Cant keep seat under me

[Tim K.]

Tim, I really appreciate hearing stories like this. I study exercise and cognition and there is lots and lots of research supporting what you're doing. Exercise is considered an 'arousal inducing stressor', which means that it increases dopamine and epinephrine projection into the frontal lobes. From an attention/executive function perspective, this helps us 'hold attentional set' aka focus, following short bouts of exercise. It has a similar effect as the meds (which also increase dopamine), but with actual health benefits and an increased sense of well being. Thanks for sharing!

No problem! I like talking about it and opening up the opportunity for others to talk about it. It took me years of banging on doors and chasing down possible solutions all while feeling like crap, working and going to school to finally find a solution.

A book I really liked reading was Spark by Ratey: http://www.amazon.ca/Spark-Revolutionar ... 0316113506

[Tim K.]

Alissa, I dont know what to say. That was an incredibly informative and supportive post. Thanks for the help.

[Tim K.]

Quick update.

Hamstrings are a big part issue. They are to tight and Im not flexible enough. At present it is quite uncomfortable to have proper form. I begin moving my back before legs are fully extended because they are tight. I am stretching and rowing with proper form (recording and reviewing almost every time) but its probably going to take me a few weeks to get flexible enough that it isnt uncomfortable to row. Thank you for pointing that out Alissa.

At present Im only coordinated enough to row at about 120 watts. HR is way to low to get a good work out so I have to jump on the bike for 15 minutes to get a good enough workout to prevent the cognitive issues of the past.

I find Im so slow that if I row at a damper setting of less than 10 I dont engage the blower until 20%ish through the leg stroke. Once I get the flexibility and coordination sorted out I will start working on speed of stroke and start reducing damper setting down to a more accepted drag factor.

The speed I seem to work at right now is probably why I began rowing the way I did. Overlapping legs,back and arms was the easiest way to get a good cardio workout. I know I was considerably more flexible when I started rowing but as I began to row more I had less time for stretching and eventually quit all together. Time to reassess priorities.

Thanks again for all input!

[G-dub]

Not ideal but 120 watts for an hour or more would be a nice smooth low impact aerobic session that would build cardio slowly and burn fat. Maybe by doing so, your hams will open up. It would require Netflix of course.

[Romper]

1. You're overcompressing on a few strokes. See, for example, the catch at 1:21. Your knee is clearly in front of (to the right of) your ankle. Not a lot, but you have to recover your knee back to a behind-the-ankle position before you can really begin your drive. It's wasted time, motion (going forward) & effort (coming back to the beginning-of-drive position).
Alissa

Hi Alissa.

Did you mean '"the catch at 0:21" and not 1:21?

At the top of the catch, does the knee need to be directly above or behind the ankle to maximise start of drive stroke?

Either way, what is a good way of training/adapting your body movement and timing to achieve that repeatable launch pivot point like this?


Romper

[Romper]

Anyone help out with my post above?


ROmper