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[debinapril]

Lots of fun in the new team Freddie!!

Ugh, I fell down the stairs on Monday and am sporting the biggest, sowllen, now dark purple bruise in town on my left thigh. s Thought I can wing it as it's not the behind, but ouch no. Sorry no meters from me this week.

I am enjoying all the discussion on the ctc. Not looking forward to this one. If I really focus on rowing slowly, I can do 21/22 spm. Wondering if it's harder to row slow because I am short?

That sounds nasty, I hope you recover quickly. I was once told if you get some infrared treatment on bruising it can accelerate healing.

I look forward to see how you get on with 20 spm. Only the rate is slow, row as fast as you can

[debinapril]

Congrats to Sheena on the Concept2 World Erg Challenge. She broke 500K with still 7 days to go...and it looks like 100% on the rower! Well done Sheena! However it looks like you are to blame for scaring away Freddie...he could not match the numbers you are putting up

—Marc

That is incredible, well done Sheena!

[debinapril]

For guys your build rate 20 work is very tough. If running is your main goal, getting a stronger stroke is maybe not the wise option. Running and rowing are both on the opposite side of the endurance spectrum, rowers being tall and relative heavy, runners smaller and certainly light. A good heavyweight rower is often not a good runner. And a good longdistance runner simply lacks power to be fast.

Good to hear from you Henry! I hope you’re well. After a few dodgy years I have got some consistency back in my rowing, enough to venture a few goes at the CTC for instance. Although my times will never be stella I am enjoying having a go again. Something that’s been missing a long time.

[hjs]

For guys your build rate 20 work is very tough. If running is your main goal, getting a stronger stroke is maybe not the wise option. Running and rowing are both on the opposite side of the endurance spectrum, rowers being tall and relative heavy, runners smaller and certainly light. A good heavyweight rower is often not a good runner. And a good longdistance runner simply lacks power to be fast.

Good to hear from you Henry! I hope you’re well. After a few dodgy years I have got some consistency back in my rowing, enough to venture a few goes at the CTC for instance. Although my times will never be stella I am enjoying having a go again. Something that’s been missing a long time.

Hi Deb,

Ok ish, all sorts of things going on. Not rowed for 1.5 years atm, lower back is very unfriendly and can’t get it sorted, so do not row. Do use the skierg instead, which is less demanding on the back.
I also hope to at some point pick up rowing again.

Good to hear you are enjoying the rower again, in the end thats the most important.

[Swittenbrink]

Good work Sheena!

Thanks for all of the tips and insight on training, team! I guess I have to decide what I want out of rowing. I loved the endurance I got out of the longer workouts, and I do like running occasionally. I was kinda bummed at the change in my running, I had put on weight and it was harder to keep my pace for running. After running for a week I didn't have the power I used to have for rowing. I do build muscle and strength pretty well if I work at it but not sure I'm going for that. I'll get back on the endurance rain, still try for a sub 8 2k, and go back to consistency and maintaining fitness. I guess I could go back and forth if I felt the need.

[jackarabit]

Good work Sheena!

Thanks for all of the tips and insight on training, team! I guess I have to decide what I want out of rowing. I loved the endurance I got out of the longer workouts, and I do like running occasionally. I was kinda bummed at the change in my running, I had put on weight and it was harder to keep my pace for running. After running for a week I didn't have the power I used to have for rowing. I do build muscle and strength pretty well if I work at it but not sure I'm going for that. I'll get back on the endurance rain, still try for a sub 8 2k, and go back to consistency and maintaining fitness. I guess I could go back and forth if I felt the need.

Your aerobic conditioning predates your rowing? Built it running or running and field sports? You have done well rowing with moderate power combined with high rate I think. If you like running and impact injuries aren’t pushing you toward rowing as a replacement fitness activity, periodizing rowing and running seasonally looks like an option. Unless you’re a diehard mudder, in spring a runner’s fancy turns to thoughts of _____?

[christineinwa]

Ugh... Is today the day I bail from the April Fool's Streak? I felt yesterday's 8K pretty distinctly in my muscles, even though I was going very easy with the effort, and finished several minutes past my average. It's harsh after Mud Season Madness, LOLOL I know, that's likely the point, right?

