7:35 to Sub 7 - Please Help!

[mattflint49]

Hey guys. I am a 15 year old male rower, 172cm or 5'7", btw thats my predicted height, im not meant to grow anymore . I weigh 123lbs or 56kg. My current 2km time in the middle of our racing season was 7:35 (im sure if i did it towards the end of the season it would be at least sub 7:30, AT LEAST) and I have 6 months to train till next season, during this time I am hoping to drop my time down to AT LEAST sub 7:15 but ideally sub 7:00. I don't have access to an erg and am just wondering what some good cross training is to drop this time down. I am not really on a nutritional diet as of yet, but I do eat sort of healthy. I do cross-country running twice a week and 1 cycling session (on a bike machine) a week for 40 minutes with my heart rate around 140 or above. If it helps, my 5km erg time is 20:09 (2:00.9) average split, if that gives you an idea of where my fitness is at considering my weight and height. Ideally I would like to row for a university (especially an Ivy League because my academics are pretty high) but I feel my height is an extreme disadvantage seeing as people who are taller can easily out row me.

Any idea on what Cross Training I should do to drop too sub 7:15, minimum? Keep in mind I don't have access to an erg. Thanks.

[mdpfirrman]

duplicate post.

[mdpfirrman]

As someone 5'10" (my son is 5'7" at 22 - he won't grow anymore either), I relate to your challenges. I'm relatively new to rowing (at 51) and I'm also striving to break 7 minutes too (went from 7:50 to 7:19 this past year). I would think that you'll need a good bit more cardio than you're doing right now and I'd start lifting with your legs if you're not now. You'll need to generate a lot of power with your legs. Also, if you're not doing compound lifts (like deadlifts or low rows), you should. At your height, you're going to have to be really strong.

Seems like you're doing cardio pushing it when you do it. Perhaps a few more slow steady days with a HR that is in the range where you can still talk too. 3 days a week doing cardio is not enough. You'll have to be doing cardio 5/6 days a week.

Good luck to you!

[S-man]

Guys normally don't stop growing until they are 18 or even 20. Why do you think this is different for you? Just because someone predicted your height as 5' 7" (based on what - parental height?) doesn't mean you won't add a few more inches over the next year or two. But you are right, height does seem to be a real advantage in this sport!

[bisqeet]

Guys normally don't stop growing until they are 18 or even 20. Why do you think this is different for you? Just because someone predicted your height as 5' 7" (based on what - parental height?) doesn't mean you won't add a few more inches over the next year or two. But you are right, height does seem to be a real advantage in this sport!

Usually based on bone length/growth. Accuracy is debatable but usually +/- 5 cm

[G-dub]

S - Man

My comments are sent with peace and love. I too never got taller after about 8th grade. I was one of the big kids up until then! I never really let my height bother me and played contact sports with the big boys. Fortunately I was stronger than most and wasn't scared to tackle big guys. And to be honest, It never occurred to me that they were bigger than I was most of the time! But at some point, size mattered. I was good enough of a football player but my size just wasn't there to play linebacker at a major college. It eventually caught up to me in rugby too - at my position at center the guys were all going 6 ft or more once I got up to Eastern Select level and they were also fast and strong and really good! The point I'm trying to make is by all means follow your heart - it can take you pretty darn far. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything even though there may have been better fits for my body type. Sometimes, though, I wonder if there would have been other avenues to be a competitive athlete that were better suited for me. As for training, eat well and lots, lift weights, sleep well and build a big cardio engine by rowing, running and biking your tail off. I don't think there is much else you can do.

[hjs]

Guys normally don't stop growing until they are 18 or even 20. Why do you think this is different for you? Just because someone predicted your height as 5' 7" (based on what - parental height?) doesn't mean you won't add a few more inches over the next year or two. But you are right, height does seem to be a real advantage in this sport!

Mwa, I was my max height at 14.

Trainingwise, just do what you can, work on aerobic fitness and strenght and eat well and enough.

[jackarabit]

Your short term goal has been covered. Build muscle and CV endurance. Further out but really just around the corner is a collegiate rowing program. Your academic record is the key to the school. Your passion is the key to the rowing program. Your height and weight are an advantage for the one guy who will sit in the stern of an eight. Playing the odds beats fighting the odds no matter what you see in storybooks and athlete profiles.

[G-dub]

BTW - my comments were to original poster (Matt) and not S-Man. Sorry for confusion.

[Carl Watts]

If I was a competitive person by nature then I would choose a different sport.

Rowing is all about height, its a massive advantage to be tall. Sure you also need lean mass and have a great cardio system, but anyone can at least have a go at training that part of the equation.

[mdpfirrman]

Perhaps think about getting into wrestling. Wrestling actually involves very similar type of cardio performance as rowing. Plus, wrestlers are known to be ridiculous about working out. My son got into wrestling (he's the one that's your height) to get bigger for soccer. He ended up turning down a D1 scholarship to Air Force Academy for both. Had it not been for an ACL injury going in to his senior year, I think he would have had more options too (didn't lose in wrestling for two years after just starting as a freshman).

Perhaps rowing is your sport but don't limit your options.