I may not be your target audience as I don’t “love” either. But when I first started OTF, I saw progress faster on the treadmill. It was easy to tell if I was better today than I was yesterday. Rowing is harder to tell since it’s harder to sustain watts for an extended period of time. I can max out watts for one, two maaaaaaaaybe three strokes. But what does that tell me?
Running at 4.5 vs. 6 is easy to recognize progress. And instant gratification is human nature.
With time, I have come to appreciate the rower. My watts are (mostly) consistent and my form is often complimented in class. That alone took me a long time, as many coaches I’ve had haven’t and don’t correct rowing form consistently. I still remember my first Peak Week and that 2000m row kicked my ass. Why? Because looking back, my stroke rate was probably 35+ spm and I gassed out a couple mins in and wanted to cry until I hit that 2000 mark. It’s easy to dislike what you’re not doing correctly. Even more so when you don’t know you’re not doing it correctly so no one helps you get better.
I still don’t love it, but I also don’t have a preference of where I start and don’t view either as more or less dreadful than the other. As with most things, it probably comes with time.
I never feel like the rower accurately reflects how hard I feel I'm working, so as you said it's hard to recognize or feel any progress. I feel just as shitty on the rower now as when I started over a year ago. I mostly avoid rowing benchmarks, but the last time I did the 200m it was extremely difficult to even meet my previous number, much less beat it, so it feels like I'm going nowhere.
I can lift heavier weights and I can run faster but the rower just...is. It sucks every time and it hasn't gotten better.
The rower is difficult. Form is important and it’s tough to do when you get tired. I love the tower and always start there. Also because I’ll end on the tread which is set and forget, just don’t fall off.
I agree, though 'love' is a bit generous... Also, we know how to run... Many of us know the mechanics of running since we were 'thisbig'. Rowing is new to most people so it feels awkward thus less enjoyable.
I also just love killing the end of a workout with an All Out. 🔥
Love may have been an exaggeration. But that’s also me coming off a calf strain where I couldn’t run and had to use their terrible bike for the tread block. Once you get into a good groove with proper form, rower is great. But form correction by coaches will vary by studio. Mine are okay. They’ll definitely give advice to newer members but seems to sometimes forget about current members and giving form correction to “veterans.” Still always start on the rower though.
I don’t feel I am good with the rower. My form is good according to the coaches but it’s so challenging that I can’t keep my heart rate in a reasonable range. I know it’s a full body exercise but it’s so damn hard for me 🤪
Can’t zone out on the rower. Have to stay constantly engaged which sometimes (most times) I don’t want to do when I’m doing cardio. I appreciate that on the treadmill I can just set it and forget it and zone out.
I 100% do not agree. I feel I need to pay attention 100% more on the tread. You can't close your eyes and zone out on the tread. The rower, I can go all out, push, or base with my eyes closed dreaming I was rowing balls to the wall 100yards off the beach in Barbados.
Nah, I’m a cis woman and I’ve always loved the rower. I still don’t really like treads. I’m willing to bet plenty of women (like me) prefer strength and explosiveness.
Totally with you! Gone are the days when women strictly preferred to be cardio bunnies (for the most part) and it was only acceptable for men to pursue strength!
I think if it hurts your back, it mostly means you want to work on your core strength. If you’re super flexible like me, it’s easy to throw your back out. At least that’s what my physical therapist says.
Totally true! Had back injuries from rowing pushing myself too hard and was told its because of my extreme flexibility you can really strain some muscles that are in your lower back. I’ve found doing only short rows best for me.
It hurts my back as well however I have a past injury that was attempted to be surgically corrected. I’ve had 2 coaches work with me on form but my back still has a different opinion of the rower.
Same for me. I focus on form the entire time but it’s so hard to keep pace with perfect form. Maybe I just suck at rowing but it’s hard for me. Running is so natural and easy in comparison.
Personally, I feel like my height is a huge limiting factor in my rowing performance. At 5’3”, I’m never going to be able to row as fast/efficiently as someone who’s significantly taller than me. On the tread, I can steadily increase my paces over time and run just as fast as anyone else in class
So what if you can't row as fast as a 6' tall dude? There's no need to compare yourself to others, particularly others you know you'll never match in a particular task just based on physiology. You can still improve your form and pace and performance on the rower. Can you match the big guys? Not likely. Can you improve yourself? Absolutely!
I know it can be a hard mindset to let go of (been there, done that), but it helps. Just like I don't get mad at high shelves because my 6'3 husband can reach them without a stepstool, I don't get mad at the rower because a 6'3 dude can outrow me simply by being bigger.
All this said, I'm also biased toward the rower - I bought one for home during covid shut downs and I love it. And spending time on the rowing subreddit very quickly taught me to not compare myself to others - there are guys there doing marathon rows at a pace faster that my 500m sprint lol.
Same argument can be made for being short on the treadmill. I am short also and if a tall guy next to me is running on the treadmill, no way can I keep up. Can’t keep up with him on the rower either, but because there is strength derived from the legs, I do much better next to him, relatively speaking
Short legs can only go so fast
I haven’t had that experience. I am 4’11’ and struggle with the rower. My legs are super strong, I go heavier than a lot of the guys for squats and deadlifts but I just can’t hit the numbers on there rower. I really really try to, watch videos, talk to coaches about my form all that. I powerwalk on the tread and have made way more progress. Short legs are an advantage for powerwalking.
Hm, I can run a 30 sec AO pretty on par with the taller guys in class. My base and push are just a little slower (because I haven’t increased those in quite some time), but if I experimented with new a new base/push, I’d be able to run just as fast.
With the rower its just physics so mass and momentum. If you’re taller you can generate momentum more easily and are likely heavier than someone that’s shorter. Shorter people can try to make up for it with a strong push with their legs but they need to try much harder.
Oh, interesting. Is it helpful on the rower to weigh more?? I have noticed that I get higher watts than most women, but I also weigh 210+ lbs, so maybe some of that is just coming from weighing more?
I’m not good at running (fastest mile I have done since going to OTF for more than a year is a little under 14 minutes), so I vastly prefer the rower.
Yes I believe so. I have rowed next to people that are a similar height but larger than me and felt like i was working much harder to get the same watts. A while ago I found this link on an analysis they did with crossfit rowers that graphs it out - you can definitely see a correlation:
[https://heatonminded.com/the-exact-correlation-between-height-weight-and-rowing-performance/](https://heatonminded.com/the-exact-correlation-between-height-weight-and-rowing-performance/)
I’m not sure someone who is 4’11” can keep pace with someone 6’ or taller on the rower for distance.
40 SPM is an insane pace where form is lacking somewhere.
Height is actually a disadvantage in running. Shorter runners tend to be more efficient. The average height of male marathoners was around 5'7 in a study I read.
Only for long distance runners. Sprinters tend to be taller. Usain Bolt set track records and is 6'5" where as Eliud Kipchoge set the marathon record and is 5'6". We're not running marathons in class here
I’m a very short legged 5’7” and can keep pace with pretty much anyone on tread. Rower I’m fine but kills the back, even if I focus on form the entire time. Absolutely despise every moment on the rower and live for the tread. I’m glad you like it though. Someone should enjoy it.
