General discussion on Training. How to get better on your erg, how to use your erg to get better at another sport, or anything else about improving your abilities.
Anyone know if there have been any short guys to pull a sub-6:00 on the erg? How about the shortest to pull such a time? It seems like most of the sub-6:00 times were by guys 6'5" and above.
I like setting moderately ridiculous goals when I get into a sport or activity, and sub-6:00 seems adequately ridiculous (but at least borderline feasible). Doing so seems to help keep me motivated (otherwise I attain my goal early and move on to another activity). However, if there's NEVER been someone my height (6'1") or shorter to row such a time, I might dial back my aspirations a little bit
There have been 6 foot tall rowers who have broken six minutes. Very well may have been 5'11" rowers who have, but it would be only a very small handful if ever. Bigger issue is weight. Normally the guys pulling those numbers are around 200lbs. Typically anyone who has cracked six was naturally weighing at least 180-185lbs. Drew Ginn was 190-200 and considered obscenely strong to break six at that weight; last I checked Hamish Bond was listed at 185-190, goes 5:40 something and is considered a genetic outlier among genetic outliers. Colin Smith may have cracked six minutes and is only in the low 180's, maybe high 170's; but I'm not certain he did and he won an Olympic medal for Britain (which sinks millions into the training of their rowers), so that's pretty far out there as well. Might be other little guys who have been that fast and I'm just not aware. I of course skipped Henrik Stephensen as he is the first and only lightweight to publicly break 6' (again, while training under the auspices of a national team).
My old pair partner may have been 6'1" on a good day (my girlfriend at the time was significantly taller than him) and pulled a 5:52 at mid to low 80 kg. He was an utter freak though.
Rich Cureton. 7:02 at BIRC. But "much better than that now". Yeah, right.
sheehc wrote:There have been 6 foot tall rowers who have broken six minutes. Very well may have been 5'11" rowers who have, but it would be only a very small handful if ever. Bigger issue is weight. Normally the guys pulling those numbers are around 200lbs. Typically anyone who has cracked six was naturally weighing at least 180-185lbs. Drew Ginn was 190-200 and considered obscenely strong to break six at that weight; last I checked Hamish Bond was listed at 185-190, goes 5:40 something and is considered a genetic outlier among genetic outliers. Colin Smith may have cracked six minutes and is only in the low 180's, maybe high 170's; but I'm not certain he did and he won an Olympic medal for Britain (which sinks millions into the training of their rowers), so that's pretty far out there as well. Might be other little guys who have been that fast and I'm just not aware. I of course skipped Henrik Stephensen as he is the first and only lightweight to publicly break 6' (again, while training under the auspices of a national team).
But the lightweight record is sub 6 and Hendrik is always lightweight and a few italiens pulled very close to 6 flat, luini rowed 6.01/02 (from heart) and weighed 69 kg........
Jason Read, Luke Agini, Andrew Brennan, Conal Groom, Kevin Light, Elliot Hovey, Tom Graves, all rowers in the 6 foot range have done at/around/under 6.
ausrwr wrote:My old pair partner may have been 6'1" on a good day (my girlfriend at the time was significantly taller than him) and pulled a 5:52 at mid to low 80 kg. He was an utter freak though.
Got any pictures of the ex-girlfriend? Kidding of course.
That's fricking impressive to pull 5:52 at 80kg.......wow. I feel like a slouch.
ausrwr wrote:My old pair partner may have been 6'1" on a good day (my girlfriend at the time was significantly taller than him) and pulled a 5:52 at mid to low 80 kg. He was an utter freak though.
Too bad genetics plays a part in all of this and that there isn't a training program titled 'how to be a freak of nature'.
Henrick Stephansen did a 5:58.5 @ 6ft and lightweight
The NZ world champion double are both 6ft or just under and crack 6min
Jason Read is a 6ft 0" American rower with an olympic gold in the mens 8+. I heard he did a 2k every day for a year until he was fast enough to get noticed by Mike Teti i think he has done 5:53. Can someone confirm this if they know the details, if its true ive got a new idol
Its definitely achieveable I broke 6min at 6ft 3 and 20yr old and im no "genetic freak" its just hardwork and self belief will get you there. Rowing is a sport where hardwork succeeds.
""Talent" is the ability to work hard." (Hamish Bond)
Andrew Brennan was 5:55.6 at 6' 185 lbs in US national testing in April 2003. Jason Read that March was 6:02.8 - and listed at the time by the US squad at 6' 1" 178 lbs.
