Ken Petterson and Newton’s Law of Motion

This is not the regular Concept2® interview situation. Ken Petterson is in the front yard of his home in Fulton, Missouri. He’s on his rowing machine, nicknamed Baby Blue, shirt off, pickleball court in the background and Lilypad the dog romping about chasing pickleballs.  

With phone in position, Ken pronounces he’s ready to talk as Baby Blue starts to whirl.  

Ken currently sits on a lifetime meter total of over 48 million. He has completed the Equatorial Row Around the World and now has his sights set on using all three Concept2 machines—the RowErg®, SkiErg® and BikeErg® to complete the Polar route around the world.  

How does he do this while working full-time, being a father and husband, coaching Special Olympic athletes and training for CrossFit competitions? 

The answer: He rarely stops moving, and quotes Newton’s First Law of Motion. Simply put, a body in motion, will stay in motion, and that’s the way Ken likes it. 

Ken’s day begins with a morning session on the RowErg. Through the day, when he has business calls, he will be on his BikeErg or SkiErg, camera off. At noon, Monday to Friday, Ken goes to CrossFit. In the evening if he’s watching TV, he’s on the BikeErg.  

Ken started participating in CrossFit just over a decade ago and he now has 2,250 workouts to his name. He’s found it a perfect fit to his other training as the RowErg is an essential part of the CrossFit Open workouts.  

Using the RowErg dates back to when Ken was in his 20s. He’d watch older people at the gym working out on the RowErg.  

“I was so impressed by how physically fit these people were and I wanted to be the same when I got to their age. They have served as my role models. I researched the Concept2 machine and it works 86 percent of our muscles and it is low impact. I chose to start rowing and it’s been great ever since.” 

When Ken’s son, Aiden, was born he bought his first RowErg so he could exercise from home and do something while his son was playing beside him.  

Ken began by participating in Concept2’s many virtual challenges and was soon addicted. He’s grown to have two RowErgs (one inside named Black Betty and one he’s currently sitting on, Baby Blue) a SkiErg and BikeErg.  

There’s fondness in his voice when Ken talks about Baby Blue; “She’s one of the first model D rowers— she’s light blue and has 35 million metres on her.” The only repairs have been the shock cord and changing the batteries in the monitor.  

“As long as you oil the chain once a month, you’re good to go.”  

His use of all three machines has enabled Ken to be what we believe is the first person, to complete the Concept2 ‘triple crown’—one million metres on each machine in one rowing season. Ken likes the diversity of the three machines.  

“I’m giving my body everything it needs. I find all three is a complete workout.” And, he says, it helps him to compete at the top level in CrossFit (he finished 20th in the world for his age group (55-59) for the 2025 CrossFit Open Masters).  

There’s no ‘day off’ in Ken’s schedule.  

“But I don’t kill myself either, I just want to keep my body moving. The only time I take a day off is if I’m on a business trip and can’t find a Concept2 machine or if I’m on vacation with my wife.” 

Ken has set the machines up in his office, all within a six-foot radius so, he says, there’s no excuse not to use them as they’re right there.  

“Accessibility is important. I’ll jump on and do 1000m on my way to the kitchen”.  

To keep his training fun Ken started doing Concept2’s Fish Game. Finding out that one of Concept2’s engineers had the unofficial record for the highest score (3735), Ken became friends. He’s now done over 17,000 lifetime Fish Games and his highest score is 3600 points. 

Hazard a guess, Ken is in regular contact with Concept2.  

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know the Concept2 staff. They’re so knowledgeable and so willing to listen if I have a suggestion or need help. They’re like my extended family. Whenever I have an issue they’re always there to solve it.”  

He also loves the world-wide online community he has become part of through Concept2 and CrossFit. Next month on a business trip to the Netherlands Ken is meeting one of people he’s competed against. They have formed a friendship from afar and will now meet in person.  

Continually having new goals keeps Ken going and going. He will soon be the “youngster” in the 60–64 age group for the 2026 CrossFit Open and wants to be in the top 100 worldwide on the SkiErg for a third consecutive year. He’s also aiming to complete another triple crown next season.  

“I’m going to follow Newton’s law and try to keep this body in motion as much as possible.”  

The interview comes to an end and Ken has clocked 7200 meters on Baby Blue.