The Road to Boston 2007

Kinley · Post by **Kinley** » February 18th, 2007, 2:54 pm

Carla, I am quite certain you will be one of the highly seeded rowers, which means you will be in the front row of ergs, facing the stands. The bottom of the PM3 is devoted to race info: you'll see the name of the race leader, the woman immediately in front of you, your name, and the woman immediately behind, along with the distance interval (how many meters ahead/behind). There used to be an illustration of the race set-up on the UK site, but I haven't been able to find it this year. Maybe you can.

The race starts with a tone that can be heard throughout the arena. You won't miss it. I've been hearing it in my sleep.

I recall that last year people schlepped their gym bags with them everywhere they went, so I don't think there is locker access. (I avoided this fate by stashing my pack at the booth of a vendor with whom I'm friendly). Leave your bricks & lead plates at home.

I 'm sure others will be along to answer the rest of your questions. I don't know anything about warm up ergs, because after I'd played the fish game at the C2 booth, and tried Erg Monitor at Paul Smith's booth, I decided I was ready to go.

>>>-------> Kinley

coggs · Post by **coggs** » February 18th, 2007, 3:05 pm

>>The bottom of the PM3 is devoted to race info: you'll see the name of the race leader, the woman immediately in front of you, your name, and the woman immediately behind, along with the distance interval (how many meters ahead/behind).<<

That's nice to know. My eysight is poor so I almost always keep my PM3 in the non split screen mode so I can see the important numbers. Guess I'll have to get a bungee strap for my reading glasses. I'd rather not have the distraction of seeing who's catching me or who I am catching. Nice for those going for a podium position I guess, but I'm more concerned about my own pace.

There are supposedly a fair number of ergs in a warm up area. Priority is given to those in the next few groups scheduled to compete.

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 18th, 2007, 3:24 pm

OK, so you get to your race erg 5 min before the race. How many seconds do you have to sit ready before GO? Does it say Sit Ready, Set and the Go on your PM3? and then the time starts even if you don't, I assume, like after a rest interval.

I am going to practice race starts a bit this week as I'm horrible at them.

Coggs, I agree with you, I think seeing everyone else will screw me up because if I don't stick strictly with my own plan I will get psyched out or make me want to pass people when I shouldn't yet. But I guess that is what makes this a race instead of a workout at home.

Did 1 x 4' TR instead of 3' because I wanted to have it be further than 1/2 way through a 2K. It pretty much reinforces my race pace of 1:51.5 as I did it in 1:52/31 (1071 m) so hopefully with a sprint at the end it'll come out OK.

Thanks, Kinley, see you in Boston--it will be nice to see another friendly face! I am going to see if I can find that picture. The more I can get familiar with everything the easier this will be. Hope your training has been going well!

coggs · Post by **coggs** » February 18th, 2007, 3:39 pm

>OK, so you get to your race erg 5 min before the race. How many seconds do you have to sit ready before GO? Does it say Sit Ready, Set and the Go on your PM3? <

On-line video I've seen shows rowers being able to do a few minutes of warm up on the competition floor. Then they make an announcement to go handle down, wait about 30 seconds for flywheels to stop, and then go into the starting sequence calls. With only 15' between starts if you are like me that doesn't leave enough time to warm up on the competition floor so I need to find the warm up area.

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 18th, 2007, 7:28 pm

I need about 5K and 25 minutes. I start out ridiculously slow and at every 500 m do a 100m at a faster pace until at the end I do one 100m a few secs slower than race pace, with maybe 1 or 2 strokes at race pace (since this is mostly what I do at home before workouts, whatever the goal pace for that work out is). The 400ms between are pokey, like a UT2 pace. The only other time I've raced I only got about 3500m of it done and really hadn't gotten anywhere near what I needed to so I know now to really allow myself time for it.

TomR · Post by **TomR** » February 18th, 2007, 10:41 pm

Last year there were plenty of warm up ergs. I finished a 25-min warm-up a bit before the previous race ended. Men's room. On to my erg, paddle. Pull a couple of hard strokes. Sit.

