Avoiding seat discomfort during an HM

[christopherregisryan]

I have a HM time trial coming up. I would like to row straight through (a bit less than 1h:30m) without stopping so my time is better. I have been having discomfort in my glutes on pieces longer than 40 minutes. I think that my hamstrings and hips are getting tight. Seat pads do not help. I have tried them. Does anyone have strategies for avoiding seat discomfort from tight hamstrings and hips? Is there prep I can do over the weeks before the trial? Best. - Chris

[Carl Watts]

Unfortunately its like a bike seat for me, you need to do longer and longer pieces in training and then it hurts less and less.

Not sure how it works really, I have lost a lot of fat off this region recently and my partner is now complaining "I have no arse" . One would think the fat makes a good cushion, but apparently not.

I would say however the "One size seat fits all" theory probably doesn't work that well and a complete seat change my suit you better. Recent thread on seats.

http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... ilit=+seat

[Hillclimber]

Hey Chris,
I've had similar troubles. Usually it's numbness, which if ignored moves rapidly to my foot. Seems to happen on any piece longer than 30:00, and the severity seems to coincide with intenisity of the work. I've tried the C2 pad, even doubled up, to no effect. My solution is at the first sign of trouble I lift one side of the butt off the seat and basically power the catch with one leg for 2 -3 strokes, then the other leg. Relieves the issue for about 1,000 meters, then repeat. Pace only drops a few clicks once you get the hang of it.

Hope your training is going well. Glad to hear you're still getting in the long meters, doing same here for a few more weeks.

Damien.

p.s. check out the Crazy Bear Challenge on RowPro. Daily HM at 2 p.m. EST; 1700 gmt, about 6 to 10 rowers usually turn out.

[hjs]

Unfortunately its like a bike seat for me, you need to do longer and longer pieces in training and then it hurts less and less.

Not sure how it works really, I have lost a lot of fat off this region recently and my partner is now complaining "I have no arse" . One would think the fat makes a good cushion, but apparently not.

I would say however the "One size seat fits all" theory probably doesn't work that well and a complete seat change my suit you better. Recent thread on seats.

http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... ilit=+seat

"Having no ass" is one of they keys here. Working on getting some glutes helps. For te rest, like you say time in the saddle and luck, some people never have this throuble, others do. Keeping the rating higher helps a bit.

[ericallenboyd]

I get seat discomfort even rowing 3k. Working through it but not getting much better. Butt goes numb then the back of the legs and then my feet.

[jamesg]

Last time I did ½Ms I did half a dozen 10ks at increasing speeds; then three 1 hour pieces, then two 15-17 ks, then two half marathons. It all helps but takes almost two months.
I go as slow, and stop as often as I like in the prelìminary pieces of each length, but try to find a good average continuous speed in the last of each.

There are some 1% remedies that all together can help the bum a bit:
Lose some weight
Don't rock backwards too much
Don't collapse the back or roll the pelvis
Keep feet low and push hard with the legs
Get forward and well onto the feet at the catch
Any cushion
Rock side to side (if desperate)
Stop if necessary

[jadomatis]

To assist with posterior discomfort I tend to pause every 10 mins or so... fully extended legs and just reach and grab the toes to stretch the hams and glutes for about 10secs. Not only does this help with the muscles seizing... but it seems to minutely adjust the pressure points tween my rear and the seat.. which gets me through the next 10mins till I do it again.

[gregsmith01748]

One thing about pads. You might want to try a whole variety of different padding strategies.
- C2 pad
- JL rowing gel pad
- bubble wrap
- folded towel

I found that none of these worked until I tried the C2 pad, and all the sudden it was way better. My issue was right on the sitz bones, and using a pad has really helped me improve my posture at the catch. I was rounding my back to avoid rolling up on my sitz bones which hurt. Now that I'm using the pad, it's way better.

The length of your shins versus your thighs can have a huge impact on how your body rocks on the seat. In some cases, moving your feet up and down can make a big difference.

[ericallenboyd]

It is my sit bones as well and it has to do with rocking on the catch and finish. I am working on it and do have a c2 pad that I will try. I also have the sore no more one from jl racing which is ok in my opinion. For me though it is more about form and amount of times on the rower than anything since I am a relatively new rower.

[steveroedde]

I have a HM time trial coming up. I would like to row straight through (a bit less than 1h:30m) without stopping so my time is better. I have been having discomfort in my glutes on pieces longer than 40 minutes. I think that my hamstrings and hips are getting tight. Seat pads do not help. I have tried them. Does anyone have strategies for avoiding seat discomfort from tight hamstrings and hips? Is there prep I can do over the weeks before the trial? Best. - Chris

Hi Chris, At the risk of once again raising the ire of those with strong opinions, I share the following:
1. I have had glute pain with any row >2km since starting up 5 years back. The same issue in a single as the erg (different seats).
Without major padding, I must abandon any erg >5km.
2. Like Greg, it is on the "sitz bones".
3. There may be several reason for the difficulty. One is that some of us have difficulty "recruiting" the glutes on the erg/bike (for many reasons).
The result is that the hamstrings must take up the slack, they are not prepared for the job and they (in the main) originate on the ischial tuberosities.
The combination of excessively loaded hamstrings plus pressure causes (for some) significant pain. Worse with higher loading (as would occur with a tt).
Often one side is far more sore than the other. A fix for the glute recruitment issue I will leave....as controversial as anything else.
4. The only way I have been able to keep rowing is to build a custom seat-pad. It's simple. Steve Plank put together a super video that you can review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnF9D6WJhwg

With the cushion I have been able to do a fair number of rows of longish duration. Without one...I'd be involved in a different "sport".
As Greg says there are other fixes that may work. Everyone's ischial tuberosities are different. One size does not fit (or fix) all. Good luck with the HM!

[christopherregisryan]

Thanks, Everybody. You've given me a lot to work with. If I find a "magic elixir", I will be sure to share. Best. - Chris

[coastline]

I had the same problems, solved essentially as described in the link given above:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnF9D6WJhwg

I measured the distance and impression of the tailbones by the "Oasis" method given by Carl Douglas here:

https://secure.toolkitfiles.co.uk/clien ... d_seat.pdf

[ericallenboyd]

What foam did you use??

[at1839]

I would say however the "One size seat fits all" theory probably doesn't work that well and a complete seat change my suit you better. Recent thread on seats.

http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... ilit=+seat

+1.

Really, try to build your own ... it's easy. Paolo.

[coastline]

What foam did you use??

Quote from the text under the video:

"The foam is from a sleeping mat from a camping shop. It was £7.99!"

The thickness of the layers is around 10 mm, uncompressed, in the pads I have made.