Introduce yourself

[mjlawton]

Hi everyone,
I just bought a used Model D for at home use. I am completely new to rowing, although I have used one in gyms a few times over the years. A bit about me...I will be 59 next month, was a stay at home mom but both boys are in 20s now and husband is retired, so I have plenty of time to train. We live in Michigan spring through fall and winters in the florida keys. Hoping I can fit the rower in the truck when we drive down this year . I have been athletic all of my life and have been doing sprint triathlons for 2 years. Just ran my first 10k this fall. Was looking for something different to try to tone more vs. just cardio. Intend to continue Tri training plus the rowing. I am starting from scratch...not familiar with terms used on forums, best way to train, etc. I am very competitive, so I would love to work up to possibly competing in some capacity, either on line challenges or races some day. Is the beginner Pete Plan a good place to start my rowing training? What is best way to learn the lingo (books, forums, etc.)? Most I have rowed at once thus far is a 5000m at the gym as part of a bingo challenge. Took about 28 min, with no previous rowing in recent years. Would love some advice as to how to start and learn quickly. Thank you! Janet

[Citroen]

Is the beginner Pete Plan a good place to start my rowing training? What is best way to learn the lingo (books, forums, etc.)?

Pete's beginners plan is intended for new rowers.

Jargon buster here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38 & here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=110942

[lindsayh]

have a look too above in the Training sub forum and in particular at the "newbie" threads and the questions they pose and have answered. Lots of really good information. There is a Pete Plan thread that includes a lot of BPP users as well and how they approach the sessions. You could post sessions there for feedback and in particular for feedback/encouragement/inspiration.

[jackarabit]

Janet, Pete Beginner ratchets up volume (meters per session and per week) quite rapidly. For “absolute” beginning rowers, 26 wks. of uninterrupted forward progress eggs to apples is not a foregone conclusion. Both men and women struggle with weekly volume increase.

The PBP schedule of pace improvement is by contrast self-regulating and consequently more tailored to individual fitness level at commencement of training.

3 sessions a week avoiding the optional work until week 8 to 10 is a good idea imo. Progressive is the operative word in progressive training overload so avoid the newby temptation to prove oneself on day 1. No one should be embarrassed to find PBP difficult to complete the first time thru.

Lot of shop talk on this forum—most of It by male contributors. There have been sporadic attempts by women to discuss their training. There is no impediment to starting a ladies triathlete thread. Just a thought.

[mjlawton]

Thanks for the suggestions. I found the jargon threads after I posted. Did the 5000m 1st day of BPP today. 26min25sec, 2:38 pace, 28 s/m. I tend to want to row short and quick vs long and slower although I know I need to do the latter. Set at 5 with drag of about 115. Might try slightly higher drag and see what difference it makes. I still intend to continue the Tri training as well, although letting up some for fall/winter. Running further than 3 miles creates some physical issues and my HR skyrockets with running, thus I wanted to try something different to improve my aerobic base for racing. Cannot run any distance without HR going to 160 or higher. When I completed the 5000m it was 165 but averaged 148. Actually wearing holter monitor today to verify there aren't any heart issues as my HR averaged 180 for over an hour during my 10k race. Any tips on maintaining a slower s/m but good pace are welcome. I have watched the technique videos and am trying to use legs vs arms. Thanks! - Janet

[jackarabit]

Any tips on maintaining a slower s/m but good pace are welcome.

At drag factor 115, rate of flywheel deceleration is too high to allow you to employ low s/m (19-21 spm). Set the drag factor DOWN to 105-110 and you’ll have more time to recover slowly after each drive with less inertial loading of the flywheel at the catch. If you set the df higher than your current 115, your strokes per minute will tend to rise still higher to keep the inertial load manageable.

No such critter as a slow s/m. Lower or higher yes. Pace is slower or faster.

[mjlawton]

Appreciate the correction on the terminology . I will double check the drag and adjust as you suggested. Thanks!

