Beat up runner asks: Can rowing replace running?

[aussieluke]

Its all great for about 2 years and then your rower turns into the worlds most expensive clothes line for drying out your underwear.

You used to say 6 months... now it's 2 years? umm okay lol.

Think Carl is usually referring to the sort of new years resolution crowd with good intentions who use it for a week at first. Then once every so often, then by six months never touch it again and list it on gumtree.

Here we're talking more about the time it takes to realise staring at numbers on a small screen does in fact get old at some point and becomes more of a necessary evil than an entertainment machine.

[hjs]

You may be in the best cardiovascular condition of your life due to the erg, but running will still be brutal.

One thing to also bear in mind is if you're coming over from running/cycling to the erg, and DON'T crosstrain at all, you're cardio condition may actually worsen because some people, including me, simply can't do the same sort of volume on the erg due to boredom or little injuries setting in etc. You can compensate to some degree by upping the intensity but with all these endurance sports the long and slow(er) sessions definitely do have their place. It all becomes a balancing act working out what is sustainable for YOU.

Yes. I've seen a lot lately saying rowers are pretty much THE fittest athletes in terms of cardiac health. BUT, by rowers this means those who do hours and hours of steady state work either on the erg or on the water. PLUS some hard training. PLUS strength training. AND may also include cross training such as long distance cycling or indoor cycling.

It is relatively easy to get maybe 3-5 hours a week of easy running or cycling in but IMO not so easy to stare st the screen on the erg for that amount of time ...without some other form of distraction.

Think its the cross country skiers that wear that crown.

Re boredom, if set yourself different goals per season that can help. At least it does for me. And I am a longtime erger. Around 15 plus years under my belt, in two stints. Not ran in years, and don,t have the build, but who knows I will try.
I have the idea to run a sub 13.0 100 age 50 plus. Not fast ofcourse, but still .. Ok
I think. A nice summer goal.

[aussieluke]

Think its the cross country skiers that wear that crown.

Re boredom, if set yourself different goals per season that can help. At least it does for me. And I am a longtime erger. Around 15 plus years under my belt, in two stints. Not ran in years, and don,t have the build, but who knows I will try.
I have the idea to run a sub 13.0 100 age 50 plus. Not fast ofcourse, but still .. Ok
I think. A nice summer goal.

Yes you might be right there but there isn't much in it and it is because of similar reasons - repetitive 'strokes' with a recovery period and a strength element - perfect combination for both heart wall strength AND chamber size... or something like that. It is different to cycling or running in that way. Though they are very close behind.

But am I right in thinking you don't do much if any steady state work or long rows?

That's where the boredom comes in.

Sprints, intervals and hard 2ks, 5ks etc can be 'fun' though

[hjs]

Think its the cross country skiers that wear that crown.

Re boredom, if set yourself different goals per season that can help. At least it does for me. And I am a longtime erger. Around 15 plus years under my belt, in two stints. Not ran in years, and don,t have the build, but who knows I will try.
I have the idea to run a sub 13.0 100 age 50 plus. Not fast ofcourse, but still .. Ok
I think. A nice summer goal.

Yes you might be right there but there isn't much in it and it is because of similar reasons - repetitive 'strokes' with a recovery period and a strength element - perfect combination for both heart wall strength AND chamber size... or something like that. It is different to cycling or running in that way. Though they are very close behind.

But am I right in thinking you don't do much if any steady state work or long rows?

That's where the boredom comes in.

Sprints, intervals and hard 2ks, 5ks etc can be 'fun' though

Never done much longer no. Steady state I do, but 30/40 min. Also don,t do much intervals anymore.
This winter zero 500 repeats and a few times 5x1500.

I am not very good at anything, but on the other hand, was also not really bad at anything. In a way thats fun, in an other its always been holding me back in individual things.

[Anth_F]

Its all great for about 2 years and then your rower turns into the worlds most expensive clothes line for drying out your underwear.

You used to say 6 months... now it's 2 years? umm okay lol.

Think Carl is usually referring to the sort of new years resolution crowd with good intentions who use it for a week at first. Then once every so often, then by six months never touch it again and list it on gumtree.

Here we're talking more about the time it takes to realise staring at numbers on a small screen does in fact get old at some point and becomes more of a necessary evil than an entertainment machine.

Fair enough!!! I'll see how i feel in 2 years time.

[Edward4492]

I guess I'm a little nuts, but closing in on 10 million meters and four years and not even close to getting bored yet. Mitigated that quite a bit by learning how to row OTW last year, just bought a boat, and can't wait to get back on the water. For me I believe this will be the ideal mix. Got away from the bike after having too many broken bones. I think the key to erging is to have an elaborate plan laid out so there's always something to focus on.

