Just finished my first 2k row.

[suorm]

I haven't broken a sweat like this in years... and it feels great! My time: 12m34s. I know it sucks but I just took it slowly because I'm recovering from tendonitis on my right shoulder and a weak right knee. I thought I would never have the chance to get back in shape to be honest, but rowing seems to give my body that low impact workout that it needs. I feel great for making the purchase. I'm at 120kg at this point. I have already lost about 15kg just by eating better. My belly is in the way but I can struggle through it. Anyway, I will focus on my mechanics at this point. I will keep this thread updated as often as a I can. Feeling very motivated! Thanks for reading!

[Sakly]

Welcome to the forum and rowing community
Well done on your weight loss and first 2k, good point to go on with your journey

[Dangerscouse]

Congratulations on attacking a 2k and your weight loss. Hopefully both of these numbers will continue to come down

[Joebasscat]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on that first 2k. Would recommend looking into RowAlong workouts on YouTube for mechanics etc… John’s a great guy with plenty of focus on proper form and he keeps it pretty light hearted. https://youtu.be/5btg_WhRHaI?si=Ve8Z8Y1XwTj8rScL

[Ombrax]

Congratulations!

One of the benefits of being new to the game is that if you keep at it you'll see relatively rapid improvement, due to both better technique and benefits of the exercise itself.

The single most important thing (after an improved diet, which you're already doing) is to persevere.

Good Luck

[suorm]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

5.30PM 2k row, right after work... 11m37s. Didn't go too hard, I felt some minor strain on my shoulder but still pushed hard enough. Had dinner around 7PM. Then around 9PM, I convinced myself to do a 20m workout with an 18 stroke pace and... I quit after 5m, it felt like my body would crumble and I didn't even go above 110BPM. I am so out of shape , I can't believe I let myself get this bad, I actually used to do sports and now I couldn't get off the machine and everything hurts... Thankfully my knee feels OK and I know I will get a good night's sleep. Still feeling very motivated

[Sakly]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

5.30PM 2k row, right after work... 11m37s. Didn't go too hard, I felt some minor strain on my shoulder but still pushed hard enough. Had dinner around 7PM. Then around 9PM, I convinced myself to do a 20m workout with an 18 stroke pace and... I quit after 5m, it felt like my body would crumble and I didn't even go above 110BPM. I am so out of shape , I can't believe I let myself get this bad, I actually used to do sports and now I couldn't get off the machine and everything hurts... Thankfully my knee feels OK and I know I will get a good night's sleep. Still feeling very motivated

Motivation is good, but don't overwhelm your body with too much in the beginning. It took many years to get out of shape, so it takes some time to get back in shape, too (but not necessarily years - luckily).
Ramp up the distance/time bit by bit, max 10% per week. So your body can adapt accordingly and your tensions and ligaments won't get injured.

[Ombrax]

I agree with Sakly - don't try to do too much too quickly. Be sure you give your body time to gradually get accustomed to the new loads you putting on it. Also give yourself plenty of time to recover between workouts. One thing you don't want to do is overextend yourself and have to shut down for a few weeks due to injury. There's no rush.

[iain]

5.30PM 2k row, right after work... 11m37s. Didn't go too hard, I felt some minor strain on my shoulder but still pushed hard enough. Had dinner around 7PM. Then around 9PM, I convinced myself to do a 20m workout with an 18 stroke pace and... I quit after 5m, it felt like my body would crumble and I didn't even go above 110BPM. I am so out of shape , I can't believe I let myself get this bad, I actually used to do sports and now I couldn't get off the machine and everything hurts... Thankfully my knee feels OK and I know I will get a good night's sleep. Still feeling very motivated

I find that if I am out of shape then HR increases more quickly. From above, you might be putting too much strain on something as the problem seems muscular rather than cardio-vascular. I recommend that the next time you have a tryst with your metal mistress, don't pull hard, try and accelerate through the stroke with a push from the legs transferring through back then arms. You may find some under used muscles complain (for me usually lats and later hip flexors) after a short row, but this isn't usually debilitating during the row. It is usually CV where I hit a limit (after a prolonged break 2k is tough as HR just keeps climbing even at what feels like an easy pace).

[suorm]

Last night's sleep was... let's just say it was like it should be. Both my ankles and my wrists were cracking all night. I was feeling so exhausted, I couldn't even turn on my side. Dreamless. I woke up around 5AM and everything was cracking. No joint pain thankfully, just that feeling of slow recovery. My knee feels OK. I will rest today. Thank you all for the support! This community seems cool...

[Dangerscouse]

Last night's sleep was... let's just say it was like it should be. Both my ankles and my wrists were cracking all night. I was feeling so exhausted, I couldn't even turn on my side. Dreamless. I woke up around 5AM and everything was cracking. No joint pain thankfully, just that feeling of slow recovery. My knee feels OK. I will rest today. Thank you all for the support! This community seems cool...

Rest days can be just as important as training days, especially when you start off. Slow recovery and no knee pain is obviously a good sign, but just learn the basics slowly and methodically, as it will pay dividends in the future.