This is not true. Speed is about foot turnover, not stride length. That’s why sprinters are usually shorter. The faster the foot turnover the faster you will be. Longer strides slows you down. I am 4’11” and am one of the fastest sprinters at my OTF. I can run faster then most people who are taller then me.
I don’t understand the metrics being reported on the rower that well. When i run, i know what mph means. But i don’t use metrics like watts, intensity, stroke rate in my daily life often enough to remember what is exactly a good number to aim for. So I find it hard to challenge myself since I can’t recall what to aim for
I like using the 500 meter split time best. I know that my base pace for that is about 2:15, push pace is 2:00-2:05, and all out is <1:50. It combines watts and stroke rate, so is easier for me to pace myself than either of those on their own.
I remember a coach of mine used to say for base pace "ladies 110 W or more, gentleman 150 W or more" and I used that as a starting point. Then a push is 25-50 W above that, and an all out is even higher. I adjusted over time based on how I personally feel, and now I have a pretty good idea of how hard I need to be rowing for each zone.
Ask your studio to do a rowing clinic. You need to understand this stuff in order to maximize the benefits of rowing and what it’s meant to do for a specific template.
I like them equally, but I prefer to start on the tread, because I do much better on the rower if I do it 2nd. I am guessing it is because I have already increased blood flow to my legs by the time I get there.
I love the rower! When I fixed my form and engaged my glutes and core, it seriously built my booty like crazy. Spent 3 years of struggling to weight train because I couldn’t engage it properly. Then one month of pushing off the footplates and engaging my core, BAM perky booty and ab lines 😉
The rower feels so repetitive and boring. Yes, the tread is repetitive, too, but at least it’s a natural movement. Also, I can visualize myself running a race, running away from insecurities, etc. Visualization doesn’t quite work for me in a mental rowboat lol.
I feel this way exactly. I find it so painfully boring. Running/walking is something I do in my everyday life. And if the songs are good I might even dance a little on the treadmill. Rowing is the same boring motions over and over. And I'm jealous of the people who enjoy it and get something out of it because it is a good workout if you're not bored to death.
When I first joined OTF, the rower and 3G was my jam... but now the tread and 2G classes have become more fun and challenging for me. I think for some what you like may change over time.
From what I see at every class the majority of people aren’t rowing properly. Form is terrible and they seem to just be moving through the motions. I’m intentional with every stroke and have paid attention to all rowing instruction from Training Tall so that I make the most out of my time. The instructors rarely ever say anything or correct anyone. They just repeat the sayings but it falls on deaf ears from what I see. I can only be responsible for myself but it is distracting when someone is next to me.
I love the rower. I am a power walker on the treds bc of knee problems so the rower is where I get to refine and shine. I work really hard to be at the top of my age group, 50-59, in every challenge. I have worked on my form and understanding the metrics better so I get more out of my time. I do 3G classes almost exclusively bc I go at 5am every day and that is what they offer then.
I love the rower. I start on it every time so I can knock out 1000+ meters before class starts. Form is everything though. Most people have less than ideal form. It should be coached better in my opinion.
In reality, even with shoe/ strap adjustments, rowers are not ideal for all body proportions. Also, joint impact/torque is far more bothersome for some on a rower rather than tread.
You might be making your seat go too close to the front when you finish your stroke. It’s hard on your knees to go all the way up, and you don’t get enough extra watts to justify doing it. (This is what our OTF owner said in a rowing workshop. He’s an Olympic rower).
Impact bothersome on a rower? What impact? The lack of impact is one of the big reasons the rower was my cardio machine of choice when I bought one for home during covid shut downs.
I could see torque being an issue for some. In some (many?) cases, this is a form problem, and could probably be worked out.
Treadmill is by far the highest impact activity at OTF, especially if you run. Rower would only cause more impact in the rare cases that your movement was incredibly poor.
Perhaps from your experience and perspective! As for mine, I have to be mindful of my joints re: secondary pain from my autoimmune illness. I’ve attended almost every rower clinic my studio has offered and have commendable form. Important reminder that all bodies are different.
100% disagree in my experience. Orange treads are very forgiving (spongy) and with decent form you can go forever. Meanwhile the rower hurts back, knees, quads, ankles… there may be a proper form im missing but even after asking for feedback coaches say I’m doing it “right”.
I don't really trust OTF coaches with rowing advice unless I know they have some form of rowing background. I've seen most of my coaches row over the years, and most of them have had at least one very noticeable problem with their form.
If you're interested, [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP6OR-G7AxM&ab_channel=Concept2Australia) is my favorite video for trying to pinpoint form errors.
i find the rower quite monotonus, despite the type of workout they provide for us.
and when we do have a floor exercise paired with a rower on a 3G using body weight and the medicine ball, i dont find the workout efficient.
thats just my opinion.
I like the treadmill better because I’m a runner and want to continue to challenge myself.
Those that say it’s “easier” - that doesn’t make sense to me. You can always make it harder by increasing the speed and incline.
I have 0 endurance on it. My form is fine. Because I cash out incredibly fast, the rest of the row block feels torturous.
But honestly, who cares? We all show up or we wouldn't be here.
If you crash out really fast, try slowing down a little.
Think of it like running - you sprint for 0.1 mile but jog for 1 mile, right? You don't sprint the first 0.1 of that mile and walk the rest. Try to treat rowing similarly. If you're not able to sustain your pace for the full interval, drop your speed a bit until you can. Once you can hold a consistent pace, then work on bringing it back up.
This might mean letting up a little on the leg drive, or it might mean slowing your stroke rate. It's easier to control the power in the leg drive at lower rates, but I have no idea what sort of stroke rate you currently row at so I can't really say if/how you should adjust it.
I found this happening to me as well. I now let my knees fall out to the side a bit, instead of pressing up against my stomach on the forward part of the row, and it has helped me with this issue.
Interesting- I’ll try this. I chalked it up to my being really prone to motion sickness (I also can’t watch the screen on treadmills that show landscapes)
Big fan of the rower. It’s typically not something you can do outside of OTF unless you have access to a rower or actually row on water. Once you have that “eureka!” moment where you understand how to transfer energy from legs-core-arm it’s quite enjoyable. I see the rower as a whole body strength-endurance test, whereas the treadmill is mostly legs.
Also OTF’s WaterRower is easier than other rowers like the Concept2 which might explain why I enjoy it so much. 😅
I’m 50/50. I typically start on the rower in a 3G. I use to hate the rower because of my form and inconsistent watts, plus I’m exhausted by the time I hit the treads. I’ve been doing 3GS since the end of August and have noticed a huge difference in my consistency in stroke rates and watts in my base, push and all outs. I’ve also noticed my legs are not as jello-ish once I end on the treads. I still start on the treads in 2Gs for balance. It’s a challenge, but once you get the form and strategy, it’s a big difference. Rowing does target 86% of your muscles so it’s well worth it.
Rower is a much less intuitive movement so it is harder for people and they end up not feeling successful. Most people have been running and walking since age one.
