Early days so far.

[sapage]

Hi All,

2 weeks ago I purchased an c2 rowing machine mostly just to get a bit of fitness happening and ideally some weight lost. I am 6 foot 3 and ~110kg right now.

I have used it nearly every day since purchase but get a little dishearten when I can not manage anything more than 10-15mins.

I have been heavily trying to make certain my rowing form is correct. Legs arms back - back arms legs which slows things down a little bit. I have also only been using the machine at very low settings 3-4. I have been alternating between interval training and just rowing and trying to add 1min or a set each day.

I have also been stretching a lot after each go at it and using a form roller on my legs and lower back. I really do not want to hurt myself at the start.

I my question is this the right approach and when does it get easier?

[Kafka]

Welcome and congrats on buying a C2.

I would say your approach sounds right, getting the form correct early on is important, as is stretching before and after and taking care not to injure yourself.

A mixture of intervals and longer, slower pieces at 18 - 20 spm concentrating on form and power is good.

A setting or 3 or 4 should equate to a Drag Factor of around 120 on a new machine, which is a good DF to set and leave it on.

My personal opinion is stay away from sprints and going balls-out for the time being - sprints is a sure way to lose form and injure yourself - other opinions are available

Also don't stress over the figures and times you see on the forum - most of the rowers here are at the top of their game (I'm not )and, while serving as inspiration of what can be achieved, will be out of reach at the start.

Set your own targets using the C2 rankings, and use those as a measure of your improvement.

When does it get easier? When you let it.

It's you against the machine and your own capabilities. It's not going to get easier unless you want it to

Watch the videos, Dark Horse Rowing on YouTube is good, read the new stater threads on the forum, join a Team (Forum Flyers are a nice bunch, although there are plenty to chose from) and do the CTC each month.

C2 Workouts of the Day are also useful if you're stuck for inspiration.

Enjoy the journey and remember, Push, don't Pull

[jamesg]

my question is this the right approach and when does it get easier?

Well done, "technique" and "every day" are the essentials in rowing and getting fit.

Qs: 1, Yes. 2, When you slow the rating but keep the stroke hefty, because dropping the rating reduces power. You can use either Watts or HR (drift in particular) to check whether power is too high or not.

At 6'3 you can develop a long solid stroke, even if your belly gets in the way. If you have this solid stroke already and use it at low ratings, then damper 3-4 on a new machine will cause a slow pull. This is what drag is for, to get the fan speed right for the next pull. "Right" means neither too slow nor too fast. We don't need a pull that's slow and hard enough to break a rib; half that will do when we pull up to a thousand strokes.

One of the elements of endurance training is patience. The changes that training brings can be assimilated to growth, and we can't get fit any faster than our nails or hair grow either. In a very short time, such as one year if not sooner, you'll marvel at the results if you stick with it. Then of course you probably have another 30-50 years to look forward to.

[Ombrax]

Don't worry about how your times compare to others here. But be sure to get your technique right - comparing how you row is good. Comparing how fast you row is for the time being not necessary.

In the near term you're only "competing" against yourself, and the great thing about being a newbie is that because you're starting at a relatively low level you'll see significant improvements that will make you feel good about yourself and exercising in general - but only if you keep at it and push yourself.

Keep rowing - you won't be disappointed.

Good Luck

[hjs]

Hi All,

2 weeks ago I purchased an c2 rowing machine mostly just to get a bit of fitness happening and ideally some weight lost. I am 6 foot 3 and ~110kg right now.

I have used it nearly every day since purchase but get a little dishearten when I can not manage anything more than 10-15mins.

I have been heavily trying to make certain my rowing form is correct. Legs arms back - back arms legs which slows things down a little bit. I have also only been using the machine at very low settings 3-4. I have been alternating between interval training and just rowing and trying to add 1min or a set each day.

I have also been stretching a lot after each go at it and using a form roller on my legs and lower back. I really do not want to hurt myself at the start.

I my question is this the right approach and when does it get easier?

How far/fast do you go, what ratings etc. you know give almost zero info.
If you go slow enough you can go all day long, very fast you don,t last one minute....
For basic training training, keep the strokes long and breathing calm.

[Ombrax]

and when does it get easier?

Tour de France winning cyclist Greg LeMond famously said "It never gets easier, you just go faster."

Of course that isn't quite right, but I'm sure you understand the spirit of the comment.

[Parky]

Sapage wrote,

I my question is this the right approach and when does it get easier?

At my age, adding to what Greg LeMond said, "It won't get easier, it'll just hurt less."

[sapage]

How far/fast do you go, what ratings etc. you know give almost zero info.
If you go slow enough you can go all day long, very fast you don,t last one minute....
For basic training training, keep the strokes long and breathing calm.

To be honest I have not really kept a track.
I normally do stroke speed of 30-32.
500 average times are 2:17.
I have mostly been doing intervals 1 and 1 or 2 and 1.

I have been doing some reading and that seems like a high cadence.

[hjs]

How far/fast do you go, what ratings etc. you know give almost zero info.
If you go slow enough you can go all day long, very fast you don,t last one minute....
For basic training training, keep the strokes long and breathing calm.

To be honest I have not really kept a track.
I normally do stroke speed of 30-32.
500 average times are 2:17.
I have mostly been doing intervals 1 and 1 or 2 and 1.

I have been doing some reading and that seems like a high cadence.

Keep notice, that helps.

30/32 for intervals is fine, but in combination with 2.17 its not, your stroke are very short and weak, slow the rating down and take full strokes. At the moment you only take half strokes.

[edinborogh]

it took me a while ( about 4 months ) before i even started to build a routine. most of my work was around technic, getting in shape, and motivation.
im sure that you will find your approach that will satisfy your needs and goals as time goes on.
and congrats on buying C2 machine!

[lindsayh]

In my view the interval training is a small part of what you need to do
low SR 5k to 10k should be best for a start with maybe the occasional intervals (they become more important as you get faster and are doing 2k TTs and the like). Say around 2:20 pace and sr22/24 aim for 5k and then build to 10k. I agree with Henry that you are training a weak stroke and that is where to start
Definitely have a look at some of the "newbie" threads here - heaps of good info. you will get better rapidly for the next 12 months - will be a great ride

[Dangerscouse]

The only thing I can add is make sure that your nutrition is good too.

Without the right fuel you will find it harder but don't fall into the trap of over-compensating and eating more as you train more. A good balanced diet with lots of fruit and veg is essential in my view.

Keep a very close eye on all of the information available on the monitor and you will see results, but it can be quite subtle so don't just row aimlessly.

Finally be prepared to push yourself outside your comfort zone. It's natural to be cautious but you won't progress without a bit of temporary pain and sweat!

[sapage]

I just did intervals of 500M and averaged 1:59 at 29 SR. I am feeling pretty good after doing only 5 sets but it is better than nothing.

I do do full extentions but might just be a bit under powered right now.

[hjs]

I just did intervals of 500M and averaged 1:59 at 29 SR. I am feeling pretty good after doing only 5 sets but it is better than nothing.

I do do full extentions but might just be a bit under powered right now.

Thats fine. Slowly increese the number of reps. And start doing some longer sessions. Pick 2.20/2.15 as a pace for these. Aim for 20 min for starters.

[sapage]

I did my first 5K today. 24:01. Took it nice and easy and could move when i got off the rowing machine. I find the first 5~8mins the hardest then you kind of just get into the rhythm of things.