I feel like i'm too short for this, lol. Started rowing last June/July, mostly for the cardio (and full body) aspect.

Even when I'm pushing hard. I can't seem to get up to and then maintain 18 s/m. I can maybe maintain 16 but most of my sessions I'm hovering around 14 or 15 (with damper around 5).

EDIT: hard = 150s or better. Max is 186, so 50s is starting to really feel the work, I dont like being up in the 170s

Its a good workout for sure, and I sweat from it... but I dont feel like I'm really making any progress. But I also only row about once a week for ~30 minutes (working up to more). So its probably an issue of practice? Im not sure where else to fit it in though (lifting, pilates and dance the other days).

Then again - I wonder if i really need to worry so much about better stroke rates/times, when Im not looking to race/compete. It'd be cool to do a (half)marathon though but at my current rate it would take all day.

I wonder if it might be better to just - focus on the form and enjoying the movement instead, but the culture is all about metrics so I cant help but look at those constantly.

Starting to wonder if I shouldve gotten an elliptical instead, lol but I dont think those are quite as effective/full body as rowing.