How to Row a Marathon

Have you ever thought about rowing a marathon? Most of us have probably considered running a marathon… but, 3+ hours on the rower? Well, whether you’re a CrossFit athlete whose interest was piqued by the 2018 CrossFit Games Marathon Row event, or you’re just a masochist dedicated endurance athlete looking for a new challenge, it seems like the marathon row is the next big thing for indoor rowing.

If you’re in half-decent shape, chances are you could hop on the rower at this very moment, and in about 4-5 hours you’d be done with your first marathon row! So, why not just do that? I bet more than a few of you have considered it… but you know deep down that you would be hurting for days afterward, and you’d probably never want to get on the rower again.

If you competed in the 2018 CrossFit Games, then you didn’t have a choice… you had to get on that rower either way. But luckily, if you’re reading this then you probably at least have a few days or weeks to prepare. So I’ve put together my top five quick tips for surviving the marathon row, plus, we’ve created a full 12-week training program with more than a few not-so-quick tips for how to actually properly train for this event.

Tip #1: Protect Your Hands
Let’s be honest: If you can’t hold the handle because your hands are sweaty or torn up, then you can’t use a rower. So hand care is going to be crucial. Protect those hands by keeping them dry! Grab a few sweatbands – one around the wrist and one around the forearm will stop sweat from dripping down your arms. Don’t be tempted to use chalk, or you’re going to end up with a nice paste all over the handle.

Tip #2: Hydrate
If you’re going to be on the rower for more than an hour (and you are!), it’s perfectly fine to put the handle down and consume some much-needed hydration and even easily-digestible snacks.

Tip #3: Pad Your Seat
The rowing machine wasn’t exactly built for comfort, and the last thing you want is your butt falling asleep. My advice is to grab some bubble wrap. It won’t deform or compress like a towel, so you’ll get consistent support for the entire time.

Tip #4: Be a Technique Assassin
Technique trumps intensity every time on a row like this. Done properly, this should be a consistent effort for the duration of the row. Poor technique could have serious consequences. Here are a few of our most popular technique videos to get you started:

Tip #5: Have a Plan, Stick to the Plan
We know how important planning is – and trust me, you don’t want to just jump into something like a marathon row without a game plan. But how do you go about creating a game plan for spending half a day on the rowing machine? Well… I’m glad you asked!

We created a simple, straightforward 12-week training guide to get you into top shape for the marathon row. It includes three workouts per week that range from 30-90 minutes each, mixing interval and endurance training, technique sessions, and simply spending time with your butt on the rower. The goal of this program is to prepare you to complete a marathon row (42,195 m) with good technique, efficient movement, and without leaving you on the floor afterward!

To Buy the Program NOW, CLICK HERE