Post
by Thor MW » March 18th, 2018, 8:36 am
I was watching some videos about rowing on the C2 and I came across one talking about breathing. There was a short clip of the guy who holds the record for a 2K and is a light weight. The person conducting the video explained that he takes two breaths per stroke. He exhales at the catch and again at the end of the stroke. As a weightlifter this goes against my training. Generally you breathe out as you apply force or what is called the positive part of the lift. Taking bench press as an example, You breathe in as the bar is coming down to your chest and out as you apply force to press the weight back up. Now back to rowing. As you are returning to the catch position, you are bunched up and your belly is against your thighs. Having air in you at this point isn’t always comfortable and you may not be able to maximize the stroke. So breathe out as your belly is coming close to and making contact with your legs. Now here is the reverse for me. As you begin the stroke, pushing with your legs, you breathe in. Breathe out again as you finish the stroke while you are pulling with your arms. During the recovery, as you move forward, breathe in and then out as your legs are making contact with your belly again.
I practiced this last night. I found the rhythm and kept it going. Time will tell if this will benefit me but I have to say, it was nice having no air in me at the catch. Unless I was going all out, previously I would breathe in during the recovery and breathe out during the stroke. So, one breath per stroke. When I was going hard, I would still have a load of air at the catch to blow out as I pushed with my legs. I prefer rowing on an empty stomach. This isn’t practical right now. I must row before bed so I have a load of food in my belly and add to that air in the belly and it makes for a rather uncomfortable session at times.
If you only get one point from this, make this your take away, never hold your breath! If you find you are making a lot of throat noises while going hard, check to see if you are breathing. You probably aren’t you are probably closing up your throat to make the kind of noises that makes your neighbors wonder just what you are up to. Keep your throat open and the neighbors won’t be quite so envious. Just like that, I go from the Mighty Thor to Mr. Rogers.
Keep on rock’n my friends.
Shaun first noticed the hula'ing across the sky....good eye, good eye!
AND 
Derric 21,204 m ... he moons us!
.
K2 5,000 m
Dennis 10,000 m
Derric 21,205 m ... he moons us...lone mooner of the day!
Angelo 94,097 m ...empties the meter piggy bank...oink..oink...and a snort, too (no offense meant - it's the curse of the goofy gene)...
