I asked around here a while back what I could do. I ended up fighting again (Savate), but after a month I found that my knee and shoulder were starting to struggle again. I totally love it and I'm pretty good at it, but my passion is climbing, so I quit.

Started indoor rowing and been doing it for a while now. I'm really starting to love it. Great workout. Can recommend it to everybody. It keeps most of my body fit and I'm getting a great cardio workout.

Just thought I'd give some feedback.

It's great workout. Like running, you can let your mind wander into a daze while you get into a rhythm.

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:It's great workout. Like running, you can let your mind wander into a daze while you get into a rhythm.

Unlike running, you can close your eyes

I need to do some more stretching before I advance though. I'm not flexible enough in my back, so I tend to arch my lower back a little.

Been using a rower to get in shape for mountain trips. Low impact, and a great workout. I use a heart rate monitor to vary the pace. I highly recommend it (plus I can row while watching the Pens win the Stanley Cup).

I have a heart rate monitor (a decent one actually) at my parents' home. Haven't used it in ages, it'll need some servicing, but I'll try digging it up over the weekend. Are you using the concept2 rowing machine? I've found some great documentation on it... .

Any cardio that's not high impact for your knees, is a good idea IMO. I bike because it's strengthens my knees but is not hard on them like running. They get beat up enough as it is in the mountains.

When are you going back to Elbrus??

On a side note, an ex-colleague of mine used to be a professional rower. He had to eat 6-7 times a day to keep his energy level So, you definitely burn some calories!

I have a rowing machine at home which I think I'll pick up again this summer to train with... When you guys do use the rowing machine for a workout, what do you generally do? How long, split times, etc.?

WouterB wrote:I have a heart rate monitor (a decent one actually) at my parents' home. Haven't used it in ages, it'll need some servicing, but I'll try digging it up over the weekend. Are you using the concept2 rowing machine? I've found some great documentation on it... .

Yeah, using a Concept II. Not the newest model (bought it used), but it has a built in heart rate monitor so it displays your HR along with the other data (stroke speed, pace, etc).

Concept II has a website where you can post your distances and times -- keeps track of all of it. http://www.concept2.com/us/default.asp

There is also some interesting data that lets you equate your rowing time for 2,000 meters with your VO2 max (you row 2,000 meters as fast as you can -- a chart gives you the VO2 rating). http://www.concept2.com/us/interactive/ ... vo2max.asp

Apex wrote:I have a rowing machine at home which I think I'll pick up again this summer to train with... When you guys do use the rowing machine for a workout, what do you generally do? How long, split times, etc.?

I've been rowing 10,000 meters at 2:00 splits (for 500 meters). Then rowing 12,000 and 14,000 meters at a slower rate (2:04/2:05 splits). Usually takes 40 minutes +/- to row 10,000 meters, 50 minutes +/- for 12,000, and 58 minutes +/- for 14,000. All good workouts. Haven't tried longer distances yet.

500m - 1:31.2
2000m - 7:28

Attempting to break 1:30 or 7:30 is brutal for me.

Any other 2k or 500m rowers? Bird?

Other workouts include:
5k
3x 500m 3 min rest between
Circuits with a rower as a link in the chain

Last year I rowed competitively with my school and made it to high school national championships and placed 9th in my boat, and our club placed 1st overall... During that training I did quite a bit of "Erg tests" (they are the worst things in the world, BTW), which are 500m, 1000m, 2000m, etc...

I weigh in at about 135 pounds, and am 5'10.

500m time was 1:35.89

2000m time was 7.38

Weight plays a big factor in the V02 max generator it seems... Mine is 62.

Apex wrote:Last year I rowed competitively with my school and made it to high school national championships and placed 9th in my boat, and our club placed 1st overall... During that training I did quite a bit of "Erg tests" (they are the worst things in the world, BTW), which are 500m, 1000m, 2000m, etc...

I weigh in at about 135 pounds, and am 5'10.

500m time was 1:35.89

2000m time was 7.38

Weight plays a big factor in the V02 max generator it seems... Mine is 62.

Those are fast times at 135 pounds. My best 2,000 is a 7:40 (I am 5' 11" about 185 pounds). Age is a factor . . . (my daughters are older than you)

You gotta love having mountains to train on every weekend

Thanks Kozman18, I did work my butt off for those times! Too bad I'm completely out of shape now

Luciano136 wrote:You gotta love having mountains to train on every weekend

Some of us can train in the mountains before going to work. (20 minutes to 3 different trail heads on a 14,000' peak from here.)