Active Aging | Concept2

Active Aging

100 Years Old and Still Rowing Strong: Don McCluskey

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Feb 16, 2021

Happy Birthday to Don McCluskey, who turns 100 years old on February 17, 2021!

We’re always excited to share the stories of our centenarians who demonstrate that rowing can be a lifelong sport. Don credits his longevity to a diet of red wine, Brussel sprouts and carrots, along with his daily exercise on the Concept2 RowErg. Don lives in an assisted living facility, where he continues to work out daily during COVID-19.

“During the pandemic I’ve been rowing every single day for at least 20-30 minutes, and it’s kept me healthy and sane during the lockdown. It’s one of the best exercises you can do when you’re stuck indoors. I have it set up by a window, and I don’t listen to audio while I’m rowing. It’s such a pleasure to row that I just look out the window and get my best thinking done while rowing on my Concept2.” Continue Reading ›

10 Questions with Mike "Coach B" Burgener

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Oct 08, 2018

The legendary "Coach B" Mike Burgener, is a Level 5 Senior International Weightlifting coach for the United States. He is a graduate of Notre Dame and obtained his MS degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Kentucky. He was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. Coach Burgener is currently the head coach of CrossFit Weightlifiting. He runs Mike's Gym out of his garage, where he regularly works out with his crew of geezers and provides Olympic weightlifting coaching to athletes of all ages. Coach B took some time to answer our 10 Questions.

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Try this Training Plan for the SkiErg World Sprints

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Sep 17, 2018

Here’s a 6-week training plan to get you ready for the SkiErg World Sprints, November 8-11, 2018. We’ve been posting this training program for the last few years now—it’s a great plan, so we’re posting it again! This program requires just two workouts per week on the Concept2 SkiErg, preferably not on back-to-back days, and assumes that you are getting exercise several other days per week—whether rowing, biking, running or another choice. Continue Reading ›

Breaking Age Group Records Again and Again...

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Jun 22, 2017

World Record Holder Shawn Baker

The 500 meter row. A staple for many; an all-out fly and die effort. For the fast it’s over quickly yet feels like it takes forever when done at max effort. Many, such as Sam Loch, have tried to chase down a two-decade old world record and come close, but it still sits out there beckoning challengers to try it. Others excel in their age group and dominate many different distances, such as Anne Bourlioux, who owns 35 world records.

Some people battle records for months; others break their own records, almost daily. Shawn Baker has done just that: he’s broken the 500 meter record for heavyweight men, age 50–59, over ten times in 2017. The previous record holders? Shawn Baker himself. Shawn likes to push to that dark mental place often, way more often than this writer does. A brutal 500 meters isn’t something that often crosses my mind as a piece I’d like to do every day.

What pushes someone to want to do such a challenging piece over and over? Continue Reading ›

Field Trip! World Masters Games 2017

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May 23, 2017

This past April, New Zealand played host to the World Masters Games, an international sporting event held every four years. It’s an opportunity for masters athletes in 28 different sports to compete on an international level. Concept2’s Dick Dreissigacker and Judy Geer made the trip to New Zealand and took part in the rowing portion of the Games.

World Masters Games rowing venue on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.
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Indoor Rower, SkiErg, or Both?

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Apr 11, 2017

Both the indoor rower and the SkiErg offer high quality exercise that is impact-free, user-controlled, and measurable. Both are based on exhilarating sports that involve legs, core, back and arms. Either one alone will provide a convenient, effective form of full body exercise.

What may be less obvious is that the two motions are highly complementary. Continue Reading ›

On Plateaus and Progress

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Mar 15, 2017

Have you ever hit a plateau—that place where your progress seems to stagnate? You’re not getting faster or fitter—in fact, it feels more like the opposite.

Sometimes this can mean that you’ve been doing too much for too long and without making sure to get enough recovery time. Recovery is a necessary part of improving fitness, so be sure to give your body some time to rest and prepare to go harder again soon.

But a plateau may also mean that you’re not doing the right kinds of workouts for you. Recent research is pointing out several things: Continue Reading ›

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