ChrisB

I've been having a go at the 2000m rowing challenge down at the gym. Jolly old Concept2 rowers, the rotary wheel lever is set to level 5.

My first attempt as a test I clocked 7.35.5 and I improved this on Friday to 7.17.8. Nice improvement but I'm still a country mile behind the bloke who is number 1 in the blue 'team' I'm in.

He's top with 6.40.x! 20 pence says he's much fitter than me to start with.

Any good tips to improve my technique a bit? Is it best to row with a narrow grip and your arms over the top of your knees or to the sides with a wider grip? Sit tall with a stiff back?

I also start to get blisters on my palm just beneath the base of my index fingers. Have to try some gloves I think.

Oh, if you row, what sort of time for 2000m do you clock?

Cheers,

Chris.

imlach

You can see famous people's times on the concept2 website.....Steve Redgrave etc. Think they're times for 2000m are around 5m40s.

I'm still in the 7 minute league myself when in the garage pounding away at it, but my mate rows quite seriously and went to the world champs and did a 6m 12s.

barge

that is why outboard motors were invented !!!

londonpaul

used to row a lot when I was younger - get a rower to look at your technique on the machine directly - it makes a massive difference to your power output - most non rowers have absolutely appalling technique because they try too hard to use their arms (all power is in the legs) - when driving - go legs THEN body THEN arms - go forward in reverse. I used to be able to clock it at about 6 min 20 seconds. miserable piece of ****e that thing is, there is no more uncomfortable way to exercise - good for you though

fatherpierre

My record on the Concept II for a 1000m is 3:19.

Felt sick afterwards and it spoilt the redt of my training session.

I usually do a 3:40 ish 1000m to warm up.

ChrisB

Cheers so far guys...

LMAO at Barge

5.40 for 2000 I'd be leaving in an ambulance!

Londonpaul - interesting that. My forearms ached lots when I finished my 2nd attempt but my legs were fine - I jumped on a bike and did 20 mins at a good pace afterward. My legs are pretty strong (in my book at least!), I can leg press (on a machine) 190kgs with ease (3 x 15 reps). Will have to try pushing more with the legs.

Agreed it's painful though!

imlach

The amazing thing about 5m40s is that for 1000m, that'd be 2m50s,
and therefore for 500m pace, it'd be 1m25s.....try pulling that even
for 500m!!!

It's quite hard, and I find I move the machine around trying to pull that rate!!!

londonpaul

One of the blokes I went to university with could split 1 min 32 sec for 500 metres for HALF AN HOUR. quite terrifying. went on to row for england he did - held the world 2 1/2 K concept 2 record for a while back in the late 80s

ChrisB

I do too - maybe it's part down to my crappy technique, but anything sub 1'40 (or so) and it starts to bounce.

Tiggs

when in good shape i sub 6mins for 2000.....at the minute i am 20stone and 33% bodyfat but could still sub 6.30 and split at 1.20 for 500 without to much bother.....its all technique

imlach

Errr....you could do a 1m20s for 500m with not much bother??????

According to the Concept2 ranking pages, the FASTEST times for 500m seem to be 1m19s - therefore I can't see how it'd be "not much bother" if the fastest in the world can only reach 1m19s!!

imlach

Here's the current 2000m world records :

Junior 12 Rob Francis GBR 7:15.5 1999
13-18 Karsten Brodowski GER 5:52.7 2003
13-18 Lwt Rasmus Quist DNK 6:16.1 1998
19-29 Rob Waddell NZL 5:38.3 1999
19-29 Lwt Eskild Ebbesen DNK 6:03.2 1998
30-39 Matthias Siejkowski GER 5:37.0 2001
30-39 Lwt Eskild Ebbesen DNK 6:08.7 2002
40-49 Pertti Karpinnen FIN 5:52.0 1996
40-49 Lwt Michael Caviston USA 6:18.2 2002
50-59 Andy Ripley GBR 6:07.7 1998
50-59 Lwt Rich Cureton USA 6:30.0 2003
60-69 Noel Frost GBR 6:31.4 1999
60-69 Lwt Lyle Parker AUS 6:37.7 2001
70-79 Stephen Rounds USA 7:02.6 1999
70-79 Lwt Herbert Leah GBR 7:13.9 1998
80-89 Joe Clinard USA 8:03.5 1998
80-89 Lwt James Wallace USA 8:13.8 2002
90-99 Hans de Wiljes NED 12:17.5 2002
90-99 Lwt John Hodgson GBR 9:25.8 2002

ChrisB

So some skinny 12 year kid old beats my best time? Gah!

imlach

More worrying, it's the 70-79 year olds that also beat your time :-)

Tiggs

imlach....i am one of the fastest in the world.

imlach

Tiggs - ok.
:-)

Are you famous?

beemerboy

my mate nearly killed himself in LAFitness doing this..lol.

i was bright red, when he came back to work, and felt like cr4p

haha made me laugh though!!!

BB

lpski1

might give this a go tonight, see how i get on. I normally run or get on the life rower thingy (ski machine i call it)

what would scooby do

In answer to the question..

yes - me and the misses are always rowing

Tiggs

imlach, lol- no, not very famous at all!

i used to work in a gym where the indoor champs where held....i had a go on a concept while there was a lunch break and did a time that would have put me well up the field (i wasnt far of greg searls time which was funny as he was dressed in a union jack leotard and i looked like a tramp that had wandered in!)

anyway- after that i spoke to a few clubs but discovered that to be a proper rower you have to go on the water and get wet...so i never bothered.

now i just like going to my local gym when they have row comps on and destroying the times of all the "fit" lads!

went to a gym over xmas- my wife was joining- i just went along to look round- they had a row thing going on (500m sprints)

got chatting with the blokes and had a little bet that i could beat the best time so far (1.34)....so i put down my twix i was chompping on, got on it in my jeans and span my arms round "jane fonda styleeee" for a warm up. 1.28 later i got of and went home

wife very embaressed....thought i was an arrogant to55er

T

Franx

I have rowed for about the last 9 years....although I don't really any more. The best 2000m time I had last year was 6:36, in the lightweight category (crew average of under 70 kg)....& I was in the Scotland squad..
Have to say, the 2k was never the most enjoyable of experiences.]
Try a 5000m one. . They're even worse. I think I got about 17:30. World record is in the 15s...

TopBanana

LOL @ Tiggs, you sounds like someone's embarrassing Dad who's still got a bit of the ol' magic left

Tiggs

less of the 'ol, im 29.....although if my kids sports days ever put a rower out i'd happily make them wish i wasnt their daddy!

londonpaul

respect!

philc

oh, .... so 10:05 for 2000m doesn't cut it?

hey ho.

Ralf

Have been rowing when in school still. And been training a bit on a machine when i was in a gym ten years ago. Can't remember my times but they were about the same as the really big guys. On one occasion I was breathing so hard and loud all gym must have thought there's a sh@ggin' going on

The bit about apalling techniques on this machine is so true. The legs and the back do the actual work.

Tiggs

"The legs and the back do the actual work. "

you do need to hold on to it though.

Ralf

That's right of course That's why you do get blisters on your fingers.