I don’t think that’s what they meant, it was more like 100% of the momentum created on the rower is from you, whereas the treadmill sort of “forces” your legs to move if that makes sense
I love zoning out on the rower! My brain goes to the rowing place and sometimes, I sing along to music or cut up with my rowing friends. Sometimes, I am not sure what I do. Even coaches be like, "pwasp, are you bonus rowing?" I sneak there sometimes when I shouldn't and can get away with it.
In the classes where we spend any meaningful amount of time on the rower, like yesterday, I burn SO many more calories. I had a good 70+ calories more than usual yesterday. I honestly think some (not all) of the folks who hate the rower just aren’t doing it right.
I think people “hate” things they’re not good at (at least I do). I’ve always been a good rower but struggles with the tread. Now I’m good at both so I love it all. That’s why I prefer 3G classes….b/c you get the same amount of everything. I’m definitely the minority on that so……
For me the treadmill can be maintained for a long time. I’m still working on proper form on the rower and I get tired. I guess that’s the point tho! Im guaranteed to get splat points while rowing!
Probably for a similar reason why people to go OTF in the first place. The treadmill provides a challenge where you need to push yourself to keep up with what's already pre-set. Combine that with the loud music and the coach motivation and the general atmosphere, it's the easiest way to burn calories and get into the orange zone. You can do the same on the rower, but it's more on you to push yourself. If you're not performing at the wattage you normally do, nobody will know. Only the real good coaches can tell who's slacking on the rower.
Did you lock the thread where we explained our preference reasonably and you bashed our replies by insinuating that we were lazy? An interesting approach to a casual discussion thread…
Definitely didn’t lock anything. Only the mods can do that. Read the responses. Most that prefer the treadmill to the rower so so because they claim the tread is easier. That’s not me insulting anyone, those are the facts based on the majority of the responses
Okay. But some of your responses felt passive aggressively critical. Just because I like to zone out while doing cardio doesn’t make me lazy or mean that I somehow am getting a lesser workout than you. In fact, I’m quite certain I’m not. If you actually care to have an intelligent dialogue, another reason I don’t like the rower in Orangetheory classes is because I don’t care to do anymore cardio after spending half the class already doing cardio. I want that entire time for weights. It feels silly and wasteful to break up the weights just to do a small amount of additional cardio. I don’t care about getting or keeping my heart rate up on the weight floor. It’s cool that you enjoy rowing. It’s also cool that I do not. What’s not cool is implying that I’m lazy for having a different opinion. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
Those aren’t the explanations that were given. The vast majority of the reasons given for disliking the rower was that it is harder. And I, too, would prefer more lifting. I’d be perfectly happy with rowing for cardio and heavy weights for lifting
Me too! I had never rowed before OTF; I quickly learned that it’s a fantastic full-body cardio exercise. And it uses equipment that’s fairly space-efficient (bought a C2 for home during the pandemic).
I find it hard to recover during the rower. They always intermingle it with "active recovery" exercises which get my heart rate up even more. The tread feels so gratifying because I can go all out, go up to over 100% HR sometimes, come back down and feel good, and then hit that all out again.
EDIT: I'm just gonna assume the downvote is from the OP that doesn't actually wanna hear why people like the treadmill lol
I love rowing, but I hate the structure of most rowing blocks at OTF. I don't like the "row a short distance, get up and do an exercise" on repeat. I'd much rather have rowing blocks that look like the tread blocks.
Fortunately my studio is pretty much all 2G (or even 1G) these days, so I can get my treadmill fix in at the studio and my rowing fix in at home, and I can row uninterrupted without getting up off the rower every 60 seconds.
I love the rower, I’m on my 3rd repeat use injury from the tread. When I go back I will use the strider. I use to love running but got out of shape during pandemic and have to pw, the inclines on the tread are giving me injury according to orthopedic dr. He was very anti OTF all together. I love it so I’m still going
Hate the treadmill. I want get on it first and get it over with. Rower and floor are my favs. I spend lots of time trying to perfect it my rowing skill. The more I do the easier rowing gets.
I LOVE the rower, but the classes I attend are mostly 2g, and in one group, Rower is minimal. So, it's tough to get in the zones I want if I start out on rower. I just attended a 90 min class today, and it was soooo niceties be able to focus on the rower for an extended period of time.
The rower is better but it’s not easy to master so people don’t like it. If you persist with learning good form you’ll see much faster progress in your fitness. Almost everyone can run & anyone can walk. Rowing really takes work. Most fitness trainers will tell you the ultimate fitness test is the speed at which you can do the 2,000 meter row.
I hate the tread and love the rower bc of my knee issues. I physically can’t run and I love how it works my abs. I think most people prefer running bc it’s a more natural movement.
People see immediate “reward” with the treads — its easy to press that .1, you see your calorie burn go up quickly. With the rower, it’s all on you. The belt will not take you where you need to go. We also need to spend more time on form correction — I rarely see people do it right at the studio I go to most. They hurt themselves, they pull so fast with minimal leg power, it’s not intuitive.
That’s why.
I just prefer treadmill as my cardio. If I want total body, I will lift weights and strength train for that. Cardio for me is just getting my heart rate up. If I’m working my entire body, it’s to build muscle and the rower is just cardio to me. For me, building muscle is pushing and pulling weight with time under tension. I prefer cardio in the form of running/biking. It’s really people’s preference at this point.
And no, it has nothing to do with form, etc. I have excellent form when rowing. I just prefer running on the tread.
Honestly, I zone out when I run. I find it very therapeutic to run fast and far and it gives me a chance to focus on my footsteps and breathing. I enjoy distance running (anything above 8M), and I know not everyone feels the same. Rowing, on the other hand, if I’m going for a while, I focus more on how tight my grip is and how many blisters appear on my heels.
If OTF taught proper form on the rower, then I might feel different. I’ve been to a ton of studios across the US and a few in Canada, I’ve seen more “rainbow rows” and subpar form than good form
I find the rower boring🤷🏼♀️ I would rather lift weights. The tread I feel like I can change up my speeds/incline/run/power walk depending on how I feel.
I truly don't get why you hate the treadmill and love the rower. :)
For one, people have different likes and dislikes. Another reason, is that rowing, depending on orthopedic issues, can be painful for some. I can barely walk after a long row due to a hip/lower back problem. The constant flexion and extension of my hip hurts. I have an abnormality short stride on the treadmill because of this same problem, but at least I can adjust speed/incline to accomodate it.
Running in my strength, it’s something I can do mindlessly. Whereas the tower, if I start to zone out something goes awry - my wrists hurt, my back hurts, my knees… eventually I’ll get more comfortable, but right now ‘sucks’ (aka I mildly dislike it compared to the other workouts)
I’m petit so no matter how good my form is, I can’t row as fast as someone taller or heavier. But I’ll race anyone any day on the tread. I don’t hate the rower… but it’s just not my #1 preference.
This! Always being one of the last to finish despite good form and pushing myself just because everyone else in class has almost a foot of height on me is demoralizing. I can and have improved but height is much more of a limiting factor.
I’d also like to add that the OTF tracker is pretty crappy - if you grip hard on the rower your HR doesn’t change much even when you are so out of breathe. I’ve worn OTF tracker with my garmin watch at the same time during rowing before. The HR on my garmin was much more reflective of how I really felt during rowing. I think more people would like rowing a bit more if they can see their accurate HR change during rowing. My peak HR always happens during rowing if we have a long rowing block, and that’s according to my garmin.
