Ranger's training thread

[claus hansen]

Hi Ranger
Which race will be your next? Good luck with it.

[ranger]

In any given cycle of effort aimed at some 2K target, successful and enjoyable training for me is a pretty rigid holarchy.

That is, to be fully successful and enjoyable, it has to proceed in levels, with each level being retained as I work forward to the next level.

4 Sharpening and racing (anaerobic capacity, weight)
3 Distance rowing (aerobic capacity)
2 Learn to Row (skeletal-muscular and technical effectiveness and efficiency)
1 Cross-Training (general fitness)

I am _very_ uncomfortable when I break out of this natural holarchical ordering of my training.

For the last two years, I have interrupted my training, cut weight, and raced, even though I wasn't really ready to race, and I really haven't enjoyed it much at all, or been very successful, as my inconsistent racing has reflected.

So, even though it is a change in plans, this year, I have decided to just stay with what I enjoy and find productive and forgo sharpening and racing until my distance rowing is complete.

I have tried for a couple of weeks now to get up for travelling to race venues and racing 2Ks, unprepared, just winging it, as I did the last two years, but I have found that I just can't do it, especially in the flow of my work life and home life.

So, I think it would be best just to let it go and get back to my orderly training.

I am delighted with how my training is proceeding.

My general fitness (level 1) is sky high.

I have learned to row (level 2). I now row well (13 SPI) at low drag (119 df.).

And my distance rowing (level 3), while not yet complete, is right on target (1:42 @ 26 spm, 12.7 SPI).

My next project is several months of distance rowing and then distance trials.

ranger

[ranger]

MIke--

What do you do for a living, and what does your work life look like from day-to-day?

As a result of my attempt to row at Cinci, for tomorrow's classes, I still have a stack of 30 3-page papers to grade for my sophomore-level class, 75 Frost poems to prepare for presentation in my senior-level class, and minutes from a departmental meeting to write up, not to mention that today is Valentine's Day, which I would like to take some time to make special for my wife of 35 years and my 23-year-old daughter, two of the best ladies on the planet, who, for several decades now, have enriched my life in immeasurable ways.

Life goes on.

ranger

[macroth]

It seems that ranger's racing career is officially over. From now on, he tells us, he will be rowing a few minutes here and there, taking breaks when he goes above "UT1" heart rates (in reality AT/TR, but who's counting), watching his fitness fade away and continually pushing back his distance trials, to say nothing of real sharpening and racing.

In other words, he's a coward who can't come to terms with his limitations, buckle down and give it his best shot. He's handcuffed by the ridiculous goals he's publicly set for himself and would rather disappear from the sport (if not this forum) than remain just another good age-group erger.

7:04 on his last chance at a 55-59 world record, and not a single attempt at the 60-64 lwt record. Way to go out with a whimper!


PS: time to pay Henry, don't you think?

[ranger]

I have a new prediction!!!

A day of silence from el maestro followed by resumed servings of the same old tripe

Mike--

How has your training and racing been going this winter?

No, my distance rowing, 1:42 @ 26 spm (12.7 SPI), isn't tripe at all.

It's electric.

A dream come true.

For a 60s lwt, it's--weirdly and wildly--unprecedented.

ranger

[macroth]

As a result of my attempt to row at Cinci, for tomorrow's classes, I still have a stack of 30 3-page papers to grade for my sophomore-level class, 75 Frost poems to prepare for presentation in my senior-level class, and minutes from a departmental meeting to write up, not to mention that today is Valentine's Day, which I would like to take some time to make special for my wife of 35 years and my 23-year-old daughter, two of the best ladies on the planet, who, for several decades now, have enriched my life in immeasurable ways.

Do you ever mention your training and racing with your family? Are they aware that you drove to Cinci and back (just like Indiannapolis) for no good reason? Do they know how much time you waste on this forum?

[ranger]

time to pay Henry, don't you think?

Nope.

In my "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," sessions at 26 spm, I am rowing right at my targets.

Just in the natural course of this training, I should hit all of my distance targets and therefore collect my $2000 from Henry this spring.

ranger

[ranger]

As a result of my attempt to row at Cinci, for tomorrow's classes, I still have a stack of 30 3-page papers to grade for my sophomore-level class, 75 Frost poems to prepare for presentation in my senior-level class, and minutes from a departmental meeting to write up, not to mention that today is Valentine's Day, which I would like to take some time to make special for my wife of 35 years and my 23-year-old daughter, two of the best ladies on the planet, who, for several decades now, have enriched my life in immeasurable ways.

