Steady state pacing

[Aquaman]

Height and weight (obviously muscle, not fat) are key factors for a rower. I wouldn't call it talent, I would call it better body predisposition/prerequisite.

Taller is better for erging/rowing. I've yet to see that proven wrong. Is anyone under 5' 9" (1.75m) pulling sub-6s?

As a member of the 'average size' male population, I'd like a scaling factor or categorization for height used for indoor competitions versus solely weight and age.

Apparently here's the scientific proof: https://scienceofrowing.com/2023/11/wha ... te-rowers/

[Sakly]

I used to row alongside someone who was rowing up to 150km a week. That year he hit his PR of 6.12 as a 6ft 2 90kg man of 39.

The greatest amatuer indoor rower of all-time(and one of the best as whole ever) was rowing approx 60km and rowed sub 6 as a 6ft 6 100kg+ man of 29.

Talent is the key.....

Height and weight (obviously muscle, not fat) are key factors for a rower. I wouldn't call it talent, I would call it better body predisposition/prerequisite.

Any sport/activity requires talent to get to the highest level.

Fully agreed.

The aforementioned two ergers is a prime example of the latter having much more "natural" talent than the former.

Yes, 4inches and at least 10kg of useful b/w is a big factor but he rowed nearly 4splits faster per 500m(probably for the same rate) and in much less of a time frame and much less total weekly volume.

Probably we have a different definition of talent.
For me talent is something related to the specifics of the sport, so mainly adapting fast to technical aspects of the sport, its movement pattern. If the sport itself shows massive dependency to specific body prerequisites, this is nothing related to talent. Talent means to take the advantage of it to take it to the maximum.
If I take myself for example, I could row a HM at r20 with 1:56 splits after two weeks on the erg. I could adapt fast to the movement and technique needed. I know many taller and bigger guys cannot do this after two weeks on the erg, so probably my talent is bigger. But after some time they will all outperform me, even if their technique stays below mine, only because of their body prerequisites.
Talent is a part, but this part is not the same percentage of the full potential in every sport.

[jackarabit]

d*l265 writes:

There seem to have been an influx of specimens over the last, say ten years that have produced elite standard times(as an amatuer and age-group) off low mileage and not following the traditonal method of low rate and high volume/duration. Most have come from a pevious high level of sport and quite a few are not the standard build of a rower.

Jim G appears to have carved his erg from the butt log of a lightning-struck white oak tree. Actually, the brief arc of his amazing erging career didn’t follow on 35 yrs of riding a desk. OP cflrules needs to get in some road work, possibly at Maffetoneish paces. But not 8 wks out from competition.

[Cyclingman1]

Yet you were/are a much better erger than were a runner........

I suppose somewhere along the line, some of my running times were in my posts. There is no ranking system for runners based on age, weight, etc. In this case I was on the wrong side of the weight curve being in the 190s. I guess I have to agree.

But what I was good at was duathlons: run,bike,run. I could always chase down the guys on my bike and build enough lead to usually hold them off on the second run leg. I was pretty much thru those events by upper 40s.

The erging has occurred in my 60s and 70s. It has gone fairly well interleaved with all sorts of medical issues. I will say that if I could have come upon erging when I was, say, 50, I'm relatively sure that I could have had some really good times. I'll never know.

[hikeplusrow]

It never ceases to amaze me how guys at the gym can get on the erg for pretty much the first time, and, with astonishingly bad form, crank out a 7:30 (or faster) 2k. Strength? Talent? Both?

[cflrules]

Appreciate all the feedback, was the exact reason I posted the question. I am training 5x per week - typically (2) intense speed sessions (8x500, 4x1000), (2) mid range (5x1500m, 4x2000m) and some longer SS if I have time or the energy (so basically the Pete Plan). Through all the banter and advice (again, much appreciated) the biggest take away for me is faster, shorter rowing to prepare short term for a 2k race. I will ramp up the SS once testing season is complete and start building the anaerobic power. Rome wasn't built in a day.

BTW, I adjusted my signature - I'm down to 215lbs.

[cflrules]

It never ceases to amaze me how guys at the gym can get on the erg for pretty much the first time, and, with astonishingly bad form, crank out a 7:30 (or faster) 2k. Strength? Talent? Both?

A buddy of mine goes to the local Crossfit - said a newby ripped off a 6:40 the other night, barely rowed previously (allegedly).

