24 Full Pressure, 4min @22 Steady, 1min @24 Full Pressure

2min Rest

4. 4min @24 Steady, 1min @26 Full Pressure, 4min @24 Steady, 1min @26 Full Pressure

Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are?  Are you good at long distance pieces or do you lose focus and consistency?  Are you strong during 500m pieces but can’t maintain power for anything longer?  Or perhaps your peak power needs improvement?

In Training and Rowing we are constantly trying to improve our skills and strengthen our goats.  Take a look at your performances and accomplishments since the start of the year.  What needs work or could use some improvement?  Take that to heart and if you can only fit in a couple of Rowing WODs per week, focus on the ones that will strengthen those weaknesses.

Today’s focus is developing the consistency and aerobic base to maintain pressure at race pace for longer pieces.  During the Steady State portion try to pull the same 500m Split every stroke.  Effort should be such that you can hold a conversation, but you are aware of your breathing.  During the Pressure portion ensure the split drops as the stroke rating increases.  It should be harder to get out full sentences during the one minute of Pressure.

Post your Average Splits and what you plan to focus on in the coming weeks!

Strength and Conditioning WOD 6/12/15: Re-Test: “Lil’ Nancy in a Boat” – 3RFT – 500m Row, 15 OHS – Post Time

Strength and Conditioning WOD:

Jimmy from the Loyola Men's Crew Team working his Shoulder Flexibility in the Overhead Squat last Winter.

Re-Test: “Lil’ Nancy in a Boat”

3 Rounds For Time

500m Row

15 Overhead Squats (75/55 lbs.)

Today’s Rowing WOD is a great opportunity for any athlete, experienced or not, to get a sense of form and rhythm and then apply it in competition.  Get in a solid warm up and hone your rowing skills with a 10min WarmUp on the Erg and then attack this Strength and Conditioning WOD with your new found efficiency and focus on form.

Rhythm and Endurance are two necessities for successful competition in longer WODs.  A great example would be the KB Swings and Pull Ups found in “Helen” or the necessity to be fresh enough for the thrusters and pull ups in Jackie.  Those who find a consistent rhythm can flow through the movements naturally and rely on their aerobic endurance without dipping into their anaerobic energy supply.

In today’s Rowing WOD the focus is developing rhythm and endurance.  Another word for rhythm in rowing is Ratio.  By varying the ratio of the drive to the recovery rowers can maintain the same pace or split, but work more efficiently and make the stroke feel lighter or heavier.

When going from a 20 stroke rating to a 24 you should focus on more pressure with the legs and quickly redirecting the hands through the finish.  This will help increase the stroke rating while leaving you the same amount of time to sit up, breathe, and relax as you slide forward on the recovery.

When you attack “Lil’ Nancy in a Boat” pick a challenging split and stroke rating to hold, but make sure you’re able to remain efficient and fresh enough to perform the overhead squats unbroken.  If you know your 2k split, pick a goal split somewhere between 2k and 2k+3.  Try to focus on your rhythm and ratio to allow for breathing and recovery every single stroke.

Get after it and have a solid day of training!  Be sure to look back at your results from last week and try to beat your score this week!

Rowing WOD 6/10/15: 4x8min w/ 4min Rest – Post Focus and Avg Splits

Rowing WOD:J Row

4 x 8min w/ 4min Rest

@26-28 s/m (2k+4 to 2k+6)

Deliberate practice is key to success and mastery of any sport.  It’s been said you need to spend at least 10,000 hours to master a discipline whether it’s athletic or otherwise.  While this may be the case the more quality and purpose you bring to your practice the more you’ll get out of it.

Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to bring deliberate practice to your erging.  Row each 8 minute piece at a pace of 2k + 5 seconds.  Meaning if your 2k split is 2:00 /500m (8:00 2k) then you would row each piece today at 2:05 /500m.  Pick 4 things you want to improve about your technique and fix one per piece.  Things you can focus on are keeping level hands, initiating with the legs, smooth tension on the chain, keeping the feet attached to the footboards, or keeping the chest up at the catch.

Post your technique focus and average splits to comments.

Rowing WOD 6/9/15: 10×1:00 On, :45 Off – Post Splits and Distances

Rowing WOD:

10 x 1:00 On, :45 Off

CRASH-B's here we come! Attention! Row!

  • Goal Pace!!!

Today is the day to attack it and dial in your 2k Race Plan.  Those with experience know the benefit of pacing, gaming, and executing a plan to produce a personal best performance.  In the end a game plan facilitates mental toughness and focus to deal with pain when things get tough.

Today’s focus is executing your goal 2k race plan at high intensity.  Set the monitor for intervals distance with 1 minute of Work and 45 seconds of Rest.  Row the first two pieces as if they were the start of the 2k.  Row the next three pieces as if they were part of the second 500m, Row the next three pieces as if they were part of the third 500m, and finish the last two pieces with a sprint like the end of a race.

This should not be an all out Max Effort, but rather a calculated effort at a split close to your goal split.  The goal should be to pull the lowest split possible, consistently through all 10 intervals.  If you have a good start and settle in the first two pieces and a solid sprint for the last two pieces then you’re average split for all 10 pieces should be that goal split you’d like to hit on the 2k.

Post your Splits and Distances for each piece to comments.