Do you ever mention your training and racing with your family? Are they aware that you drove to Cinci and back (just like Indiannapolis) for no good reason? Do they know how much time you waste on this forum?

Sure.

They are behind me 100%.

I flew my second son, Colin, and daughter, Haley, to London and Paris in 2003 for my EIRC championship row. Haley carried the foot-high cup home on the plane. She was pelted with questions about what she had won.



We spent the whole day before the Paris regatta walking around London; then flew over to France.

We spent the whole day after the Paris regatta walking around Paris (we went up the tower, saw Notre Dame lit up at night, walked down the Champs to Le Louvre, etc.).

We had a blast.

They loved it!

During the row, they were in the stands a few feet in front of my erg. Right next to MIke Caviston, who came over to see me row.

Haley has been to WIRC to see me row; she was my cox down on the floor of the arena, standing on the front of my erg.

My wife, Cathy, has been to BIRC.

ranger

[macroth]

That was 8 years ago. Are they aware of how things have unfolded this year, for example? Will they understand if you blame the Mikes (van B and Caviston) for making you twiddle your thumbs in Cincinnati and get behind in your work?

[ranger]

That was 8 years ago. Are they aware of how things have unfolded this year, for example? Will they understand if you blame the Mikes (van B and Caviston) for making you twiddle your thumbs in Cincinnati and get behind in your work?

I had the best time 2K in my age and weight division for the last two years.

No one my age and weight came within 20 seconds of my 2K.

This year, I suspect that that gap will rise to 40 seconds.

Check the rankings in the 60s lwts at the end of the rowing season.

As far as I can tell, the Mikes (van B and Caviston) aren't racing at all this year.

So, they are in no better position; in fact, as far as I can tell, their position is much worse.

I am just training in good order, as I should be.

That's admirable.

When my training is done and I am ready to race, I'll race.

_Very_ well.

You really can't race a satisfying 2K without preparing for it.

But it is nonsense to just sharpen and race, sharpen and race, parading your strengths, without ever training (working on your weaknesses), as most people do.

And least, that's what I think.

I have no interest in just getting worse and worse, when I can get _much_ better, if I just stay steady with my training, working on my weaknesses.

ranger

[lancs]

So, even though it is a change in plans, this year, I have decided to just stay with what I enjoy and find productive and forgo sharpening and racing until my distance rowing is complete.

What a surprise. No 6:16 @ 60 this year I guess? Jeez, not even a 6:50 @ 60.

To say you're a complete and utter waste of oxygen would be an understatement. I didn't quite realise what a welching coward you are, but now I certainly do...

[macroth]

This year, I suspect that that gap will rise to 40 seconds.

Another change in plans? I thought you were getting ready for several more months of distance fartleking. The 2011 indoor rowing season will be long gone by then.

[ranger]

So, even though it is a change in plans, this year, I have decided to just stay with what I enjoy and find productive and forgo sharpening and racing until my distance rowing is complete.

What a surprise. No 6:16 @ 60 this year I guess? Jeez, not even a 6:50 @ 60.

To say you're a complete and utter waste of oxygen would be an understatement. I didn't quite realise what a welching coward you are, but now I certainly do...

You're the one who's just talking, Lancs.

And with nasty language ("welching coward"), to boot.

So you're the fool, not me.

I am making great progress with my training.

Are you?

ranger

[ranger]

This year, I suspect that that gap will rise to 40 seconds.

Another change in plans? I thought you were getting ready for several more months of distance fartleking. The 2011 indoor rowing season will be long gone by then.

No change in plans.

The rowing season ends April 30th.

I am now doing distance rowing (Top-End UT1).

Then, I'll be doing distance racing (AT).

I now row well (13 SPI) at low drag (119 df.).

Great stuff.

After I am done with my distance rowing, I'll be ready for some sharpening and 2K trials.

ranger

[macroth]

Distance rowing.

Then, distance racing.

It's no longer farleking.

I now row well (13 SPI) at low drag (119 df.).

I do my "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" rowing at UT!/sub-threshold heart rates.

Great stuff.

ranger

Liar. Why do you take so many breaks? Why do you lie so much?