When I got on the RowErg and SkiErg for the 2022 Holiday Challenge, I found that my RowErg and SkiErg times and capacities had taken a hit, even though I'm as active as ever. This forced me to reset and set new goals. If I were aiming for lifetime PRs, I would have been disappointed, so I used December to set goals customized to where I am now.
If you haven't used your erg for months or even years, set your expectations based on where you are now and work on making easy progress. If you are brand new to the ergometer, start with some benchmark distances like 1k, 2k, and 5k, and build on what you learn from your times. Base your times on your own abilities, not the abilities of your friend or training partner, or the person with the fast 2k on Instagram.
Concept2 Online Logbook and ErgData as tools.
The Concept2 Online Logbook is a great, free tool that provides challenges to keep you on your toes. If you're not following a workout plan but need daily guidance, check out the Workout of the Day (WOD) on the free app ErgData. Send the WOD to your PM5 with the click of a button. If you're feeling competitive, you can see how they're doing on the daily honor board, or get inspired by the hundreds or thousands of people who joined them today.
Use the ErgData app to improve your stroke rate by setting target values that keep you on track. If you focus on rowing at 22 strokes per minute or skiing at 42 strokes per minute, time can go by faster than you might think. Working on the consistency of your power and stroke rate is a great way to master the RowErg. With ErgData's custom training feature, you can easily program complicated or simple workouts that will keep you on your toes. If your fitness is not yet sufficient to achieve best times, you can use the online logbook to record your seasonal bests for 5000 meters, 30 minutes, 1 minute, etc. and try to improve on them. Using the seasonal leaderboards in the online diary, you can track your progress throughout the year, and best times can always be a goal to strive for.
Concept2 Community
If you're looking for camaraderie and motivation, the Concept2 Community Facebook group is a great place to share success stories, daily achievements, and the occasional home workout mecca. This positive place is a great way to find people who are in a similar situation and motivate yourself.
There are great online coaches and programs like Dark Horse Rowing, UCanRow2, and Live2Row, to name a few, that have also created great communities around them. If you're into social media, follow us at @concept2inc on Instagram and TikTok, where we share tech, motivation, feel-good stories, and everything in between.
Concept2 Challenges
In the January Revolutions challenge, they can choose a goal - total time, total calories burned, or number of days spent on the ergometer. In this challenge, you can choose a goal that means something to you and that you can strive for. As you dust off the ergometer, remember that what wasn't a challenge before can be one now. A 5K run under 20 minutes, rowing for an hour at a time, rowing a 5K every day for a week - things that were once a possibility for you may not be now. Find smaller personal challenges and gradually create bigger ones. Chase the elusive million-meter club or, if you're lucky enough to have two or three ergometers, try to go the distance on each ergometer. Setting both short- and long-term goals will help you stay motivated and find new ways to add variety to your workouts.
Fitness apps and entertainment
If you really want to build endurance or spend a lot of time on the RowErg, the device holder is your best friend. This affordable retrofit kit is compatible with the Model C and can hold the tablet of your choice. Check out the apps compatible with the Concept2 that let you row rivers, take courses, or get a workout, depending on the app. Let's not forget that some of us just want to be entertained. Stream your favorite show or movie while you get your workout done.
Over the shoulder equipment mount
So, if you're looking for a motivational boost for the new year, set a goal that feels achievable, but also requires work. There are a lot of great resources you can use, and remember that it's all about you. Your best performance and personal success is a big deal! At Concept2, we love to share world records, but we're just as excited when we see someone row 5k for the first time! If you want to share your journey with us, tag us #Concept2 and #MyConcept2
Source and image credit: Concept2
Published on: 3 March 2023