Any rowers?

[Catrin]

After a 17 months of fighting the indoor rower, I seem to finally be getting it down! It probably had something to do with that 10+K challenge I rowed on my birthday...that will make or break you I think. Before that I hadn't rowed more than 1K. I didn't know what I was getting into (10 rounds of 54 calories with a 2-min break between each round). Had fun with it this morning, those 2,700 meters were nothing compared with my LAST row. Curious if any of our members enjoy indoor rowing. I might consider outside rowing...but I am don't know how to swim and am a bit afraid of the water

[Crankin]

I had a very nice indoor rowing machine at home, right after DS #2 was born. I thought I could use it, when he was a newborn, instead of the gym. During the few times he didn't immediately start crying as soon as I got on the thing, I found it kind of boring. I was in very good shape, but it was just hard to find the key to motivating myself. I think I could do it now, but not sure. I find it hard to enjoy any indoor type of aerobic activity, that could be done outdoors. I continually watch the clock when I am indoors, except at boot camp, and even once in awhile, there. I thought I would die of boredom in spin class today.

[Catrin]

I hear you Crankin! While I am a gym rat for sure, when it comes to cardio work I prefer that to be done outside (outside of strength-cardio). While I've been ramping up my trail running, my cold-air asthma trigger will likely be a problem with running just as it is with riding. I HATE the "cardio machines". The rower seems a bit different - probably because it requires much of my attention to do it efficiently. My gym has a rowing challenge each year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, all of the trainers and fitness instructors lead a team. A bit of healthy competition helps!

I've not been to one spin class since changing gyms almost 2 years ago - my neck HATES the old Schwinns we have. We are, however, going to get all new spin bikes. Hopefully the new bikes will be something that I can actually ride - it would be nice to get back to spinning in the winter. Meanwhile, my Gunnar is finally going on the trainer this weekend.

[Catrin]

Today I rowed another >10K meters - (65 minutes) and it felt really good. Granted, it was the first thing I did, afterwards I went a played on a hip press machine, but it felt really, really good. My legs hardly felt like I had done anything afterwards I've only been rowing twice a week, and the others have been ~5K since the last 10K+ at the end of October. I think I need to proceed with caution - I can see myself over-doing on this. Unsure why I like it so much, I rarely care for indoor cardio outside of using strength work for cardio.

I DO pace myself, row for a set distance, rest for a set time, then back at it.

[Crankin]

Last night we went out to eat in the city I grew up in. A few doors down from the restaurant, is a rowing gym. They have about 25 machines set up, and they do group rowing classes, like spin classes. I haven't seen this anywhere else.

[Catrin]

Last night we went out to eat in the city I grew up in. A few doors down from the restaurant, is a rowing gym. They have about 25 machines set up, and they do group rowing classes, like spin classes. I haven't seen this anywhere else.

Interesting! I am curious Crankin, is this an area where outdoors rowing is popular? Just curious if this is seen as a way to keep in shape in the off season.

We are doing a holiday staff rowing challenge at my gym. Our team is small compared to some, and SOME of the rowers on other teams are rowing 12K-17K almost daily! My little team is lagging behind as most of us are sticking with 2K-3K rows, which is quite respectable considering everything else we do.