"It's a full-body workout." MacKenzie added that one of the chief benefits rowing offers runners is improved posture. ... Proper rowing, MacKenzie believes, helps runners develop robust midline stability to help shift running from smaller, weaker muscles such as hip flexors to more powerful muscles in the hips.

Can rowing make you run faster?

That's where rowing can come in—it's an intense workout, building muscles that can help you run better and faster. ... That's when she dusted off her gym's rowing machine and got hooked. “It's such a good workout,” Jarc says. “It's the best cross-training you can do—it uses 80 percent of your muscle mass.”

Is rowing as good as running for cardio?

Rowing is a great cardio exercise that targets the upper body muscles. The rowing machine might not be as popular as the treadmill at your gym, but rowing is a great alternative to running for your workout. Not only does rowing burn calories and strengthen your heart, it also offers other benefits that running doesn't.