Chatted with an ex-girlfriend last night… one thing led to another and I found myself sitting on a Concept 2 rowing machine at the gym today. I’ve heard rowing is a real test of aerobic fitness and I feel fairly aerobically fit from all the cycling and running I do. So what’s a decent time for a 2000m pull?
I just sat down and started going, half-way through I decided to kick it up a notch, and then finished really hard. Total time was a little over 8 minutes – heart rate finished right around threshold-pace running rate. Any thoughts on what a decent rowing goal would be? What’s the rowing equivalent of a 3 hour marathon/5 hour half-ironman/etc…?
Also check Concept2 website. Lots of people logs in there time. A few years ago I tried an did 7’20’'. I checked on the website and…it was’nt really good.
Stay away from the erg. Given the choice of an all out 2k on the erg or an Ironman distance event, I’m choosing Ironman everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
Seriously, it’s a great workout. Decent time for a beginner is anything under 7:00 minutes, or a 1:45 pace.
-mike
Disclaimer: Four years of collegiate rowing, so I’ve spent way too much time on that machine in the past.
6:30 is a good place to start. Sub 6:20 is good, sub 6:10 is pre-elite and under 6:00 is fast. Add 5 seconds to each time if you’re a lightweight.
As a triathlete, 6K times are more relevant so under 21:00 is a good place to start, sub 20:00 is pre-elite and under 19 is smoking.
That’s a pretty good explanation, although i’d say your scale is a little off. For anyone just hoping on, I’d say sub-7:00 is respectable, between 6:30 and 6:45 is average (gotta take into account masters and so many collegiate rowers here), between 6:15 and 6:30 is good, sub 6:15 is pre-elite potential (up to winning/medaling at nationals at the senior level) and then sub-6:00 puts you in NT contention.
You’re 6k scale I’d say is right on, except maybe a slightly slower “good place to start” for someone that hops on without much training.
it’s all relative anyway, I’ve never broken 6:50 on a 2k erg (lighweight), but I’ve been a National and Canadian Henley medalist because I used to be super efficient on the water.
I have a Concept 2 and used it regularly for several years. Its gathering dust now as I am biking a lot but I know I will get back into it someday.
I am most decidely not a rower or a runner. I typically rowed 45 -60 minutes straight. Once I got in rowing shape, I found my 2000 meter pace was close to what my per mile running pace was for workouts of a similar time length.
My understanding is that the standard rowing race distance is 2000 m which the good guys can do in around 6 minutes. While it takes a great amount of cario endurance to perform well, it is much more a power sport than long distance running. You can be in great cario shape and still not be a fast rower if you are low on explosive power.
Damn, I come from a strong sculling backround, and with those times, u’d be 220 and solid national team potential. Assuming that the vast majority of triathletes fit closer to the lwt mold, for mid-distance, aka 10k IF YOU HAVE GOOD TECHNIQUE, your times on the erg and running should be about the same. Mine were within 20 secs. However, i cannot emphasize form enough, rowing is like swimming, very technical. If u ignore this u will screw up ur back at the least. ok im done now
What Resistance level do you all have on the machine. Most guys hop on and put it up to 10. My understanding is that 3.5 or so is supposed to be equal to water on those machines. Is that correct?
3 is about water level, we usually do steady state at 2 or 3, and test at 4. if the resistance is to light, work with some one to get quicker around the front end
hmmmmmm the Concept2…the pain machine…those were the times…when i trained half the hours i do now
my PB as a lightweight “weight maker” rower was around 6:26. not bad but not super either. i was way better in the 6km where i could challenge some heavyweight rowers, but cant rmember my PB
I know some very large human beings on the US team who would disagree with you. I’d say it depends more on what event you’re training for. As an example, you have to be much quicker off the catch in the quad than the coxed pair.
Having said that…most rowers will practice on the erg with it set between 3 and 7. A couple of friends of mine routinely tests with the fan on 3-5, and they are both 6’4-6’5 and 215-230 pounds…both have been on the US team.
Most guys now are using the drag factor setting on the ergs so that one erg basically feels like another. i.e…if you work out with a drag factor of say 126-128 that could translate from a fan setting of 3 on one erg to a setting of 5 on another.
My ‘times’ come from 10 years of rowing, 5 of which sculling at the Potomac Boat Club in DC at various National Championships and National Team Speed Orders.
I would generally agree with your times. I can only think of a few guys in the last several years who have made the US heavyweight squad who weren’t under 6:00…and they were small for heavyweights. I’m sure you know one of them since he’s spent time at potomac. I hear he plays a mean saxophone too. Most guys on the US heayweight squad are well under 6:00.
I can assure you that there are many members of the US lightweight mens team who are much faster than 19:57 for 6k. They don’t have to make weight over the winter testing, so they may be a few pounds over FISA maximum, but regardless, they are well below 20:00.
I’d say you are the one who’s way off on this. I’ve been to enough National team ID camps and races to know this as fact.
If you don’t believe me, just go to www.usrowing.org and look up the national team testing times over the last few years. Usually November through January are 6k tests.
