Discussion: Nice workout

I know what those feel like :-)

...Seems I am pulling too soon with my arms and releasing back too soon as well. Very hard to change...

Interesting that after all the time you've spent rowing on that erg you've been doing it wrong. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong too. Maybe this was the cause of our shoulder/biceps problems? Can you provide a bit more information about your errors?

When I study the Concept II technique video, I can see that the proper rowing stroke consists of three phases: (1) extend legs, (2) hinge body backward to 11 o'clock, and (3) only then begin to pull with arms. I think I'm dong all three phases simultaneously. Is that what you mean by "too soon?"

more or less. If I do it the way they recommend, the chain follows a straighter line instead of having to go up to clear my knees. The other pointer they gave was for me to bring the handle back higher, nearer to the nipple line. I have generally brought it back not much above mid abdomen. I'll try it and see how I do, but I'm sure it will take a while to modify. We rowed for a bit this morning, including a minute hard, which I was pleased to do between 1:50 and 1:54 pace.

The other pointer they gave was for me to bring the handle back higher...

Mmmm....I'm not sure about that. My physical therapist warned me about putting stress on that shoulder joint when the arms are elevated. He says that joint is just not built for that; a few repetitions in this position are ok - weights for instance. But not thousands or reps, as in rowing.

I'm working to ensure my legs are straight, with knees fully extended and down flat, before I pull the handle back toward my pelvis. A video that has helped me is this common errors video. I'm guilty of "Chicken Wing," lunging and layback. And I didn't realize that the recovery stroke takes longer than the catch. No wonder my shoulder hurts.

That's a good video. I particularly recognized the error position where the handle was coming up and over the knees. I've been pulling with my arms too soon on the way back, and releasing the legs too fast on the recovery.

Think as if you are in a boat - if you lift the handle over raised knees, the blade will get stuck in the water, possibly ejecting you into wetness.

Thanks George! In crewing lingo that's known as "catching a crab." And with seven other oarsmen pushing the shell forward, and your oar still in the water, you definitely are ejected...that handle comes back at you so fast you don't know what happened.

But before we accept any derisive comments from the peanut gallery, how about logging a few 2000m pieces of your own this month? :-)

Just speculating... I wonder if there's any reason to think that the technique that works best to keep you from having a mishap with a real oar is also the technique that allows you to put out the most power. While it's certainly true that you'd want to use the former approach if you're doing off-season training and plan on getting in a real boat at some point, it's not obvious that it's going to give you the best result if the ergometer is your only objective.

Yes Clark - that's the "crab" technique in a boat, but as J-J implies, possibly not pertinent to the mechanical simulation unless you do expect to get on the water. That does not seem to be the case, generally.

There was nothing derisive in my comments. I admire anyone that can put time on these devices while a possible row on water could be had. Enjoy your 2000m efforts but don't look on my log for such any time soon.