how fast can you row 2000 metres ?

[clonmult]

MiseryStreak said:

Finally did it. Gave myself a year and it only took three months (and 300,000m). Next target 6:55 I guess.

That is fecking AWESOME!!!!

[dtmpower]

MiseryStreak said:

Finally did it. Gave myself a year and it only took three months (and 300,000m). Next target 6:55 I guess.

Great work. 3 months ago what was your 2k time ?

[anonymous-user]

MiseryStreak said:

Finally did it. Gave myself a year and it only took three months (and 300,000m). Next target 6:55 I guess.

Well done, first time seeing the 2k time starting with a 6 is just fantastic, clearing up the vomit is less fun though IIRC...

[Halb]

What does your training look like?

[MiseryStreak]

dtmpower said:

Great work. 3 months ago what was your 2k time ?

Thanks. My previous PB was 7:12.4 from 2015, when I was doing a lot of cycling and rowing about three times a week in the gym. Then I got the Concept2 for Christmas and started again, after not having touched an erg for two years. My first proper go at the 2K was a 7:28 on 3rd Jan.

Halb said:

What does your training look like?

I do a 2k almost every morning, then a variety of 1k, 2k, 5k, 30min, 10K and one half-marathon (yuck) rows in the evenings and weekends. I've racked up 300K metres so far this year.

According to the Concept2 logbook my 5k time of 18:19.8 is much stronger than my 2K time, 87th percentile rather than 73rd. I always hated the longer rows before but I think I'm much better suited to them, being a racing snake cyclist rather than a power-lifter. 10K and above is just really dull though, I put a film on for the half marathon but it was still horrible. Can't stop for a drink or anything.

[jako1]

jako1 said:

7.36

Normally just do 1k to warm up.

That was painful... Especially after around 1300m, however felt good in a sadistic way...

31. 13 stone

7.27 now

[mfmman]

Being that I'm doing something I thought I would never do and reading/posting in Health Matters threads.......time for a go at this one

I have been going to the gym for a couple of months, and had perhaps half a dozen 5 minute goes on the rowing machine. I have looked through this thread before and like the idea.

First go at 2k today, 9.47.6

I'm pleased but I don't think I will add it to the wiki just yet

[clonmult]

mfmman said:

Being that I'm doing something I thought I would never do and reading/posting in Health Matters threads.......time for a go at this one

I have been going to the gym for a couple of months, and had perhaps half a dozen 5 minute goes on the rowing machine. I have looked through this thread before and like the idea.

First go at 2k today, 9.47.6

I'm pleased but I don't think I will add it to the wiki just yet

It's your first, put it on the wiki, then as your fitness and technique improves, you'll find yourself moving up the board.

[clonmult]

I'm trying to sharpen up for the a 2k attempt, along with the current CTC (1k, 3 minutes rest, 992m).

Pretty enjoyable session, pretty sure I'm in sub 7 shape at the moment, but good to work at making sure of it. My better half says that I've got to try and ski a marathon on monday morning (ski erg marathon is way harder than it is on the erg!)

[mfmman]

clonmult said:

mfmman said:

First go at 2k today, 9.47.6

I'm pleased but I don't think I will add it to the wiki just yet

It's your first, put it on the wiki, then as your fitness and technique improves, you'll find yourself moving up the board.

Done, although not at 9.47

[MiseryStreak]

clonmult said:

I'm trying to sharpen up for the a 2k attempt, along with the current CTC (1k, 3 minutes rest, 992m).

Pretty enjoyable session, pretty sure I'm in sub 7 shape at the moment, but good to work at making sure of it. My better half says that I've got to try and ski a marathon on monday morning (ski erg marathon is way harder than it is on the erg!)

That's an impressive set of internals, is that 24 x 1 min rows with 40 seconds rest after each?

I've gone off the boil a bit after hitting my target 7 min 2K last month. I'm still putting the metres in but haven't gone lower than a 7:15 since. I think it's because my lower back is hurting. Stupid back, I hate getting old.

[MiseryStreak]

mfmman said:

Done, although not at 9.47

Good work, you'll have that down to the magic 8 minutes in no time if you keep at it. What resistance are you using? I used a Concept2 at the gym for a few years without knowing anything about rowing or ergs and used to whack it up to 10. It was great as deadlift training and for screwing your back over, not so good for cardio. You're supposed to have it around 4-5 to simulate water rowing, but if you're big you might want it a little higher.

Rowing is all about legs too, use them as much as possible. This guy has some great rowing vids (if you don't mind a septic accent):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uc2HQILJhU

[clonmult]

MiseryStreak said:

That's an impressive set of internals, is that 24 x 1 min rows with 40 seconds rest after each?

I've gone off the boil a bit after hitting my target 7 min 2K last month. I'm still putting the metres in but haven't gone lower than a 7:15 since. I think it's because my lower back is hurting. Stupid back, I hate getting old.

20 rounds, minute on, minute rest. Was just wanting to be a little faster than the last time I did the same session - previous attempt was 1:43.8 average. Did not expect to be sub 1:43! But it gives me confidence for a 2k trial next week, I should be sub 7. My 2k PB was set as a 20 per day smoker (6:57.9), so over a year since I've quit nicotine, I should be able to go way faster - although that was 4 years ago (44 years old then, 48 now).

I've been suffering back problems on and off for years. I won't tend to bother with squats - at least not heavy ones. I've backed off the deadlifting (was on the way to 200kg), and tend to find a range of stretches/yoga moves and rowing can sometimes help it.