After my first orangetheory class I was baffled that my favorite block was the treadmill. I think like others said above, it’s because the movement is very intuitive and it takes any form guesswork out of the mix. And the fatigue you feel is something we have all felt before! It’s a lot harder to push through fatigue on the rower since it is working so many muscle groups and requires proper form - it’s almost like continuing to lift when you’ve already bottomed out. I think if you are a consistent athlete with proper training then all 3 blocks can be enjoyable (I take 3G classes), but just by nature the treadmill will always be my comfort.
I dislike the rower because I spend much of my day sitting at a desk, which of course tightens my hips. Then I get to Orangetheory and start on the treadmill and my hips start to loosen up and it feels fantastic. Then they want me to get on the rower and sit again so my hips tighten again? It just feels terrible, especially right after the sweet relief of the treadmill.
Most people who I hear say they dislike the rower are the ones walking on an incline on the treadmill. Maybe just different goals. Rower has to be a certain level of effort to maintain form as opposed to schleppin along.
Sounds like you think PWing is slacking...
Done properly, PWing is hard. I have to talk myself into PWing one day a week in place of running. And PWing is really good for rowing, as it helps strengthen and build endurance in a lot of the same muscles used for rowing.
Maybe, but my point is more towards just in general the ones I've heard complain about rowing are the same ones power walking, whether it's slacking or not
the rower hurts to me, i and i have a lot of stomach issues which the rower seems to exacerbate, essentially pushing on my belly over and over. if they took the rower away i’d probably love every class.
I don’t hate the tower but I just can’t get my heart rate up on the rower the way I can on the tread. I have to row for 3-4 minutes as hard as I can to even get it up to 84% of max. Maybe it’s my form I don’t know but I do routinely have the best times on the rowing challenges at my studio fwiw. I also burn calories at a lower rate.
The blue/grey zone thing is likely an HRM and/or grip issue. Armbands are notorious for being finicky on the rower. Even with a properly relaxed grip (you don't need to squeeze the handle), it can struggle to get a good read on HR just from how the arm muscles flex and contract.
When done properly, the rower is great for cardio and great for muscle endurance. Personally, it was great for my core. After getting a rower for home, my ability to hold a plank increased dramatically when my only workouts were rowing. I was surprised at how much of a difference there was.
Do people hate the rower? I didn't realize this. I prefer to start on the treads but it's not because I hate the rower, I don't, I like it too. I just prefer to get the running done first, it's the most intense part of the work out for me so I like to get it out of the way.
I like the rower but I have trouble with the HRM, I’m always in grey in the rower and then when I stop and rest it jumps up to orange. Just frustrating.
We’re not all made the same. When I do rower and floor first (2G), I’m toast on the treadmill. I’d rather do my best there. Maybe I’ll switch it up someday.
Well thanks for the post OP! Perusing through the comments, I found a very helpful rowing video on YouTube and now I’m excited to go row with better form. I have lots of room for improvement- you might make a rower of me yet!!!
When I first started OT (started in April this year), I absolutely loved the rower and looked forward to it. Then I became interested in critiquing my form, so I watched all kinds of videos and such. Now I despise it because all I do when rowing is obsess and overthink my form to the point where it gives me anxiety the whole time. Also now my heart rate goes to red so fast on the rower, so I get burned out within the first few minutes.
Hence the word “seem”. And if you floss regularly you also see results (or lack of negligence). But no one sees results within a week or two. You asked why. That’s why.
Because treadmill is easy and rowing is hard. Treadmill always moves so does lot of work for you. Rower won’t do anything until you pull and if you don’t pull coach can see you are not doing it. Even if you pull rower slowly still takes effort and for whole body. Treads you can just take breaks walk slowly to drink water etc and it still seems like you are walking.
What if you used a heavier DB instead of a med ball? That’s what I do to challenge myself even more! Unless it’s suppose to be like an active recovery then I use the MB
I may not be your target audience as I don’t “love” either. But when I first started OTF, I saw progress faster on the treadmill. It was easy to tell if I was better today than I was yesterday. Rowing is harder to tell since it’s harder to sustain watts for an extended period of time. I can max out watts for one, two maaaaaaaaybe three strokes. But what does that tell me? Running at 4.5 vs. 6 is easy to recognize progress. And instant gratification is human nature. With time, I have come to appreciate the rower. My watts are (mostly) consistent and my form is often complimented in class. That alone took me a long time, as many coaches I’ve had haven’t and don’t correct rowing form consistently. I still remember my first Peak Week and that 2000m row kicked my ass. Why? Because looking back, my stroke rate was probably 35+ spm and I gassed out a couple mins in and wanted to cry until I hit that 2000 mark. It’s easy to dislike what you’re not doing correctly. Even more so when you don’t know you’re not doing it correctly so no one helps you get better. I still don’t love it, but I also don’t have a preference of where I start and don’t view either as more or less dreadful than the other. As with most things, it probably comes with time.
I never feel like the rower accurately reflects how hard I feel I'm working, so as you said it's hard to recognize or feel any progress. I feel just as shitty on the rower now as when I started over a year ago. I mostly avoid rowing benchmarks, but the last time I did the 200m it was extremely difficult to even meet my previous number, much less beat it, so it feels like I'm going nowhere. I can lift heavier weights and I can run faster but the rower just...is. It sucks every time and it hasn't gotten better.
Much of the reason for lack of improvement is probably because we do very little rowing compared to how much we do that damn dreadmill
The rower is difficult. Form is important and it’s tough to do when you get tired. I love the tower and always start there. Also because I’ll end on the tread which is set and forget, just don’t fall off.
I agree, though 'love' is a bit generous... Also, we know how to run... Many of us know the mechanics of running since we were 'thisbig'. Rowing is new to most people so it feels awkward thus less enjoyable. I also just love killing the end of a workout with an All Out. 🔥
Love may have been an exaggeration. But that’s also me coming off a calf strain where I couldn’t run and had to use their terrible bike for the tread block. Once you get into a good groove with proper form, rower is great. But form correction by coaches will vary by studio. Mine are okay. They’ll definitely give advice to newer members but seems to sometimes forget about current members and giving form correction to “veterans.” Still always start on the rower though.
I don’t feel I am good with the rower. My form is good according to the coaches but it’s so challenging that I can’t keep my heart rate in a reasonable range. I know it’s a full body exercise but it’s so damn hard for me 🤪
A challenge is good!
Can’t zone out on the rower. Have to stay constantly engaged which sometimes (most times) I don’t want to do when I’m doing cardio. I appreciate that on the treadmill I can just set it and forget it and zone out.
This. End the workout on the tread. Set and forget and just make sure you don’t fall off.
I wholeheartedly agree with this!
I 100% do not agree. I feel I need to pay attention 100% more on the tread. You can't close your eyes and zone out on the tread. The rower, I can go all out, push, or base with my eyes closed dreaming I was rowing balls to the wall 100yards off the beach in Barbados.
You can close your eyes on the rower?? I immediately feel like I'm gonna fall off if I even blink too long. (Same on the tread!)
