Painful to row

[sparkysx]

Hi,

I just got my rower erg yesterday, great looking machine and undamaged.

So I did my first row, and it absolutley killed my arse! Everything else was fine and I could of gone a lot faster, but was in too much pain. Is this something that you get used to? I put a cushion of bubbke wrap under it and it helped but only slightly. It was a 5000 metre row by the way.

Any advice would be greatly received.

Thanks

[Ombrax]

C2 sells a foam pad that works well.

Also, what kind of shorts were you using? Was the problem caused in part by seams? It's best to use shorts designed for the job (and no underwear) but cycling shorts that don't have a very thick chamois will work in a pinch.

Good Luck

[sparkysx]

I don't think it was seams that caused the problem, there aren't any in the area that hurt, just shorts made from the same material as jogging bottoms.

[sparkysx]

I will look into what shorts to use, it's an overall ache, not localised pain.

[Yakky Doodle]

I use a seat pad. My butt and the stock Concept2 seat do not get along well without an 'intermediary' in there.

You're going to get a number of suggestions and recommendations, so you may have to experiment. The seat pad that works well for me is one sold by Hornet Watersports. It doesn't have the cutouts for your butt bones in it. It's fairly thin, fits on the C2 seat perfectly, and I've never had any problem with it slipping. If you Google 'hornet watersports C2 seat pad', it should come right up. It's sold either directly through Hornet or via Amazon.

[sparkysx]

I have heard of that seatpad so will have a look on amazon, thanks

[winniewinser]

I don't think it was seams that caused the problem, there aren't any in the area that hurt, just shorts made from the same material as jogging bottoms.

If it's aching rather than rubbing then yes you will get used to that. Build the distance over time and it gets easier.

[jvander76]

I also use a Hornet Watersports seat pad. BUT...I use the oversized mamma-jamma. It is 1.88 inches thick and has memory foam. I used to have issues with my boney butt directly on the C2 seat. I tried a thinner pad, and still had issues on longer rows (30 minutes or more). But no more! I recommend the big fat cushion from Hornet.

[Dangerscouse]

For some us it does get easier. It used to start hurting after about 45 mins before I started doing a lot more rowing. Now, I don't have any issues with any time at all.

Having said that a lot of people do really recommend a seat pad, so it's also down to your specific physiology

[sparkysx]

It was my first row, pretty slow for a 5k - 20:45, but I had to keep stopping and lifting my butt up. Will have a look for the aftter one.

[Tony Cook]

I couldn’t sit on the seat for 20 mins when I first started. Took a while to build up. Sense of achievement at my first 30 then 40 min row. Took about 6 months rowing 3-5 times a week to get to that.
You’ll get there if you stick to it.

[jvander76]

20:45 isn't slow for a first row Sparky. I'd say it's kick ass. I'm probably a bit older than you at 67, but after 5 months, that's about where I am now. You must be in good condition from another type of exercise. Good job.

[JaapvanE]

It was my first row, pretty slow for a 5k - 20:45, but I had to keep stopping and lifting my butt up. Will have a look for the aftter one.

That is 2:04.5/500m, for me that is pretty fast on a 2K....

[Dangerscouse]

It was my first row, pretty slow for a 5k - 20:45, but I had to keep stopping and lifting my butt up. Will have a look for the aftter one.

As jvander said, that's now slow. You should be happy with this.

[sparkysx]

I've been a runner since 2011, but have been tearing calf muscles quite often, and that puts me out for 3-4 weeks at a time. I lost my Mum last August to a heart attack so I'm not willing to let my cardio slip at all. My Dad has a concept 2 model B, has had it from new, I had a quick go on that and decided to get one, I know I won't be tearing a calf muscle on it.

My new problem is ahem! my nuts! they are really aching after that 5k, to the point that my health anxiety kicked in and is trying to convince me it's something sinister....so any additional advice on that would be good for sure!