The Virus thread - Is COVID-19 affecting your training program?

[Burko]

I row at an erg studio -- it closed last Monday because of the shelter in place order. They had hoped to reopen in early April, but I doubt that will happen.

We've made the decision to buy an erg for my use at home.

Probably the best investment into your long-term health that you can reliably make.

[AllenBradleyHammer]

I am in Illinois. Wife and myself are both in our 70s and are active rowers and did Crossfit 3 x week. We dropped out of CF a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of the trend regarding social distancing. The state soon after gave guidance for gyms to close. Luckily we bought a Concept2 that arrived just before we lost the ability to go to our CF box.
Have been rowing at home now and are thankful we have something to keep our fitness levels up.
I think a lot of people with at home rowers, are going to find they are logging more kms now in the current rowing challenges since they have little to do otherwise.

[Longleggedfly]

My rowing club closed a week ago. They gave me an erg to take home and have been posting workouts as well as livestreaming some indoor rowing classes. We're all connected via an app, so there is still a sense of community, which is great.

[Erik A]

after another extended absence (6 weeks) from the gym i was all set to get back into it and got a cold. just as i got over that the country (NZ) went into lock down and full lock down starts tonight at midnight. nothing open except for essential services and limited allowance for moving around. this is now in place for at least the next 4 weeks. i anticipate much longer if the spread keeps accelerating.
so as of today sometime after i get my critical works done i will be stuck at home with my family and my oldest daughter stuck in melbourne Auss. guess i will be taking long walks either late at night or early in the morning.

[Citroen]

Just as i got over that the country (NZ) went into lock down and full lock down starts tonight at midnight. nothing open except for essential services and limited allowance for moving around. this is now in place for at least the next 4 weeks.

Much the same as the Untied Kingdom. So I went for a walk round the perimeter of the local playing fields, complete with standing still for six minutes to watch the ISS go over. I can't see any chance to go to the gym before 30th April (more than six weeks away) as the Untied Kingdom is locked down for at least three weeks.

My daughter lives just south of Perth, WA. They've not gone into full lockdown yet - but it can't be long. I was talking to a colleague who lives in Ireland at lunchtime and she's expecting a full scale lockdown there in the next few days.

[Dangerscouse]

I live in the US, in California. The virus started closing businesses in Mid-march, which is when I lost my job. The gyms also closed at that time. This was an ENORMOUS blow for me. Honestly, losing gym access was worse than losing my job, because luckily our government is compensating us for lost wages. I consider myself fairly fit, to the point where I really NEED to get my heart rate up every day, and I regularly do HIIT on the elliptical where I max out my HR every time.

Anyway, after trying to adapt to gym closure by jogging up hills and stairs (AND HATING EVERY SECOND OF IT) I finally gave in and bought a rowing machine just several days ago. I used to row in the past, so I'm familiar with it, and I am really excited to get back into it again. This might just be a blessing in disguise, because I've always known just how superior rowing is, than other forms of exercise ... but it's just HARD to use the machine intelligently (that is: without injuring yourself, without giving up, without getting bored). Which is why I hardly ever rowed, even after being on the crew team for a little while when I was in college.

After my first few workouts on my new machine within these last several days, I quickly realized just how much less "fit" I am than I thought I was!! I have a long way to go, but MY GOODNESS, even after 1-2 workouts, I felt better. Every step of the way is going to feel great. I'm not concerned with progress, I am just grateful to be huffing and puffing again. It's the best stress relief.

So, while the virus severely dented my normal fitness routines -- I am finding myself embarking on a path which could unlock MUCH higher levels of fitness within me!!! For this I am grateful. And also grateful for my health. I think this time of self-isolation gives us all a chance to look inside and reach for better places.

Great post, and there's nothing to prepare you for rowing other than rowing, and that's why not too many people consistently use it: it's too hard work for most

[Carl Watts]

Training opportunities are going through the roof the number of online rows with Rowpro have tripled and there are a bunch of new Kiwis online.

Started a WhatsApp group to all stay in touch and now organising weekend rows as well. There are now events 7 days a week you can join.

If your lucky enough to have your own erg or two at home then jump online.

[ti_]

I row at an erg studio -- it closed last Monday because of the shelter in place order. They had hoped to reopen in early April, but I doubt that will happen.

We've made the decision to buy an erg for my use at home.

Probably the best investment into your long-term health that you can reliably make.

Have to agree on this. I have bought an erg for use at home too as until now I was used to to row in the gym. I really like to have my own erg! And it saves me time to get to the gym and so on. On of the best things I have bought in the last years.

[mataylor77]

COVID has got me back on the erg again! Couldnt be happier about it.. I used to be pretty good 20 years ago, (a 17min 5k) - but time and weight and lack of training have had their impact.

I bought an erg 2 weeks ago and just did my first sub 20 min 5K this afternoon in 10 years. (19:49) - Finding my groove again and intend to keep up the momentum covid or not!

[NavigationHazard]

Of potential interest.... https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanr ... 2/fulltext

[sbburris]

Caused me to dust off my rower in the garage and rediscover rowing.

[winniewinser]

As we've gone through this isolation process in the UK I have been able to increase my meters for sure.

03/16/20 - 76,459m - 6:06:15.2
03/23/20 - 86,618m - 6:31:15.7
03/30/20 - 72,421m - 5:41:07.0
04/06/20 - 96,225m - 7:17:50.3

I've also introduced a daily core workout before breakfast....searching for the six pack that has never been seen before!

Extension crunch x15
Knee Touch x30
knee raises x15
plank crunch x15
30s side plank (L&R)
raised legs crunch x15
knee tuck plank x30
russian twist 8kg 20 x 5
8kg weighted hip raise 15 x 3
8kg weighted crunch 15 x 3

Feeling better for it too

[mdpfirrman1]

I've never liked gyms very much. I only had an LA Fitness membership because my wife wanted to get away from me I work from home and she doesn't work. We are very fortunate in that we have a very nice home gym set up. I just don't know if you'd call what I do training, at least currently.

We have the C2 rower, an AD Pro Assault Bike, I'm getting a VerticalX today, heavy KBs, heavy ropes, Bowflex Adjustable weights, a plyo box, lots of boulders out in the yard as well -- I'm sure I'm forgetting somethings. We also have bike trails all around, which at least for now, are still open.

I've added in BeachBody on Demand for my adult daughter while she's here (she's working remote with us in Tucson while her company is in Austin). I just did a 30 minute Tony Horton workout the other day and I'm still a bit sore. I've also upped my rowing to 300K meters a month recently, more than I've ever done. I'd like to find more ways to integrate everything else, but after the BB workouts and bike riding for leisure, I'm not sure how much this old body can take!

Even my wife, who loves the gym, admits aside from the free weight section, their equipment is a step down from what we have at home.