New Personal Best! Brag About That New Pb!

[HornetMaX]

Of course, you will need to do it again to go under 3 hrs

Of course. We're all masochists after all.

You must have had a hard time for the last 4 to 5km...

Regardless of missing your target, this is a great effort especially considering everything you went through, and that last 10k can be a total minefield.

Of the 3 FM I've done, this one was the most comfortable, by a wide margin.
Yes, last 6Km I had to seriously slow down, but I wasn't totally dying. Not even close to the level of discomfort of a 2K (at least for me).

Even the aftermath was uneventful: most annoying thing is probably the two big blisters in places I didn't strap (lesson learnt).
This morning I'm basically as good as new and I could go for a session (maybe not a hard one). But I won't. Break time

[p_b82]

The kind of gift you're only 95% happy about, and the missing 5% *really* bothers you: FM PB down from 3:11:18 to 3:00:24.

For a longer chit-chat on how it went, see this forum post:

Code: Select all

Time 		Meters 		Pace 	Watts 	Cal/Hr 	S/M 	HR
3:00:24.1 	42,195m 	2:08.2 	166 	870 	24 	159
16:55.1 	4,000m 		2:06.8 	171 	889 	23 	150
16:58.0 	8,000m 		2:07.2 	170 	884 	24 	154
16:58.8 	12,000m 	2:07.3 	169 	883 	25 	156
16:56.4 	16,000m 	2:07.0 	171 	887 	25 	156
16:57.0 	20,000m 	2:07.1 	170 	886 	25 	159
16:58.6 	24,000m 	2:07.3 	170 	883 	25 	162
16:58.0 	28,000m 	2:07.2 	170 	884 	25 	163
17:01.6 	32,000m 	2:07.7 	168 	878 	25 	162
17:05.1 	36,000m 	2:08.1 	166 	872 	25 	168
17:41.2 	40,000m 	2:12.6 	150 	816 	26 	160
9:54.4 		42,195m 	2:15.3 	141 	785 	26 	163

I can see how much that last couple of splits must have hurt - so really well done for pushing though - and a big pb and being disappointed is always a great motivator for next time!

congrats!

[Gustel]

I finished my rowing calendar year with a FM PB. New PB is 2:53:47 which is a nice improvement over my old one (2:57:37.7).

Last week’s preparation for it was not great. I had planned to do it already two days ago, but failed to complete it. I went out fast (2:00 pace) and then lost all motivation at the HM distance. My HR was still below 150 and there was no physical pain at all. I just gave up. Here is the summary of it:

Time Meters Pace Watts Cal/Hr S/M
1:25:12.5 21,134m 2:00.9 198 980 24 146

I was really surprised by it. I then gave already up on my plan to row another FM in 2023 and started eating Christmas food and drinking nice wine.

But yesterday I felt really annoyed and decided to try it today once more but without any pacing targets. I decided to row the first part strapless as an experiment and also to distract myself. It worked well until the HM distance. Then again I really struggled to keep going. HR was 144 and I had no muscle pain. This time I was better prepared mentally. I strapped my feet in and just kept going with whatever pace felt right. Below are the details of that.

Time Meters Pace Watts Cal/Hr S/M
2:53:47.0 42,195m 2:03.5 186 938 24 145
10:04.9 2,500m 2:00.9 198 980 23 146
10:06.5 5,000m 2:01.3 196 974 23 145
10:06.3 7,500m 2:01.2 196 975 23 147
10:05.8 10,000m 2:01.1 197 977 23 146
10:09.3 12,500m 2:01.8 193 965 24 146
10:11.3 15,000m 2:02.2 192 959 24 147
10:12.6 17,500m 2:02.5 190 954 24 146
10:16.0 20,000m 2:03.2 187 944 24 144
10:35.7 22,500m 2:07.1 170 886 24 143
10:20.2 25,000m 2:04.0 183 931 25 143
10:26.3 27,500m 2:05.2 178 912 25 143
10:07.5 30,000m 2:01.5 195 971 26 147
10:32.1 32,500m 2:06.4 173 896 25 146
10:25.8 35,000m 2:05.1 179 914 25 142
10:28.8 37,500m 2:05.7 176 905 24 146
10:31.1 40,000m 2:06.2 174 899 24 145
9:06.8 42,195m 2:04.5 181 923 24 151

[Sakly]

I finished my rowing calendar year with a FM PB. New PB is 2:53:47 which is a nice improvement over my old one (2:57:37.7).

Last week’s preparation for it was not great. I had planned to do it already two days ago, but failed to complete it. I went out fast (2:00 pace) and then lost all motivation at the HM distance. My HR was still below 150 and there was no physical pain at all. I just gave up. Here is the summary of it:

Time Meters Pace Watts Cal/Hr S/M
1:25:12.5 21,134m 2:00.9 198 980 24 146

I was really surprised by it. I then gave already up on my plan to row another FM in 2023 and started eating Christmas food and drinking nice wine.

But yesterday I felt really annoyed and decided to try it today once more but without any pacing targets. I decided to row the first part strapless as an experiment and also to distract myself. It worked well until the HM distance. Then again I really struggled to keep going. HR was 144 and I had no muscle pain. This time I was better prepared mentally. I strapped my feet in and just kept going with whatever pace felt right. Below are the details of that.

