Rowing machine at the gym

[boston340]

I like using the rowing machine at the gym to warm up my arms before I do the NROLW routine.  I usually row for a few minutes (last night I did 600 meters -- so not a long time by any means).

Does anyone do full workouts on the rowing machine?  I find that once I get going I really enjoy it and could see myself doing it for 20 minutes or so.  

Talk to me about how you use a rowing machine, if you do.

[woowoo]

I do Tabata on the rowing machine. 10 rounds - 30 seconds on/10 seconds off (normal tabata is 20 seconds on/10 seconds off, but I lengthen it on the erg.

[wambam]

We use it pretty frequently. Sometimes it's in a larger workout. For example, I did 5 rounds of 300m row, 15 box jumps, 15 burpees, 16 pull-ups. Sometimes it's sprints, like 400m sprint, rest 2min, repeat 8 times. Rarely we do something like a 5K row.

[al320]

I used to, i should start that again. Id do a 10 minute warmup, then 10-15 minutes of 30 second intervals, and then a 10minute cool down.

I went to a rowing studio a few months ago, and they did all sorts of things that i definitely couldnt describe, mixing up hand positions and go towards the side to work obliques. It was amazing. Id google it, im sure there are tons of workouts out ere.

[labbie]

I fell in love with the rowing machines at the Crossfit box I attended for a while. It's a Concept2 rower, and it's awesome. Purchased one for home when we gave up our gym memberships.

The longest I've done it is 40 minutes, and with an interval workout you can burn a lot of calories. I also like that it's a full body workout and no impact.
Since running more regularly I haven't used it for full workouts in a while, but I row 1000M before and/or after my strength training on those days.

I google around for different interval workouts or use/modify the workout of the day from here:

www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/wod

[wambam]

Jul 25, 2014 8:44:32 GMT -5 labbie said:

I fell in love with the rowing machines at the Crossfit box I attended for a while. It's a Concept2 rower, and it's awesome. 

Does. Not. Compute.

I hate the rower. It's the very worst.

[enfuego23]

Jul 25, 2014 8:51:12 GMT -5 wambam said:

Jul 25, 2014 8:44:32 GMT -5 labbie said:

I fell in love with the rowing machines at the Crossfit box I attended for a while. It's a Concept2 rower, and it's awesome. 

Does. Not. Compute.

I hate the rower. It's the very worst.

I have to go with wambam on this - I loathe the rower. I had to use one a lot when I was injured and couldn't run. 

[labbie]

Jul 25, 2014 8:51:12 GMT -5 wambam said:

Jul 25, 2014 8:44:32 GMT -5 labbie said:

I fell in love with the rowing machines at the Crossfit box I attended for a while. It's a Concept2 rower, and it's awesome. 

Does. Not. Compute.

I hate the rower. It's the very worst.

I know. I can't explain it either!

[taratru]

I like the rower a hell of a lot more than the elliptical! I like all the options of intervals you can do.

[suzyp]

Jul 25, 2014 8:54:15 GMT -5 enfuego23 said:

Jul 25, 2014 8:51:12 GMT -5 wambam said:

Does. Not. Compute.

I hate the rower. It's the very worst.

I have to go with wambam on this - I loathe the rower. I had to use one a lot when I was injured and couldn't run. 

You two are crazy!  I LOVE it and would rather do that than run (likely because I am a slow runner!)  We bought one too.

OP - if you look up the Concept2 website, they have daily workouts on there - both long and short ones.  It's such a great full body workout.

[emilyinchile]

Most people hate it, I am another weirdo who loves it. Compared to running, I feel like I get in the zone more (no obstacles or traffic lights or anything to watch out for), and I like that instead of being a constant speed like jogging it's more of a rhythm of PULL rest rest PULL rest rest. Plus I'm 5'9", which I understand helps.

Like the other Crossfitters, I mostly row in combination with other things. Today we had to do a metabolic endurance WOD, and I did 3 rounds of rowing 3000 m + 20 push press. Definitely feeling that one. To help with my shoulder injury, I've done some hand position switching as al320 said, and I can totally feel different muscles working. Does your rower have games? They are basically interval training but with the distraction of thinking you're doing something more fun Also check out nccflab.com/ - they put up an endurance workout usually once a week with a rowing option.

[boston340]

Thank you for the tips and links for rowing workouts. Ummm....I didn't know people had such strong feelings about the rowing machine. Like with a lot of things, looks like people either love it or hate it!

[pixy0stix]

The rower at my old gym had a fishing game on it. I would get on and play the game. 30 min later I'd hop off and wonder why I felt like I'd just ran several miles when I was just playing a game. I wish more exercise was like that.

[suzyp]

Jul 25, 2014 9:56:48 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Jul 25, 2014 8:38:34 GMT -5 wambam said:

We use it pretty frequently. Sometimes it's in a larger workout. For example, I did 5 rounds of 300m row, 15 box jumps, 15 burpees, 16 pull-ups. Sometimes it's sprints, like 400m sprint, rest 2min, repeat 8 times. Rarely we do something like a 5K row.

Yup, the longest row in a work out is usually 1k.
I absolutely hate the rower. I went from 2nd to 5th in a competition because of that thing. 
I'll take a run, or the Airdyne any day. 

We call that Satan's tricycle at my box. No.  That thing is like the worst invention ever. EVER. 

[wambam]

Jul 25, 2014 12:02:04 GMT -5 suzyp said:

Jul 25, 2014 9:56:48 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

Yup, the longest row in a work out is usually 1k.
I absolutely hate the rower. I went from 2nd to 5th in a competition because of that thing. 
I'll take a run, or the Airdyne any day. 

We call that Satan's tricycle at my box. No.  That thing is like the worst invention ever. EVER. 

