1 hour row

Question
I am trying to row for 1 hour in order to post a reasonable time on the Concept 2 website but find that after about 40 mins I lose concentration and stop, even though I am not that tired; I regularly do 30 min rows and 10,000m (approx 37:30) rows but just can't manage the hour. Should I be breaking up the hour into (say) 15 min pieces and resting for 'n' mins between each piece or just row at a very slow time and then gradually ramp it up ??

Answer
Hi Layton: Personally, I used to cherish an hour of rowing on the water in my single scull. But an hour on an erg seems like some form of punishment for a felony.  

There is no getting around it, an hour on an erg at moderate stroke rate and pressure is boring and grueling.  If my math is correct, during your 10Ks, you are doing 1:52.5/500m splits.  That's pretty impressive.  If I tried to row that for an hour, I'm sure I would die trying.  You say you are not that tired, so you must either be in great shape or are quite a physical specimen.    

I guess the first question you should ask yourself is what are you trying to achieve with your "hour of power?" Are you training for a long distance head race?  Are you training for some major cardio event like a marathon or triathlon? Is it just a goal you set with no true ulterior objective.  If you truly can't find a reason for accomplishing a 60-minute erg piece, then stick with the 10Ks.

If you are compelled to complete your 1-hour goal, I would approach it not as an hour piece, but as a 15,000 meter piece.  Just shoot for an average of 2:00/500M on the stroke meter throughout the piece.  That will take an hour to complete.  I know you might be capable of better, but you want it to feel like a leisurely bike ride.  

Seeing the meters decrease from 15000 to 0 may be more psychologically uplifting than counting the seconds on a clock [In fact, it's this type of clock watching that have people in mundane jobs complaining how the passing minutes feel like an eternity]. You can enhance the experience by having your iPod on with your favorite songs, or by the TV watching an uplifting movie like Rocky or Oxford Blues.

Regards/AP