There's lots of people here who make the erg part of their routine and it seems to fit in real well with a comprehensive fitness program. It's convenient, just hop on and do a 20min session when you're pressed for time. May take some of the stress away when you cut back on the running mileage.

[Anth_F]

I guess I'm a little nuts, but closing in on 10 million meters and four years and not even close to getting bored yet. Mitigated that quite a bit by learning how to row OTW last year, just bought a boat, and can't wait to get back on the water. For me I believe this will be the ideal mix. Got away from the bike after having too many broken bones. I think the key to erging is to have an elaborate plan laid out so there's always something to focus on.

There's lots of people here who make the erg part of their routine and it seems to fit in real well with a comprehensive fitness program. It's convenient, just hop on and do a 20min session when you're pressed for time. May take some of the stress away when you cut back on the running mileage.

Closing in on 10 million meters? very nice, Edward.

Completely agree with you in that the erg is very convenient to just hop on, even if it's just for a quickie. Go a bit hard and you can get a scorcher of a workout in 15 mins, easily! It's pretty much routine for me to jump on there especially when it's right there in my living area haha.

[lindsayh]

I guess I'm a little nuts, but closing in on 10 million meters and four years and not even close to getting bored yet. Mitigated that quite a bit by learning how to row OTW last year, just bought a boat, and can't wait to get back on the water. For me I believe this will be the ideal mix. Got away from the bike after having too many broken bones. I think the key to erging is to have an elaborate plan laid out so there's always something to focus on. There's lots of people here who make the erg part of their routine and it seems to fit in real well with a comprehensive fitness program. It's convenient, just hop on and do a 20min session when you're pressed for time. May take some of the stress away when you cut back on the running mileage.

Yeah Edward don't get the boredom thing either - 8 years and probably north of 15m meters (I have never counted). Definitely part of a routine. Variety of training periods and pieces, setting new goals and an interest in racing all helps for me. Training with others helps a lot too and make sure there is some fun involved.

[Carl Watts]

I'm just going by the listings here on Trade-Me, there is a constant stream of the for sale, at least one or two a week.

Sure if your rowing OTW and even a younger person it may be different, your racing and have some goals.

As soon as you get older your no longer getting faster. Like it or not your only getting slower and your switching to maintenance or trying to significantly slow the decay. Don't get me wrong you can have a better performance at 50 than when your were 30 but that just means your were no where near as fit at 30 as you should have been.

Was pretty fixated on numbers a few years ago but now its pointless, you know your average heartrate for a given pace before you pull the handle. Pretty much record the average HR, spm and temperature and humidity for each row out of habit.

Still surprised how RowPro has not really taken off. You see cyclists on the road but they seldom cycle alone, its a group sport usually at least 3 or 4 riders over here. Yet many people are able to just sit staring at a blank wall going nowhere with no one else in there basement on a Concept 2 rower. Strange.

[Aks]

I was a runner - but severe plantar fasciitis and then ankle and knee problems made me stop. I thought that I could take a break and do yoga, but then I screwed up my shoulder.

After thinking about my growing amount of ailments, and the types of physical therapy available - I decided that to heal my injuries, I needed to build up the supporting muscles around the various injuries. The Erg has been a life saver. Because I can work on proper alignment of my legs in a pretty much non-weight bearing activity, I have been able to fix my knee and ankle issues, and my shoulder (although work sometimes aggravates it). My feet, which had been a mess, are less so. The plantar issue is resolved, but others are not and won't be until I buckle down and do some advanced myofascial release on them.

I feel like I could go back to running, but what I have found is that I really really like the Erg. I don't feel like I am pounding my body into the ground anymore.
I feel as good after a session as I did rowing. Instead of running, I walk and that has become more enjoyable.

I don't find working on the Erg any more boring than running.

[Gammmmo]

This thread is seeing two conflicting views. What people have to realise is that everyone's background is different and therefore motivations will be different. In my case the erg has been a godsend - right now, it's alot of fun and exactly what I need. Might that change? Sure, but just enjoy the moment...

[hjs]

I'm just going by the listings here on Trade-Me, there is a constant stream of the for sale, at least one or two a week.

Sure if your rowing OTW and even a younger person it may be different, your racing and have some goals.

As soon as you get older your no longer getting faster. Like it or not your only getting slower and your switching to maintenance or trying to significantly slow the decay. Don't get me wrong you can have a better performance at 50 than when your were 30 but that just means your were no where near as fit at 30 as you should have been.