My cox a couple of years ago was brilliant and aggressive. Last year's was quieter, but I was going nowhwere fast, so that wasn't an issue. I think you can have your own cox, but am not sure.

At the start you want to get off quickly because the clock starts even if you don't pull the handle. It can be disheartening to see a first pull of 2.45 or some such and have to take extra strokes to work down to goal pace.

I recall that a year or two ago, Rick said he was slow off the mark, but he was dogged about hitting his goal. Perhaps he can explain how the damn start works.

Relax, the worst that can happen is you start slow, pee your pants, go too fast trying to make up time, turn blue, and vomit.

Anne · Post by **Anne** » February 18th, 2007, 10:48 pm

My best advice for the week before the race is to avoid germs....stay healthy, don't get a cold and then feel good and rested for the event!

Go get' em!! Darn, I sure wish I could be with you! Next year!

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 18th, 2007, 11:49 pm

Anne wrote:Darn, I sure wish I could be with you!

Funny....I was just thinking the same thing....

George Dunning · Post by **George Dunning** » February 19th, 2007, 3:21 am

good luck guys and gals

- I admire your perseverance to the PLAN

george

whaskell · Post by **whaskell** » February 19th, 2007, 6:48 am

Saturday
10min WU 2253m
Target AT 10min/1:52/27spm
10min/1:52/26spm/2678m
10min CD 2253m

XC Ski for 60min in afternoon - legs tired

Sunday
5min WU 1131m
Race 7200m/1:51.9/26:52.1

Monday
10min WU 2166m
Target TR 1x3min/1:45/32spm
3min/1:44.4/33/862m

Ahhhh... I broke taper and raced on Sunday. But it felt great... Now its time to refresh the legs for next Sunday.

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » February 19th, 2007, 9:07 am

a 7200m race? odd distance, that!

Hi George! We're almost there!

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » February 19th, 2007, 1:37 pm

GeorgeNZ wrote:good luck guys and gals :!: - I admire your perseverance to the PLAN :D

george

Wish you could be there with us, George. And thanks for starting this thread. It has been a fine motivator for me and, I believe, for others as well.

Bob S.

whaskell · Post by **whaskell** » February 19th, 2007, 1:54 pm

I can honestly say I have not raced 7200m before Sunday. It was a challenge race for the Sub 7 group. Something different...

Its been almost 26 weeks since starting the IP. We'll see what happens on Sunday to see how effective it has been. I generally like the structured approach over the haphazard approach I have followed in previous years. I'm just not sure it has improved my fitness (and speed) any more than the haphazard approach did in the past.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » February 19th, 2007, 2:50 pm

Bah! I'm out. While doing some rather ordinary things yesterday (bit of shoveling, bit of driving, bit of playing with toddler grandchildren) my rib injury worsened again to a very painful state. If I can't handle as little activity as that then it would be stupid to try racing. I think I'll sign up to be a volunteer at CRASH-B's.

As for the race start, there is no trick. Just be prepared to react quickly an accept that the first splits will be much slower than you are used to seeing at home. At least knowing that it will happen should take some of the panic out of seeing slow numbers on the monitor. Realize that it is the same for everyone and that you have a long time to make up for it. Long time, you ask? Yes! Just remember how long one minute can take when you're doing 1' ANs--you'll have about 7 of them.

I hope to be able to make my way around the venue and shout encouragement to those who will be giving it a go. See y'all there.

Rick

coggs · Post by **coggs** » February 19th, 2007, 3:16 pm

Boy, that s*cks. We all know how hard you train and what you are capable of. Guess there is always next year. Enjoy your time off and hope you are feeling better soon. And get a snowblower!

I'll be in the 50-54 heavyweight group with the red bandana. Feel free to yell at me. Goal is 7:02-7:04 but you never know.

Can you expand on why the first few pulls will show up slower than at home? I assume because (unless you are really good at nailing the start right at the tone) the clock actually starts a fraction of a second before you take your first pull.

I can usually get to my race pace (around 1:45) in 6 or 7 strokes. 8 or 10 pulls won't bother me, but if it takes me 45 seconds to get down to my pace then I can blame you?