When he’s not residing the suburban life—advertising and marketing job, spouse, toddler, canine—Zach Fowle is strapped into his ergometer, the rhythmic whirring ticking off the tons of of miles he travels yearly with out leaving his basement.
Fowle, 38, has been a aggressive indoor rower for 5 years. Nonetheless, he didn’t transition from water to machine like many rowers. “My CrossFit coach observed I at all times crushed the exercise’s rowing section and urged I strive competing,” he says.
Fowle started with digital competitions, racing towards different rowers worldwide by way of on-line platforms and specialised apps. He quickly certified for his first main in-person occasion, the 2023 World Rowing Versa Problem (a part of the World Rowing Indoor Championships), the place rowers competed in 5 demanding occasions that examined pace, endurance, energy, and technique. Fowle gained bronze (tying for third place). “After that, I wished to get into every part indoor rowing.”
Different main races adopted, together with a return to the Versa Problem in 2024 and the 2025 USRowing Indoor Championships, the place Fowle earned silver within the 2,000 meters. (In late February, he’s scheduled to compete within the 1,000 meters on the 2026 World Rowing Digital Indoor Championships.)
Well being Advantages of Rowing
If you wish to attain peak situation, give indoor rowing a whirl. For proof, have a look at Fowle. Apart from occasional energy coaching (largely squats and bench presses), it’s his solely train. “Common rowing retains me in nice form,” he says.
Indoor rowing is a low-impact, high-intensity train that’s straightforward on the joints however pushes the physique to its limits. “It’s an efficient means to construct and tone muscle, strengthen cardiovascular well being, and enhance endurance,” says Dr. Edward Phillips, an affiliate professor of bodily medication and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical College and indoor rower fanatic.
Analysis has proven that indoor rowing can match treadmill and elliptical coaching in growing VO2 max—the utmost quantity of oxygen your physique makes use of throughout train and a key indicator of cardiovascular health.
Indoor rowing additionally gives one thing different cardio can’t: a total-body exercise. “The primary false impression about rowing is that it largely works the higher physique,” says Fowle. “Nevertheless it’s 60% legs, 30% again, and 10% arms.”
Rowing engages about 86% of the physique’s muscle groups with each stroke. It primarily works the posterior chain, the group of bottom muscle groups that run from the heels to the higher again:
- Calves
- Hamstrings
- Glutes
- Erector Spinae (the muscle groups operating alongside the backbone)
- Lats
- Traps
- Deltoids.
Indoor rowing’s health prowess has even caught the eye of scientists, who’re finding out the way it might defend towards the damaging bodily results of long-term spaceflight.
4 Rowing Exercises for Each Degree
Though chances are you’ll by no means attain Fowle’s efficiency degree, you may make the most of his exercises. Listed below are three of his favourite routines. Alter the time, distance, relaxation interval, and tempo primarily based in your health degree and exercise purpose. “They’re designed so you are able to do every part from taking it straightforward to murdering your self,” says Fowle.
Earlier than beginning, you could first be taught correct kind and method. With out them, you waste power, tire shortly, and enhance your danger of decrease again pressure, says Fowle. “The rowing machine punishes people who find themselves not ready.”
He advises watching on-line educational movies. His selection: Darkish Horse Rowing on YouTube. While you’re prepared, begin accumulating your miles.
20r30: A perfect beginning place for novices. Row at a 20 stroke fee (the variety of strokes taken in 1 minute) continuous for half-hour. (Most fitness center machines show stroke fee. If not, rely your strokes each minute.) “It’s a exercise that progressively builds cardio and muscle endurance at a stroke fee that lets you follow good kind,” says Fowle. “Rising your whole meters over time is an indication your health has improved.”
Zone 2: This moderate-intensity exercise is Fowle’s go-to “regular state” train that ignites the physique’s fat-burning machine whereas constructing cardiovascular endurance. Utilizing a heart-rate monitor, row for 20 minutes whereas holding a Zone 2 coronary heart fee (60% to 70% of your most coronary heart fee, calculated by subtracting your age from 220). Relaxation for 1:30 after which repeat the sequence twice extra. A chest strap or armband monitor is commonly extra correct than wrist units. The discuss check is one other technique for estimating while you’re in Zone 2. You’ll be able to nonetheless maintain a dialog, however can’t sing, or the hassle seems like a 4 or 5 on a 10-point scale.
Pace Pyramid: An interval-based routine the place you “climb” to the pyramid’s high by progressively growing the gap and relaxation interval. As soon as there, you repeat the sequence in reverse to descend. “It’s an awesome check for endurance and energy,” says Fowle. “The purpose is to take care of a quick tempo. Not a full dash, however undoubtedly fast and uncomfortable.” It really works like this:
- Row for 250 meters; relaxation for 1 minute
- Row for 500 meters; relaxation for 3 minutes
- Row for 750 meters; relaxation for 4.5 minutes
- Row for 1,000 meters; relaxation for six minutes
- Then reverse the order: 750, 500, and 250.
Row Golf: The Aggressive Cardio Problem
Row Golf is a enjoyable approach to monitor your progress and spark motivation. The exercise mimics an 18-hole spherical of golf. Nonetheless, every “gap” is a 1-minute dash by which you row as quick as potential for 60 seconds. Your rating for every gap is set by what number of meters you cowl. As an illustration, when you row under 300 meters, that’s a bogey; 300 to 320 meters equals a par; 321 to 335 is a birdie, and any distance above 335 is an eagle. Relaxation for 1 minute between holes. “Add up your rating like golf after which see when you can beat it throughout your subsequent spherical,” says Fowle. Not up for a full 18? Play 9 holes.
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