Concept2 Forum

Hi everyone, couple of questions please - <br><br>1. When on the rower in the gym how do you avoid distractions, other people getting on and off rowers, etc?<br><br>(Probably not a problem if you row at home)<br><br>2. When doing a longish row (30 mins) is it best to cover the display up with a face flannel and go for it or is it best to see the display time ticking down?<br><br>(As seeing the time can make the row seem such a long way of while when the display is covered I feel I can survive better)<br><br>Thanks for any replies <br><br>

Jus-<br><br>As you grove your stroke, those distractions will become less of an issue and, perhaps, welcome. When I'm going hard, I find a focus point and hone in on that. This can be the monitor or a point beyond.<br><br>I don't cover the monitor when doing pieces but I find it easy to ignore. I also use it to play mental games to base the time.<br><br>As you are just starting, all of this will get easier. Focus on good form and the continuation of building a erging base. My biggest misperception intially was how much fo the stroke is governed by the legs.<br><br>Enjoy,<br><br>Neil

If only I have some distractions like people around, like in a gym. My rows are in the most absolute loneliness that think can affect my mental stability. Here in PR the gyms doesn't have rowers; well there was one with two rowers, but not concept2 ergs. They were LifeRowers trademarks, that if you know what I'm talking about, they are piece of sh..., of crap. I think that row in a gym must be less boredom.<br><br>

The ergs on the gym at my work are next to the aerobic room. Next to the ergs are windows to look into the aerobicsclass.<br>So luckely enough i have some distraction. The lady's always walk by on their way to aerobics workout, admiring me on my erg <br>Those are the times i don't look at the display and that's when i am suddenly a few hundred meters further.

Thanks for the advice guys much apprechiated.<br><br>I wake up everyday looking forward to my next row, whereas when running it was a nightmare due to sore shins, etc.<br><br>In this little time of rowing my back, shoulders, arms and legs are starting to feel more toned then when ever I did a run.<br><br>All the best.

I focus on my pace during the entire row. Even on easy rows, where I take my erg out on the patio, I find that I end up focusing on my pace and form rather than enjoying the scenery. Maybe I should try covering the monitor and see how it is to row unplugged.<br><br>Cheers,<br><br>Paul Flack

I rarely do long rows in one stretch; I found them too boring! Instead, I break them into intervals with little rest between them: 4x2500m with 30 seconds rest, 8x1500 with 20s rest (by the way, those little rests are used to stay hydrated with my favorite sport drink!). I also play with speed: within a 1500m or a 2500m, I would do one or two 250m at faster pace (5s/500m faster). I also use a heart rate monitor and try to go as fast as possible while staying under a target heart rate; this forces me to focus on technique and efficiency which in turns makes time flies! I also play with stroke rates: within a 2500m, I might do 500m at 22spm, 500m at 25spm, 500m at 22spm, etc..., while maintaining a constant speed or a constant heart rate.<br>I write down my workout in advance; I find that time flies if I follow a plan.<br><br>Cheers,<br><br>Francois Audet

<!--QuoteBegin-FrancoisA+Nov 23 2004, 12:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (FrancoisA @ Nov 23 2004, 12:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I rarely do long rows in one stretch; I found them too boring! Instead, I break them into intervals with little rest between them: 4x2500m with 30 seconds rest, 8x1500 with 20s rest (by the way, those little rests are used to stay hydrated with my favorite sport drink!). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Thanks mate i think what you do is an excelent idea and will implement it in my training tomorrow.<br><br>I will be able to focus alot easier knowing I have split 10k up into 4 2500m and think I will be able to push harder as well.<br><br>Thanks for the training tip.

Don't forget to, at least once in a while, do the 10K in one sitting. It adds to your training endurance.