Random interjection. I did an AD sprint workout last week (50sec max effort, rest 4:30 min, 5 rounds) and I had to sit in the corner for 20+ minutes, trying not to throw up. 

But, yet, I would still rather AD than row.

[boston340]

Jul 25, 2014 12:12:47 GMT -5 wambam said:

Jul 25, 2014 12:02:04 GMT -5 suzyp said:

We call that Satan's tricycle at my box. No.  That thing is like the worst invention ever. EVER. 

Random interjection. I did an AD sprint workout last week (50sec max effort, rest 4:30 min, 5 rounds) and I had to sit in the corner for 20+ minutes, trying not to throw up. 

But, yet, I would still rather AD than row.

Is an airdyne like a cross between a stationary bike and an elliptical?  What makes it so difficult?  I'm not doubting you at all and you are waaaaaay tougher and more fit than I am, but I'm trying to figure out what makes it such a tough workout.

[wambam]

Jul 25, 2014 13:27:02 GMT -5 boston340 said:

Jul 25, 2014 12:12:47 GMT -5 wambam said:

Random interjection. I did an AD sprint workout last week (50sec max effort, rest 4:30 min, 5 rounds) and I had to sit in the corner for 20+ minutes, trying not to throw up. 

But, yet, I would still rather AD than row.

Is an airdyne like a cross between a stationary bike and an elliptical?  What makes it so difficult?  I'm not doubting you at all and you are waaaaaay tougher and more fit than I am, but I'm trying to figure out what makes it such a tough workout.

This is an AD. I think the reason it's so awful is the way we use it in CF. I think it's usually used as a slower steady-state cardio type machine. We use it for sprints. So you're going ballz out for <1 min and it feels like you're going to die. Also, it utilizes both legs and arms.

[boston340]

Jul 25, 2014 13:29:00 GMT -5 wambam said:

Jul 25, 2014 13:27:02 GMT -5 boston340 said:

Is an airdyne like a cross between a stationary bike and an elliptical?  What makes it so difficult?  I'm not doubting you at all and you are waaaaaay tougher and more fit than I am, but I'm trying to figure out what makes it such a tough workout.

This is an AD. I think the reason it's so awful is the way we use it in CF. I think it's usually used as a slower steady-state cardio type machine. We use it for sprints. So you're going ballz out for <1 min and it feels like you're going to die. Also, it utilizes both legs and arms.

Ah, got it!

[boston340]

Jul 25, 2014 10:12:11 GMT -5 emilyinchile said:

 Does your rower have games? They are basically interval training but with the distraction of thinking you're doing something more fun  

Jul 25, 2014 11:01:16 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

The rower at my old gym had a fishing game on it. I would get on and play the game. 30 min later I'd hop off and wonder why I felt like I'd just ran several miles when I was just playing a game. I wish more exercise was like that.

THANK YOU for the idea to check for games on the rowing machine.  The machines at our Y do have them!  I tried out the fishing game last night and it was fun!  There are about 5 games on them, so I'll try each of them to find the best ones.

[emilyinchile]

I'm so glad you quoted me because I saw this guy the other day and thought of this thread but couldn't remember who'd started it to tag you: www.shanefarmer.com/ Tons of tips on how to improve.

[niq]

I hated it until I started working out with a friend of mine who rowed in college. Then it became fun.

I never did a full work out on it, it was either a 2k or 3 1k as part of a larger workout.

If you haven't done it yet, I really recommend finding someone who's done real rowing to teach a few basics.

[al320]

Jul 25, 2014 11:01:16 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

The rower at my old gym had a fishing game on it. I would get on and play the game. 30 min later I'd hop off and wonder why I felt like I'd just ran several miles when I was just playing a game. I wish more exercise was like that.

The machine at my gym has the fishing game. I think i couldnt figure it out? I just row fast to catch the fish?

[pixy0stix]

Aug 1, 2014 11:05:57 GMT -5 al320 said:

Jul 25, 2014 11:01:16 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

The rower at my old gym had a fishing game on it. I would get on and play the game. 30 min later I'd hop off and wonder why I felt like I'd just ran several miles when I was just playing a game. I wish more exercise was like that.

The machine at my gym has the fishing game. I think i couldnt figure it out? I just row fast to catch the fish?

You sink up and down depending on how fast you're rowing. The faster you row, the higher in the water you move. You want to sink/swim where the fish are, and avoid the hooks.

[al320]

Aug 1, 2014 11:34:32 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Aug 1, 2014 11:05:57 GMT -5 al320 said:

The machine at my gym has the fishing game. I think i couldnt figure it out? I just row fast to catch the fish?

You sink up and down depending on how fast you're rowing. The faster you row, the higher in the water you move. You want to sink/swim where the fish are, and avoid the hooks.

Gotcha. Ill try it again

[boston340]

Aug 1, 2014 11:56:30 GMT -5 al320 said:

Aug 1, 2014 11:34:32 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

You sink up and down depending on how fast you're rowing. The faster you row, the higher in the water you move. You want to sink/swim where the fish are, and avoid the hooks.

Gotcha. Ill try it again

Here's instructions for the games:

www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/performance-monitors/games

[al320]

Aug 1, 2014 12:48:23 GMT -5 boston340 said:

Aug 1, 2014 11:56:30 GMT -5 al320 said:

Gotcha. Ill try it again

Here's instructions for the games:

www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/performance-monitors/games

Thanks!

[sugarbear]

I was a competitive rower for twenty years. And yet, I refuse to ever sit on an erg (what rowers call the c2 rowing machine) again. I've had enough!

(That said, I do have an. Air dyne in our garage and that thing is DEFINITELY Satan's tricycle, lol).

If you need any help with rowing, holler.