August 20 Min Test?

[[old] jreich]

I am not keeping up with many of you, but I did what I was hoping which was to get over 5500 meters. In July I did 5408 and this morning I did 5526.<br /><br />It wasn't too hard physically but I had trouble staying focused for 20 minutes. At 10 minutes to go I was ready to send in an extrapolated score but by 8 minutes to go I knew everything was going to be fine.<br /><br />John Reich<br />LW 36

[[old] kjgress]

Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute. I was nervous about this test since I haven't had much success at getting the stroke rate up, but like everyone else I did find it easier to pull (until the last 4 minutes). I also came down last night with a massive allergy related stuffed up nose and so did the whole thing breathing through my mouth. Must admit I was pleasantly surprised; although I didn't quite make the stroke rate (comment below) I came in with a personal best 5K of 19:46.7 and nice even splits:<br /><br />5056 m 25 spm 1:58.6 avg altitude:, 6000 ft.<br /><br />2:00 502 1:59.5<br />4:00 503 1:59.2<br />6:00 504 1:59.0<br />8:00 503 1:59.2<br />10:00 505 1:58.8<br />12:00 505 1:58.8<br />14:00 505 1:58.8<br />16:00 506 1:58.5<br />18:00 507 1:58.3<br />20:00 509 1:57.8<br /><br />Stroke rate comment: I am wondering about the 25 spm average; all the splits except 2 listed the stroke rate at 26; only 2 had it at 25. Unless they were all barely 26 and the other 2 were nearly 24 I don't quite see how the rate could've ended up at 25.<br /><br />Anyway; was a nice 20th wedding anniversary present to myself; I had been depressed that I wasn't quite where I should be and now I feel better. Am hoping I don't have to take time off for my back; the physical therapist and chiro. can't seem to get my rib to stay in place.

[[old] NavigationHazard]

<!--QuoteBegin-kjgress+Aug 31 2005, 03:08 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(kjgress @ Aug 31 2005, 03:08 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Stroke rate comment: I am wondering about the 25 spm average; all the splits except 2 listed the stroke rate at 26; only 2 had it at 25.  Unless they were all barely 26 and the other 2  were nearly 24 I don't quite see how the rate could've ended up at 25. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />AFAIK the PM uses normal rounding to the nearest integer for strokes per minute, i.e. 24.5 - 25.4 spm is rounded to 25, 25.5 - 26.4 is rounded to 26. <br /><br />Something like 8 2min splits in which you did 51 strokes (averaged by the monitor as 26 spm), plus 2 in which you did 50 (averaged by the monitor as 25 spm), would mean you did 508 strokes total. This would average 25.4 spm, and show on the monitor as 25....

[[old] kjgress]

Thanks; thought it was probably something like that but didn't take the time to figure it out.

[[old] dennish]

Nothing like the last day to get something done. I did this peice a lot smarter than the last one. The last one I was just home from World Masters Games and thought foolishly that I could get a steady 1:46, something that I had done before but I neglected to factor in that that was when I was 50 and at sea level. So this time I set out with the notion to set right on 1:47 and hold on, see what I could do at the end. Thats the good planning part, what I did foolish this time was to think that I can do several hard physical activities in one day. So the plan was, regular Paul Smith workout at @6:00a, then the regular 30 miile bike ride with the cycle team at lunch with a bitchin' pace line for the last 4 miles. Today we averaged, for the pace line right around 30mph, and the last 3/4 mile was at 35+. Then to the gym for the 20 minute piece. Actually I wasn't as tired as I was afraid I would be when we hammering out the paceline and stuck to the plan fairly well. With a hard push at the end I just barely surpassed last months effort at 5603 (last month was 5597). Though very similar in result, this months effort was far better; thoughtful, smooth, steady. McGoldbrick, err I mean McGoldrick, with those sort of efforts you may be lightweight sooner than you think. Good lord man a 25 rate, I had to concentrate like a mutha to keep it down to a 26 with far to many 27's. I guess thats how you get to have seven plates at the luncheon. To finish off this day, went for a 40 mile team ride, averaged just under 20mph. Ahhh the joys of retirement. Pete, Jim , Mary smile when you think what you just thought. Live well and live strong. dennis

[[old] SkipD]

20:00 piece this morning - 5767 - 1:44.0 - better effort than the last time - hr in low 150's(87% of max) thru 18:30 - lasst 90 sec at 1:39 pace - hr topped at 165 - Skip D

[[old] DougB]

I enjoy reading about these good results and imagine what everyone's been experiencing. Unfortunately I'm watching from the sidelines now, as shortly after the 24 spm test my ribs started to hurt quite a bit, and I haven't been on the erg since then. For a while I couldn't even open a door or lift a carton of milk without pain (sneezing really hurt!), and progess has been slow. Now, I'm guessing that sometime next week I can resume some light rowing, and maybe the week after that some regular UT1 type workouts. So there's still a chance I make September's 28 spm test. I don't know what type of injury I have (muscle strain or stress fracture), but since the treatment is the same I figure it doesn't really matter. Not until I can resume pushups and upright rows without pain will I get back on the erg. And yes, my workouts will be different when I resume to help prevent this from happening again.<br /><br />In the meantime I've been devising some good treadmill workouts to stay in shape the best I can. Maybe in the end this will be a good mental break from the erg, as I've been rowing 5-7 days a week for several years now, and could probably use a break anyway.<br /><br />Doug

[[old] dadams]

Sorry to hear about the injury Doug. They always seem to come up at the most inopportune times. Here's wishing you a speedy recovery.<br /><br />Dwayne

[[old] bcb]

5953 meters<br />140.8 avg<br />just shy of 26 spm<br />