Erging seems to have the same effect as cycling does. I sort of go brain-dead. When I first started erging many years ago, whenever I found somebody who was on the crew team or was one of the coaches, I would ask for help with my technique. Once an expert remarked that people with good technique erg with the chain very steady and conversely people with bad technique row with the chain flopping around. After hearing that comment, I got into the habit of fixating on the chain. It is very easy to erg with no noticeable up and down or side to side motion of the chain during the drive. It’s not quite so easy to have the chain stay steady at the finish and during the recovery. Anyway, when I’m not looking at the monitor, I’m usually staring at the chain and concentrating on getting no up and down motion or side to side motion during the entire stroke. I should mention that I don’t row on water so I don’t lower the hands before the recovery. I just row indoors and on wheels. <br><br>I just realized that when I am cycling alone, often I’ll concentrate on holding a very straight line. I’ll have a front wheel on the white line at the edge of the road and keep it there. There must be something about straight lines that appeals to me: straight chain when erging, straight line when cycling. Oh well, I’m the only one with compulsive tendencies at this site, right? <br><br>Anyway, to answer the question, I concentrate on the chain when erging.<br><br>Byron<br>

Thanks for all your replies <br><br>I concentrated on the chain today while doing 2000m and beat my pb which now stands at 8.10.5 was well pleased with myself.<br><br>Though for the first 1000m I had the predicted time at 7.35 (ish) then to my dismay I could not hold it and it slowly crept up to 8.10 I thought I was going to smash into the 7 min time.<br><br>Oh well gotta keep trying.

Probably my favorite hobby while doing long steady state rows on the erg is counting strokes. Generally when I'm doing a piece for distance I'll count groups of 5 strokes (about 50 meters) and when I'm doing pieces for time I'll count 1 minute sets (about 20-24 strokes) in the 3 languages I speak, English, German, and Serbian. Makes for a nice 3 minute rotation. <br>When I'm not counting strokes generally I'm either focusing on holding a split as steady as I can or focusing on some technical issue that's been bugging me.(usually not quite as much of a problem on the erg)<br>On the really stupidly long stuff (FM-100k) I'll often just shut off my brain for sections of it. Works amazingly well for helping the time pass. (sitting through all those orchestra rehearsals hasta be good for some sort of skill other than playing music )<br>My secret's out, hope this helps.<br><br>Heather Johnson<br>F20 158lbs 5'7"<br>2k 7:32.2 20min 5057 30min 7481

mate are u a man or a woman???<br>If u're a guy then 8.10 is worrying especially with ur weight. If u're quite overweight and unfit then i could possibly see it but you're being beat by 14 year old boys who weigh 50kgs in my club.<br>but anyway keep goin and don't ever give up and as u get fitter ur times should plummet, also eat healthy as i've knocked 20 secs off my 2k through heathy eatin and trainin the same.

Trident-<br><br>I think the most compelling reason is the fact that Jus started rowing a few weeks ago (Nov '04)<br><br>Jus-<br><br>Just keep focusing on rowing technique - your time will fall. I started just under 9min @ 2k the first time I sat down. It took me about 7 weeks to get to 7:36. My previous best was 8:03 and I realized that if I was still standing at the end of it, I wasn't pushing hard enough. That was what got me to improve my PB by :27 in the course of a week. Since then, I haven't attemped another 2k, just rowed. I'll probably try another again after the holiday challenge is over.<br><br>As far as distractions, I get several. Having my erg at home, my four year old loves to beg me to get off the rower so that he can row. When that doesn't work, he tries other distractions. I don't cover up the display. Being a new rower, my stroke is not brainless and I find myself shifting concentration between drive, recovery, finish, catch, mental time calculations, S10PS, pace, rate, etc. I also add in 20 heavy strokes every 5 min during my 45 min workouts. Distraction is necessary for me to stop thinking about the time elapsed. The key for me is to concentrate on anything but the time. As far as time goes, I find it is easier to count down time or meters than watch it count up. I just think, "it is only another 15 mins" not "I'm 30 mins into my workout." Totally psychological but it may work for you.<br><br>Steve

<!--QuoteBegin-Trident_101+Nov 28 2004, 06:24 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (Trident_101 @ Nov 28 2004, 06:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> mate are u a man or a woman???<br>If u're a guy then 8.10 is worrying especially with ur weight. If u're quite overweight and unfit then i could possibly see it but you're being beat by 14 year old boys who weigh 50kgs in my club.<br>but anyway keep goin and don't ever give up and as u get fitter ur times should plummet, also eat healthy as i've knocked 20 secs off my 2k through heathy eatin and trainin the same. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> lol at this guy, thanks for the inspiration.