Was pretty fixated on numbers a few years ago but now its pointless, you know your average heartrate for a given pace before you pull the handle. Pretty much record the average HR, spm and temperature and humidity for each row out of habit.

Still surprised how RowPro has not really taken off. You see cyclists on the road but they seldom cycle alone, its a group sport usually at least 3 or 4 riders over here. Yet many people are able to just sit staring at a blank wall going nowhere with no one else in there basement on a Concept 2 rower. Strange.

Partly true, you have given up very soon, others, some older than you did not and still improve,

Re boredom, the same, you have given up, you only one thing, never change anything.

Perfectly fine to have an opinion, but give the full picture. In running terms, you run the same course at the same speed only. Others mostly don,t.

[G-dub]

I am not at all built like a runner should be but love to do it for all the reasons mentioned. One thing I have noticed now that I am mostly getting my fitness on the erg is that my legs and me are "heavier" so the running seems less light and fast if that makes sense. But it is good to get outside to run or ride bike once or twice a week to stay fresh. The erg is highly addictive and an awesome way to exercise. It gave me a whole new obsession.

[Chris_Pook_49]

I have not run to the same level as you, or with the same passion, but I can vouch for rowing as a great way of attaining fitness with lower risk of injury. I needed to get fit in 2009, but was heavy, probably 17 stone. Too heavy to run much and not get injured. I always get injured running , be that a flare up of the torn meniscus (skiing, left knee), or tendonitis (left calf), or bad back (slipped disc). God I feel old just talking about it, and I can add the Beefeater disease (gout) to that now. Great lifestyle. lol. I started rowing in the spring of 2009 - lost about 1/3rd or my body weight in the next 6 months. There were other factors in play, but mainly a lot of rowing and not a lot of eating. Came home (I worked away that summer) and jogged a bit here and there for 4 weeks, then ran a 1:47 half marathon, which for me was very good.

8 years later, I don't row every day, but then I have never run every day either. But I have been rowing on and off ever since then, and if there is something I particularly want to sharpen up my fitness for, I would probable head to the erg rather than road running in the first instance, because I know it is going to give me a dependable result without risk of injury. Last year I rowed in a self inflicted challenge with a pal in another country, to fund raise for charity. We each rowed 22k a day, for days on end, until we had both had enough. We each did 750k, or so. I had one day where I could not row, and so rowed 44k the next day. I just don't think that you could do the same thing running, without much in the way of prior training. Neither of us did much before this challenge, beyond a couple of 2ks, a couple of 5ks, a couple of 10ks, and then starting. It was quite a mental challenge, though.

Anyway, hope of some passing use. I would go for it. You are already clearly super fit. Maybe interspersing your running with some erg work will let you continue with the same level of activity, but carrying less injury and or pain.

[Carl Watts]

I'm just going by the listings here on Trade-Me, there is a constant stream of the for sale, at least one or two a week.

Sure if your rowing OTW and even a younger person it may be different, your racing and have some goals.

As soon as you get older your no longer getting faster. Like it or not your only getting slower and your switching to maintenance or trying to significantly slow the decay. Don't get me wrong you can have a better performance at 50 than when your were 30 but that just means your were no where near as fit at 30 as you should have been.

Was pretty fixated on numbers a few years ago but now its pointless, you know your average heartrate for a given pace before you pull the handle. Pretty much record the average HR, spm and temperature and humidity for each row out of habit.

Still surprised how RowPro has not really taken off. You see cyclists on the road but they seldom cycle alone, its a group sport usually at least 3 or 4 riders over here. Yet many people are able to just sit staring at a blank wall going nowhere with no one else in there basement on a Concept 2 rower. Strange.

Partly true, you have given up very soon, others, some older than you did not and still improve,

Re boredom, the same, you have given up, you only one thing, never change anything.

Perfectly fine to have an opinion, but give the full picture. In running terms, you run the same course at the same speed only. Others mostly don,t.

Err no actually this season is already a PB in terms of distance at the fastest average pace ever. 7500m+ a day at less than 2:03 pace all pretty much 17-18spm.

We all appear to need different forms of motivation if you want to continue rowing for a lifetime. Obviously if your transitioning from a lifetime or running or cycling you are already motivated by that and the overall lifestyle of exercise so switching to the rower may not be a problem for you. The complete lack of changing scenery is one of the problems however. Even running is too slow so I found cycling better a bit the same as pool work, needed fins to get some speed or I just hated it.

You never get faster or improve with age, don't kid yourself. If I had discovered rowing at 18 and in my early 20's I would now be looking back wondering how I ever did that pace. There is no way you "continue to improve" at 50 or else the rowing at the Olympics would be dominated by masters rowers.