Rowing Cross-Training and Meta Plans

[CBDB]

Just checking in with my cross-training plans for the year, to also hold myself accountable. And would love to hear if others have also their “Meta-Plans” all ready to be ticked off.

I define a Meta Plan to be a plan of plans, as I describe below.

The last plan I finished in my cross training was the 10k plan for rowing (indoor rowing). That was 2-3 weeks ago, and I got a medal for it 🤩🏅, and then played around with my rowing a bit. So what have I been trying out?

- I rowed whilst with other runners on Discord audio and video channels, also hooked to Zwift

- I did a group competition / challenge ( CTC ) just the day after finishing the 10k Plan and just before the end of the month. I even ended up not in the last boat! (96th boat of 136 boats! Yey!)

- I tried out several workouts with a specific technique of breathing only through your nose and managed that (it keeps heart rate down)

- I trialled a virtual rowing environment, which didn’t quite work as my laptop had insufficient space

- I rowed to music

- I rowed to watching a film on my iPad (not sure I liked that, it was a bit boring, even though the film was not)

But during the last days’ heatwave, I lost a bit of momentum, so I needed to get back into a plan, as this helps with my consistency for regular working out.

So to hold myself accountable, I am just checking in with my cross-training plans for the year, although I can’t tell anymore between running and rowing what my main activity and what my cross-training is. It’s a good dilemma to be in, I guess.

I use my diary a lot to jot down how my fitness journey is going (see pic) to sort out in my head the next steps for my rowing (and noting down ideas for plans, or … a plan of plans). So I had noted down my ideal meta-plan, interspersing various plans with the 30x30. (I wrote about the 30x30min plan is here healthunlocked.com/strength... )

🚣🏼‍♂️ 1. 30x30. ✅ (completed Jan 2022)

🚣🏼‍♂️ 2. 10k plan. ✅ (completed June 2022)

🚣🏼‍♂️ 3. Revisit 30x30. 🔲 (started July 2022)

🚣🏼‍♂️ 4. 5k plan. 🔲

🚣🏼‍♂️ 5. Revisit 30x30. 🔲

🚣🏼‍♂️ 6. HM plan. 🔲

And come December, I’ll do the set of Xmas themed rows:

🤶 12 Rows of Christmas 🔲

So I’ve started my second time on the 30x30 and am on day #5. And just comparing the distances I manage in 30 min from last time is immensely motivating.

- Day #1 Dec’21: 4.4km July’22: 4.9km

- Day #2 Dec’21: 4.3km July’22: 5km

- Day #4 Dec’21: 4.2km July’22: 4.9km

And, of course, these are guided pace rows, so you are asked to keep a specific pace. They are not time trials or races. But whereas in Dec, I was panting and trying to keep up, now the mid-tier and low-tier rowing sessions feel quite comfortable, with most low-tier rows being able to be finished with solely breathing through the nose, though still pretty sweaty 😅.

So my meta plan for rowing as cross training is in action, how about yours?