Today has me wondering if I can do it... Breaking it into two pieces could help, but evening rowing is hard when I'm on low energy from the day.

Anyone else struggling with the streak? I am training up my endurance for the half (or maybe full?) marathon for the May challenge, so this is great for it, but wow doing this during the week is hard! My long haul rows have traditionally been on weekends or days off, so I'm struggling to work this in.

I'm going to try for it over lunch. I've been doing some sensible snacking this morning to fuel up, been staying hydrated, and trying to not let a mental block build up. Wish me luck, and chime in if you are struggling too

[jackarabit]

Ugh... Is today the day I bail from the April Fool's Streak? I felt yesterday's 8K pretty distinctly in my muscles, even though I was going very easy with the effort, and finished several minutes past my average. It's harsh after Mud Season Madness, LOLOL I know, that's likely the point, right?

Today has me wondering if I can do it... Breaking it into two pieces could help, but evening rowing is hard when I'm on low energy from the day.

Anyone else struggling with the streak? I am training up my endurance for the half (or maybe full?) marathon for the May challenge, so this is great for it, but wow doing this during the week is hard! My long haul rows have traditionally been on weekends or days off, so I'm struggling to work this in.

I'm going to try for it over lunch. I've been doing some sensible snacking this morning to fuel up, been staying hydrated, and trying to not let a mental block build up. Wish me luck, and chime in if you are struggling too

Be a darn sight easier if it was a descending volume ladder ya think? Even then an every day, make or break, endurance boot camp. Most things are worth doing once to find out if they’re worth avoiding in future. Stick with LISS and dogged persistence in the making of sugar-free lemonade and you’ll be fine.

[skkipper]

Congrats to Sheena on the Concept2 World Erg Challenge. She broke 500K with still 7 days to go...and it looks like 100% on the rower! Well done Sheena! However it looks like you are to blame for scaring away Freddie...he could not match the numbers you are putting up

—Marc

LOL Thank you! But Freddie had pretty much caught up to me and guessing he would easily have overtaken me.
I saw a ton of improvement with the loads and loads of steady state I did in January so I thought I would throw in a lot of it in March and April during these challenges. I didn't actually intend to keep up with 20 km/day but then I saw Rick and Freddie gaining on me and this stupid competitive brain...

Ugh... Is today the day I bail from the April Fool's Streak? I felt yesterday's 8K pretty distinctly in my muscles, even though I was going very easy with the effort, and finished several minutes past my average. It's harsh after Mud Season Madness, LOLOL I know, that's likely the point, right?

I agree! Between Mud Season, World Erg Challenge, and April Fool's, I have not had a break since March 1 and I am definitely in need of a couple days of absolutely nothing! My rows have started moving to later and later in the day until it hits dinnertime and I tell myself I have to do it before I eat! Looking forward to April 16

[christineinwa]

I didn't bail

Kept my HR at 120 average, and slow rolled it. I know I can get through this weekend's 10 and 11 with no issues, but next week should be interesting. I'm really going to try to nail this streak!

It might feel both great and really weird to NOT row on the 16th, LOL,

[debinapril]

I didn't bail

Kept my HR at 120 average, and slow rolled it. I know I can get through this weekend's 10 and 11 with no issues, but next week should be interesting. I'm really going to try to nail this streak!

It might feel both great and really weird to NOT row on the 16th, LOL,

I must admit that the April Fools Challenge totally passed me by My suggestion for tackling the longer distances from someone that hates long distance is to break it into chunks. As a for instance 15k makes 5k, 4k, 3k,2k,1k. Set up as variable intervals you could have a minute rest or no rest at all but mentally seeing 5k on the screen instead of 15k really helps and also the work periods get shorter as you go along. It also works for a HM too, I have done a couple recently when I really didn’t think I could do it. Work periods of 6097m, 5k, 4k, 3k, etc. made it do-able. Of course to count as a HM you have to set it up as 21097m but I took a short break at 15k, 9k etc and although the clock kept ticking the method still worked for me knowing that I would allow myself a brief stop for a mop and a quick sip of water. Just a thought

[AnnaRaeGreen]

I didn't bail

Kept my HR at 120 average, and slow rolled it. I know I can get through this weekend's 10 and 11 with no issues, but next week should be interesting. I'm really going to try to nail this streak!

