My Progress Since I Purchased Erg In Mar-05

[old] tkleff · Post by **[old] tkleff** » October 25th, 2005, 3:25 am

It’s interesting. First off, I figured I’d like rowing, but who knew that I would take to what appears from the outside as a completely mundane sport. I grew up in the wrestling/football sphere in Iowa – and then took to triathlons in my early 20s (it stuck). I’ve been rowing since I bought an erg (after my treadmill annoyed my downstairs neighbor) in about March. I’ve rowed about 900,000 meters since then. And I’m continually surprised at how much I love and enjoy this form of exercise. It’s much more competitive (with myself, and to some degree on the boards) then I – or anyone around me – can imagine. I thrive on that competitive spirit – it is what moves me at times. I’m very much a quiet competitor, but I do really enjoy that feeling of competing. In fact. . . I’ve seen steady increasing improvement for simple, generalized training. In the past few weeks I’ve spent more time on the erg, but not necessarily significantly more time. Here are some particulars: Data sets: 2K 04.05.05: 7:52 / 1:58s; 10.19.05: 7:30.4 / 1:52.6; 5k 03.31.05: 19:56.5 05.17.05: 22:14.9 / 2:13.5 05.25.05: 21:59.8 08.15.05: 19:35.6 / 1:57.6 6K 03.23: 25:44.2 / 2:08.7 04.05: 24.36.7 / 2:03.1 06.16: 24:09.9 / 2:00.8 07.31: 23:54.8 / 1:59.6 10.15: 23.39.9 / 1:58.3 10K 03.17: 42:52.9 / 2:08.6 04.05: 41:34.2 06.27: 40:51.1 10.24: 39:42.3 / 1:59.1 HM 03.27: 1:54:56 / 2:43.5 04.10: 1:32:11.5 / 2:11.1 06.25: 1:31:29.6 / 2:10.1 07.07: 1:28.18.7 / 2:05.6 10.21: 1:27:49.2 / 2:04.9 30Mins 03.16: 5296 04.04: 7420 / 2:01.3 06.12: 7457 / 2:00.7 10.07: 7587 / 1:59.4 60Mins 03.24: 14,202 07.20: 14,604 / 2:03.3 AN ANALYSIS I find it fascinating that my times continue to decrease. I would attribute this, mostly to better technique; however, it would also appear I am gaining better and better shape/fitness. In many other sporting endeavors it seems that fitness can be masked by weight. For instance, if you are overweight in running – while your times may increase – they may not increase commensurate with your level of fitness if you are pulling an extra 50 pounds around. However, it feels as though rowing is much more forgiving for the “larger” sized folks. Indeed, there’s probably an advantage because we’re not weighted down in a boat deeper in the water. . . therefore, we all have equal resistance, despite dramatically different body sizes/types. I would definitely like to give the 60 min race another shot. Particularly because I pulled a 1:59.4 in the 30 min race, while in the 10k I pulled a 1:59.1 (faster time) – for a longer period (~39 minutes). Therefore, I would expect the 30 min piece to be in the 1:58 range. It’s also interesting that my times continue to decrease, but by smaller and smaller margins – which seems to me that I’m actually getting closer and closer to actual maximal effort. I think this is good for me physiologically. Here’s an example: In the 6k I began at 25:44.2; then reduced to 24:36 (more than 1 minute loss). I then went from 24:36.7 to 24:09.9 – this time only 26 seconds. Next, from 24:09.9 to 23:54.8 (down to 15 second gain); then from 23:54.8 to 23:39.9 – another 15 second gain. Even over longer distances, the time gap becomes more and more slight. In the half marathon, I realistically began at 04.10 with a 1:32.11.5; then reduced to 1:31.29 – about a 40 second loss. I reduced from 1:31:29 to 1:28.18 next round (a whopping 3:10 loss); next from 1:28:18.7 to 1:27:49 – again, about a 30 second loss. I expect perhaps a few more 30 second losses, and then 15 seconds, and then 5-10 seconds, and then down to 1-5 seconds. . . because I think I am actually approaching my max effort in many of these races. Anyone care to comment? Ps – I think this is as much for the experienced as the novice. I remember just a scant six months ago I thought – there’s no way I could ever possibly increase my 2k time from 7:52 downward – that’s the best it will ever get. Well, I improve by over 20 seconds in just six months. Ditto for the other race numbers. Just because it’s your max today doesn’t mean it will be your max in a week, month or year. . .

[old] johnnybike · Post by **[old] johnnybike** » October 25th, 2005, 3:59 am

An impressive list of improvements there. As a runner myself I can relate to your stats because mine follow a similar pattern. Your biking and running will have given you a good baseline of endurance and that shows in your 60' and HM efforts. However your 2K time is poor relative to the distance times. As indeed mine is. One suggestion I would make is to register on the Nonathlon site. As you put your best times in and get points for each one, it is quite helpful to see which areas are your weaker distances. It is also positive if, for instance you score 890 points for a 60' row but only 850 for the 10K. That indicates that you should be better at the 10K and might push you into giving a much harder effort than you might normally. I find the best motivation is to have lots of little battles with other of similar abilities and to encourage each other. The other day day Peter Wilkinson on the UK site posted a 22:43 for 6K, beating me by about 3 seconds. I was thinking of putting in an effort that night anyway and of course that focussed me on the 6K. I did well and got a 22:34 out of it. He has not spoken to me since : Carry on with the improvements John

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » October 25th, 2005, 12:24 pm

Interesting reading. Thank you for posting your improvements.

