Consistency is the hallmark of...

[Ducatista]

...a sore core, apparently.

I'm a pretty inconsistent erger. I did my third 200KM challenge this season, and the other day when I was entering my daily meters, I saw that I had only 42 entries for the whole season. Must be a mistake, I thought—but it was true. I had erged just eleven times from May to Thanksgiving. No wonder the challenge was such a slog this year. (Nice sweatshirt, though.)

I've decided to work on more frequent rows. Nothing strenuous, just at least 5K, at least 6 days a week. So far so good: I just finished 9 days in a row, which, as best I can tell, is my greatest number of consecutive erging days ever. But man, is my core sore! At lat-level, all the way around. I'm surprised that lower meterage than the holiday challenge, but greater frequency, would make such a difference in my back & upper abs. Does that sound right? I don't mind the fatigue-y soreness if it means I'm strengthening; I'm just curious.

[Ben Rea]

yes, i would think rowing for many days in a row would make your abs and back sore, i row every day and my abs sure a sore. i think rowing for many days in a row would be better for you than if you do 1 large workout each week.

[RGS]

Well, I've only really been erging for coming up 3 months now, with very little exercise before for the past 5 years or so. I started doing 10k/day, 6days/week followed by 30 mins on the elliptical trainer.

I use the gym at work, and have now cut down to just the 10K a day, 5 days/week. Just because I'm not working a day at the weekend any more (Jan and Feb were pretty hectic).

Now I do 10k followed by 90 situps (3 sets) and 45 pressups (3 sets) and have recently added a couple of half-marathons to my schedule (usually Mon and Fri). I tend to push myself fairly hard (sometimes very hard!), PB for the 10K @ 39.30, but if not pushing it hard aim for a 'decent' (for me) 41.00 or under. I found that I only really ached for the first week or so and after that everthing feels fine after, almost as though the frequency is helping to condition my body and stop the aches. Still the only issue I do have is with hand ach the next morning (which is pretty weird) - but it's certainly nothing major (and hopefully will dissappear all together over time).

As I say, haven't been erging for that long though, just sharing my thoughts,

Rob

[Ducatista]

Now I do 10k followed by 90 situps (3 sets) and 45 pressups (3 sets) and have recently added a couple of half-marathons to my schedule (usually Mon and Fri). I tend to push myself fairly hard (sometimes very hard!), PB for the 10K @ 39.30, but if not pushing it hard aim for a 'decent' (for me) 41.00 or under. I found that I only really ached for the first week or so and after that everthing feels fine after, almost as though the frequency is helping to condition my body and stop the aches.

All due respect, but if I followed your super-cushy routine I wouldn't expect to ache much, either. But seriously folks... I just got back from my annual physical, and for the first time ever after the stethoscope/BP check my PA said "Ah, you must be exercising." Nice to have some positive reinforcement from the cardio numbers. And really, I find the sore core to be positive reinforcement as well. And when it ceases to ache thanks to conditioning, better yet.