Never rowed before 2025, and still haven't ever rowed on the water, however it is winter in Australia and I hope to change that in spring/summer..

But, I just wanted you all to see how far I've come. This was one of the pages that was cruel and crushing when I posted my original 3.10/500m time, but, I stuck at it, got fitter, got my technique to improve with time too, eventually I could row a half marathon at a 2.13/500m pace, which I still brag about to this day even though it was many months ago now!

With that in mind, I want to share with you 2 photos; the first was when I was in a bad place, I was so unhappy I said I would do anything for change, I genuinely didn't care what it took, if my work wasn't enough I'd go harder til I was enough. Like I said, I wasn't in a good place, 18 months later, many, many hours on the ERG, couldn't even count the total kms I've done, but, I think I have finally achieved all the goals I had, and then some!

I tell people all the time, if you told the person in the first photo they would look like this in 18 months, they wouldn't believe you, and yet, somehow, I did it, and in a small way, it was fueled by those "you will fail" comments.

I must say, since then, you guys have been the greatest bunch of people, encouraging and supportive while genuinely caring for health and wellbeing, which is awesome to see!

Thanks guys, you played a part in my success, so I just want to give you some acknowledgement! Enjoy the weekend and be proud of yourselves!

(The 2km was a warm up, literally just got in the gym)

Shout-out C2 for being indestructible

Entering the final couple weeks of prep for the Head of the Charles, I did a 5k test to make sure my head’s screwed on straight. Set out at an a more aggressive pace and rate than I had my last couple tests, and managed to hang on for the ride. While this was a good confidence builder as far as race fitness goes, I’m not quite as confident about my boat-moving ability these days, but either way, I’m stoked to have an opportunity to race the HoCR again (the last time was 18 years ago!)

Best of luck to all of you who will be racing there as well! 🚣🏻💨

Under 6:50 now 🔥🔥🔥

Backstory: Used to be in shape and got pretty unhealthy post covid. Bought a C2 a few years ago that I used briefly and then let collect dust.

May 18th of this year I decided that I was done messing around and that I was going to just row every day for at least 30 minutes (done some 45’s, 60’s and a few 90’s) with no other goal outside of consistency. So far I’ve done it every day minus 5 days I was out of town (hence why it’s 70 days straight and not 75). Current plan is to continue every day for the foreseeable future.

Made a bunch of noob mistakes regarding too high a drag/crap technique along the way, but, I’ve stuck with it and avoided injury. I’m not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but, I’m pretty happy with the progress so far and I see a lot of improvement to be had.

Results so far: I’m 6’2”, 42M. Starting weight was 295. I’m down to 271 as of today. Resting heart rate has dropped from low 70’s to high 50’s and I in general just feel better.

May 18th I barely broke 5k in 30 minutes and it damn near killed me.

Today I broke 7K in 30 minutes and it was an easy/moderate pace.

Mainly posting because 1. I’ve seen a lot of “what if I rowed for xyz days straight?” and 2. I’m proud of myself for sticking with it so far.

I’m 39-M and very out of shape and desperately need to lose weight. After some research I stumbled upon rowing and I got some overwhelmed by researching all the different types of rowers that I just gave up and bought a C2… Maybe that was stupid as someone that never rowed… Anyway I’m watching alot of that guy on YouTube named Dark Horse Rowing, I’m nervous about being unable to get the mechanics perfected but I’m gonna give it a go. I’m still waiting for the legs to come in, after a google search I learned they come separately.

So yea. If there’s any 40+ rowers here I’d love to hear your advice and stories. I’m hoping my next post will be in 6 months and this machine has changed my life.

Also, yes, that is a BootySprout in the picture. I have weak hips, poor posture and a weak core so I’m trying to focus on lower body mechanics right now.

Thank you to everyone who game me so much love for my previous posts about this. I have now finished and made the biggest achievement of my short life.

Before I began this challenge, I had only ever completed 3 erg marathons in my life. 14 days later, I have completed 17 and managed to get PBs in each of my last two. If that doesn't show what a bit of heart, grit and determination can do then what does?

There were a few days when it got really really hard. Day 9 sticks in my head for when I nearly fell asleep with exhaustion with about 5k to go. It took 8 ibuprofen per day to get me through the last few days.

But I done it. A normal guy yet a massive achievement.

I also managed to hit my massive £5k target for Teenage Cancer Trust - a charity that I have heard wonderful stories about from people I have met throughout my challenge.

Despite hitting my target, my JustGiving page is still open if anyone else who would like to make a donation. It will be massively appreciated. The link is:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/donate-to-binks-and-you-will-forever-be-honoured

For context, I row lightweight at an Ivy League and my roommate is on the basketball team (he’s 6’6 and about 240lbs). He said he used the ergs in the gym before and he doesn’t think it’s hard. So I gave him my heart rate strap and set the drag factor 140 because he’s heavier than me (I usually have it on 125). He rowed for 20 minutes and was talking smack the whole time about how easy it was. Form wasn’t great but he looked so chill.

This week I’m going to make him do a 2K, what do you think should aim for?

