What is Wrong with me?

AYRA · Post by **AYRA** » April 13th, 2009, 2:31 pm

Hello, I'm Alex and this is my third year rowing. I'm new to the forums. I've been doing 2ks again lately; but for some reason, when I row 2ks, I can't keep my pace above a 28spm! It is really annoying because beyond that, my body automatically rows around a 1:40 until the stroke rate goes down.

it's really wierd because everyone else rows around 32-36 and gets better scores than me because I can't row fast without pacing right. Any advice would be outstanding!

16
male
5'11''
141 lbs.

Cyclist2 · Post by **Cyclist2** » April 13th, 2009, 10:21 pm

Sounds to me like you row a 1:40 pace until you're exhausted and just can't do it anymore - that is a very fast pace for just starting again, and you aren't a real big guy! What is your best 2K time? Try a pace that you can hold for the entire 2K, even if slower than you think it should be (e.g. 1:55) and see what happens, I'll bet you can hold a steady stroke rate for the entire piece.

AYRA · Post by **AYRA** » April 14th, 2009, 8:51 am

so far, my best 2k score was 7:43:3 @ 26-27spm (1:55:9 average split). I know im really skinny. I'm the smallest guy on the team. I'm trying to built up to 155-160lbs. so I can still row lightweight.

iain · Post by **iain** » April 14th, 2009, 11:12 am

AYRA wrote:so far, my best 2k score was 7:43:3 @ 26-27spm (1:55:9 average split). I know im really skinny. I'm the smallest guy on the team. I'm trying to built up to 155-160lbs. so I can still row lightweight.

Start off hard for a couple of quick strokes, then slow the pace to 1:56. Don't let it creep below 1:55. Then if you are able, drop the pace to 1:54-5 from 1k, 1:53-4 from 600 to go, `go hard from 300 to go and do the last 100 as fast as you can. That should get you below 7:40.

As for rating, try doing some 500's with 3' rest between. Start at 1:55 or so and try and do each one 0.1S faster than the last. Then blast the 8th as fast as you can, start quickly (as for 2k), settle into a comfortable pace then do the last 300m above to finish. then repeat a week or more later starting at the average pace of the previous 8. This will get you used to rowing faster than your 2k.

The key is do some rowing at a precise controlled pace. Any distance >300m cannot be done flat out. For your best time you will need to hold back at the start, this takes a lot of mental strength, possibly harder than pushing on faster as you tire towards the end.

Best of luck.

- Iain