500 Why So Much Slower Than Relative To Other Race

[[old] tkleff]

I am curious if anyone can explain why it might be that my 500M time is so much slower (relative to the field) than the remainder of my times? I’m in the 84th percentile (that is “top” 84%) for the 500, but I’m generally able to get in the 50-65ish percentile for other events. (See below chart for my current performance numbers). Indeed, I tried to break my prior personal best for the 500 this AM but came up short. <br /><br />As for particulars, I’m most definitely a heavyweight (22% body fat, at 5’10” and 228 pounds). I have a long history of exercise (though, admittedly mostly longer distance stuff). Prior exercise is wrestling, triathlon and a bit of tennis. <br /> <br />distance / time / percentile (i.e., top 84%)<br /><br />500M 01:48.0 84%<br />1000M 03:44.9 70%<br />1054M 4 min 78%<br />2000M 07:52.0 75%<br />5000M 19:56.5 57%<br />6000M 24:36.7 63%<br />7420M 30 min 47%<br />10000M 41:34.2 62%<br />14202M 60 min 59%<br />21097M 1:32:11 69%<br /><br />

[[old] holm188]

The trend seems to be the longer the distance the better you are, not only for 500m.<br /><br />So my 2 cents: improve your technique to get more efficient as the stroke rate goes up for shorter distances. Check if you push your legs first and fast enough, strapless rowing could help.<br /><br />Good luck,<br /><br />Holm

[[old] chickenlegs]

i may be wrong on this one, but based on what i remember to be in the 84th percentile means being above 84% of the samples.<br /><br />if this is correct, based on the results and percentiles you have posted, your short distances are faster, not slower, than your longer distances, in terms relative to the statistical data used.

[[old] andyArvid]

<!--QuoteBegin-chickenlegs+Apr 16 2005, 07:59 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(chickenlegs @ Apr 16 2005, 07:59 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->i may be wrong on this one, but based on what i remember to be in the 84th percentile means being above 84% of the samples. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />You are wrong. The rankings list what percentage is better than you (like being in the top 10% of your class). Of course when using the term "percentile", it is generally is the opposite, what percentage are you better than.<br />84% of the 500m times are better than tkleg, he is in the 16th percentile.<br /><br /><br />As for why the 500m time maybe slower: For me it is technique. I can go to 1:45 holding the same technique and the same stroke but faster than that it breaks down after 5-10 strokes. I just can't hold form. I feel spastic. I pull harder or raise the spm but it is lost in the break down of the stroke. For me the solution would be 200m or 250m intervals. But I don't do them. I rarely do 500m intervals. maybe I'll do some nx250m this week and see how my 1k goes next weekend.<br /><br />here are mine:<br /><!--c1--><table width='95%' cellspacing='1' cellpadding='3' border='0' align='center'><tr><td><b><div class='genmed'>CODE</div></b></td></tr><tr><td class='code'><div><!--ec1--> M 41 H (77 kg,  177 cm)<br />__500M 01:42.8  399 of  572 | 70%  <br />_1000M 03:32.4  212 of  469 | 45%  <br />_2000M 07:18.5  589 of 1383 | 43%   <br />_5000M 19:20.0  431 of 1276 | 34%    <br />_6000M 23:32.6  173 of  468 | 37%     <br />_7508M 30:00.0  393 of 1011 | 39%    <br />10000M 39:47.9  385 of 1063 | 36%  <br /><!--c2--></div></td></tr></table>

[[old] PaulS]

Your 6k and 10k are pretty close to eachother in pace as are your 2k and 5k, this would not be the case if these were maximal efforts for the target distance, you probably need to take a good run at this series to get a better answer on what might need work.<br /><br />As for percentile, 90th is better than 75th, i.e. 100th percentile means you are faster than everyone else. <br /><br />

[[old] whp4]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Apr 16 2005, 01:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Apr 16 2005, 01:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />As for percentile, 90th is better than 75th, i.e. 100th percentile means you are faster than everyone else.  <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />You are both right - if you look at the rankings for a given distance, C2 reports your percentile standing with 100 being better than everyone else. If you look at the ranked results compilation, C2 reports your standing the other way around, where 100 is as slow or slower than everyone else. <br /><br />If you are really fast, or really slow, there won't be as much room for confusion as there is for those of us in the middle of the pack <br /><br />Bill

[[old] tkleff]

Hi, <br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts already. <br /><br />I thought about this some more after my post yesterday, and here's what I wonder. . . <br /><br />To make things easier, let's consider running, rather than rowing. <br /><br />Years ago, when football (american) season began, the entire team would be tested at a variety of activities, in particular, 40 yard dash runs, and 1 mile runs.[FN] <br /><br />FN - (I realize a 40 yard dash is 4-5 seconds in duration, while a 500M row is ~1.5-2.0 minutes-- so I realize these are apples and oranges). <br /><br />While one of the slowest at the 40 yard dash (bottom 10%) -- I was, inexplicably, one of the fastest at the one mile race (probably top 10%). And the longer the distance the better I've been able to compete. Could it be, perhaps, that there is a genetic predisposition for distance (slow twitch) for me rather than short sprints (fast twitch)? <br /><br />--------<br /><br /><!--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-->Your 6k and 10k are pretty close to eachother in pace as are your 2k and 5k, this would not be the case if these were maximal efforts for the target distance, you probably need to take a good run at this series to get a better answer on what might need work.<br /><br />As for percentile, 90th is better than 75th, i.e. 100th percentile means you are faster than everyone else.  </td></tr></table><br /><br />Yes, indeed, I'd like to take a better run at the series. Basically I went through in did all of the events in the first 2-3 weeks. I've now redone a few events -- and with one exception (the 500M) I've been able to improve my times. I suspect as I continue to try to better my prior personal bests, I'll see lower times -- and probably see the 2k, 5k, 6k spread out. <br /><br />Hey everybody -- thanks for the words!<br /><br />k.

[[old] Arno]

Hi tkleff,<br />Couldnt we agree that we are just different. At least I am just opposite compared to your performance. The shorter the better for me <br />Arno