Building up the rowing seat for better clearance:

Hello Rowers and Runners,

Here is a new youtube video of a rower who rows at home. I would like to thank MSARGENT for sharing this vid. Quick technical details on the machine. It is a stationary Waterrower. The resistance is water unlike Concept2, Rowperfect, and Oartec which use air and make them a lot louder when rowed. I LOVE how this rower raised his seat by putting two think books and a paperback under his butt. He had those books handy since he rows right next to his bookshelf. The outcome of his "book rigging" is very good. The distance between the bottom of his heel strap and the height of his seated position suit his body type perfectly. There are quite a few rowing machines where the lack of height difference between heel and seat is a major problem for people to be able to hinge there upper body angle at the hip joint, thus supporting their lower back properly. In addition such a lack of height difference makes it more difficult for over weight rowers to clear their stomach, which makes the rowing experience uncomfortable. In this case the remedy for this slender but tall rower is to jury rig the seat with what he had available at arms lengths, good job!!!

Row far, run fast, Xeno

Using your iphone for training....

Hello Rowers and Runners.

Have you thought of using your iPhone for training.  I have.  I use the iphone to coach people on the water.  I take video and then upload the lot onto the internet. No need to burn onto DVD anymore.  I can upload directly through the 3G network and the rower has the footage by the time the boat is put away and has driven home.  There is a stroke watch app that is great: iRatewatch, no need anymore for an expensive NK watch.  For rowers there are a couple stroke watch apps that work with GPS too.

I am sure that as runners you have used the iphone as your ipod to listen to music or even radio, pandora by the way is a great app, free, that gives you continuous music of the genre that you put in to begin with.  Listening to music is something totally impossible when it comes to rowing because rowers go backwards and use their ears to steer clear from danger.  Some master rowers use rear view mirrors that are pretty handy and take the risk of collision a few notches down.

I love my iPhone..... thank you Steve Jobs.

Come to Sunny California and Run your half or full marathon.

Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon

Carlsbad, CA USA

January 23, 2011

This race is in my neck of the woods.  Chances are that the weather will be pretty good.  Even if it rains it is better then any other part of the United States.

I am sure my friend Joe from the marathon show will be there.

In Motion Events
Address:	6116 Innovation Way Carlsbad, California 92009
Phone Number:	760-692-2900
Fax Number:	760-692-2901
Email:	info@inmotionevents.com
Official Race Website:	http://www.carlsbadmarathon.com

The best heart rate watch so far since I used Polar: GARMIN 305 GPS

Hello Rower and Runners,
It is not often when I say hurry up...  But the watch that I am talking about is a good one and it is the old model of the Garmin sport watches.  Currently on Amazon you can get this watch for $128, which is immensely cheaper than the Garmin 310, which retails at close to $400 ouch!  Both watches perform the same for the purpose of monitoring heart rate, speed, distance traveled on the map.  The watch is incredible when it comes to monitoring your workout and comparing your progress.  The transmitter of the belt is a lot more powerful than the old Polar watch and that makes using the watch on the rowing machine that much easier.  Before you had to have the watch pretty close, arm length away from the chest to get a reading.  Now with the type of technology Garmin uses that limited distance has been extended by three feet at least.  Once the information of your workout is uploaded to the Garmin website you can see on one graph, changes in elevation, heart rate, speed.  I know you probably are going to say, wait in rowing you don't change elevation, that is true, but in running or cycling you do and it is cool to see how the heart rate changes when the elevation changes.  This watch gets two huge thumbs up.
Knowing your speed and where you have been on a map is really cool.  As a coach I was like in a candy store when I saw all the data on one page.
Here it the information on the Garmin 310 pricier but for those who want to have the newest here we go: Ok that is it for now.  Remember I am now working with Marathon runners and rowers of all levels.  Rowing is a great cross training exercise as well as Nordic Walking!!!
STay in touch.
You can find me also on my coaching website: www.xenorowingcoach.com and if you are interested in rowing with me online and downloadable workouts check out:
www.row2go.com
Cheers, row far, run far, walk with poles.  Woohoo!

Nordic walking a good cross training discipline for rowers and Marathon runners

Hello Marathon runners and rowers of all walks of life.

I cam across Nordic Walking. I even got some poles for Christmas. Yes poles! At first I thought that the concept of using poles for walking is sort of goofy, BUT I tried it and I am completely sold on the idea of working out with such poles. Above is a youtube clip that I dug up. The fellow is in his fifties and rips it up a steep mountain side as if it were a flat surface. It is pretty cool to watch the different techniques that he displays.

For marathon runners this could be a great way to stay fit without the pounding of each running step. The back during Nordic Walking gets a nice workout. It helps posture and distributes the body weight among the pole tips and the feet.

For rowers, you know, we rowers are not built for running, at least most of us are not, this type of exercise with the poles is really cool. Since rowers have a lot of upper body strength it will come very naturally to use those lat muscles that we use every day when we row. The other neat thing about walking is that we get to face where we are going, unlike rowing where we chronically long for looking towards the bow...

I bought my telescoping walking sticks at Target for $20, they work great, except I need to make an adjustment for the wrists straps, they slip a little and I need to periodically adjust them. There are Nordic Walking poles that are WAY more expensive than that, made out of carbon fiber with neat wrists straps, that is cool, but dang paying a $100 PLUS for that, you will find me in the Target aisle.

That is it for now. I truly enjoy writing about Xtraining and getting fit on your feet as well as on your butt. :-)

Cheers, walk, run, and row far.

Xeno

Indoor Rowing Race Calendar

Here is the link to the indoor rowing race calendar.  Beware that for now all the races are on stationary rowing machines and not the Dynamic erg yet.  Now you have the choice between three brands of rowing manufacturer to get your dynamic rowing machine: Oartec, Concept2, and Rowperfect.  The above mentioned race calendar is about Concept2 machines.
Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine

Marathon Runners get ready for your next race in Georgia

15^th Annual

Museum of Aviation Foundation

Marathon/Half-Marathon

5K Run/Walk

Saturday - January 15, 2011

http://www.robinspacers.org/museum/