[old] Citroen · Post by **[old] Citroen** » October 25th, 2005, 5:30 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(tkleff @ Oct 25 2005, 08:25 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Anyone care to comment? </td></tr></table> I think you've got some excellent improvements for just 6months. Have you thought about (and rejected) the idea of doing a 42,195 full marathon? Concept2 give you a marvellous prize for doing the full marathon (I have two of the mugs now).

[old] tkleff · Post by **[old] tkleff** » October 25th, 2005, 6:18 pm

Actually, I do intend to do a marathon at some point. I sort of like doing half marathons and pushing that pace. <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(Citroen @ Oct 25 2005, 02:30 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(tkleff @ Oct 25 2005, 08:25 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Anyone care to comment? </td></tr></table> I think you've got some excellent improvements for just 6months. Have you thought about (and rejected) the idea of doing a 42,195 full marathon? Concept2 give you a marvellous prize for doing the full marathon (I have two of the mugs now). </td></tr></table>

[old] johnnybike · Post by **[old] johnnybike** » October 25th, 2005, 6:56 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(johnnybike @ Oct 25 2005, 02:59 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>y Peter Wilkinson on the UK site posted a 22:43 for 6K, beating me by about 3 seconds. I was thinking of putting in an effort that night anyway and of course that focussed me on the 6K. I did well and got a 22:34 out of it. He has not spoken to me since : </td></tr></table> Pete did PM me today after reading my comment. He had been on his sick bed and had not been logging onto the forum. He is now sicker than he was before. Even more so when he reads this and finds out I did a 38:16.0 for 10k tonight, decimating anything he has done. PS I was winding him up anyway

[old] tkleff · Post by **[old] tkleff** » December 25th, 2005, 4:12 pm

Indeed. I plan to complete a marathon today. I was trying to find a pace predictor. Meaning: Give a 39 min 10k and/or a 1.5 hour HM, what is a reasonable time estimate for completing the marathon? I think I'll just take an easy approach to the first 1/2 of the marathon and then see where it goes. Although, ironically, when I'm not pulling hard my butt tends to get sore. . . otherwise, I never get sore in THAT part of my body (but my arms and legs can get sore

. I'll report back when I'm done. In the meanwhile, while I'm preparing for the row. . . if anyone can point me to a predictor I'd be grateful. cek.

[old] mpukita · Post by **[old] mpukita** » December 25th, 2005, 5:01 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(Citroen @ Oct 25 2005, 05:30 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(tkleff @ Oct 25 2005, 08:25 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Anyone care to comment? </td></tr></table> I think you've got some excellent improvements for just 6months. Have you thought about (and rejected) the idea of doing a 42,195 full marathon? Concept2 give you a marvellous prize for doing the full marathon (I have two of the mugs now). </td></tr></table> Dougie: You are the best promoter for the marathon distance ... you hold out the prospect of those beer mugs and everyone get sucked in and rows for 3 hours +/- just to get the darned thing. Bravo! -- Mark PS/NB - You are really a "plant" from C2, right?

[old] mpukita · Post by **[old] mpukita** » December 25th, 2005, 5:03 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(johnnybike @ Oct 25 2005, 06:56 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(johnnybike @ Oct 25 2005, 02:59 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>y Peter Wilkinson on the UK site posted a 22:43 for 6K, beating me by about 3 seconds. I was thinking of putting in an effort that night anyway and of course that focussed me on the 6K. I did well and got a 22:34 out of it. He has not spoken to me since : </td></tr></table> Pete did PM me today after reading my comment. He had been on his sick bed and had not been logging onto the forum. He is now sicker than he was before. Even more so when he reads this and finds out I did a 38:16.0 for 10k tonight, decimating anything he has done. PS I was winding him up anyway </td></tr></table> John: You have no conscience! -- Mark

[old] John Rupp · Post by **[old] John Rupp** » December 25th, 2005, 5:56 pm

I would say aim for 3:05 your first one, i.e. gradually get down to a 2:12 pace then see how you feel on the last 10k to the finish.

[old] Citroen · Post by **[old] Citroen** » December 25th, 2005, 7:37 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(tkleff @ Dec 25 2005, 08:12 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Indeed. I plan to complete a marathon today. I was trying to find a pace predictor. Meaning: Give a 39 min 10k and/or a 1.5 hour HM, what is a reasonable time estimate for completing the marathon? </td></tr></table> 3hr15 would be good. 3hr5 would be very good. Sub 3hrs would be excellent. I did a 3:14 for my first FM, when my HM was still about 88mins. Best of luck. Use a nice big folded fluffy towel to save your butt from the pain.

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