Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to pick up the intensity and push yourself. Each round you’ll have 1 minute and 30 seconds to complete 7 thrusters and then row as many meters as possible. Keep track of how many meters you row each round. During the rest control your breathing and get focused on the next round. As you fatigue be sure to keep a solid core in both the thruster and the row. Don’t collapse, keep a big chest, and use those legs!
If you’re looking for an edge in Tabata This, Fight Gone Bad, or simply your Tabata Row, today’s Rowing WOD is the perfect opportunity to build your consistency on shorter pieces. The focus is maintaining race pressure and mentally executing a race plan. The goal is to be consistently strong through all 12 pieces. During the 20 seconds off, paddle lightly at a stroke rating of 14 – 16 to recover.
The first three pieces should be executed like the start of a 2k race; sprint start, high ten, then settle to an efficient race pace. The second three pieces should focus on holding a consistent race pace and stroke rating, around 32 for vets and 28 for novices. The third section represents the third 500 of the 2k where mental toughness is key to keep the split from jumping up. The last three pieces are an opportunity to either practice your sprint to the finish line or hold strong if you’re really feeling it. When finished you will have 12 data points you can compare to see where extra focus will be required during your next 2k or first 2k if you’ve never done one!
Post your average 500m split and total calories to comments.
Steady state rowing is good for building aerobic base and rhythm. However, it can be easy to get lazy and slump, compromising your posture and inviting overuse injuries. Today’s Rowing WOD is an example of “Spicy Steady State” and allows you to keep your focus throughout the piece. During the four minutes steady try to focus on one technique fix or breathing. Then when you bump up the intensity for a minute, see if you can apply that technique fix to pulling lower splits at full pressure.
Over the last few days my schedule has kicked in to full gear and I’ve had the opportunity to coach a wide range of athletes. In the mornings I coach athletes from CrossFit Boston and Community Rowing. In the afternoon I coach high school athletes from the Wayland Weston Crew Team. The biggest thing all three teams need to improve their performance is mobility. Today is a good day to focus on improving your mobility. Let’s get after it!
In rowing the longer your stroke the further you can move the boat and ultimately the faster you can go. Same thing applies indoors, rowing on the erg. The only problem with that equation is your positioning. Are you in a strong position at the catch and finish? Today is a day to work on mobility and improve that positioning. Take at least 15 minutes, ideally longer, to work on your tight spots. What limits you? Ankle flexion at the catch? Shoulder mobility at the finish? Tight hips/hamstrings at Bodies Over?
Share where you tend to be tight during a row as well as your problem areas for WODs. What are you doing daily to work them out?
How’s it going Renegades? Apologies for not posting over the past week or two. I’ve been busy getting one of my new teams up to speed. I’m now the Head Coach for the Wayland-Weston Crew Team. I hope to get back on a regular posting schedule this week. One thing we’ve been focused on at WW is Posture, Connection, and Suspension. Give this Rowing WOD a shot and let me know your thoughts on those three skills. How does one lend itself to the other?
Rowing WOD:
Suspension Drills
6 x 2:00 w/ 1:30 Rest,
@28 s/m for all
@2k+3, Damper Set at 8
@2k+3, Damper Set at 6
@2k+3, Damper Set at 4
@2k+3, Damper Set at 2
@2k+3, Damper Set at 5
@2k+3, Damper Set at Favorite
Check Drag Factor
Recently we’ve been reviewing the fundamental skills of posture, control, and connection. Today we’ll take the idea of connection one step further as we feel what it means to suspend from the oar handle. Suspension is all about using our body weight to hang on the oar and help accelerate the handle all the way through the drive. The key is not to create any force Upward off the seat, but to just become weightless off your seat while keeping in contact with it. Everything – forces, handle height, chain – needs to be HORIZONTAL when we row! NO need to do extra Work (W = mgh) by moving stuff up and down every stroke, keep it horizontal!
Drills we’ll cover include the Stand Up/Sit Down drill to get the feeling of suspending above the seat. Remember this is an exaggeration to get the correct sensation and feeling of good connection. We will also do the Strap Drill where we statically hang and suspend from the handle while maintaining our body angles and strong postures. Then we’ll do the Strap Drill dynamically by letting the strap out slowly and trying to hold suspension all the way through the drive.
In today’s Rowing WOD we’ll be varying the damper to find where we’re most efficient. Over the next week play around with the damper to find where you’re most comfortable/efficient . When you find a damper setting you like, check the drag factor so you can begin using a consistent drag factor. For more information on Drag Factors read this article: http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/tips-and-general-info/damper-setting-101
For today’s 2min pieces, try to focus on good connection and suspension while keeping a consistent split for all 6 pieces. After you’re done look back at the memory to see what your average stroke rating was for each piece. Whatever piece felt comfortable/efficient and was done at a stroke rating of 28-32 might be a good drag factor for you. Take a couple of minutes to set the damper to that number and check the drag factor on the monitor. Remember that drag factor and try to use it next time you row to see if you still like it.
Post your average splits and favorite drag factor to comments!
********** IMPORTANT *************
The biggest thing to focus on and practice right now is the fundamentals!!! Body Preparation by Half Slide is Key and Connection to move the handle with the seat out of the Catch is key! If you can Prep and Connect, the suspension will come. Whenever focusing on suspension ensure your abs are engaged and you have a solid hollow body! Protect those discs!
If you have any questions let me know!
Here is a quick video of the strap drill. It’s a fun challenge to do dynamically. If you like what you see, come try it and train with the Renegade Rowing Club! The Renegade Rowing Club practices Tuesdays at 6:00am and Wednesdays at 6:00pm at CrossFit Boston. Let me know if you’re planning on coming… pat@renegaderowing.com
Renegade Rowing 