Rowing WOD 11/7/15: 6x2min On, 1min Off Varying Rates – Post Splits

Rowing WOD:

6 x 2min On, 1min Off as follows:

2′ @ 20 s/m (+9 sec above 2k avg split)

1′ rest

2′ @ 22 s/m (+7 sec above 2k avg split)

1′ rest

2′ @ 24 s/m (2k split +5)

1′ rest

2′ @ 26 s/m (2k+3)

1′ rest

2′ @ 28 s/m (2k+1)

1′ rest

2′ @ 30 s/m (2k)

The Renegade Rowing Club will be starting Friday, December 4th at 6:30am at CrossFit Boston.  Winter training will take place Friday mornings leading up to CRASH-B’s in February.  Do you have what it takes?

Can you believe it’s almost Thanksgiving?  There are holiday cups at Starbucks, decorations up in stores, and I might have even heard some holiday music on the radio.  The best part of it all is that CRASH-B’s is right around the corner.  Yes, they may not be until February, but time flies over the holidays.  So kick off winter training today and continue to perfect your technique, hone your 2k tactics, and build your confidence to crush that erg every single week until CRASH-B’s.  If you want to join us just follow along and fit a few Rowing WODs in every week, along with your normal training and lifting in the gym.  Choose WODs that will build upon your weaknesses and don’t be afraid to crush your favorites.

Think about the three key skills to rowing on and off the water.  Posture, Control, and Connection.  Really control the stroke rating and fight for the prescribed split.  Be smooth and be consistent every stroke.  During the rest paddle in slow motion, really emphasizing and thinking about the timing of the stroke and where your body is in space.

Post your Average 500m Split for Each Piece to Comments!

Pat at 2010 CRASH-B Sprints from Coach Pat on Vimeo.

Rest Day 10/29/15: Head of the Fish, 2k Prep, and Renegade Rowing Club!

Rest Day:

It was a solid end to the season! Time to turn it up for the Winter Season!

Head of the Fish is this Weekend!  I hope you’re planning on dressing warm because it’s going to be cold and wet.  I’ll be in town Saturday night and coaching on Sunday.  Hope to see some Renegades there!

Announcing the 2015/16 Renegade Rowing Club!

It’s that time of year again.  The weather has gotten cold and no one wants to row in the cold.  Now is the time to get pumped for training in the gym and crushing your 2k on the erg!  The 2015/16 Renegade Rowing Club will be held at 6:30am on Friday mornings at CrossFit Boston in Brighton, MA.  Practices will start the first Friday of December, 12/4/15.  The cost for the Renegade Rowing Club will be $177 for the whole winter.  We will be training for the Renegade Rowing League, which will be held in December, January, and February leading up to CRASH-B’s.  Who’s game?  Email me if you plan on joining the Renegade Rowing Club, pat@renegaderowing.com.  There are only 16 spots available in the club, so let me know sooner rather than later!

What’s your 2k Race Plan?

Get hydrated, eat well, and get a good sleep.  It’s been a solid three days of training/testing.  Be sure to take the time to mobilize those quads, hips, and hamstrings.  In training we ask a lot of our quads whether it’s rowing or running stadiums.  Show them some love even if it’s painful.  Do it!

For those that have been following the Rowing WODs you’ve probably noticed we are in the middle of a testing week.  We tested the 5k on Monday, the 1′ domain and 1 RM for our lifts on Tuesday, and our general fitness on Wednesday.  If you’ve missed those or are looking for the ultimate test, Friday will be a chance for you to attain 7 or 8 minutes of glory.  Start thinking of your goal and developing a race plan that will get you there.

Post thoughts on your 2k Race Plan, Goals, and if you will be joining the Renegade Rowing Club!

Rowing WOD 10/24/15: 5x1k w/ 3:00 Rest – Post Splits and SR

Rowing WOD:

It's been a great fall on the lake in Wayland, MA! Good Luck to all crews competing at the Head of the Fish this weekend!

5 x 1k w/ 3:00 rest

  • Execute 5k-1 Pace
  • Row like it’s the middle of your 5k

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 5k and Rowing WOD.  Next week we test everything!  Get focused and pumped by crushing it today.  We did this Rowing WOD in September.  Look back and see if you can go faster!

Post your average splits and stroke ratings for each piece to comments!

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!

Rowing WOD 10/20/15: 10x:30 On, :30 Off – Max Pressure – Post Splits

Rowing WOD:

Racing the Single at HOCR!

10 x :30 On, :30 Off

  • Max Pressure
  • Splits should be lower than last Tuesday

It’s been a few months since we’ve done this workout.  We hit this Rowing WOD in June.  Now is a good time to look back and see how you’ve done with training both in consistency and progress toward your goals.  Next week we retest everything including peak power and the 2k.  Let’s kick this week off right by setting the tone today and doing everything we can to be ready for next week.  Go all out and push yourself today!

Congratulations to all those that competed at the Head of the Charles Regatta this weekend!  It was a beautiful couple of days and tons of people came out to support the sport of rowing.  The wind was a bit ridiculous at times on Saturday, and it was frigid on Sunday, but that’s just part of the adventure.  Well done all!

Post your average splits and stroke ratings.  Comment on your consistency and recovery between pieces.