ehagberg wrote:Runners often pick up rowing because their joints have taken too much of a beating from running.
My joints are fine.
I know a lot of people who don't run, and also don't have good joints.
They could probably row though.
Does that make running better than rowing? I don't think so.
Like I said, running is more difficult, and also more fun, more useful, more energizing, healthier and more productive than is rowing. Thus, yes, this makes running better than rowing. I most certainly enjoy being able to run, much more than being able to row.
And how much of a workout do your back/lats/arms get from running? Not very much at all. From rowing? A lot.
Running exercises your whole body.
As example, when I first got the erg in 1993 it was no problem at all for me to do workouts of over an hour immediately. I did sessions of 15x 2:00 with 2:00 rests plus warmups and warmdowns three times in the first two weeks.
I bet you could take most serious rowers who don't run, and they would not be able to go out and RUN this session three times in two weeks, plus running the other days as well.
Anyway I think there is no point to tally one against the other as both are good exercises. As you have said, those who can't run can still row, and I see this as being a good thing that they can.
bikeerg 75 5'8" 155# - 18.5 - 51.9 - 568 - 1:52.7 - 8:03.8 - 20:13.1 - 14620 - 40:58.7 - 28855 - 1:23:48.0
rowerg 56-58 5'8.5" 143# - 1:39.6 - 3:35.6 - 7:24.0 - 18:57.4 - 22:49.9 - 7793 - 38:44.7 - 1:22:48.9 - 2:58:46.2