Rowing questions!

[Ikeameatballlunch]

I got a water rower in the summer and I love it. Good advice here. Purpose was to see me through breast cancer op, radio and hormone treatments.

Is it classed as moderate or high intensity?

What pace should I be aiming for higher intensity work outs? I had to go back to basics after radio but am now at 5k in 27 mins, fairly relaxed steady pace.

I've had the odd go at hitt on it which I like. Thinking of getting the plug in doo dah that links to app.

Is it classed as moderate or high intensity?

Will depend on your heart rate, I think?
Have you tried the races and the interval presets - eg 500m x 3, try to beat you previous time?

Oh good point, no. I haven't worked out how to do anything else yet. Was mainly aiming to increase my mileage so far.

I'm quite a novice to heart rates etc, my exercise in the past was all enjoyment based.

Is there an easy explanation anywhere? I have been recording my heart rate out of interest on an app immediately after exercise.

British rowing are running a free course this month which could help you try different things and build up a routine https://www.britishrowing.org/indoor-rowing/row31/

Amazing, thank you! They've last year's archived too

www.britishrowing.org/indoor-rowing/row31/row31-workout-archive/

I ask the question really to try to work out how what I'm doing fits into the guidelines for exercise- 150 mins moderate aerobic exercise per week or 75 intense.

I'm working on more is best but there will be weeks where it's going to be hard to fit it in so I'd like to know what's what. I know if I can do hitt on a rower it's helpful and I'm working towards getting back into rope skipping which I did successfully about 15 years ago. Feet not as forgiving now!

Ok so worked out what moderate and intense is according to my heart rate etc and I've looked at the 500 splits and set that so I can see.

my average 500 split rate today over 5k was 2.15-17. I did a bit of hitt here and there (got it down to 2.07) and that was definitely pushing into vigorous intensity range according to heart rate (went over 85% a couple of times)

Did it in 24 mins today. I could probably count some of it as intense exercise if I regularly do similar.

British rowing videos are great too as add in some weights etc

Generally, if you could carry on a conversation in short sentences, it's moderate, and if you couldn't, it's intense. For cardiac long term health, look to keep up plenty of moderate with a small sprinkling of higher intensity, which is definitely something nobody needs much of- even top athletes are mostly doing steady work.

Do you kind sharing what water rower you bought OP?

Thank you @Harrysmummy246, that's really helpful. whilst I could do it at the time it, was too much and I've been wiped and limping since 😂

I've spent today getting to grips with what some hitt or even SIT might look like for me (menopausal, tamoxifen) and I've decided to enjoy long rows with good form and not clock watch aiming for moderate intensity and then just a few hitt/SIT 20 second sprints near the end. I do like the buzz.

@WhatNoUsername I got an S4 water rower from John Lewis. They were doing it in ash last summer which was a tad cheaper irrc but I can't see it now. There is a website somewhere where you can rent them, if you rent for the full year it's yours.

I thought very carefully about getting one and if to rent first, but decided as I can't get to a gym very easily and would be very likely to bail on a bad day, plus i wanted something I could do that's low impact. No room for peloton or anything else. It works most muscles too which I like; it's definitely improved grip strength.

I think concept is usually what most people go for but we simply didn't have space for that and it has to sit elegantly against a wall in the dining room. So I find it very accessible. I also love being on water anyway and have to say I find the water swishing very calming.