It might feel both great and really weird to NOT row on the 16th, LOL,

Glad to see you didn't bail! Let's try to encourage each other as I too am dreading the coming week.
I have already started to break mine into two pieces. Like you, I prefer to row in the morning, but the distances are now getting too long for me to tackle all at once before I head off to work. It was a lot easier last year when the long Easter weekend was at the end of the challenge instead of the beginning (not having to work Friday - Monday). In addition last year I was working from home so could work a couple of hours, hop on the erg for a few k as a break and then go back to working right away. Next week, I will have to break it down into a long row (for me) before work, drive to work, work all day, drive home, and a long row after work when my energy levels are quite low.
My hubbie also suggested breaking the distance into intervals (2k, 5 min rest, repeat) if one long piece gets to be too much for me in the evening.

On the plus side, this April Fools thing is getting me to contribute more meters for the Team Challenge than I have for past ones - I will be at 100 k by end of today.

Keep on rowing!

[Swittenbrink]

Your aerobic conditioning predates your rowing? Built it running or running and field sports? You have done well rowing with moderate power combined with high rate I think. If you like running and impact injuries aren’t pushing you toward rowing as a replacement fitness activity, periodizing rowing and running seasonally looks like an option. Unless you’re a diehard mudder, in spring a runner’s fancy turns to thoughts of _____?

Never been a mudder. Dry climate here, we will have a day or two of snow and it's gone in a few days. Spring consists of dry 80°, followed by snow and back up to warm and dry.

Previous conditioning was a number of years ago (sprints, soccer and a semester is crew). Began running 3-4 miles with neighbors, used rowing to help build cardio (had recently moved to altitude and was struggling). As the C2 season progressed I focused more on rowing but never really built power until I wanted to tackle the shorter sprints.

[Yankeerunner]

I didn't actually intend to keep up with 20 km/day but then I saw Rick and Freddie gaining on me and this stupid competitive brain...

Haha. I know what you mean. In February I did the Military/Veterans challege for my OTW club and got suckered into increasing daily meters by one of my crewmates. As the volume went up I got fatigued and slower, but finished with the largest monthly volume I'd ever done....and two guys beat me anyway!

The upside is that by easing off a bit in March I seem to be benefiting from a better aerobic base and getting faster again. I hope that you see future gains from this month's volume as well.

[christineinwa]

I didn't bail

Kept my HR at 120 average, and slow rolled it. I know I can get through this weekend's 10 and 11 with no issues, but next week should be interesting. I'm really going to try to nail this streak!

It might feel both great and really weird to NOT row on the 16th, LOL,

Glad to see you didn't bail! Let's try to encourage each other as I too am dreading the coming week.
I have already started to break mine into two pieces. Like you, I prefer to row in the morning, but the distances are now getting too long for me to tackle all at once before I head off to work. It was a lot easier last year when the long Easter weekend was at the end of the challenge instead of the beginning (not having to work Friday - Monday). In addition last year I was working from home so could work a couple of hours, hop on the erg for a few k as a break and then go back to working right away. Next week, I will have to break it down into a long row (for me) before work, drive to work, work all day, drive home, and a long row after work when my energy levels are quite low.
My hubbie also suggested breaking the distance into intervals (2k, 5 min rest, repeat) if one long piece gets to be too much for me in the evening.

On the plus side, this April Fools thing is getting me to contribute more meters for the Team Challenge than I have for past ones - I will be at 100 k by end of today.

Keep on rowing!

How are you doing with it this week? I did yesterday all in one go because I was able to carve out the time, and today I'm breaking it into two pieces. I'm going to start the second piece pretty soon, 6k left of the 13. Tomorrow and Thursday are super busy workdays, I might be breaking into three or more to get through this challenge - it would be tragic to bail in the last three days!!!!!