Thinking about getting into rowing, a few questions

[Slipstream]

Hi all,

I am thinking about getting into rowing at home and have a few questions. I have tried rowing in the past at gyms and it seems to be the one cardio exercise I enjoy doing. I am about 167lbs, in decent shape and do some light weight training 3-4 times a week, nothing major. I have been looking at getting the Concept 2 D model for home use. Here are some questions I have about rowing:

1. As a new rower, how often should I row to begin with? Is there a basic routine for the first few months? Some of you can row for hours a day and I don't think that would be me, well at least for now.

2. My initial plan was to row 3-4 times a week when I am not doing any weight lifting, would these be a good idea?

3. I like the fact that rowing works many muscle groups but can it also help to increase muscle mass a little too? I am not looking to bulk up with rowing, but more like get toned (I hate that word) and a bit more defined, maybe even help loose my tiny gut

Any general information would be helpful since I am such a noob at this.

Thanks everyone.

[bloomp]

Glad to see a new face in the sport, and this is the right place to come for help.

To answer your questions,

1. You should row frequently, at least 4 times per week. At first it will seem like a burden, but you'll start to like it. You need to start to push yourself as you begin though, or you'll never really get the full potential of the workout. If you begin with pieces like a 2x6k, or 2x20', the longer distances will increase endurance a lot. After a few weeks of longer pieces, start adding in things like 8x500m, 3x2k, or any type of sprint work, maybe once or twice a week. The only thing that's different between us rowing for an hour and you rowing for an hour is that at the pace you go, we could go for much more than an hour - you can row forever, just not at a difficult pace.

2. If you want better results from lifting, row first, then lift. The warmed up muscles will work better, and you'll get better tearing. Not only that, but the lifting will keep your heart rate up for longer.

3. As for muscle mass, rowing does get your quads large. It helps your hamstrings a little, and your deltoids as well. It will mostly tone other muscles, but if you stick with it, your abs/legs/back will be killer.

Good luck to ya.

[Slipstream]

Thanks for the great feedback, I am excited and basically saving enough to get the model I want.

Forgive the ignorance but I am not up to speed with all the terminology. When you say begin with 2x6k or 2x20 what are you referring to? I assume there is no time frame I should be rowing for? I guess because of the different difficulty settings it makes a huge difference as you said.

I mean I don't plan to be a pro rower but I was hoping to go 3x a week and see how I feel. You said push myself in the beginning, I'd think that due to being new and maybe sore the day after lol That I'd wanna ease myself into it but I will try to be true to myself and just do it. I mean me doing 3x a week is much better than not doing any. I just don't know if I have 1 hour each workout to dedicate to it.

I will do more reading too. I am excited!!

[bloomp]

Ok, my bad for throwing those terms out.

2x6k means a 6000 meter workout done twice, with a certain rest between,
2x20' means a 20 minute workout done twice, with rest in between.

But if you get sore from one workout, just sit down on it the next day and paddle (erg lightly) for a few thousand meters, and throw a few tens (ten hard strokes) in to help clear the lactic acid from your muscles.

[Slipstream]

Thanks once again, I hope it's not too long b4 I get my rower. In Canada we need to order it through the US and it costs that much more with exchange and duties..I am working on it.

[Cyclist2]

Welcome to the wonderful (?) world of erging. My suggestion is once your erg arrives, get it set up, admire it, find a nice spot to put it (maybe with a TV or music setup), and then just row. Don't worry about the specifics yet, just get used to it, watch all the YouTube and C2 videos on technique, and learn to enjoy it before you start using it for workout "torture". Like anything, it takes awhile to get the muscles used to it (especially the glutes early on) and you sure don't want to get burnt out early. There are lots of workout plans available if you search around these forums; you'll find one soon enough that suits your needs.

Have fun!

[M. Podolsky]

Thanks once again, I hope it's not too long b4 I get my rower. In Canada we need to order it through the US and it costs that much more with exchange and duties..I am working on it.

You don't have to order them through the US. I bought mine at a retail outlet near Toronto. I have no idea how the price compared.

