Feb 18thSound Body

Swimsuit season will quickly be upon us.  House of Cards season two was just released on netflix.  What better time for a post about rowing.  This time, I’ll focus on indoor rowing, but once the Potomac’s water temp reaches 55 degrees, I’ll be on the water.

* Update, click here for my picture heavy post about the first row of the season!

Frank Underwood likes the natural feel of water resistance, but I prefer the model I grew up using, the Concept 2.  I would definitely recommend trying a rowing machine out at the gym before purchasing one.  I rowed in high school, but as a coxswain, my technique didn’t need to be all that great.  Add a decade of not rowing, and then jump back into it, and you’ve got a recipe for injury.  I managed to tweak my back last season, but I’m easing myself back into it.  To be clear, I believe I hurt my back rowing an actual boat, not training.  I don’t think that the rowing machine is any more or less dangerous than any other machine at the gym.  I do believe that the potential benefits of rowing certainly outweigh the risks.  My friend that learned to row last year loves it, and fully intends to join me on the water again this year.

If you’re looking to get into the sport, Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown has a great learn to row program that gets you on the water the second day of class.  I did this class last year with a friend (pictured below), and it was a blast.  Upon graduation, you qualify to rent sculls and go out on your own.

If you do decide to give indoor rowing a try, make sure you get someone at your gym to explain proper technique to you, and this video won’t hurt either (***Update, my back has healed, and is good to go):

If you’ve rowed before, then you may know the basics, but its always good to have a refresher on what not to do.  This may have helped me last season:

When I was rowing in high school, rage against the machine was pretty popular.  It also made for great workout music.  I’ll leave y’all with a video that I find quite apropos, and a short playlist to get you in the workout mood.