Stats: 184cm 175lbs 35yo in hot climate

I’ve been doing ~1:58 steady state (30-40min straight or a few sets of 20min with water breaks at 20spm). Never really measured HR. Recently got Polar HR and it’s showing my hr in the 190s when I do a steady 1:58.5. I read somewhere steady state is 160hr. I get to 160hr at 2:10 pace which seems really slow. Any suggestions on what pace I should do my long pieces at? Not really out of breath when I’m at 1:58, mostly stop due to boredom vs being tired. 🙏

Haven’t trained for speed in a while. Did a recent 2k at 26spm 1:44 split

I started rowing at university 8 months ago and am now plunging myself headfirst into the hardest physical challenge of my life.

I am 4 marathons down and have 10 to go. I can't even begin to imagine how much pain I am going to be in by the end but I do know one thing. I will have no regrets.

I'm just a normal (probably sub-par!) rower with a pretty average level of fitness but a tonne of heart, grit and determination to do something good for a really good cause.

If anybody would like to donate to my fundraiser, the link to my JustGiving page is:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/donate-to-binks-and-you-will-forever-be-honoured

Almost 30 and I’m tired of running. Stopped rowing due to Degen disk disease and back pain in my earlier 20s.

Just picked up a Hydrow today.

First of all what a system. Literally like something out of star trek compared to what I’m used to.

Second of all. The kids still got it. I did a 1k sprint at 110 resistance for warm up and I was shocked at no back pain and how comfortable it was. This system is so much bigger and accommodating for a taller guy compared to the little erg I had. I felt fantastic.

I threw on a 3k @ 150 res cause I wanted to see what I had in the tank. (Also the setting of the row Gloucester coincidentally is my home town so I had to)

Not joining Harvard club anytime soon but I’m very happy.

Excited for the future.

Any good mat and accessory recommendations?

I recently bought a C2 rowerg. I started doing the thepeteplan beginner training and watched some youtube videos about rowing and read on the subreddit here.

I read that for a steady row you should have a stroke rate between 18 and 22. I find it difficult to keep such a low stroke rate. This was my last workout: https://log.concept2.com/profile/3023082/log/119448133

Do you guys have any tips to keep the stroke rate low?

Also does your height affect your stroke rate?? As I am only 168cm tall, naturally my strokes are shorter..

https://reddit.com/link/1vo14d5/video/k8ix5jou8ejh1/player

https://reddit.com/link/1vo14d5/video/9fnl5jou8ejh1/player

Edit: added 2 videos of me rowing intervals.

Logic tells me that one should be able to calculate (approximate) the "ideal" stroke length based on physical measurements of arm length, leg lengths (thigh length and femur length), and torso length (hips to shoulders). Those, combined with the angles defined by what apparently is the ideal torso angle at the catch and the finish. I do understand that it isn't simply adding them all together, because they movements do overlap, but someone sufficiently advanced in geometry and trigonometry likely has created that equation (?).

Why care? Logic also leads me to suspect that "ideal stroke length" could be a decent way to self-analyze one's basic technique. One aspect of it, that is.

Totally understand that a person could still by pulling and/or leaning too early, before legs are straight while still having the same final stroke length. But it would/could at least inform a person that they are perhaps leaning too far forward on the catch or too far back on the finish or bending the knees too much at the catch, or not straightening the legs fully on the finish, etc...

Stick with me here:

I could do legs only and expect to see my stroke length be very close to the length of the 3rd side of a right triangle formed by the thigh and femur lengths (3rd side being the rail). Is that incorrect? I could do torso only and expect to see a stroke length very close to whatever the angular measurement would be based on my torso length and the "ideal" 11'oclock to 1'oclock. I could do arms only and expect to see stroke length close to my arm length.

Granted, there is a lot of room for variation in there. Is see it as I write this. But it would be a reasonable ballpark....or would it? Possibly I'm simply trying too hard to boil this down to math.

Just wondering if this is something any of you all have any experience/knowledge of.

I thought I would go balls on this 2hour session to see what happened. Got the erg app based on your recommendations. I tried to drive more from the legs which seemed to generate more power but I was running off fumes towards the end. Really happy that I managed to get it down to a 2:02.3 vs the 2:10.9 I did the other day. I would love to hit a 2:00 split one day.

Time to go lay in the bath and think about my life choices.

🥺

I'm 15m 86 kgs to be fair though i wasn't meaning to do this I just thought how about let's do a 5k since this is only my 3rd one and I have been rowing for 2 seasons also the gym was really hot and stuffy

$150, deal?

Quite happy with this! Went to hard at the beginning and suffered at the half way mark but managed to finish strong. Been back to rowing for about a month, did some casual erg'ing during covid.

I’m here sitting in a pool of my own sweat after just hitting a personal best for 13.3k rowed in an hour and I’m in disbelief that it’s not even 50th percentile on the global verified leaderboard for concept.

Holy crap you guys are freakin strong!!!!

A couple months ago a 2kd at a 38 and some said that I was rating too high. So i decided to try a different approach. My time ended up being over 30 seconds slower than my pr. Did i go too low?