Rowing a 500 meter.

[Willy.VdW]

I want to try my personal best on a short distance starting with 500 meter.
The problem is that, partly due to my age, my performance is like an old diesel.
"Explosiveness" (if that word even exists) is a thing of the past, it takes a fair
number of strokes to get up to speed.
Assuming that rowing a fixed distance starts from standstill, I have to reach a higher
than average speed to make up for the time lost in the begin of the workout.
Doing a short distance, there isn't very much time to make up for my slow(er) start.
Is it a good (and acceptable) strategy to do some warming-up in order to get under
steam before starting the attempt to row a personal best?
If so, I assume I will have to wait for the flywheel to come to a halt before starting.

[JaapvanE]

I want to try my personal best on a short distance starting with 500 meter.
The problem is that, partly due to my age, my performance is like an old diesel.

Here another Diesel speaking, why focus on improving something that isn't your strength and outside your natural inclination? I let the youngsters do the short stuff, and moved to long distance rowing which suits me more and thus makes me much happier.

[btlifter]

Fellow diesel here...

I can't imagine doing any sort of sprint time trial without at least a few kilometers rowed and/or some lifting beforehand.

[Willy.VdW]

Here another Diesel speaking, why focus on improving something that isn't your strength and outside your natural inclination? I let the youngsters do the short stuff, and moved to long distance rowing which suits me more and thus makes me much happier.

You are quite right!
But perhaps it will make me feel younger, even for a very short while

[Joebasscat]

As btlifter alluded to, a warmup for a tt is highly recommended and a big help to prevent injury. 2500 to 4000 meters personally. Mostly slow stuff with probably 3 burst of 10 -15 strokes to get everything lubed up.

[Sakly]

Same here, another diesel. Short stuff is my kryptonite, long warmups work best, but at least a 2k with few bursts.

[aussie nick]

Fellow diesel here...

lolol. Also....

60s: 423m
500: 1:11.9

[Sakly]

Fellow diesel here...

lolol. Also....

60s: 423m
500: 1:11.9

10k: 34:15
HM: 1:13:30.0

Put it into relation.
There are also bi-turbo diesels...

[jamesg]

500m is a long way and needs a plan. The plan is train your stroke technique so that you can pull full length and full force at all ratings. This may take a few months. Then do it at 32-33 which is low enough to allow survival even after two minutes of it.

On low rate training days after about ten minutes you could be warm enough to do a test to see where you are. It doesn't have to be 500m first time.

Diesel means a long strong stroke that produces power even at low rate. AKA rowing. If that's your label, well done. It doesn't mean you can't do it at high rate: just shorten the recovery time, simple.

[Willy.VdW]

Thanks for all the advices.
I will do a long warm-up session before beginning the trail.
And I will follow jamesg's plan to get there.
Being a beginner and lacking any kind of turbo, It wíll take a few months of hard work.
No problem, the more effort it takes, the greater the satisfaction when it is achieved

[GlennUk]

500m is a long way and needs a plan. The plan is train your stroke technique so that you can pull full length and full force at all ratings. This may take a few months. Then do it at 32-33 which is low enough to allow survival even after two minutes of it.

On low rate training days after about ten minutes you could be warm enough to do a test to see where you are. It doesn't have to be 500m first time.

Diesel means a long strong stroke that produces power even at low rate. AKA rowing. If that's your label, well done. It doesn't mean you can't do it at high rate: just shorten the recovery time, simple.

James

thanks for that, that info is a really useful reminder about strategy for 500m. Ive been training for 100m and because i havent ranked any 'short distances' for some years i dont really have an idea about paciong, but as you rightly point out isnt just the pace that will give an issue if the spm is too high.