Boredom question

[electricstart]

Right now I am just starting out and excited every time I get on Concept 2 so I am not bored. I just wonder when that wears off what do guys or gals do to keep from getting bored ? You know when you hit the wall and gains are slow . Music ,TV ,Video's , change routine ,take a break ? I am just talking about machine not water.
Thank You

[Tony Cook]

Audio books mainly. Maybe a radio programme or pod casts. I can do those through my headphones.
Have done TV but the sound has to be very loud so I can hear it over the C2 - haven’t got the technology to put it through headphones.

[Dangerscouse]

Everyone is different, and I really don't get bored easily on the erg, but music is essential for me, but I know a lot of others love podcasts, films and TV.

I'd also say that it's essential for you to love the process, rather than the results. Focus on the endorphins, and how it helps your mental health. Also stay accountable with posting on here, and try and find someone, or a part of a team, who is/are a similar current ability to keep you competitive.

[bobsacamano]

For me, three things are key to helping with boredom:

1. Having a clearly defined goal to chase (an upcoming race, a new PB, etc.). Everyone's different, of course, but for me just thinking about the 'big picture' of my overall health, etc., isn't concrete enough to keep me interested . . . I need a time, or date, or race, or something.

2. Following a defined training plan rather than having to think of 'what should I do today'. Just having the plan on my fridge (or spreadsheet or wherever) where I cross off completed workouts helps with my motivation, because if I skip a workout or two in a row, then it visibly haunts me.

3. Having another activity to do. For me, it is nordic skiing from late Nov-early March. I don't stop rowing completely, but I do drop my rowing volume in those months, and it both gives me a break from the rower and gives me a new challenge to work on (my ski technique is always in need of improvement. Then when I come back to the rower it is fresh again.

[Tsnor]

Audio books mainly. Maybe a radio programme or pod casts. I can do those through my headphones.
Have done TV but the sound has to be very loud so I can hear it over the C2 - haven’t got the technology to put it through headphones.

If you ever get wanting TV to headphones $20-$30 USD buys a 3.5mm micro jack to bluetooth transmitter. You'd want one that gets power from an adapter (usb) else batteries would get crazy. Low latency a plus to keep sound and video in sync.

Or in the US cable TV providers typically let you stream TV for free (login/password/play) so you could watch TV on a tablet or phone that has bluetooth. Small screen though.

random examples from amazon

$20 - JUBAAY Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter Receiver, 2-in-1 HiFi Portable Wireless Audio Bluetooth Adapter, with 3.5mm AUX, Suitable for car/TV/Headset/PC/Home Stereo Hands-Free Calls, Low Latency

$15 - ZIIDOO Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver, 3-in-1 Wireless Bluetooth Adapter,Low Latency Bluetooth Audio Adapter for TV

[Cyclist2]

I just wonder when that wears off what do guys or gals do to keep from getting bored ?

It varies on what workout I'm doing;
For hard intervals, music with a strong or fast beat, no video. Boredom is not a problem when I'm concentrating on a split every stroke.
For, say, a 5K piece near race pace, I put on a video of a head race with the stroke rate I'm shooting for, turn up the volume in my headphones so I can hear the clunking of the oars as they feather/square so that I don't have to actively watch it.
For long steady state pieces, I usually go with a cycling or rowing scenery video with music (usually separate from the video) I like.

It's not really about boredom, as much as blanking out the fan and erg noise, which gets very annoying and monotonous. My main problem is the consistent motivation to actually get on the erg. Once there, I'm good to go.

[jamesg]

I just wonder when that wears off what do guys or gals do

Row a bit harder.

[Carl Watts]

After 6 months and you stop improving you get bored very easily.

I went through the music stage but it was not enough. I then discovered RowPro and it has kept me going for over 10 years on the Erg but recently even that is beginning to finally wear off. Currently I'm planning to also do a bit of Zwift for the longer rows as well as RowPro for some shorter stuff like the 5000m twice a week.

You pretty much need to keep evolving to stay motivated.

[Tony Cook]

Audio books mainly. Maybe a radio programme or pod casts. I can do those through my headphones.
Have done TV but the sound has to be very loud so I can hear it over the C2 - haven’t got the technology to put it through headphones.

If you ever get wanting TV to headphones $20-$30 USD buys a 3.5mm micro jack to bluetooth transmitter. You'd want one that gets power from an adapter (usb) else batteries would get crazy. Low latency a plus to keep sound and video in sync.