Time Meters Pace Watts Cal/Hr S/M
2:53:47.0 42,195m 2:03.5 186 938 24 145
10:04.9 2,500m 2:00.9 198 980 23 146
10:06.5 5,000m 2:01.3 196 974 23 145
10:06.3 7,500m 2:01.2 196 975 23 147
10:05.8 10,000m 2:01.1 197 977 23 146
10:09.3 12,500m 2:01.8 193 965 24 146
10:11.3 15,000m 2:02.2 192 959 24 147
10:12.6 17,500m 2:02.5 190 954 24 146
10:16.0 20,000m 2:03.2 187 944 24 144
10:35.7 22,500m 2:07.1 170 886 24 143
10:20.2 25,000m 2:04.0 183 931 25 143
10:26.3 27,500m 2:05.2 178 912 25 143
10:07.5 30,000m 2:01.5 195 971 26 147
10:32.1 32,500m 2:06.4 173 896 25 146
10:25.8 35,000m 2:05.1 179 914 25 142
10:28.8 37,500m 2:05.7 176 905 24 146
10:31.1 40,000m 2:06.2 174 899 24 145
9:06.8 42,195m 2:04.5 181 923 24 151

Nice
Good story too
Congratulations on the big improvement!

[Gustel]

Nice
Good story too
Congratulations on the big improvement!

Thanks. I am happy that I tried it again and managed to complete it. Still, it feels like unfinished business what the pacing is concerned. I guess that‘s good motivation for next year.

[Kerry1960]

Fantastic effort Gustel. Well done
Agree with Sascha, nice story too.

[Sakly]

Nice
Good story too
Congratulations on the big improvement!

Thanks. I am happy that I tried it again and managed to complete it. Still, it feels like unfinished business what the pacing is concerned. I guess that‘s good motivation for next year.

My FM was kind of flipped to yours regarding pace, as I wasn't sure about the distance at all. I will definitely have a serious approach until end of the season, too

[Dangerscouse]

I finished my rowing calendar year with a FM PB. New PB is 2:53:47 which is a nice improvement over my old one (2:57:37.7).

That's a solid result and a really significant improvement.

Sometimes rowing without pressure can be just what you need.

[Gustel]

Fantastic effort Gustel. Well done
Agree with Sascha, nice story too.

That's a solid result and a really significant improvement.

Sometimes rowing without pressure can be just what you need.

Thank you both. I will have a break now from rowing for a few weeks and then focus on shorter distances. I have rowed almost 300k in December which is more than 100k above my monthly average.

[Sakly]

Today was the last real chance to go for the monthly team challenge, 4mins.
I have serious sore glutes and legs from Thursdays gym session, but I tried anyway, as tomorrow will be worse after todays gym session
I could improve my last PB by 17m:

Code: Select all

Time	Meters	Pace	Watts	Cal/Hr	S/M
4:00.0	1,217m	1:38.6	365	1556	27
1:00.0	306m	1:38.0	371	1578	27
2:00.0	304m	1:38.6	364	1553	27
3:00.0	301m	1:39.6	354	1516	26
4:00.0	306m	1:38.0	371	1578	30

As I was sure to not be able to rate up, I chose a high drag (160) to rate low and thought about 1:38-39, which turned out well.
On a recovered day probably a second faster could be in there. But for today I'm satisfied

[Dangerscouse]

Today was the last real chance to go for the monthly team challenge, 4mins.
I have serious sore glutes and legs from Thursdays gym session, but I tried anyway, as tomorrow will be worse after todays gym session
I could improve my last PB by 17m:

Code: Select all

Time	Meters	Pace	Watts	Cal/Hr	S/M
4:00.0	1,217m	1:38.6	365	1556	27
1:00.0	306m	1:38.0	371	1578	27
2:00.0	304m	1:38.6	364	1553	27
3:00.0	301m	1:39.6	354	1516	26
4:00.0	306m	1:38.0	371	1578	30

As I was sure to not be able to rate up, I chose a high drag (160) to rate low and thought about 1:38-39, which turned out well.
On a recovered day probably a second faster could be in there. But for today I'm satisfied

Well done mate, I'm sure you can get under 1:38 too.

[Sakly]

Well done mate, I'm sure you can get under 1:38 too.

Thx Stu, bad timing throughout the whole month destroyed any chance to focus on CTC and TOC, so I'll take it for now
Also no other attempt today, as I feel pretty wasted from the whole session, but some light meters to finish the year

How about your health status? Read it is no covid, but serious symptoms anyway?

[p_b82]

I finished my rowing calendar year with a FM PB. New PB is 2:53:47 which is a nice improvement over my old one (2:57:37.7).

Congrats - a FM pb after a recent HD attempt after christmas indulgence is a cracking achievement!

Today was the last real chance to go for the monthly team challenge, 4mins.
I have serious sore glutes and legs from Thursdays gym session, but I tried anyway, as tomorrow will be worse after todays gym session
I could improve my last PB by 17m:

Good job!

I managed a tough feeling 20mins yesterday - no way am I looking at any pb's post christmas!

[Dangerscouse]

How about your health status? Read it is no covid, but serious symptoms anyway?

The test was negative, but there are false negative results, and as the symptoms were very similar to when I did have it, it was definitely Covid-like whatever I had. Tbh, I'm not bothered about labelling what it was, as long as I know what to do so I can recover quicker and there's no lingering effects.

I might try and do a short gentle row tomorrow, as I'm improving, but I'm not there yet. I went food shopping and felt a little bit exhausted after carrying heavyish bags, which should have been no issue, so it's going to take a bit of time to get back into it.

Hopefully a decent sleep will help, and I'm starting to get my appetite back too, but I'm not going to rush anything.

[HornetMaX]

I've been a few days in Italy and there were news talking about some sort of longer-than-usual flu (not covid), reported to last up to 3 weeks (but relatively mild in terms of effects).