Rowing

Anyone out there do this? I have absolutely no experience in rowing, but UCL has a women's rowing club where they take people of all experiences, beg. to adv. I was thinking this would be fun an a good way to both get exercise and meet people. I definitely need to work on building up my arms (kayaking kills me but I love it!), but I think I would have a lot of fun.

Any advice? thoughts? experiences?

My husband's been rowing for...well about 20 years by now, I'd guess!  It's hard to imagine but it's really more to do with legs rather than arms!  Anyway I'd be happy to pass on any questions you might have to him if you'd like.  Rowing is great exercise and can be very social as well. 

My husband's been rowing for...well about 20 years by now, I'd guess!  It's hard to imagine but it's really more to do with legs rather than arms!  Anyway I'd be happy to pass on any questions you might have to him if you'd like.  Rowing is great exercise and can be very social as well. 

Oh that's good news! I have pretty strong legs, but my arms are kind of puny right now. I'm wondering if there is anything I could do to prepare myself for rowing so that I don't go into it completely unfit, get sore, and then not enjoy it as much.

I started rowing on the machine at the gym earlier this year, and really enjoy it, and have found that I'm not too bad at it. I've thought about joining a non-competitive team as a way of meeting people and trying out rowing on actual water! Haven't really looked into it yet, but it's on my list of things to do.

Do you have access to a gym now where you could try out one of the rowing machines? I think that's probably the best way to prepare, although I admit, I don't know how different it is to rowing on water seeing as I haven't tried yet.

I'll have to check my gym, but I'm pretty sure I saw a rowing machine the last time I was there. I was thinking about trying it out. I'm also curious about how different rowing on water (and with other people) would be.

I'm a rower, on the water and indoors. I think if you want to get youself in good shape before turning up the boat club that you would do well to use the rowing machine to condition your muscles. You will use your abs a lot more on the water though as you have to balance yourself, so something like pilates might help too. Indoor rowing isn't far off as you use the same muscles and you'll find yourself using it a lot at the boat club because it is the best tool for rowing conditioning. If you're strong on the rowing machine, you are then able to really focus on your technique in the boat.

Rowing is all about the legs and the back. A lot of rowers have quite small arms. It is a ratio of about 75/25 of legs and upper body, so if you want to work on your guns, it's not the sport to do it. If you want to have really well developed leg muscles, it's great.

I would suggest looking at the Concept2 (they manufacture rowing machines) website for training ideas and plans as well as a clip on correct technique. Technique is very important and it is a lot easier to start with good technique than it is to fix it later.

Let me know if you have any questions, am very happy to answer. I even have a training plan if you want it!

www.concept2.com
http://www.concept2.com/us/training/start/

The gym I go to has Concept2 rowing machine's. I use them as part of my gym routine boy do I ever feel it in my back, chest, & in my legs afterwards.  I'm so glad I don't smoke for obvious reasons but I couldn't imagine doing the rowing machine & smoking. I am always out of breath after the rowing machine. but that could be that I don't do the breathing exercises right though. I usually breath in when I'm pulling backwards an when I lean in I breath out, sometimes I get them backwards though.     

I agree with janice, DH said that the best training is the erg (aka the rowing machine).  The erg should ideally be a Concept2 or similar rather than a hydraulic type rower.  He also said general fitness will naturally help.  And as janice said, the technique is important and easier to learn properly at the start rather than later on.  It's amazing to watch people at the gym on the ergs who have bad technique - I almost feel like they are hurting themselves! 

Rowing is one of the best total body workouts you can imagine...I hope you enjoy it!

Wow! Thank you so much for all the advice! I'm not too concerned about working up my arms a lot, so that shouldn't be a problem. I do need to do at least some work on them because they're just pathetic right now, but I thought rowing would be good for me if it worked on abs/back. I'm going to check out that website and then head over to my gym to see what equipment they have. Thanks for all the advice ladies, and geeta please thank your husband for his insight! I will definitely post if I have questions!