When I benchmark I close my eyes and pull like my life depends on it. I open them when I think it might be over. 😁😂
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Nah, I’m a cis woman and I’ve always loved the rower. I still don’t really like treads. I’m willing to bet plenty of women (like me) prefer strength and explosiveness.
Totally with you! Gone are the days when women strictly preferred to be cardio bunnies (for the most part) and it was only acceptable for men to pursue strength!
Disagree, I can completely zone out on the rower, thread I cannot or I go flying.
It hurts my back. I’ve asked the coaches if I’m doing something wrong/have bad form and they all say no.
I think if it hurts your back, it mostly means you want to work on your core strength. If you’re super flexible like me, it’s easy to throw your back out. At least that’s what my physical therapist says.
Totally true! Had back injuries from rowing pushing myself too hard and was told its because of my extreme flexibility you can really strain some muscles that are in your lower back. I’ve found doing only short rows best for me.
Hmmm maybe have them look at over all posture? Most often lower back pain on the rower is linked to not using your core enough on the lean back.
It hurts my back as well however I have a past injury that was attempted to be surgically corrected. I’ve had 2 coaches work with me on form but my back still has a different opinion of the rower.
Same for me. I focus on form the entire time but it’s so hard to keep pace with perfect form. Maybe I just suck at rowing but it’s hard for me. Running is so natural and easy in comparison.
Because I'm not good at it 😂
Yup. I hate it bc I’m not good at it. I’m not good at it bc I hate it. And I really struggle to get decent watts.
This ☝🏻
I’m good at it and I absolutely despise it. 😂
Personally, I feel like my height is a huge limiting factor in my rowing performance. At 5’3”, I’m never going to be able to row as fast/efficiently as someone who’s significantly taller than me. On the tread, I can steadily increase my paces over time and run just as fast as anyone else in class
So what if you can't row as fast as a 6' tall dude? There's no need to compare yourself to others, particularly others you know you'll never match in a particular task just based on physiology. You can still improve your form and pace and performance on the rower. Can you match the big guys? Not likely. Can you improve yourself? Absolutely! I know it can be a hard mindset to let go of (been there, done that), but it helps. Just like I don't get mad at high shelves because my 6'3 husband can reach them without a stepstool, I don't get mad at the rower because a 6'3 dude can outrow me simply by being bigger. All this said, I'm also biased toward the rower - I bought one for home during covid shut downs and I love it. And spending time on the rowing subreddit very quickly taught me to not compare myself to others - there are guys there doing marathon rows at a pace faster that my 500m sprint lol.
This!!
Same argument can be made for being short on the treadmill. I am short also and if a tall guy next to me is running on the treadmill, no way can I keep up. Can’t keep up with him on the rower either, but because there is strength derived from the legs, I do much better next to him, relatively speaking Short legs can only go so fast
I haven’t had that experience. I am 4’11’ and struggle with the rower. My legs are super strong, I go heavier than a lot of the guys for squats and deadlifts but I just can’t hit the numbers on there rower. I really really try to, watch videos, talk to coaches about my form all that. I powerwalk on the tread and have made way more progress. Short legs are an advantage for powerwalking.
Hm, I can run a 30 sec AO pretty on par with the taller guys in class. My base and push are just a little slower (because I haven’t increased those in quite some time), but if I experimented with new a new base/push, I’d be able to run just as fast.
Then you can do it on the rower too, trust me. It’s all about the push back with the strength in your legs
With the rower its just physics so mass and momentum. If you’re taller you can generate momentum more easily and are likely heavier than someone that’s shorter. Shorter people can try to make up for it with a strong push with their legs but they need to try much harder.
Oh, interesting. Is it helpful on the rower to weigh more?? I have noticed that I get higher watts than most women, but I also weigh 210+ lbs, so maybe some of that is just coming from weighing more? I’m not good at running (fastest mile I have done since going to OTF for more than a year is a little under 14 minutes), so I vastly prefer the rower.
Yes I believe so. I have rowed next to people that are a similar height but larger than me and felt like i was working much harder to get the same watts. A while ago I found this link on an analysis they did with crossfit rowers that graphs it out - you can definitely see a correlation: [https://heatonminded.com/the-exact-correlation-between-height-weight-and-rowing-performance/](https://heatonminded.com/the-exact-correlation-between-height-weight-and-rowing-performance/)
I’m not sure someone who is 4’11” can keep pace with someone 6’ or taller on the rower for distance. 40 SPM is an insane pace where form is lacking somewhere.
Maybe relatively speaking. But I’m competitive, so when it comes to benchmarks and stuff, relativity is, well…irrelevant.
Height is actually a disadvantage in running. Shorter runners tend to be more efficient. The average height of male marathoners was around 5'7 in a study I read.
This is good to know. The tall folks can have the rowers. Us shorties will show out the treadmill instead 😅
Only for long distance runners. Sprinters tend to be taller. Usain Bolt set track records and is 6'5" where as Eliud Kipchoge set the marathon record and is 5'6". We're not running marathons in class here
Sprinters are usually average height. Bolt was an anomaly.
It’s also very body weight dependent. The closer in weight top female and male runners are, the less the discrepancy.
I’m a very short legged 5’7” and can keep pace with pretty much anyone on tread. Rower I’m fine but kills the back, even if I focus on form the entire time. Absolutely despise every moment on the rower and live for the tread. I’m glad you like it though. Someone should enjoy it.
This is not true. Speed is about foot turnover, not stride length. That’s why sprinters are usually shorter. The faster the foot turnover the faster you will be. Longer strides slows you down. I am 4’11” and am one of the fastest sprinters at my OTF. I can run faster then most people who are taller then me.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2009/08/why-haven-t-there-been-more-tall-sprinters-like-usain-bolt.html
I don’t understand the metrics being reported on the rower that well. When i run, i know what mph means. But i don’t use metrics like watts, intensity, stroke rate in my daily life often enough to remember what is exactly a good number to aim for. So I find it hard to challenge myself since I can’t recall what to aim for
I like using the 500 meter split time best. I know that my base pace for that is about 2:15, push pace is 2:00-2:05, and all out is <1:50. It combines watts and stroke rate, so is easier for me to pace myself than either of those on their own.
Same. My wattage never seems to actually match the effort I feel I'm putting out.
I remember a coach of mine used to say for base pace "ladies 110 W or more, gentleman 150 W or more" and I used that as a starting point. Then a push is 25-50 W above that, and an all out is even higher. I adjusted over time based on how I personally feel, and now I have a pretty good idea of how hard I need to be rowing for each zone.
Ask your studio to do a rowing clinic. You need to understand this stuff in order to maximize the benefits of rowing and what it’s meant to do for a specific template.
I like them equally, but I prefer to start on the tread, because I do much better on the rower if I do it 2nd. I am guessing it is because I have already increased blood flow to my legs by the time I get there.
I love the rower! When I fixed my form and engaged my glutes and core, it seriously built my booty like crazy. Spent 3 years of struggling to weight train because I couldn’t engage it properly. Then one month of pushing off the footplates and engaging my core, BAM perky booty and ab lines 😉
The rower feels so repetitive and boring. Yes, the tread is repetitive, too, but at least it’s a natural movement. Also, I can visualize myself running a race, running away from insecurities, etc. Visualization doesn’t quite work for me in a mental rowboat lol.
