Not sure what to do

[autobeat]

Hey all, I've been perusing the forum for a few weeks trying to read up but I haven't really found any topics relating to my situation so here goes:

I'm 17yo male (turning 18 in a few weeks) and heading to college in the fall. I'm real interested in doing crew there but I've never rowed a day in my life before. I did cross country and track during HS but haven't ran at all in a few months (shame), however I have been doing a little lifting. I'm 5'8 (still growing... albeit slowly) and about 135 lbs. I've been doing Starting Strength for a few weeks and while my lifts have been going up (from 120x5 on the big 3 to 190x5 squat, 195x5 DL, 155x5 bench) I haven't seen much of a mass/weight increase and I have been wary of doing any cardio (which I admit I do like to do) because I don't want to compromise any recovery for the next lifting session. Also, I don't own an erg and there aren't any within a reasonable distance (living in SE Georgia) so I can't really get any "rowing-specific" training in until August when school starts.

So my question is: What is the best course of action to take for the next 1.5 months? I want to add some mass (135 lbs at 5'8 is pretty pathetic) but I also want to get my aerobic fitness back up and past where it's been before.

Sorry it's a bit long, but thanks in advance!

[chgoss]

Hey all, I've been perusing the forum for a few weeks trying to read up but I haven't really found any topics relating to my situation so here goes:

I'm 17yo male (turning 18 in a few weeks) and heading to college in the fall. I'm real interested in doing crew there but I've never rowed a day in my life before. I did cross country and track during HS but haven't ran at all in a few months (shame), however I have been doing a little lifting. I'm 5'8 (still growing... albeit slowly) and about 135 lbs. I've been doing Starting Strength for a few weeks and while my lifts have been going up (from 120x5 on the big 3 to 190x5 squat, 195x5 DL, 155x5 bench) I haven't seen much of a mass/weight increase and I have been wary of doing any cardio (which I admit I do like to do) because I don't want to compromise any recovery for the next lifting session. Also, I don't own an erg and there aren't any within a reasonable distance (living in SE Georgia) so I can't really get any "rowing-specific" training in until August when school starts.

So my question is: What is the best course of action to take for the next 1.5 months? I want to add some mass (135 lbs at 5'8 is pretty pathetic) but I also want to get my aerobic fitness back up and past where it's been before.

Sorry it's a bit long, but thanks in advance!

Hi,
First thing, if you are doing free weight dead lifts: 195lbs 5 reps at 5'8" 135lbs you have an outstanding strength to weight ratio which will serve you well if you do crew.
I have no real experience with organized training so take my advice with a grain of salt:
- keep up the strength training 3x a week
- add in easy cardio 3x a week, something non-impact that works the legs primarily. Cycling would be great, perhaps speed hiking. Lots of folks here dont like CrossFit, but I do it and find it to be one heck of a good strength/cardio workout.
- scout your area to see if there are any rowing clubs within a couple hours drive. You could perhaps go out once a week to get in a boat and get the feel for it. Folks are very friendly and always looking to help, just call ahead and explain your situation.

good luck!
-chad

[kbaktidy95@gmail.com]

Rowing involves a lot of muscular endurance not explosive strength, if you do a circuit style weight training you will get cardio benefit. If you don't have access to an erg the next best thing is biking. You can also do running and hiking, anything that works out the legs would help. Gaining weight shouldn't be your main goal, because your probably going to row lightweight and you would bring the average boat weight down, which could lead to you getting a spot.

[mikvan52]

Remember: In your first year of rowing > Don't concentrate on the erg... Learn what it takes to move a boat / "ergs don't float"

[johnlvs2run]

What is the best course of action to take for the next 1.5 months? I want to add some mass (135 lbs at 5'8 is pretty pathetic) but I also want to get my aerobic fitness back up and past where it's been before.

Your objectives are contradictory.

I would keep up the running the summer, go out for cross country in the fall and track in the spring.

And don't gain any weight.

[jamesg]

When I get on my mtb and try climbing hills, I wish I too were 5'8 and 60kg. On the other hand, when younger, at 6'2 and 75kg, I was already (late 1950s) on the small and light side for rowing.

However I did row in a good eight for some time, as bow pair with a very tough sculler who was small and light. In a pair we didn't cart each other. In his single he beat a lot of people much larger than himself; his technique was very good.

And that's where rowing starts: technique. So do nothing now, just keep fit CV wise; if you can harden up your hands somehow, so much the better.