Join Taff Attack

[[old] Debra]

Chris,<br />Enjoy that curry. It sounds wonderful! Is there a specific 'curry' dish? Here, in Canada, when I tell people I'm making a curry dish it can mean a vast range of things.<br /><br />Thanks for keeping me motivated to row so much! It's really helping me get back into shape. I'm going to try to make the 2 million by the end of the month. I think I can do it if I stay healthy. I made the holiday challenge in 3 weeks so I know I can do it.<br /><br />Carla,<br />Way to go with that fantastic 60 min PB. Now, what about that 10k? Promise me you will demolish that one soon?! <br /><br />Happy rowing everyone...<br />DB

[[old] AussieTaff]

Great to see you are going for the 2 million goal Debra. Bookies have you at 2:1 on to achieve the magic figure provided ice has melted. Not sure if it's possible to hold Chris at bay as he is on a mission to catch his old mate Chippy and crunch the 2 Mill together, but who knows what unforseen consequences a Welsh curry can have .... <br /><br />Odds on Niall have blown out to 10000 : 1 <br /><br />Another great PB Carla, you really are enjoying your rowing and are in fine form. <br /><br />Thanks for posting the video Byron, your style certainly looks very efficient, effortless and strong. Unfortunately can't see your hands at the catch so not sure if the following comment is accurate but I thought I would pass it on seeing as you sounded keen on any feedback :-<br /><br />At the start of the drive (i.e. the catch) it looks like the seat moves bach about 6 inches before the chain 'slack' is taken up (known as 'shooting the slide' in rowing circles). If this is the case then you have missed out on a bit of leg drive power at the start of the stroke.<br /><br />I found the mirrors at the gym very useful in self analysis and must have fine tuned my stroke heaps of times since starting - highly recommended that one uses a mirror or does what you did with your video shoot Byron. At the catch I now use a 'hooking' action by opening up the angle between back and upper legs before engaging leg drive ( in so doing the seat actually moves forward an inch or so as I 'hook on' ) to take up the couple of inches of 'slack' in the chain before the tension kicks in. Think the feeling of 'slack' in the chain at the start of the drive is to do with the "Reverse Clutch' internals of the beast ?<br /><br />Sometimes for variety I 'hook on' at the catch by letting my shoulders 'roll' forward a couple of inches as I approach the catch then straighten them up at the catch to take up the chain 'slack'. In both techniques the overall aim being to 'save' the power of leg drive for when there is a feeling of tension on the chain.<br /> <br />Enough rambling for now,<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Martin

[[old] Byron Drachman]

Dwayne, Niall, Martin, thanks for the suggestions. <br /><br />I asked about that six to twelve inches at the beginning of the drive in a different posting, and I was told that the C2 uses a roller clutch, so the chain doesn't engage until it is going fast enough to catch the moving freewheel. Martin, years ago I learned from some people on the local crew team that trick of relaxing the shoulders and getting an extra reach at the catch to help deal with that delay on the erg. Maybe I'll try going back to it, and maybe doing that little extra lean at the catch. <br /><br />Carla, I think you'll also get some good suggestions by posting your video. <br /><br />Byron

[[old] Niall]

Well I'm out of the running now, back's gone again (worse than before too ). Full details in <a href='http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/view.php?b=69' target='_blank'>My Blog</a>.<br /><br />Good luck to Debra and Chris as they battle it out over the next 3 weeks!

[[old] DavidA]

<!--QuoteBegin-Niall+Apr 6 2005, 12:03 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Niall @ Apr 6 2005, 12:03 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Well I'm out of the running now, back's gone again (worse than before too  ). Full details in <a href='http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/view.php?b=69' target='_blank'>My Blog</a>.<br /><br />Good luck to Debra and Chris as they battle it out over the next 3 weeks! <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Very sorry to hear about the back problem <br />Have you been able to figure out a pattern? Does it seem to happen when you are doing low stroke rates?<br />I hope you have a complete and quick recovery. <br /><br />David<br />

[[old] Niall]

<!--QuoteBegin-David+--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(David)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Very sorry to hear about the back problem    <br />Have you been able to figure out a pattern? Does it seem to happen when you are doing low stroke rates?<br />I hope you have a complete and quick recovery.  <br /><br />David <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Thanks David. I get the pain when doinq low hard strokes. Although today's wasn't that hard (2:00 pace at 22spm) it was enough to do the damage.<br />

[[old] Byron Drachman]

Hi Niall,<br />Have you tried giving up running entirely to see if that helps the back? I see from your blog that you do run a little. I hope you get the problem solved soon.<br />Byron

[[old] Niall]

Runnings going to stop too until I'm completely fit and then it'll be just easing in gently (not starting off with a 4-mile run!!). It's definitely the rowing that has aggravated the back but I wont be telling my wife that!!<br /><br />Just going through some photos from the South London IRC on the 27th March and found one of Chippy with his well earned hardware for Taff Attack! (Chippy's the good looking Welshman on the right, proving you don't have to be tall to be fast !):<br /><br /><img src='http://img.photobox.co.uk/555590866707b ... cacc5c.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /><br />

