Rowing as cross-training

[MutleyShuffle]

Just seen this runnersworld.com/uk/gear/te... I have been thinking about what to do if the roads/pavements get icy this winter and was thinking about joining a gym to use the treadmill. However you need to pay £30 for an induction and then it's £5 each visit, so it could work out expensive. Then I saw this and did a bit of research on rowing as cross-training. It seems rowing is a good low-impact cross training that uses lots of different muscle groups running.pocketoutdoormedia.... It would still be expensive of course but I like the idea of being able to use it whenever I like without leaving the house! Does anyone else have a rowing machine at home? Or is it a bit bonkers to be contemplating such a thing?! 😁

[andystev]

If you've got room for one they're pretty good x training. We actually managed to pick one up for nowt on Freecycle, so it's worth keeping your eyes open.

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to andystev]

Yes my other half may take a bit of convincing that we've got room for one - he would be more easily convinced if it was free I'm sure! Will keep an eye on Freecycle, thanks

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Are you thinking of buying a machine? We used to have one which we bought for one of our boys. I did try using it but found it gave me backache (I'm sure thay was my lack of good posture despite thinking I was following what the book said) and it was bery boring. At the time I didn't have the motivation of wanting to stay fit for running though, maybe I would be.more likely to use it now if we still had it. It was just a cheap machine that we bought from Argos but we sold it on Gumtree in the end as none of us really used it.

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes just started thinking about it - but Freecycle seems a better idea! I've read you need to keep a really strong core (think being punched in the stomach!) to prevent back ache

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

That sounds about right 😀 My back is much stronger now than it was then thanks to Pilates, but at the time it was enough to put me off. I'm sure you will be able to pick something up secondhand. I got my treadmill secondhand and there was more than one to choose from locally at the time.

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Good idea - I will have a look at the local paper and Gumtree too

[alisonx]

Mutley i think this is a fantastic idea - if you have the space for it.

The aldi offer is not much more than a pair of trainers! Good investment

Seems far better than a gym membership that you may hate, or even worse that when you go the equipment you want is not free!

I am not a fan of the gym can you tell lol - i also fail to see why they need to charge people so much to use it!

It certainly will mix up the workout for you - and as you say an excellent low impact option for bad weather days or even rest days

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to alisonx]

Yes I hate gyms too, would much rather have the option to do this at home. I think we have space, but other half may not agree!! Apparently it folds up so you can store it.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Ours folded up, but it still had a reasonably big footprint - nothing like a treadmill tho

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Rowing is a fantastic low impact strength and cardio workout. A short while ago I looked into "rowing" exercises without excessive equipment, and found this with just a resistance band, which looks pretty good to me (you'd need something sturdy to fix the band to):

menshealth.com/fitness/a195...

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Hey, that looks great! So much cheaper and easier to stash away! Might just get a resistance band instead! Thanks Abi 😊

[Lordi Marathon]

There are rowing machines and rowing machines though, so do some research before buying.

[Madge50 Marathon]

Yes, I’ve got one, (we’ve actually got a ‘gym’ set up in our garage) I’ve started using it as part of a ‘do something every day’ for January, equivalent to a mile everyday.... I have been trying to do it twice a week, I’ve always liked a rowing machine, but my goodness it made my glutes (bum) hurt! 😂.....and I do loads of glute stretches/bridges etc., must be hitting the parts other exercises don’t reach...😱.....it’s not so bad now, but my goodness!........ha ha ha!

Hope you find something that suits.

Mx

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

That's good to know, strong glutes are good glutes! 😁

[Bazza1234 Marathon]

Hmm - last year I could not run for 6 months - so I joined a gym to try to keep up my cardio and maybe build some upper body strength as well. I used the rowing machine quite a lot and it felt good. BUT - when I returned to the road , I was "rubbish" ( as you Brits say ) - but we can only do what we can do !!

[MutleyShuffle Half Marathon in reply to Bazza1234]

Hopefully it will be ok as cross-training, I hope ice won't stop me running for too long 😬

[Bazza1234 Marathon in reply to MutleyShuffle]

I have read that rowing is the "best" cross training" for runners -- but not a replacement for running.

[CBDB]

Just came across your post from 2 years ago, but Just in case it’s of interest, I’ve just dropped a rowing interval workout review in the Strength and Flex Forum. healthunlocked.com/strength...