[mfmman]

MiseryStreak said:

mfmman said:

Done, although not at 9.47

Good work, you'll have that down to the magic 8 minutes in no time if you keep at it. What resistance are you using? I used a Concept2 at the gym for a few years without knowing anything about rowing or ergs and used to whack it up to 10. It was great as deadlift training and for screwing your back over, not so good for cardio. You're supposed to have it around 4-5 to simulate water rowing, but if you're big you might want it a little higher.

Rowing is all about legs too, use them as much as possible. This guy has some great rowing vids (if you don't mind a septic accent):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uc2HQILJhU

Thanks for the tips, I have been using 10

Watched the video, I am using a cheapo local school gym so will try a few things out

---

ETA. drag of 120 is setting of 9 on the machine at my gym anyway so I'm not far away. 9.02 today

Edited by mfmman on Saturday 5th May 13:09

[MiseryStreak]

mfmman said:

Thanks for the tips, I have been using 10

Watched the video, I am using a cheapo local school gym so will try a few things out

---

ETA. drag of 120 is setting of 9 on the machine at my gym anyway so I'm not far away. 9.02 today

Edited by mfmman on Saturday 5th May 13:09

See? Nearly cracked 9 minutes already!

It looks like you have checked the drag factor. The differences between machines can be huge, a brand new C2 will achieve a drag factor of 215 on a setting of 10. If they're not cleaned properly, then the dust build up can halve this! The general consensus amongst rowing clubs is a drag factor of 110-130, for simulating on water rowing, so your machine on a damper setting of 9 is actually about right! There's lots of different factors involved though and no right and wrong. It's just that a very high drag factor can more easily injure your lower back if your form isn't perfect, and you don't get as good a work out, aerobically.


http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/tip...
https://www.rowperfect.co.uk/resistance-level-trai...

[IanJ9375]

My best was 7:16 (years ago) but I had the advantage of my cousin as a Gym buddy and he did a 6:45 (we used to leave it set on 8 as he reckoned it was similar to actual rowing on the sea, I didn't argue)

[MiseryStreak]

clonmult said:

20 rounds, minute on, minute rest. Was just wanting to be a little faster than the last time I did the same session - previous attempt was 1:43.8 average. Did not expect to be sub 1:43! But it gives me confidence for a 2k trial next week, I should be sub 7. My 2k PB was set as a 20 per day smoker (6:57.9), so over a year since I've quit nicotine, I should be able to go way faster - although that was 4 years ago (44 years old then, 48 now).

I've been suffering back problems on and off for years. I won't tend to bother with squats - at least not heavy ones. I've backed off the deadlifting (was on the way to 200kg), and tend to find a range of stretches/yoga moves and rowing can sometimes help it.

I can't see how you will not crack 7 minutes if you can do consecutive intervals at a 1:43 pace. There's something really quite evil about a 2K row though, it's that in-between distance/time where you can't go all out power and just suffer a minute of agony (like with a 1K), and you can't relax into a good fast rhythm (like with a 5K). It's just 3 minutes of hard work followed by 4 minutes of wanting to die. I guess that's why it's such a good test of power and fitness, 'cause there's no cheating it.

[clonmult]

MiseryStreak said:

clonmult said:

20 rounds, minute on, minute rest. Was just wanting to be a little faster than the last time I did the same session - previous attempt was 1:43.8 average. Did not expect to be sub 1:43! But it gives me confidence for a 2k trial next week, I should be sub 7. My 2k PB was set as a 20 per day smoker (6:57.9), so over a year since I've quit nicotine, I should be able to go way faster - although that was 4 years ago (44 years old then, 48 now).

I've been suffering back problems on and off for years. I won't tend to bother with squats - at least not heavy ones. I've backed off the deadlifting (was on the way to 200kg), and tend to find a range of stretches/yoga moves and rowing can sometimes help it.

I can't see how you will not crack 7 minutes if you can do consecutive intervals at a 1:43 pace. There's something really quite evil about a 2K row though, it's that in-between distance/time where you can't go all out power and just suffer a minute of agony (like with a 1K), and you can't relax into a good fast rhythm (like with a 5K). It's just 3 minutes of hard work followed by 4 minutes of wanting to die. I guess that's why it's such a good test of power and fitness, 'cause there's no cheating it.

First 100m "This is easy"
101-500m "Yes, well on the way"
501-1000m "Ease off a little, I can sprint at the end"
1001-1500m "Why did I think this was a good idea"
1501-1750m "MY LEGS ARE ON FIRE"
1751-1900m "I can't feel my legs, I can barely breathe"
1901-2000m "I can't feel anything, may as well pull as hard as possible and get it over with"

You're right, it is an evil distance. May do the trial towards the end of the week, my body is still recovering from doing a ski erg half marathon yesterday (pretty slow, 2:10 average pace). Standing up for 90 minutes in 28+ degrees heat, praying for a breeze .... absolutely wiped me out!

[clonmult]

What a cracking start to the day; 7am, sit on the erg. Dial in a 5k, only intending to go faster than i did 5k on the ski erg yesterday.

Absolutely gobsmacked to finish in 18:58.2. Knocked a second off my PB - and did it early in the day, normally I find it insanely difficult to perform so early on .... 1:53.8 average.

[clonmult]

Two days, two PBs.

Yesterday .... 1k at home. Better half was shouting me on, I was not allowed to stop. 3:17.7.



Lunch today, 2k. 6:57.4.



In 4 days I have now set PBs on 5k, 1k and 2k. I have no current desire to attempt another PB this week.

Although I am slightly nervous for the rest of the season, I have said to my other half that I'm wanting my 1k to be down to 3:10. That training will hurt. A lot.