Rowing WOD 2/10/15: 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 at CRASH-B 2015, March 1st!

Rowing WOD 2/7/15: 6x650m w/ 1:45 Rest – Post Splits

Rowing WOD:

Renegade Rowing League Competitors throwing down in the 2k!

6 x 650m w/ 1:45 Rest

  • FOCUS: CRASH-B’s STRATEGY

Are you ready for CRASH-B’s or your closest indoor event?  The World Indoor Rowing Championships are three weeks away on March 1st.  You’ll definitely want a game plan going in. This is a Rowing WOD we did in December and today is a chance to test your training and see if you’re ready to go.  Use today’s Rowing WOD to test out your race strategy. Perform the first two pieces with a focus on consistency in stroke rating and splits. If you’re feeling solid try to go a little bit faster each consecutive piece.  If you have your splits from December try to improve upon them and finish stronger on the last couple of pieces.  Next week we’ll be dialing in our speed with shorter intervals, so get after it today.  Now is the time to see what you’ve got and push yourself.

Post your average splits for each piece to comments!

Rowing WOD 2/4/15: 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 2/3/15: 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!!!

Less than a month until CRASH-B’s!  You’ve been training hard all winter with a goal pace in mind.  Today is the day to attack it and dial it in.  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.

On March 1st we will be testing our 2k at CRASH-B’s, the World Indoor Rowing Championships.  If you’re in Boston swing on by and say hi.  If not, crush a 2k in your hometown gym with a friend.

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.

Rowing WOD 1/31/15: 8x500m w/ 2min Rest – Post Splits and Focus

Rowing WOD:

Abby getting after it at the Renegade Rowing League last Saturday!

8 x 500m w/ 2min Rest

1st/2nd – Like start of 2k

3rd/4th – Like 2nd 500 of 2k

5th/6th – Like 3rd 500 of 2k

7th/8th – Like finish of 2k

With our last 2k practice of the year behind us, now it’s time to get focused and prepared for the  main event, CRASH-B 2015.  Try to keep a consistent pace over all 8 or “negative split” toward the end if you’re feeling good.  Negative splitting means you pull a faster split than you did the last piece.

As a quick review for novice rowers, race pace over 2,000m will be at a stroke rating of 28 − 32 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!