I thought it might be useful to post a rowing workout. 🚣🏼♂️ I know not many of us use or have rowing machines, and with gyms reducing or closing their opening times during our ongoing COVID crises, it’s a piece of equipment even harder to access.
My family has been fortunate enough to acquire one ca 3 years ago to provide workouts at a time where both my hubby and I had issues with knees and legs that made high impact problematic. 🦵
But at the time I couldn’t find good instruction videos, and I simply rowed or did short intensive HIIT Rowling sessions.
So when I looked out for my next virtual running challenges to sign up and finding a short English Channel one, it made sense to reserve that one solely for rowing. I’m already getting a kick out of telling others that I’m rowing the English Channel.
So that got me into looking into beginners instruction videos, just to make sure I’m doing everything correctly. Promoted through Concept2 website is this workout
Dark Horse Rowing (26 min) Rowing Workouts - The PERFECT BEGINNERS Workout
🚣🏼♂️Shane Farmer, who started Dark Horse rowing some years ago, is really good in explaining in detail how to set up your intervals on Concepts2 PM5, how the intervals will allow you to acquire a good style of rowing and also how to understand and compare the stats.
Having only ever just rowed, it was really interesting having some interval challenges thrown into the mix and I wasn’t aware you were able to have such an interval training on the rowing machine.
🚣🏼♂️He keeps the pace at 18 strokes per minute which even to me as a newbie feels sooooo slow. He suggests that this will allow specifically beginners to cognitively learn all the movements as one still has to concentrate on style. And going at such a slow pace really forces you to make each pull count, so you work you specifically your legs and arms more, understanding that not the pace provides you with speed but the drive as well.
I’ve followed his advice for any beginner to do this workout for the first few weeks, and it is certainly more fun than only rowing for 20minutes. Today was the third time I’ve completed it, and I can see how I’m managing to go further each time, and also how I realise to use my legs more in rowing.
My back is feeling it, but it’s a great alternative to running when the weather keeps you inside. Where I am looking out of a window into a white, icy landscape, it has just begun to snow again.
🏃♀️And of course for those with access to a rower, it’s great cross training for running.
Happy working out everyone