[jackarabit]

You should try higher drag also, of course. Need to find out for yourself! The majority of us, faced with a new athletic or fitness challenge, are unprepared to produce technical mastery and efficiency right out of the blocks. Learning to talk the talk and giving consideration to the views of those with more experience can be a shortcut to understanding means and ends but can also present as confusion and contradiction. The body learns by doing and evolving. However far-reaching or limited the intellectual grasp, the body is the site of the true knowing how and knowing why.

[mjlawton]

Reduced my DF to 100 and did both a 500m TT for a benchmark (2:13.8, 34 s/m) and 6 X 500 2Rest for day 2 of BPP (avg. around 2:28, S/m 24). Pace improved from just 2 days ago, so I will keep playing with DF to determine what works best for me and keep focusing on technique. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

Janet (F, 58, 5ft4, 145)

[jackarabit]

Janet, take a look at the PP thread in Training subforum as per Lindsay’s rec. Lots of pointers, feedback, and camaraderie. The PBP guys are a minority there but Mike F. will make certain you get specific advice and support for your training goals.

[mjlawton]

I have finished two weeks of BPP and follow the pete plan forum, but not noticing many female rowers. Is the ducks in a row team still active or is there another place where female rowers are more active, or is it primarily male rowers who are active in the forums? If I stick with the rowing consistently I would be interested in a team and team support. I know where teams are listed on profile, but any suggestions as to which teams are open to new members, friendly and perhaps have an active forum or Facebook, etc.? I'm female, 59 next month, and live in both Michigan and Florida if any of that has any bearings on team membership. Have rowed almost 50,000m in 2 weeks since buying my concept 2 model D. Thanks for any input.

[jackarabit]

Janet, you’re welcome to join Forum Flyers for the Concept 2 perennial series of monthly and holiday challenges. We also participate in the C2 Cross Team Challenge every month year round and for the seven months of the Indoor Rowers League.

Other virtual teams: Free Spirits is a very active team with its own forum. Well worth a look! Sub-7 has a strong FB presence. As for support for personal goals, most virtual teams are interested in both fitness and competition goals. And in the end, as Lennon/McCartney put it, the love you take is equal to the love you make. So you do have to make the time for others as well as for yourself even if a large proportion is given over to chatroom ephemera.

In the four yrs. I’ve watched the Pete Plan training threads in this forum, exactly one woman rower (Lori Lindahl of Sub-7) has taken full advantage of the training experience on offer there. A bit more gender inclusivity (cf. crossfit) would make this a better forum for both sexes imo. I encourage you to stick with the Pete Planner lads this winter but also hope you find the team that shares your interests and supports your goals 100%. I think Naval Air Station, Pensecola is a very strong “brick & mortar” fitness challenge team in Florida. Other possibilities are urban gyms, corporate centers and OTW rowing clubs. Judy Geer @ Concept 2 should know if the Ducks in a Row are still active as a virtual team. HTH.

[mjlawton]

Thanks Jackrabbit for the info. I am back and forth between MI and FL keys until december so I will wait on joining a team until I know we can get my erg to florida for the winter. I've read some of the flyers stuff on the forum...they seem like a nice bunch. I will check out the other teams you mentioned. I don't train on erg exclusively (also fit in pickle ball, swimming, running, etc.) but I hope to be fairly consistent with it and I do love competition! Appreciate your info.

[mjlawton]

Jackarabit,
I decided to go with the Free Spirit team due to their Facebook presence and separate forum. Seemed like they offered a lot of info/frequent posts for the beginner. Thanks for the offer to join the forum flyers though. They seem like a great group as well. Hubby said we shouldn't have a problem getting erg in truck for florida drive down, so I should be good to go to continue with my rowing .

[jackarabit]

Outstanding! In a saltwater location, rust doesn’t nod once let alone sleep so keep the chain lubed and the entire machine away from salt air and water if possuble.