Your First ErgManiac Workout: A Complete Walkthrough
You have just finished a rowing session and your PM5 is showing your results. Now what? This guide walks you through logging that workout on ErgManiac and understanding what the AI tells you about your performance.
Step 1: Row Your Session
This part is up to you. Whether it is a 20-minute steady state piece, a 2000m test, or a set of intervals, just row your workout as you normally would. When you are done, leave the results screen up on your PM5. Do not scroll away from it yet.
If you did intervals, the PM5 will show a summary screen with your overall stats. You can scroll through individual intervals later, but keep it on the summary for now.
Step 2: Log the Workout
Open ErgManiac and tap Log Workout. You will see two options.
Photo Scan
Hold your phone about 15-20cm from the PM5 screen. Make sure the entire display is in frame and there is no glare blocking the numbers. Tap the capture button. ErgManiac's AI will read the screen and extract your data automatically.
For interval workouts, you can take multiple photos. After scanning the summary screen, scroll through each interval on the PM5 and scan those too. ErgManiac will stitch them together into a complete workout.
Manual Entry
If you prefer, tap Enter Manually and fill in:
- Workout type: single distance, single time, or intervals
- Distance: total meters rowed
- Time: total elapsed time
- Average split: your pace per 500m
- Stroke rate: average strokes per minute
- Heart rate (optional): average and max if you wore a monitor
Tap Save when you are done.
Step 3: Review Your AI Analysis
After logging, ErgManiac generates an analysis of your workout. This is not just a summary of your numbers. The AI looks at your session in context and tells you something useful.
Here is what you will see:
Performance Summary
A plain-language overview of your workout. Something like: "Solid 30-minute steady state at 2:05. Your pace was consistent throughout, which suggests good pacing discipline."
Split Comparison
If you have logged similar workouts before, ErgManiac compares your splits to your recent average. Are you trending faster or slower? Is your stroke rate creeping up while your split stays the same (a sign of declining efficiency)?
Zone Classification
Based on your pace and heart rate (if available), ErgManiac tells you which training zone this workout fell into. This matters more than most people think. If every workout is in the same zone, you are leaving fitness gains on the table.
Recommendations
The AI might suggest adjustments for your next session. Common examples:
- "Your UT2 sessions are slightly too fast. Try rowing at 2:10 instead of 2:05 to stay in the aerobic zone."
- "You have not done any rate work this week. Consider adding a short piece at rate 28+ next session."
- "Great consistency across your intervals. You are ready to drop the rest time by 15 seconds."
Step 4: Understand Your Splits
If you logged interval data, the splits tab shows each interval broken down individually. Look for these patterns:
- Positive split (getting slower): Normal for longer pieces, but if the fade is more than 3-4 seconds, your starting pace may be too aggressive.
- Negative split (getting faster): Generally a sign of smart pacing. You had more in the tank at the start and built through the workout.
- Even split: The gold standard for steady state. If your splits are within 1-2 seconds of each other, you are pacing well.
For interval workouts, check whether your later intervals are significantly slower than your first. A small drop-off is expected, but 5+ seconds slower suggests the pace or rest ratio needs adjusting.
What Happens Next
After 3-5 logged workouts, ErgManiac builds a clearer picture of your fitness. Your dashboard populates with trends, your PRs start tracking, and the AI recommendations get more specific. Log every session, even the bad ones.