[pmacaula]

Thanks once again, I hope it's not too long b4 I get my rower. In Canada we need to order it through the US and it costs that much more with exchange and duties..I am working on it.

Slipstream - New is good, but if you are keen to get going & have a limited budget, there are a few other options.

If you live in the Toronto area, suggest you take a look at this website. http://www.cdnindoorrowing.org/ C2 is selling Model D units with PM3 monitors that have only been used at the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships (last Sunday). They are already here & the price is somewhat discounted from new and there were still a few available as of yesterday.
The other options are the Rowing Canada, craigslist.ca & kijiji.ca sites. Search on rowing or Concept2. Used Model Cs and occasionally Model Ds come up for sale fairly regularly.

From a functionality perspective, a Model C (with PM3) in good condition is just as good as a Model D. There are a few threads comparing Model Cs & Ds, but it comes down to a bit of a difference in noise (Ds are quieter) and usually the handle.

The great thing about C2 ergs is that they last for a very long time as long as you do a little bit of care & feeding from time to time.

Welcome to the little erging community. Best wishes for a long and healthy stay.

Cheers. Patrick.

[djh]

Slipstream sounds a bit like me. I always loved using the rower in the gym and used to think how great it would be to have one of my own. Now, at age 55, long after I stopped going to the gym, I finally got a model D. I bought it in Toronto from Fitness Depot and was very happy with the installation. I row 4-5 times a week for about half an hour a session. I do new distances as a "cool down" and then rank myself, routinely being ranked last or second last in my age group. The next time I do the distance I aim to move up a bit by knocking out a few people ahead of me. I am progressing slowly to avoid injury. (I don't want to have to take time off and risk disliking my rower.) Tomorrow, I will do my first 10K. On June 21, I hope to attempt my first HM.

I'm a meter pig. I only do distances (or times) that can be ranked. No pre-workout stretching. No warming-up. No intervals. No Tabata. No bottles of water. Many will feel this is foolish. With greater experience, my pattern will probably evolve. (I'll need electrolytes for that HM.)

I use fundamental training gloves, which I find helpful when I row on consecutive days. Perhaps I won't need them forever. I'm now thinking about buying a C-Breeze. I get awfully sweaty and can't imagine what it's going to be like in the heat of summer.

Doug

[M. Podolsky]

I think the C-Breeze is for model Cs. In the summer I use an electric fan. In the winter the air is too dry with the fan.

[tap]

I think the C-Breeze is for model Cs. In the summer I use an electric fan. In the winter the air is too dry with the fan.

I have it on my model D and it works great.

[Slipstream]

This forum is really helpful, I have seen some used C2 rowers around Montreal (where I live) but they sell like the next day so I missed out. I will pull the trigger soon there are just a few things in life I need to pay for first (as always). I know it will be a good investment so once I do it, I'll be happy. I am staying in shape for now by playing hockey outdoors a few times a week so I am trying to keep my endurance up. I am 32 years old and I'll keep my eyes open for used ones.

Thanks a lot guys.

Just 1 more question, one user was talking about ranking online, what was he referring to and how does it work?

[M. Podolsky]

Just 1 more question, one user was talking about ranking online, what was he referring to and how does it work?

http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/rankings.asp

You can upload your times to the online logbook and rank them. When you get your own erg you can plug the PM3/4 into your computer and upload the workout data using the logcard utility software. You can also enter your times manually online if you'd like. Seeing how you rank (and trying to improve your ranking) can be a lot of fun and a great motivator.

[northstar]

Salut slipstream!

Great to hear from a fellow Montreal rower! Rowing is a great addition to any fitness plan to develop your cardiovascular system and your muscle strength and toning. You'll find alot of helpful info on the C2 website and in this forum........I think you're wise to start off a little slowly and work your way up to longer workouts otherwise you're risking injury. Also study the technique videos (from C2 and also YouTube) and try to avoid developing bad habits right from the get go.

Here's to many happy hours of rowing.
P.S............Go Habs Go!

[Slipstream]

Hey thanks for the reply, Ya I am on the south shore, very cool to know another Montrealer on here Where did you pick up your C2 then if you don't mind me asking?