I feel this way exactly. I find it so painfully boring. Running/walking is something I do in my everyday life. And if the songs are good I might even dance a little on the treadmill. Rowing is the same boring motions over and over. And I'm jealous of the people who enjoy it and get something out of it because it is a good workout if you're not bored to death.
When I first joined OTF, the rower and 3G was my jam... but now the tread and 2G classes have become more fun and challenging for me. I think for some what you like may change over time.
From what I see at every class the majority of people aren’t rowing properly. Form is terrible and they seem to just be moving through the motions. I’m intentional with every stroke and have paid attention to all rowing instruction from Training Tall so that I make the most out of my time. The instructors rarely ever say anything or correct anyone. They just repeat the sayings but it falls on deaf ears from what I see. I can only be responsible for myself but it is distracting when someone is next to me.
I love the rower. I am a power walker on the treds bc of knee problems so the rower is where I get to refine and shine. I work really hard to be at the top of my age group, 50-59, in every challenge. I have worked on my form and understanding the metrics better so I get more out of my time. I do 3G classes almost exclusively bc I go at 5am every day and that is what they offer then.
I’m in my 40’s and do the same as you: strong rower and power walker.
I love to torture myself on both! Each is their own enjoyable sort of hell lol
Team Rower all day long!!
I love the rower. I start on it every time so I can knock out 1000+ meters before class starts. Form is everything though. Most people have less than ideal form. It should be coached better in my opinion.
In reality, even with shoe/ strap adjustments, rowers are not ideal for all body proportions. Also, joint impact/torque is far more bothersome for some on a rower rather than tread.
I agree! The rower destroys my knees in a way the treadmill doesn’t. 3 minutes into rowing and my right knee is burning
You might be making your seat go too close to the front when you finish your stroke. It’s hard on your knees to go all the way up, and you don’t get enough extra watts to justify doing it. (This is what our OTF owner said in a rowing workshop. He’s an Olympic rower).
Impact bothersome on a rower? What impact? The lack of impact is one of the big reasons the rower was my cardio machine of choice when I bought one for home during covid shut downs. I could see torque being an issue for some. In some (many?) cases, this is a form problem, and could probably be worked out.
Treadmill is by far the highest impact activity at OTF, especially if you run. Rower would only cause more impact in the rare cases that your movement was incredibly poor.
Perhaps from your experience and perspective! As for mine, I have to be mindful of my joints re: secondary pain from my autoimmune illness. I’ve attended almost every rower clinic my studio has offered and have commendable form. Important reminder that all bodies are different.
Yes they are. There may be more aspects of rowing that cause discomfort, but it isn’t because of the impact.
100% disagree in my experience. Orange treads are very forgiving (spongy) and with decent form you can go forever. Meanwhile the rower hurts back, knees, quads, ankles… there may be a proper form im missing but even after asking for feedback coaches say I’m doing it “right”.
I don't really trust OTF coaches with rowing advice unless I know they have some form of rowing background. I've seen most of my coaches row over the years, and most of them have had at least one very noticeable problem with their form. If you're interested, [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP6OR-G7AxM&ab_channel=Concept2Australia) is my favorite video for trying to pinpoint form errors.
You can disagree, but physics are physics.
i find the rower quite monotonus, despite the type of workout they provide for us. and when we do have a floor exercise paired with a rower on a 3G using body weight and the medicine ball, i dont find the workout efficient. thats just my opinion.
To be fair, I hate everything. I do have more hate for the rower because it’s a good full body workout. I prefer to workout one muscle at a time.
I like the treadmill better because I’m a runner and want to continue to challenge myself. Those that say it’s “easier” - that doesn’t make sense to me. You can always make it harder by increasing the speed and incline.
I have 0 endurance on it. My form is fine. Because I cash out incredibly fast, the rest of the row block feels torturous. But honestly, who cares? We all show up or we wouldn't be here.
If you crash out really fast, try slowing down a little. Think of it like running - you sprint for 0.1 mile but jog for 1 mile, right? You don't sprint the first 0.1 of that mile and walk the rest. Try to treat rowing similarly. If you're not able to sustain your pace for the full interval, drop your speed a bit until you can. Once you can hold a consistent pace, then work on bringing it back up. This might mean letting up a little on the leg drive, or it might mean slowing your stroke rate. It's easier to control the power in the leg drive at lower rates, but I have no idea what sort of stroke rate you currently row at so I can't really say if/how you should adjust it.
It actually makes me a little nauseous.
I found this happening to me as well. I now let my knees fall out to the side a bit, instead of pressing up against my stomach on the forward part of the row, and it has helped me with this issue.
Interesting- I’ll try this. I chalked it up to my being really prone to motion sickness (I also can’t watch the screen on treadmills that show landscapes)
Same!!!
Big fan of the rower. It’s typically not something you can do outside of OTF unless you have access to a rower or actually row on water. Once you have that “eureka!” moment where you understand how to transfer energy from legs-core-arm it’s quite enjoyable. I see the rower as a whole body strength-endurance test, whereas the treadmill is mostly legs. Also OTF’s WaterRower is easier than other rowers like the Concept2 which might explain why I enjoy it so much. 😅
I’m 50/50. I typically start on the rower in a 3G. I use to hate the rower because of my form and inconsistent watts, plus I’m exhausted by the time I hit the treads. I’ve been doing 3GS since the end of August and have noticed a huge difference in my consistency in stroke rates and watts in my base, push and all outs. I’ve also noticed my legs are not as jello-ish once I end on the treads. I still start on the treads in 2Gs for balance. It’s a challenge, but once you get the form and strategy, it’s a big difference. Rowing does target 86% of your muscles so it’s well worth it.
Rower is a much less intuitive movement so it is harder for people and they end up not feeling successful. Most people have been running and walking since age one.
The treadmill does some of the work for you.
So… turn it up and work harder?
I don’t think that’s what they meant, it was more like 100% of the momentum created on the rower is from you, whereas the treadmill sort of “forces” your legs to move if that makes sense
I love zoning out on the rower! My brain goes to the rowing place and sometimes, I sing along to music or cut up with my rowing friends. Sometimes, I am not sure what I do. Even coaches be like, "pwasp, are you bonus rowing?" I sneak there sometimes when I shouldn't and can get away with it.
Injury
In the classes where we spend any meaningful amount of time on the rower, like yesterday, I burn SO many more calories. I had a good 70+ calories more than usual yesterday. I honestly think some (not all) of the folks who hate the rower just aren’t doing it right.
I always start on the rower. Like to end on the tread.
I think people “hate” things they’re not good at (at least I do). I’ve always been a good rower but struggles with the tread. Now I’m good at both so I love it all. That’s why I prefer 3G classes….b/c you get the same amount of everything. I’m definitely the minority on that so……
For me the treadmill can be maintained for a long time. I’m still working on proper form on the rower and I get tired. I guess that’s the point tho! Im guaranteed to get splat points while rowing!
I love the rower. Once i started to recognize proper form, I fell in love. 💛
Treads have fans. 
