Concept2 Forum

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been posted / answered elsewhere, but I did a search and couldn't find an answer.

I'm 36, 6'2" and weigh between 230 and 240. I have in the past experienced lower back problems, standard stuff, do something wrong / over-do-it and can't move well for a day or so. Recently started to row for the first time about a month ago. Currently at a 3 day per week schedule going through the series of workouts found on the Concept 2 Website, i.e. a series of intervals or straight distance or time rows. I do row with the straps on and the stirrups set on 3, i.e. 3 holes open above the holes where the pegs are. On the off days, I weigt train, but no leg presses, only leg extensions. Prior to getting the Model D, I was biking, lifting weights, and running regularly, but gave up the running, b/c too much stress on the back and knees due to my size and the fact I skied pretty hard growing up.

Recently I've started to notice that while I'm rowing everything is fine and I do stretch after each row, but on getting out of bed the following morning, the left outer glute / upper hamstring is super stiff. Once I get moving everything seems to work out, but if I sit too long, there is some stiffness when I get up out of the chair until everything loosens up again. Also if I cross my left leg underneath me while sitting and stretch it a little, I can feel stretching and it feels better but then it stiffens up again a little later.

Wondering if my technique is wrong? Did I take it too hard, too fast and pull something and I have to give it time to heal? I'm not ever likely to hear that I'm taking things too easy, so this could be a strong possibility. Or, is this normal and I just need to give it more time because I'm using muscles that I've either never used in this way or never used period?

Thanks

Without seeing you row, it is impossible to say how your technique is, however the glutes and hamstrings get some pretty good use when rowing with good technique, because they are invloved with the opening of the torso in the middle of the stroke.

One thing to make sure of is that you are on the seat in the right place, which is usually closer to the front edge than most people sit when left to their own trial and error. The ultimate goal is that our sitz bones will be rocking in the lowest part of the seat during teh stroke. Otherwise it will be as if you are sitting on a slope rather than settled into the bottom of the indent provided.

If you know you have a tendency to over do things, you could well have done that in this case, so listen to your body and make sure to get adequate recovery time, perhaps doing an easier session, based on pace target, to practice good technique so that it will begin to become a habit.

What tyep of workouts are you starting with. Times/Distances, Paces/Rates?

Thanks for the advive.

To answer your question about the workouts. It is part of the CD I received with the Model D and includes 24 workouts than range in straing 2000m to intervals compoased time and distance with rests in between.