Alternate Positions

[[old] Shepherd]

Long by my standards is probably pretty short by some of yours, but during 10k rows where I'm just doing maintenance work -- as opposed to trying to make a PB or whatnot -- I sometimes get bored at around the 5k mark and start trying different things. <br /><br />Just curious as to whether any of the serious sportspeople in the group have done any research into "alternate training" on the C2 and if they have any advice on different things to try, or perhaps a warning that if I keep this up I am going to snap my spine like a dry twig. <br /><br />So far, my "fun" variants are (all strapless, btw -- I'm trying to stick to strapless for a few months):<br /><br />- frog-style: knees wide apart, hands and handle up the middle. Tends to be a shorter stroke than the standard;<br /><br />- chin-up: pulling the bar up to my chin and trying to get a little extra leaning back. <br /><br />I can definitely feel a difference in what's working with both of these variants, but whether that's because I'm working different muscles or just putting extra and needless strain on the current ones, I'm not sure. <br /><br />I did a bit of searching around the forums, but I couldn't find anything under "arm positions," "alternate form," "alternate positions," or whatnot. Maybe the topic's already been brought up.

[[old] R S T]

<!--QuoteBegin-Shepherd+Aug 8 2005, 01:36 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Shepherd @ Aug 8 2005, 01:36 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Just curious as to whether any of the serious sportspeople in the group have done any research into "alternate training" on the C2 and if they have any advice on different things to try, <b>or perhaps a warning that if I keep this up I am going to snap my spine like a dry twig.</b> <br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi Shepherd<br /><br />I think you answered your own question - you might give yourself an injury, especially if your try something different at full power. <br /><br />For what it is worth, I find long rows boring as well. I need something to distract me, so unless I am trying for a PB, long rows are achieved by one or a combination of the following:<br /><br />- good dvd/music/TV prgramme <br />- SPM focus (currently trying to move from a 'natural' 26 SPM to 20 SPM for training)<br />- Pace focus (interesting to see how difficult it is to maintain pace while redcuing SPM)<br /><br />Also, if you find doing a 10k boring around the half way mark why dont you just do two 5ks instead? That will allow you to focus on maintaining a reasonably good pace average, have a break and still get the metres in.<br /><br />Mix it up, and try to keep it fresh. Better still, some weeks, make cross training your priority and run/bike/walk/swim/whatever instead. <br /><br />Cheers<br />RichardT<br />

[[old] Byron Drachman]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I sometimes get bored at around the 5k mark and start trying different things. </td></tr></table> <br /><br />In one of his DVD's, Xeno Muller says "If you just row long strokes for an hour, it can become deadly--boring."<br /><br />In his first DVD he has lots of interesting exercises, and if you want a real challenge, get his upper body workout DVD.<br />Byron<br />

[[old] John Rupp]

I like doing 3 sets on easy days, and alternating 2 minute splits on the monitor.<br /><br />These are usually at 2:20 pace and 27 spm.<br /><br />This gives me 10 sets each 40 minutes and helps the time to fly along.<br /><br />I usually take about 5 minute after the first row, then change togs and have a snack etc after the second one. On occasion I also do 4x 1:00 at pace or else a km of sprints and then do the third set the same as the first two.<br /><br />There is a nice view out the front of the garage, and the door remote is by my side, along with a remote for the cd player and a choice of 3 different cd's.<br /><br />I usually play the same cd though, either 1/3 for each row or else excerpts here and there. Either way my own thoughts and meanderings keep me occupied.<br /><br />On faster days the session itself is plenty interesting on it's own. On occasion I use a metronome on these days but no music.