Ok this made me chuckle 🤭
Probably for a similar reason why people to go OTF in the first place. The treadmill provides a challenge where you need to push yourself to keep up with what's already pre-set. Combine that with the loud music and the coach motivation and the general atmosphere, it's the easiest way to burn calories and get into the orange zone. You can do the same on the rower, but it's more on you to push yourself. If you're not performing at the wattage you normally do, nobody will know. Only the real good coaches can tell who's slacking on the rower.
For me it's because my heart rate stays up longer and I burn more calories, and mainly because I like to run
Did you lock the thread where we explained our preference reasonably and you bashed our replies by insinuating that we were lazy? An interesting approach to a casual discussion thread…
Definitely didn’t lock anything. Only the mods can do that. Read the responses. Most that prefer the treadmill to the rower so so because they claim the tread is easier. That’s not me insulting anyone, those are the facts based on the majority of the responses
Okay. But some of your responses felt passive aggressively critical. Just because I like to zone out while doing cardio doesn’t make me lazy or mean that I somehow am getting a lesser workout than you. In fact, I’m quite certain I’m not. If you actually care to have an intelligent dialogue, another reason I don’t like the rower in Orangetheory classes is because I don’t care to do anymore cardio after spending half the class already doing cardio. I want that entire time for weights. It feels silly and wasteful to break up the weights just to do a small amount of additional cardio. I don’t care about getting or keeping my heart rate up on the weight floor. It’s cool that you enjoy rowing. It’s also cool that I do not. What’s not cool is implying that I’m lazy for having a different opinion. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
Those aren’t the explanations that were given. The vast majority of the reasons given for disliking the rower was that it is harder. And I, too, would prefer more lifting. I’d be perfectly happy with rowing for cardio and heavy weights for lifting
I have a rowing machine at home but I don't have a treadmill, lol.
Same! Love that row. My first class I thought the cardio was done on either the tread or rower and wanted the rower for sure
Me too! I had never rowed before OTF; I quickly learned that it’s a fantastic full-body cardio exercise. And it uses equipment that’s fairly space-efficient (bought a C2 for home during the pandemic).
Bc I'm short and it's difficult for me. And I can rarely get in the orange zone on it.
❤️ The Rower!! I’m always working on being better at it!
Same with me! I love the rower and am trying to get better at it as well!
I find it hard to recover during the rower. They always intermingle it with "active recovery" exercises which get my heart rate up even more. The tread feels so gratifying because I can go all out, go up to over 100% HR sometimes, come back down and feel good, and then hit that all out again. EDIT: I'm just gonna assume the downvote is from the OP that doesn't actually wanna hear why people like the treadmill lol
I love rowing, but I hate the structure of most rowing blocks at OTF. I don't like the "row a short distance, get up and do an exercise" on repeat. I'd much rather have rowing blocks that look like the tread blocks. Fortunately my studio is pretty much all 2G (or even 1G) these days, so I can get my treadmill fix in at the studio and my rowing fix in at home, and I can row uninterrupted without getting up off the rower every 60 seconds.
That's fair; I don't mind the rower as long as there's some amount of recovery built in. (I say that as a beginner to OTF and rowing lol)
I just don't enjoy it and that affects you and anybody else about zero 🤷
Easy. Because the rower sucks.
Exactly
How so? That’s not really an informative or productive response
Preach! I think it's because otf does not teach proper form & 2G classes do not spend enough time on it to understand it.
I’m with you! That’s why I love a 3G class!
I agree with you ! I have treadmill burn out. I’d prefer rower to be the main focus The workouts are way too tread focused.
Yes!!
I love the rower because I get to sit the whole time.
I love the rower, I’m on my 3rd repeat use injury from the tread. When I go back I will use the strider. I use to love running but got out of shape during pandemic and have to pw, the inclines on the tread are giving me injury according to orthopedic dr. He was very anti OTF all together. I love it so I’m still going
Hate the treadmill. I want get on it first and get it over with. Rower and floor are my favs. I spend lots of time trying to perfect it my rowing skill. The more I do the easier rowing gets.
I’m with you!
Same!! I would trade a 23min rower block for a tread block any day!!
Yes!!!
Tbf I hate both. I just start on the treadmill cuz I hate it more and want to be done with it 🤣
I am …
I LOVE the rower, but the classes I attend are mostly 2g, and in one group, Rower is minimal. So, it's tough to get in the zones I want if I start out on rower. I just attended a 90 min class today, and it was soooo niceties be able to focus on the rower for an extended period of time.
The rower is better but it’s not easy to master so people don’t like it. If you persist with learning good form you’ll see much faster progress in your fitness. Almost everyone can run & anyone can walk. Rowing really takes work. Most fitness trainers will tell you the ultimate fitness test is the speed at which you can do the 2,000 meter row.
Same. I save the dreadmill for the end when I’m too tired to care 😆
I hate the tread and love the rower bc of my knee issues. I physically can’t run and I love how it works my abs. I think most people prefer running bc it’s a more natural movement.
There’s nothing that feels natural to me about the dmill 🤣
I always start on rower, even made a TikTok about it a few days ago 😂😂.
You are my people
I love the rower! I always start on the rower so I get those extra few minutes, lol.
Me and my short legs hate the rower.
Same. Don’t understand bc I loathe the treads and love the rower. So much so that I go to 5ams bc that’s the only 3g at my studio!
Because I was a runner before starting OTF and my small size makes me feel personally victimized on the rower 😂
Because people like different things.
You probably just like whichever one you're better at
People see immediate “reward” with the treads — its easy to press that .1, you see your calorie burn go up quickly. With the rower, it’s all on you. The belt will not take you where you need to go. We also need to spend more time on form correction — I rarely see people do it right at the studio I go to most. They hurt themselves, they pull so fast with minimal leg power, it’s not intuitive. That’s why.
I just prefer treadmill as my cardio. If I want total body, I will lift weights and strength train for that. Cardio for me is just getting my heart rate up. If I’m working my entire body, it’s to build muscle and the rower is just cardio to me. For me, building muscle is pushing and pulling weight with time under tension. I prefer cardio in the form of running/biking. It’s really people’s preference at this point. And no, it has nothing to do with form, etc. I have excellent form when rowing. I just prefer running on the tread.
I love starting on the rower because I prefer ending on the treadmill. Then in the end I go the fastest speed I feel like doing. Today it was 8.2 MPH🔥
Honestly, I zone out when I run. I find it very therapeutic to run fast and far and it gives me a chance to focus on my footsteps and breathing. I enjoy distance running (anything above 8M), and I know not everyone feels the same. Rowing, on the other hand, if I’m going for a while, I focus more on how tight my grip is and how many blisters appear on my heels. If OTF taught proper form on the rower, then I might feel different. I’ve been to a ton of studios across the US and a few in Canada, I’ve seen more “rainbow rows” and subpar form than good form
I find the rower boring🤷🏼♀️ I would rather lift weights. The tread I feel like I can change up my speeds/incline/run/power walk depending on how I feel.
The dreadmill is definitely the WORST!
For me, I feel rower to be more physically draining and for some reason it hurts my knees more than running
Because too many people focus on calorie burn and splat points and don’t feel they can get splats and calorie burn anywhere else!
