Rowing in Boston

Rowing Life in Boston

In Boston, the Head of the Charles is the unofficial start of the racing year. Winters are long and cold, so the erg becomes the social centre of rowing life from November through March. Community Rowing Inc. and university erg rooms host some of the busiest indoor rowing sessions in the country.

When to Row in Boston

Boston has four distinct seasons. On-water rowing is generally possible from late spring through early fall, while cold winters from November through March make indoor erging the main training modality. Local clubs and CrossFit boxes with Concept2 ergs become the hub of rowing fitness during winter.

Rowing Clubs & Programs

Gyms with Concept2 Ergs

• +MIT Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center -- features a large erg room with Concept2 machines, used by both varsity athletes and the campus community.
• +CrossFit Southie in South Boston -- a staple CrossFit gym with a full lineup of Concept2 ergs and frequent rowing-focused WODs.

HYROX & Functional Fitness

Boston's endurance and functional fitness community is well-suited for HYROX training. Gyms like CrossFit Southie, November Project (a free outdoor fitness group born in Boston), and various boutique studios offer programming that includes erg rowing, sled pushes, and the other HYROX stations. The city's annual HYROX event draws strong local participation.

Training Toolkit for Boston Rowers

• +Plan your splits with the Pace Calculator before a 2K or 5K test.
• +Find your aerobic training zones with the Heart Rate Zone Calculator.
• +Build base fitness with a 30-minute steady-state workout or a 2K test strategy guide.
• +Compare your watts to split using the Split-to-Watts Converter.