[[old] AussieTaff]

How frustrating for you Niall. Have you been able to get a definitive diagnosis yet ? I've experienced lower back problems off and on for many years (recent diagnosis - degenerative back due to age/wear and tear !! plus stiff Fascia (?) joints) and know only too well how cheesed off you must be <br /><br />Think David A is on the right track with the low SPM thought - when my back 'goes' nowadays its usually when doing power-drive stuff at low SPM for a long interval. Nowadays when it goes I drop the DF down to 100ish, ease off on the power and have a couple of rest days between rows until the sore/achey/stiff feeling goes (usually takes 3 weeks). Interestingly, in my case going for a slow run doesn't seem to have any adverse effect when back is in the 'sore' mode and sometimes it even feels much better afterwards.<br /><br />Speedy recovery,<br /><br />Martin <br /><br />PS Great photo of Chippy - you could rest a slab of beer on each of those massive shoulders and still have room to spare ! No wonder he's pulling a sub 1:30 500m.

[[old] Niall]

Went to the docs this morning about my back as I wanted to check if I had a permanent/long term complaint or just a strain. Had resigned myself to no rowing for the rest of April (season doesn't start until May 1st so in my mind this was acceptable). It went better than expected though. The doc said I'd strained a muscle and I was given a prescription for anti-inflammatories. As far as exercise is concerned, we came to an agreement that I could do some gentle swimming from early next week and then some gentle rowing from the week after. So I'll certainly be off the low spm, power sessions for a good while yet. Can't say fairer than that. The (female) doc even told me I looked "incredibly fit" (was tempted to tell her to get her coat as she'd pulled but thought better of it ); it's nice to get compliments like that at my age I must say. <br /><br />So I'm a lot happier (or should that say, relieved) today than I was yesterday.<br /><br />Interestingly the doc told me I'd be better off running than rowing in the early stages of the recovery and this really surprised me as I thought the jolt of running would be worse. <br /><br />

[[old] AussieTaff]

Thats relatively great news Niall, could have been a lot worse.<br /><br />To avoid similar lower back muscle strains I now do an easy (2:20 pace down to 2:10) 3K warm up on DF 105ish then hop into a series of back exercises/stretches on the floor mats in the gym. Then do whatever pieces are on the agenda. I only deviated from this once this year - did a 10k straight off, and guess what - back spasms at 8K mark and took the past 3 weeks to recover (though I did row every 2nd day on Superlow DF) !!<br /><br />Silver lining - looks like a good opportunity for you to get some long slow steady jogs (without any sprints) under your belt over the next few weeks ? Don't forget to dial the DF to 'Superlow' for those comeback sessions too !!<br /><br />Cheers you 'incredibly fit old dog' you (wait 'til you get to my age - you will really savour those complis then !!)<br /><br />Martin

[[old] Debra]

Carla wrote: <!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->NEW 60 MIN PB 14366 ...It was on slides. </td></tr></table><br /><br />Carla,<br />I didn't know that slide times could count towards the rankings. When did they change this?<br />Just curious in case I get some of 'em slides for meself!<br /><br />DB

[[old] Dykie]

Just going through some photos from the South London IRC on the 27th March and found one of Chippy with his well earned hardware for Taff Attack! (Chippy's the good looking Welshman on the right, proving you don't have to be tall to be fast !):<br /><br /><img src='http://img.photobox.co.uk/555590866707b ... cacc5c.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> <br />[/quote]<br /> <br />Well done Chippy on winning the medal <br /><br />By the way are they big blokes or small medals <br /><br />Dykie

[[old] chippy]

<!--QuoteBegin-AussieTaff+Apr 6 2005, 06:29 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(AussieTaff @ Apr 6 2005, 06:29 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Martin  <br /><br />PS  Great photo of Chippy - you could rest a slab of beer on each of those massive shoulders and still have room to spare ! No wonder he's pulling a sub 1:30 500m. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Martin/Dykie<br /><br />After getting my medal i said to Chris."i felt like a dwarf stood next to those guys"<br />i am 5-10..He replied "They might be taller but you were wider" As for the beer <br />Martin i have carried a few tins in my time most of which Dykie has sipped. <br /><br />If Chris can get close to me as we near the 2million we are going to race of again<br />for the 2miiloin title.I have the 1 million T shirt so he will be out for revenge. <br />If you fancy a go Dykie let me know. <br /><br />Chippy.

[[old] Godfried]

<!--QuoteBegin-Niall+Apr 7 2005, 12:50 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Niall @ Apr 7 2005, 12:50 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->As far as exercise is concerned, we came to an agreement that I could do some gentle swimming from early next week and then some gentle rowing from the week after. </td></tr></table><br />That gives me a chance to get past you this season. <br /><br />I plan to end at 1,760,000 ( just ahead of Daren - he has not moved for a long time )<br /><br />So that is 164,000 for me to do , and if you only do 110,000 I will get it.