a sit down with nick karwoski of tagalong and hydrow
A pusher of his own physical and mental limits, we sat down with Hydrow Athlete (and professional athlete), Nick Karwoski, to talk all things endurance sports, training, mindset and his experience as a part of the Tagalong team.
What is your fitness specialty?
I was a Cross Country and Track and Field runner with a specialty in Steeplechase and 5000m in College. I learned the value of core work and body weight conditioning as a 6’5 200lb distance runner. I transitioned to Triathlon and competed on the ITU circuit from 2014-2016. I went back to my highschool roots and started rowing again to give my knees some rest and focus on a lower impact sport. All that to say, my specialty is endurance, whole health fitness.
What inspired you to become a pro athlete? How did you get started?
When I failed to make the 7th grade soccer team, the only other option was cross country. After I won my first race, I wanted to see what my limits were. I wanted to push myself and my body to see if I could compete with some of the greatest endurance athletes out there. I pivoted from Cross Country to Track to Triathlon as I was able to fine tune what I was good at and how my non-traditional stature and size could be beneficial in the sporting world I was competing in.
What has been the most rewarding being a pro athlete?
I’d say it’s a tie between being able to connect with other Pros and learn about their path to success or traveling to places I would probably never get to go otherwise to compete.
Can you give us some insight into how you put together a training program?
As I mentioned, my background is heavily involved in endurance sports. I think building a foundation is key in order to add specificity to each individual's needs. I think about programs more from a block perspective. The focus for this two week block is X. Then start fine tuning and adding.
What is the toughest part about being a professional athlete?
The hardest part is that I am my hardest critic. If my own workout doesn’t go as planned, you have to learn to analyze it and then move on. You know you will have another shot.
Can you give us some insight into what it’s like to be a part of Tagalong?
Being on Tagalong allows me to capitalize both financially and holistically as far as my involvement in fitness. I get to take all the knowledge and experience I gained from working with world class coaches and athletes and apply parts of it to every day people who are looking to improve. This is incredibly fun and meaningful as it allows me to continue using all the work I put in previously to build my brand and reputation within the sport.
What’s been your favorite part about being involved with Tagalong?
Tagalong has allowed me to share my passion for endurance sports while learning so much from my own clients. To balance work, family, life and fitness is something I’m very much being introduced to post full time training. I get to learn about how squeezing a 15-20 minute workout is sometimes the most rewarding part of my day. Learning about what actually motivates individuals is so valuable to me.
