Rowing WOD 2/28/14: “Snow Drifts” – Post Distance

Rowing WOD:

As soon as the ice melts!

As soon as the ice melts!

“Snow Drifts”

2 x 17min w/ 4min Rest

as follows …

5′ @22 s/m, 4′ @24, 3′ @26, 2′ @28, 3′ @26

4min Rest

5′ @20 s/m, 4′ @24, 3′ @28, 2′ @30, 3′ @26

  • Post distance rowed to comments and thoughts on ratio.

Strength WOD:

EMOM10

3 Power Cleans

  • Touch and Go
  • Ascending heavier than last week.
  • Post Load to Comments.

Conditioning WOD:

EMOM5

2 Snatch Balances

4 Ring Rows

  • Post Load to Comments.

I know there’s no snow drifts out the window, but it is pretty cold.  I can’t wait for it to get warm and for this ice to melt on the Charles River.  I hope you’re fired up for the Open and staying warm inside this weekend.

Today’s focus is the Rowing WOD and more specifically ratio and rhythm.  Today’s Rowing WOD is another opportunity for everyone to keep working on a sense of form and rhythm without the pressure of intensity and competition.  Sometimes it’s good to slow down and dial in that technique.  Pressure should be a moderate to hard steady state.  That means you can get out short sentences but it’s difficult to maintain a detailed conversation.

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.

Slingshot Hands Away will be key when we get on the water!

When going from a 26 stroke rating to a 28 you should focus on more pressure with the legs and quickly redirecting the hands through the finish.  Think of a slingshot as you pull the hands in and release them quick and smooth away.  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 the rating shifts down from a 28 to a 26 be sure to perform a ratio shift and try to maintain the same split.  Focus on pushing a little harder and take an extra second to breath on the recovery to bring the stroke rating down.

Have fun with the rowing and attack the Olympic Lifting work if you have time!

Strength WOD 2/27/14: 3×8 Back Squat @72.5% – Post Loads

Rowing WOD:

Be sure to hit full depth!  Work Mobility if you can't!

Be sure to hit full depth! Work Mobility if you can’t!

1 Stroke On / 1 Stroke Off

2 Strokes On / 2 Strokes Off

3 On / 3 Off … (continue pattern)

… 10 On / 10 Off … (reverse pattern back down to 1 On / 1 Off)

  • On strokes are full pressure with suspension
  • Off strokes are a light paddle with perfect sequence
  • Post distance to comments.

Strength WOD:

3 x 8 Back Squat @72.5%

  • Post Load to comments

then, 10 x :30 Handstand Hold

Conditioning WOD:

AMRAP7

20 Calorie Row

20 Double Unders

  • Post time to comments.

The focus of today is Strength, so be sure to get in the Strength WOD of 3×8 Back Squats.  If time allows, choose the blocks that will help you improve as an athlete.  If you have enough time for all three blocks then attack them all!

If everything else is equal, the stronger rower will win.

Get Strong and Have Fun!

Conditioning WOD 2/26/14: “Rowing Helen” Re-Test – Post Time and Splits

Rowing WOD:

Renegade Rowing at CFB

Renegade Rowing at CFB

10′ Erg Warmup: Start w/ Reverse Pic Drill and Pic Drill

3×20 Starts – 1/2 stroke, 3/4 stroke, full stroke (Half Speed, Half Pressure)

Conditioning WOD:

“Rowing Helen” – 3 Rounds For Time

  • 500m Row
  • 21 KB Swings (24/16 kg)
  • 12 Pull Ups

Strength WOD:

25 GHD Sit Ups then,

Superset

1a. 7×5 Dips

1b. 7×5 Pull Ups

Today’s focus is aerobic conditioning.  Get in some good skill work to warmup with the Rowing WOD and then attack the Conditioning WOD.  Go hard for the start and finish, but be smooth and efficient through the bulk of the work.  Focus on breathing and consistent pace.  At the end of the day the Strength WOD includes some supplemental strength for the shoulders and core.  Find the right scale so that each movement is challenging.

This week is a competition week in the Renegade Rowing Training Plan.  Today is your opportunity to compete against yourself and everyone else on your team to improve your performance from last week.  Dig deep and push harder for the person next to you!

Take quality strokes and have fun pushing yourself.

Post your time for the Conditioning WOD to comments as well as your splits for each 500m piece.

Rowing WOD 2/25/14: 15 x :20 On, :40 Off – Post Fastest, Slowest, and Avg Split

Rowing WOD:12543616735_e5b7fbddd5_z

15 x :20 On, :40 Off

Max Pressure

  • Post Fastest, Slowest, and Avg Split to Comments

Conditioning WOD:

3RFT

12 Burpees

8 Ball Slams (20/15 lbs.)

6 Thrusters (105/70 lbs.)

  • Post time to comments.

Strength WOD:

15 GHD Sit Ups

Tabata Hollow Rocks

8x:20 on/:10 off

  • Post scale and experience to comments.

Elite fitness is all about developing power through high intensity.  Today’s Rowing WOD is an opportunity to push your boundaries and test the limits of your speed.  Catch your breath and focus on the 40 seconds off so that you can put every ounce of energy into suspending from the oar and going low on the split.  Compare your results to your 2k race plan.  Do you last through the first 7, but die soon after?  Could you go faster at the start of your 2k?  What happens to your focus in the last couple?  Use your results to adjust your race plan and goal for our next 2k test which will be happening in about 5 weeks.  The idea of suspension can be very powerful when you’re trying to pull low splits under fatigue.  Check it out below.

Post your fastest, slowest, and average splits to comments.

Try warming up with a couple of strap drills to feel and practice suspending from the oar.    Have Fun!

Strength WOD 2/24/14: 3×8 Deadlift @72.5% – Post Loads

Rowing WOD:

BC Men's Crew! Setting up for the DL.

BC Men’s Crew! Setting up for the DL.

“Hills”

3 x 10min w/ 4min Rest as follows …

4min @20 s/m

3min @22

2min @24

1min @26

  • Post Distances to Comments

Strength WOD:BC Men DL Finish

3×8 Deadlift @72.5%

  • All three working sets @72.5% of 1RM
  • Post Loads to Comments

Conditioning WOD:

7RFT

15 Deadlift (115/75 lbs.)

10 Box Jumps (24/20 in.)

5 Shoulder to Overhead (115/75 lbs.)

  • Post Time to Comments

Rowing is a beautiful sport in that you create the resistance and determine how fast the boat moves.  That being said, keep in mind that you get out what you put in for things like strength, conditioning, and Rowing.

Today’s focus is Strength, so get after those deadlifts and see what you’ve got for 8 reps.  If you have time push it out with the Conditioning WOD and get fired up for the Games!  They start later this week!

Let’s get off to a good start to the week!

Post your loads and results to Comments!