Fun 5-Minute Rowing Challenge

WEARING | Athleta tank (old) // Michi leggings (old but similar) // Nike Free 5.0 sneakers

Ok I’m using the term “fun” pretty liberally here (fitness instructors tend to do that). 😉 This tabata is fun in the sense that there are game-like qualities to it? Does that count?

Fun 5-Min Rowing Challenge

First and foremost, watch this video on proper rowing form if you’re new to it.

This is a quick, sprint-based workout so you’ll want to be sure to warm up before jumping into it. Spend a few minutes gently rowing to prepare. I did 30 seconds at an easy pace / medium pace / easy pace / hard pace and repeated the sequence for a 4-minute warm up.

Ok now here’s the challenge.

1. Set the bar. Do a 100m row sprint all-out, as fast as you can. Write down your time. With the assumption it’s harder to hit our top time the more fatigued we get, we’re going to use this first time trial number as our target.

2. Set your goals for the sprint series. You’re going to do 5 100m sprints with only 20 seconds of rest in between each of them. You’ll have goal times for each and we’re going to try to IMPROVE on those times as we go. Hard AF, as the kids would say. Here’s how to set your goal times:

• SPRINT 1 = target + 4
• SPRINT 2 = target + 3
• SPRINT 3 = target + 2
• SPRINT 4 = target + 1
• SPRINT 5 = target

3. Sprint, baby!

Do your five 100-m sprints, trying your best to meet or beat your goal times. Time the rest in between each: 20 seconds to recover, that’s it. 

I couldn’t hit the 5th sprint target the first time I tried this rowing challenge (off by ONE second–grrrr!). Tried it a second time a week later and hit it!

Were you able to hit (or beat) the target times each round? Give this workout a try and let me know in the comments!

I shot this workout at Btone–if you’re in the Boston area, be sure to try out one of the row classes they offer!

And because it’d be too awkward to not mention the elephant in the room …

I was deeply saddened to see state after state give their stamp of approval to a man who’s run a campaign based on hate and fear, and who seems to think the way we better ourselves is by putting others down. It’s hard not to feel that every vote for him was a stamp of approval for the negative, hateful rhetoric used throughout his campaign. But I fully realize it’s not at all as simplistic as that, and many who voted for him don’t necessarily condone all his words and actions. I also realize that my bewilderment at the election results is probably proof that I need to step outside my liberal bubble more often. The good news is that working out is an excellent way to improve mood and relieve stress, and this, my friends, is a fitness blog. I’ll stick to that and let you get politics from your Facebook newsfeed. 😉