Help, I can't row slowly...

[IMready2row]

Hello all,

I need some help. I am just starting back into rowing. I am using the 5 day rowing suggestions from the website to get back into it, then will embark on the 24 rows to spice things up a bit. My problem is, I find it nearly impossible to row at 20spm. I try and try to press slowly but generally find that I keep it at 22-24 spm. That is my easy work, I can carry on a conversation at that spm. When in challenge myself and work hard, I average 28 spm. Do I need to change my damper setting? I have it set at 4. What am I doing wrong? Has anyone else had this problem? Will it hurt me in the long run?

I want to train properly and my goal is to lose weight and enter the challenges from the C2 website. One day, I would like to compete in an indoor regatta. Any information is welcome.

Right now, I am working about 30 minutes a day.

Thank you in advance.

[johnlvs2run]

More movement over time is the key to weight loss.

You are moving more at 28 spm than at 20, thus will lose more weight at 28 than at 20.

You don't need to change your damper setting, but can use any damper that you like. Even move them around if you like. I row at everything from 65 to 230 and usually 93 at the moment.

You are not doing anything wrong. You will be better off in both the short and long runs by keeping your rate up at the speed that feels best for you and that helps you to get the fastest pace for your efforts.

[Bob S.]

Hello all,

I need some help. I am just starting back into rowing. I am using the 5 day rowing suggestions from the website to get back into it, then will embark on the 24 rows to spice things up a bit. My problem is, I find it nearly impossible to row at 20spm. I try and try to press slowly but generally find that I keep it at 22-24 spm. That is my easy work, I can carry on a conversation at that spm. When in challenge myself and work hard, I average 28 spm. Do I need to change my damper setting? I have it set at 4. What am I doing wrong? Has anyone else had this problem? Will it hurt me in the long run?

I want to train properly and my goal is to lose weight and enter the challenges from the C2 website. One day, I would like to compete in an indoor regatta. Any information is welcome.

Right now, I am working about 30 minutes a day.

Thank you in advance.

Pull as hard and fast as you can for as long a drive as you can and get your hands away, past your knees, as fast as you can. Then - sloowwly raise your knees and creep back up the slide like you are sneaking up on the catch. Grab the catch and do the same all over again. If you are pulling hard enough on the drive, you will find that you are working hard. Just don't try to hurry the recovery - it can be as much as 4 or 5 seconds. That will get you down to 12 or 10 spm with no trouble. I have found that I can work up a pretty good sweat at 12 spm.

Don't try to go slow by "pressing slowly." Press with your legs as hard and fast as you want, just don't rush that slide on the recovery. Don't be in a hurry to take the next stroke.

Bob S.

[IMready2row]

Thanks guys.

I did a workout today and continued with a hard drive but an exaggerated, slow return. I was able to keep the strokes between 18 and 22 spm. I felt like a weirdo, but I think if I practice it over time I will be able to master it and use it in long rows.

Another thing I have learned is that when listening to the radio, you must ignore the pace of the song otherwise you will row as fast as the music goes! Sometimes this is a good thing but NOT for long rows .

Thanks for the advice. I will keep practicing.

Happy rowing...

[dgivnish]

I did a workout today and continued with a hard drive but an exaggerated, slow return. I was able to keep the strokes between 18 and 22 spm. I felt like a weirdo, but I think if I practice it over time I will be able to master it and use it in long rows.

Maria - I had a problem doing a low stroke rate (15-16spm) until I started thinking about smoothly accelerating through the drive, rather than a big catch and hard drive. Doing a stroke rate feels pretty mechanical at these rates, but that will go away within a few sessions. Keep your breathing steady as well.

Another thing I have learned is that when listening to the radio, you must ignore the pace of the song otherwise you will row as fast as the music goes! Sometimes this is a good thing but NOT for long rows .

I selected a group of songs for my iPod that are between 105 and 130 beats per minute. There are some threads on the old forum on how to do this. Good luck.

[lintonwilson]

ROW STRAPLESS

[jfo]

I agree. I also find it hard to row at 21 spm and lower.
Also when rowing strapless.
Just so you know its not only you who feels that way

[IMready2row]

I like the rowing without the shoe straps suggestion. I will try that today.

It's kinda boring at 21spm but I understand the reasoning behind doing it. Like I said, I am a newbie and enjoy all the training suggestions.

Thanks again and I will keep you all posted .

Maria

[johnlvs2run]

I took all the straps out of my shoes a long time ago and liked them much better that way. Then I stopped wearing the shoes.

[sage]

Thanks guys.

I did a workout today and continued with a hard drive but an exaggerated, slow return. I was able to keep the strokes between 18 and 22 spm. I felt like a weirdo, but I think...

NO! Don't feel like a wierdo! When I was rowing in college and would go to my local gym when training in the summers, there were a couple of ergs there. People would jump on them, and if I saw someone rowing at a 16, correctly (hard and fast drive, with fast arms away and slow recovery), I would say, wow, they know what they're doing!

Think of it like you're actually in a boat. That hard drive sends the boat. The harder a drive you have the more time you can spend on the recovery - actually recovering. Our coach had us train at a 10 a lot to emphasize those low recoveries.

Keep at it!

[IMready2row]

Our coach had us train at a 10 a lot to emphasize those low recoveries.

At 10???????????? OMG, I could never go that slow, unless I moved the damper to 10! I am proud if I can drive hard and return slowly enough to do 16spm. One thing I am proud if is that I am doing MUCH better at keeping a correct technique at the slower spm. That is a major accomplishment for me since I seemed to keep my technique at the higher spm (27-30) and then get sloppy at the lower spm.

I am still learning but I am rowing away. I keep logging my meters and each day I get closer to my first mark of 1million meters.

Thanks again!

[IMready2row]

As a part 2 of the first reply, I think that being short, well having short legs, makes it harder to row at a lower spm. But there is power in these short legs , so I just keep on gettin' it!

Maria