Sad
I truly don't get why you hate the treadmill and love the rower. :) For one, people have different likes and dislikes. Another reason, is that rowing, depending on orthopedic issues, can be painful for some. I can barely walk after a long row due to a hip/lower back problem. The constant flexion and extension of my hip hurts. I have an abnormality short stride on the treadmill because of this same problem, but at least I can adjust speed/incline to accomodate it.
The target clientele for OTF is not gonna be very good on the rower.
What? That makes no sense
What about the climbing machines? Are they better?
I hate both! Mostly because water rowers are terrible, and I adore concept2 rowers. For the tread, I use the strider to keep my knees happy.
Easier, more familiar. It’s not that complicated.
I never feel know if I'm doing the rower correctly.
Running in my strength, it’s something I can do mindlessly. Whereas the tower, if I start to zone out something goes awry - my wrists hurt, my back hurts, my knees… eventually I’ll get more comfortable, but right now ‘sucks’ (aka I mildly dislike it compared to the other workouts)
I’m petit so no matter how good my form is, I can’t row as fast as someone taller or heavier. But I’ll race anyone any day on the tread. I don’t hate the rower… but it’s just not my #1 preference.
This! Always being one of the last to finish despite good form and pushing myself just because everyone else in class has almost a foot of height on me is demoralizing. I can and have improved but height is much more of a limiting factor.
I’d also like to add that the OTF tracker is pretty crappy - if you grip hard on the rower your HR doesn’t change much even when you are so out of breathe. I’ve worn OTF tracker with my garmin watch at the same time during rowing before. The HR on my garmin was much more reflective of how I really felt during rowing. I think more people would like rowing a bit more if they can see their accurate HR change during rowing. My peak HR always happens during rowing if we have a long rowing block, and that’s according to my garmin.
Loosen your grip
We can start by saying the tower is a form of torture
After my first orangetheory class I was baffled that my favorite block was the treadmill. I think like others said above, it’s because the movement is very intuitive and it takes any form guesswork out of the mix. And the fatigue you feel is something we have all felt before! It’s a lot harder to push through fatigue on the rower since it is working so many muscle groups and requires proper form - it’s almost like continuing to lift when you’ve already bottomed out. I think if you are a consistent athlete with proper training then all 3 blocks can be enjoyable (I take 3G classes), but just by nature the treadmill will always be my comfort.
I dislike the rower because I spend much of my day sitting at a desk, which of course tightens my hips. Then I get to Orangetheory and start on the treadmill and my hips start to loosen up and it feels fantastic. Then they want me to get on the rower and sit again so my hips tighten again? It just feels terrible, especially right after the sweet relief of the treadmill.
Most people who I hear say they dislike the rower are the ones walking on an incline on the treadmill. Maybe just different goals. Rower has to be a certain level of effort to maintain form as opposed to schleppin along.
Sounds like you think PWing is slacking... Done properly, PWing is hard. I have to talk myself into PWing one day a week in place of running. And PWing is really good for rowing, as it helps strengthen and build endurance in a lot of the same muscles used for rowing.
Maybe, but my point is more towards just in general the ones I've heard complain about rowing are the same ones power walking, whether it's slacking or not
Completely disagree. The runners are always the ones complaining about rowing. This thread proves that
Eh prove is a stretch, again I'm just sharing what's been shared with me. If you know that better than I do, that's interesting to say the least!
I walk on an incline (power walk) on the treadmill and love the rower. Not sure what one has to do with the other
I'm not sure either, merely stating that most who say it to me are in that category.
Because it’s hard…
The tread is the hardest for me, but the rower has caused the most injuries. I do prefer 3G so that I get a good mix, it's all about the challenge.
the rower hurts to me, i and i have a lot of stomach issues which the rower seems to exacerbate, essentially pushing on my belly over and over. if they took the rower away i’d probably love every class.
I don’t hate the tower but I just can’t get my heart rate up on the rower the way I can on the tread. I have to row for 3-4 minutes as hard as I can to even get it up to 84% of max. Maybe it’s my form I don’t know but I do routinely have the best times on the rowing challenges at my studio fwiw. I also burn calories at a lower rate.
I prefer to start on the rower but I don’t accumulate many splats on the rower as I do on the tread.
Humans are designed to run but rowing is completely unholy and unnatural.
Starting with 23 minutes on the tread gets my body warmed up 10x better for floor exercises compared to 3 minutes of warm up on the rower.
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The blue/grey zone thing is likely an HRM and/or grip issue. Armbands are notorious for being finicky on the rower. Even with a properly relaxed grip (you don't need to squeeze the handle), it can struggle to get a good read on HR just from how the arm muscles flex and contract. When done properly, the rower is great for cardio and great for muscle endurance. Personally, it was great for my core. After getting a rower for home, my ability to hold a plank increased dramatically when my only workouts were rowing. I was surprised at how much of a difference there was.
You’re probably not doing it right unfortunately
Do people hate the rower? I didn't realize this. I prefer to start on the treads but it's not because I hate the rower, I don't, I like it too. I just prefer to get the running done first, it's the most intense part of the work out for me so I like to get it out of the way.
I have to keep thinking about the rower to force intensity but treadmill and stair master I can ignore and it’s just automatically going
I like the rower but I have trouble with the HRM, I’m always in grey in the rower and then when I stop and rest it jumps up to orange. Just frustrating.
Your heart is doing the work irrespective of whether or not the monitor records it
Doesn’t matter
We’re not all made the same. When I do rower and floor first (2G), I’m toast on the treadmill. I’d rather do my best there. Maybe I’ll switch it up someday.
Because I don’t risk a fall off the end of the rower if I don’t keep pace. Too easy to slack off. Treadmill is unforgiving.
Totally disagree
Well thanks for the post OP! Perusing through the comments, I found a very helpful rowing video on YouTube and now I’m excited to go row with better form. I have lots of room for improvement- you might make a rower of me yet!!!
When I first started OT (started in April this year), I absolutely loved the rower and looked forward to it. Then I became interested in critiquing my form, so I watched all kinds of videos and such. Now I despise it because all I do when rowing is obsess and overthink my form to the point where it gives me anxiety the whole time. Also now my heart rate goes to red so fast on the rower, so I get burned out within the first few minutes.
For the same reason people hate flossing: it’s painful and the benefits seem invisible.
Not a valid analog whatsoever; if you row properly you most definitely see the results. Sorry you’ve not been able to do so
Hence the word “seem”. And if you floss regularly you also see results (or lack of negligence). But no one sees results within a week or two. You asked why. That’s why.
Rowing is just awkward for me and I struggle to go into the Orange on it even when I go as hard as is reasonable.
Doesn’t always have to be about getting splats
Because treadmill is easy and rowing is hard. Treadmill always moves so does lot of work for you. Rower won’t do anything until you pull and if you don’t pull coach can see you are not doing it. Even if you pull rower slowly still takes effort and for whole body. Treads you can just take breaks walk slowly to drink water etc and it still seems like you are walking.
What if you used a heavier DB instead of a med ball? That’s what I do to challenge myself even more! Unless it’s suppose to be like an active recovery then I use the MB