Neil Bergenroth: Rowing Coach

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Neil Bergenroth: Rowing Coach This page is the Facebook home of the www.coachbergenroth.com website/blog.

Training harder but not getting faster on the erg? It's frustrating when you're putting in the hours but your splits are...
10/25/2026

Training harder but not getting faster on the erg?

It's frustrating when you're putting in the hours but your splits aren't improving.

The answer isn't always to train harder. Sometimes it's your technique.

You might be losing power during the drive or rushing the recovery. Other times, you might not be giving your body enough time to recover between hard sessions.

That's why I look at more than just an athlete's 2K time.

Power, force curves, stroke mechanics, and how performance changes throughout a workout can all help show where improvements are needed.

Before adding more hours to your training, take a closer look at how you're rowing and what your training is actually doing for you.

Sometimes a small change in technique or training can make a big difference.

Have you ever hit a point where your splits just wouldn't improve?

10/23/2026

Want to improve your rowing technique? Start with the basics. Rowing drills are a good way to break down the stroke and work on specific areas that need attention.

In these clips, we're working on catch timing, the pick drill, force application, and wrist position.

Each one has a purpose. The goal is to improve how you move through the stroke, apply power, and keep your technique consistent.

It's worth taking the time to get these things right before increasing the intensity.

Which part of your rowing stroke are you currently working on?

Save this for your next rowing session.

10/22/2026

Building the base. Paying attention to the small things.

More steady miles on the RP3 today, patiently building that aerobic base, day in, day out.

My technical focus was a smooth connection at the front end: pressure through the foot stretcher, a little weight coming off the seat, and a subtle feeling of suspension through the handle.

Just enough to feel connected. The aim is to build pressure smoothly and send it into the stroke, keeping the movement level and coordinated.

Then release, let the hands move away, and swing into the next recovery with rhythm.

I’m always looking for that little improvement—my “half a percent” for the day. A better connection. A smoother transition. Something to carry into the next session.

And somewhere along the way, the steady miles become a mental reset, too.

Keep showing up. Keep paying attention. Give it time.

10/21/2026

Over 60 student comments to write, alongside the usual school workload. There’s a lot on the list this week.

But that feedback matters to me. Students deserve to know what they’re doing well, where they can grow, and what to work on next. That’s something I care about as both a teacher and a coach.

This afternoon’s workout was nothing particularly special. Just 10K on the RP3, taking it one stroke at a time.

Through the middle of the week, feeling pretty good, and reminding myself that I don’t have to tackle everything at once.

One comment. One stroke. One thing at a time.

Keeping on, keeping on. And believing in myself.

Thanks for watching.

10/21/2026

Can AI replace your rowing coach?

AI can help analyze rowing data, suggest workouts, and track your progress. Those are useful tools.

But there's a difference between getting a training plan and having someone coach you through it.

Why did your split drop? Is your technique changing as you get tired? Are you training too hard, or is something else going on?

Those are the kinds of questions I look at when coaching an athlete.

I use technology every day in my rowing coaching. I've even developed my own software to help me see what's happening during a workout.

But the data is only part of the picture.

Good coaching means looking at the athlete behind the numbers, asking questions, and making adjustments based on what they actually need.

AI has its place. So does an experienced coach.

What do you think? Could AI replace your rowing coach?

That 93/100 is my technical sustainability score from this afternoon’s row. 👆5 x 2K on the Concept2, 90 seconds rest. I ...
10/19/2026

That 93/100 is my technical sustainability score from this afternoon’s row. 👆

5 x 2K on the Concept2, 90 seconds rest. I love this workout. The 2K intervals are long enough to settle into a rhythm, and short enough that you stay locked in. The plan was UT2… and a couple of those pieces got away from me. 😅

It was a tough day at work and I needed this. Between running an online coaching business, serving as an ed tech director at a local school, and trying to be a good dad and husband, there’s a lot going on. The erg is where I sort it out. Stroke by stroke, things get quieter.

Seeing that score reminded me this wasn’t just a stress-relief sweat session. It was intentional, controlled, technically solid rowing, even on a hard day.

Your training can be your reset AND your progress.

What’s your go-to workout when you need to clear your head? 👇

indoorrowing

10/19/2026

Can a rowing coach really improve your technique without being there in person?

Yes. Here's how my online rowing coaching works.

Using my coaching platform, I can review your rowing technique, analyze your Concept2 performance data, and see what's happening during your workouts.

I look at things like power, pacing, force curves, and stroke mechanics to understand where you can improve.

From there, I build a personalized rowing training plan around your goals, fitness, and schedule.

As you train, I review your data, provide feedback, and make adjustments when needed.

You can train wherever you are, with coaching based on your actual performance.

Interested in learning how it could work for you? Book a free 30-minute consultation through the link in my bio.

Most of the high-school rowers I work with are already training hard.They're attending their club sessions, spending hou...
10/18/2026

Most of the high-school rowers I work with are already training hard.

They're attending their club sessions, spending hours on the water, working on their erg scores, and doing what they can to improve their performance.

So, when an athlete comes to me looking to improve their 2K, my first instinct isn't necessarily to tell them to train harder.

It's to understand what they're already doing.

What does their current training program look like? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How well are they recovering? What can their performance data tell us about where they're struggling?

Sometimes, additional training is appropriate. Other times, we need to make adjustments to the training they're already doing.

I've been involved in rowing for nearly 38 years, first as an athlete and then as a coach, and one thing I've learned is that every athlete brings a different combination of strengths, challenges, and circumstances to the sport.

My job is to understand those differences and help each athlete make meaningful progress.

That's the thinking behind my 12-week online 2K coaching program, which begins on November 16.

If you're a high-school rower preparing for the winter training season, or a parent looking for additional coaching support for your athlete, I'd be happy to have a conversation about your goals and whether the program would be a good fit.

You can book a free consultation through the link in my bio.

10/16/2026

With Head Of The Charles taking place this weekend, there are thousands of rowers thinking about their next race, their next goal, and how to improve their performance.

For high-school rowers hoping to compete at the collegiate level, the work that happens between races is particularly important.

Gemma had a goal: to earn a place on a Division I collegiate rowing team. She'd been rowing for 5 years, training consistently, and putting in the work. But eventually, she reached a plateau that her existing training wasn't helping her overcome.

When we started working together, we looked closely at how she was training and how her body responded to different demands.

We introduced personalized heart-rate training zones and performance testing to identify her strengths and the areas that needed attention.

During our first summer together, Gemma improved her 2K by 8 seconds.

Over the course of our work together, that improvement reached 30 seconds. And she achieved her goal of signing with a Division I collegiate rowing program.

What I particularly appreciate about Gemma's story is that she also became a more confident and knowledgeable athlete along the way.

That's an important part of coaching for me.

My next 12-week online 2K coaching program begins November 16. If you're a high-school rower looking to improve your performance, I'd be happy to discuss whether the program would be a good fit.

Book your free consultation through the link in my bio.

10/15/2026

Power gets you moving. Timing makes it count. 🚣‍♂️

At the catch, you need to be strong and graceful, more like a dancer than a weightlifter. The goal is to pick up the front end of the stroke cleanly and load the handle at its furthest reach.

What to feel for:
• A little weight coming off the seat
• Body weight suspended and connected from feet to handle
• A smooth, controlled change of direction, not a lunge or a slam

Strength without timing leaks power. Timing without strength goes nowhere. Put them together and the stroke starts to feel like it's working for you.

Try this on your next piece and tell me what you feel at the front end 👇

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