Or in the US cable TV providers typically let you stream TV for free (login/password/play) so you could watch TV on a tablet or phone that has bluetooth. Small screen though.

random examples from amazon

$20 - JUBAAY Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter Receiver, 2-in-1 HiFi Portable Wireless Audio Bluetooth Adapter, with 3.5mm AUX, Suitable for car/TV/Headset/PC/Home Stereo Hands-Free Calls, Low Latency

$15 - ZIIDOO Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver, 3-in-1 Wireless Bluetooth Adapter,Low Latency Bluetooth Audio Adapter for TV

Thanks Tsnor, the problem is I don’t have a 3.5mm Jack on the TV in my garage, not does it have built in Bluetooth.

[mitchel674]

Rowing on the erg is boring. No way to sugarcoat that reality.

But, it's the best kind of boring exercise I've found, and it's the only one I've been able to stick with long term. Just suck it up and find a way to pass the time. I do music or follow along workouts with Eric Murray. I cannot seem to row while watching movies or listening to podcasts/audio books.

[Ombrax]

As Mark (Cyclist2) said above, I don't get bored because I'm concentrating on my pace on every stroke. I have to, because if I don't my body slacks off - if I didn't keep cracking the whip I'd probably end up at a 2:30 pace.

That means that erging isn't "fun," but it sure isn't boring either. I'm resigned to that and I'm willing to put in the time without feeling like my brain is going to turn to mush (which is what happens to me if I try to ride a bike inside).

[MPx]

I occasionally use music on the longest sessions...but probably just a handful of times a year. The rest of the time I'm focused on the PM. I'll have a plan of what I want to do but I'm not a virtual machine unlike many contributing here. So I'll be ahead, or struggling, or whatever and I recalc the numbers mentally very regularly to get the most out of the session given the original plan vs where I find myself. I also always try to hit specific numbers at specific times (pointless other than as a point of interest!) - it takes concentration and no time to get bored. Its very noticeable on a max effort how my ability to mentally keep on top of the numbers can deteriorate towards the end, to the point of missing key information being displayed. So despite the years of doing it and having plateaued long ago I still don't get too bored, but I'm essentially lazy, so probably have a very high boredom threshold!

[Carl Watts]

It just comes down to keeping the brain doing something.

Even say doing intervals during the 30 minute can work, keeps you focused watching the clock for when your about to sprint for say 1 minute out of every 5 minutes.

The fact is 90% of people quit the Erg in no time, its simply not interactive enough for most people and online rowing has been very slow to develop. Take the time to look at Zwift for the cyclists, the whole thing is totally immersive and with a big enough screen its like your on the road. Totally mind blowing graphics compared to anything that exists specifically for the Erg.

[mjk]

I think of there being different types of boredom in training

day-to-day boredom in training is feeling unmotivated toward goals (or not having goals) - having varying goals throughout the year can combat this, such as training for different distances in spring vs. fall, or being motivated to be in shape for an upcoming cycling or skiing season. I believe that vague goals like "be healthier" can get you started, but a goal needs to have some specifics (Row X distance in X time by X date) in order for it to be motivating long-term.

moment-to-moment boredom in training is the feeling of "ugh I want to be done" in the middle of a steady state piece. Personal preference is big here - as seen in the above comments. I agree with others that podcasts or audio books are good for longer sessions, I havent done it in a long time but movies can be good too. For shorter or more intense sessions I like upbeat music, especially longer mashups so I dont have to worry about song selection.

[max_ratcliffe]

I rarely get bored on the erg, but do occasionally give the steady state pieces a bit of a drag.

I'm a big fan of the wolverine plan L4 stuff, where target rate and pace change regularly. The 180 segment for example is 4' at r16, 3' at r18, 2' at r20 and 1' at r22. That makes the 10' segment go quite quickly and of course you can just tack any number of 10' segments together as required (there are also 6' segments if preferred).

I often will do intervals with a similar approach, so 2k repeats are broken down into 1k at say 2:08, 500m at 2:04, 250m at 2:00 and 250m at 1:56.

I always like to have some objective and a plan towards achieving it. I enjoy drawing up a schedule and get excited when I start implementing it. (Sometimes the excitement fades pretty quick when I realise I've set myself some impossible intervals but I adjust and move on...).