Concept2 Forum

During some of my longer pieces, the workout can become very tidious and seem like forever.

Does anyone watch tv or a movie while erging?

Will this make my longer pieces easier to bear/ go by faster?

I frequently watch TV while erging. It does help make the longer pieces far more tolerable, and they also seem to go by faster. I find that I don't focus on my form quite so much, esp depending on what I am watching. I watch anything from movies with the kids, to more adult subjects. Row faster during intense scenes, fall off my erg laughing with things like Monty Python! Often watch CME (continuing medical education) tapes as well so I can get profesional credits handle while I exersize. Only problem I have is needing to turn volume up so I can hear. Not so bad during the day, but I often get up at 5am to erg while the family is asleep. The load volume can be disruptive to their sleep.

Give it a try during the HC, will make the HC alot more enjoyable for you!

Pam

I personally don't see hoe anyone can do a serious workout and watch TV at the same time. How can you watch the monitor, keep good form, and watch TV at the same time???

Widgeon wrote:I frequently watch TV while erging. It does help make the longer pieces far more tolerable, and they also seem to go by faster. I find that I don't focus on my form quite so much, esp depending on what I am watching. I watch anything from movies with the kids, to more adult subjects. Row faster during intense scenes, fall off my erg laughing with things like Monty Python! Often watch CME (continuing medical education) tapes as well so I can get profesional credits handle while I exersize. Only problem I have is needing to turn volume up so I can hear. Not so bad during the day, but I often get up at 5am to erg while the family is asleep. The load volume can be disruptive to their sleep.

Give it a try during the HC, will make the HC alot more enjoyable for you!

Pam

What kind of pace are you able to maintain?

I rarely erg without the TV being on a cable news channel. In most workouts, I rarely watch but listen ... since I'm focused on the monitor. I'm able to "block out" the TV when I really need to focus (fast intervals).

I've set 1K and Mile PBs over the past 2 months with the TV on.

I row significantly faster/better without TV, and prefer to listen to music. But sometimes TV's just the thing when I need to log junk meters. Yesterday I really didn't want to do my 60min row, but there was an episode of Top Chef that I hadn't seen, and it carried me through nicely. But I'd say I watch TV less often than one session in twenty.

For training rows (60 - 90 minutes or so), I have no problem rowing with the TV on - usually watching DVDs of whatever I've rented from Netflix or transferred to my PC from my TiVo.

For personal bests, I scrap the video and put on randomized playlists of upbeat music.

On some longer sets at home, I'll try to match strokes with Xeno on his rowing DVDs. Gives me a sense of being on the water and when I get in the rythmn, I can keep the pace/power up.

But at the gym, if I look up to the TV monitor, my watts drop significantly.

For anything longer than 20 min I also usually watch something. I probably don't keep the best form, but I also don't usually care so much what I am watching, so paying attention to the monitor and my form can also be done at the same time.
If I was training for competition it might be different, but I erg for general fitness and well being.

David

Widgeon wrote:I watch anything from movies with the kids, to more adult subjects.

What kind of workout are we talking about here?

When rowing, I pay attention to what I'm doing. No radio, no CD, no TV, its just a distraction that gets in the way. If I don't want to row I do something else. If I don't want to do anything else it means I'm tired sick or overtrained.

I used to watch DVD's all the time for longer pieces a few years ago. As I pushed up intensity I find the movies rather disturbing. Today I prefer to listen to the flywheel and really focus on my technique. I frequently use Xeno's DVD's because that makes it easier to push myself hard.

I usually watch TV. In fact it is about the only time I watch TV. I use closed captions so I don't have to turn it up too loud.

I also like to watch foreign movies while erging. Having to read the subtitles takes my attentioin away from the monitor, which isn't so good. Regular TV is usually not a problem.

bw

No. I don't own a TV. If I want to watch something, I go to the gym and watch people on the treadmills. No TV at the gym either.

Nosmo wrote:When rowing, I pay attention to what I'm doing. No radio, no CD, no TV, its just a distraction that gets in the way. If I don't want to row I do something else. If I don't want to do anything else it means I'm tired sick or overtrained.

What? No multitasking?

I'm the same way. I also turn off my cell phone so that the workout isn't interrupted.