[jackarabit]

Appreciate all the feedback, was the exact reason I posted the question. I am training 5x per week - typically (2) intense speed sessions (8x500, 4x1000), (2) mid range (5x1500m, 4x2000m) and some longer SS if I have time or the energy (so basically the Pete Plan). Through all the banter and advice (again, much appreciated) the biggest take away for me is faster, shorter rowing to prepare short term for a 2k race. I will ramp up the SS once testing season is complete and start building the anaerobic power. Rome wasn't built in a day.

BTW, I adjusted my signature - I'm down to 215lbs.

Stout fellow, you found the nut! Good on you. Are you racing in Canada?

[Dangerscouse]

A buddy of mine goes to the local Crossfit - said a newby ripped off a 6:40 the other night, barely rowed previously (allegedly).

I'm not too surprised by this. If you're already really fit through Crossfit, have a decent technique and an ability to endure it's far from easy but it is possible.

Good to see you're back, have sifted through the comments, are doing Pete Plan intervals and will view the steady state as a longer term plan.

[Cyclingman1]

"Jim G appears to have carved his erg from the butt log of a lightning-struck white oak tree."

What the heck does that mean? Actually I did spend 35 yrs in electrical/software engineering, usually at a desk.

[cflrules]

Appreciate all the feedback, was the exact reason I posted the question. I am training 5x per week - typically (2) intense speed sessions (8x500, 4x1000), (2) mid range (5x1500m, 4x2000m) and some longer SS if I have time or the energy (so basically the Pete Plan). Through all the banter and advice (again, much appreciated) the biggest take away for me is faster, shorter rowing to prepare short term for a 2k race. I will ramp up the SS once testing season is complete and start building the anaerobic power. Rome wasn't built in a day.

BTW, I adjusted my signature - I'm down to 215lbs.

Stout fellow, you found the nut! Good on you. Are you racing in Canada?

Yes, in Sask.

[jackarabit]

"Jim G appears to have carved his erg from the butt log of a lightning-struck white oak tree."

What the heck does that mean? Actually I did spend 35 yrs in electrical/software engineering, usually at a desk.

I’m sorry. Very obscure cultural reference to: The Natural w/ Robert Redford as big ol farmboy who carves his own bat for hitting stuff, mainly baseballs. Some querulous muppet will now object that ballbats are usually ash or aluminium rather than oak so to conserve spittle, I may be mistaken about the oak log. Mea culpa. Do you by chance recall Brando in On The Waterfront?

[btlifter]

Height and weight (obviously muscle, not fat) are key factors for a rower. I wouldn't call it talent, I would call it better body predisposition/prerequisite.

Taller is better for erging/rowing. I've yet to see that proven wrong. Is anyone under 5' 9" (1.75m) pulling sub-6s?

As a member of the 'average size' male population, I'd like a scaling factor or categorization for height used for indoor competitions versus solely weight and age.

Apparently here's the scientific proof: https://scienceofrowing.com/2023/11/wha ... te-rowers/

And height restrictions in the nba!!!

[aussie nick]

Height and weight (obviously muscle, not fat) are key factors for a rower. I wouldn't call it talent, I would call it better body predisposition/prerequisite.

Taller is better for erging/rowing. I've yet to see that proven wrong. Is anyone under 5' 9" (1.75m) pulling sub-6s?

As a member of the 'average size' male population, I'd like a scaling factor or categorization for height used for indoor competitions versus solely weight and age.

Apparently here's the scientific proof: https://scienceofrowing.com/2023/11/wha ... te-rowers/

And height restrictions in the nba!!!

they've trialled a sub 90kg rugby competition Down Under and even the little fellas don't want to play in it

[RWAGR]

On the talent/ physicality discussion, I think another factor people often overlook is mental toughness. That too I believe is principally an innate trait in that some people have more mental tolerance for the pain of hard workout, and some for the boredom of endless steady work. The best probably have both. Those of us (I assume it's most people on this forum) who are blessed in that respect should always be charitable to those who aren't. We didn't "do" anything to be in a position to be motivated to put in many hours on the erg; and can't criticize those who aren't motivated to do it anymore than a 6'6'' 250 lb monster could criticize a 5'9' 150 lb lightweight for being undersized.

Thus the world class athletes combine innate physical traits with innate mental traits and the talent to maintain a good rowing stroke.