So, here's my contribution to the Ranger debate

[ranger]

so, 2 questions:
- what stage are you in now?
- what is the definition of "mastering" for each stage?

(3) Row fast (at high rates)

ranger

[ranger]

Would you care to define "various races", "this year" (do you mean 2009), "well short", "targets", "fully trained"

I am now sharpening (and getting to weight).

I will be racing various distances on a regular basis for the next five months, leading up to WIRC.

My targets have been in my signature for several years.

I am fully trained when my times plateau during sharpening.

If my times keep coming down, I am still getting training effects and will keep racing until they plateau.

If I meet one or more of my targets, I win the second half of my bet with hjs.

If I don't meet any of my targets ("fall short" of all of my targets), nothing happens.

I have already lost the first half of my bet with hjs.

ranger

[hjs]

Over the next couple of week, I think I do it for 20K and win my bet with hjs.

In all seriousness, under what circumstances would you concede that hjs has won the bet?

when hell freezes over

Out bet was about last season. But even this fact is not a fact for the luny one

[ranger]

Over the next couple of week, I think I do it for 20K and win my bet with hjs.

In all seriousness, under what circumstances would you concede that hjs has won the bet?

when hell freezes over

Out bet was about last season. But even this fact is not a fact for the luny one

No, the second half of the bet was not about last season.

It was left open--indefinitely.

If I _ever_ reach one of my targets, I win.

ranger

[hjs]

In all seriousness, under what circumstances would you concede that hjs has won the bet?

when hell freezes over

Out bet was about last season. But even this fact is not a fact for the luny one

No, the second half of the bet was not about last season.
It was left open--indefinitely.
If I _ever_ reach one of my targets, I win.

ranger

which half of season 2008/09 is not over yet

[sheehc]

2 days left in September. Times running out on those 8x500's to be done by the end of the month.

[chgoss]

so, 2 questions:
Got it
(1) Row effectively (at low rates).
(2) Row efficiently (at 30 spm).
(3) Row fast/sharpen (2 month's, at high rates).
(4) Race

so, 2 questions:
- what stage are you in now?
- what is the definition of "mastering" for each stage?

(3) Row fast (at high rates)

ranger

I am now sharpening (and getting to weight).

I will be racing various distances on a regular basis for the next five months, leading up to WIRC.

So, you have completed steps 1 and 2, and you are in the final stage (sharpening), which has a very finite time period of 2 month's (which is significant, as I know you feel that most folks "sharpen all the time", which is detrimental).
Excellant, congratulations.

Last question: having now completed steps 1 and 2, are you now "fully trained"?

[chgoss]

so, 2 questions:
Got it
(1) Row effectively (at low rates).
(2) Row efficiently (at 30 spm).
(3) Row fast/sharpen (2 month's, at high rates).
(4) Race

so, 2 questions:
- what stage are you in now?
- what is the definition of "mastering" for each stage?

(3) Row fast (at high rates)

ranger

I am now sharpening (and getting to weight).

I will be racing various distances on a regular basis for the next five months, leading up to WIRC.

So, you have completed steps 1 and 2, and you are in the final stage (sharpening), which has a very finite time period of 2 month's (which is significant, as I know you feel that most folks "sharpen all the time", which is detrimental).
Excellant, congratulations.

Last question: having now completed steps 1 and 2, are you now "fully trained"?

oops, I am guilty of not reading the other posts, you answered the question: You are considered "fully trained" when sharpening has completed it's task (~2 month's).

So, I assume you are following the same sharpening regimine that produced such good results before?

I sharpened in the winter of 2002, the summer of 2003, and the winter of 2003.

Those are the _only_ times I have sharpened.

Same result each time.

I get about a dozen seconds over 2K from a month or two of hard sharpening.

[ranger]

Last question: having now completed steps 1 and 2, are you now "fully trained"?

No, sharpening ("going fast") is part of training, although a kind of no-brainer part.

Sharpening brings your anaerobic capacities up to speed.

As far as I can tell, everyone sharpens in the same way and with the same effect--about a dozen seconds over 2K.

In sharpening, you just go flat out in various ways--long intervals, short intervals, distance trials, sprint trials, 2K trials, etc.

ranger

[ranger]

So, I assume you are following the same sharpening regimine that produced such good results before?

Everyone sharpens in the same way.

There is only one way to sharpen.

Go fast--as fast as you can, in as many ways as you can, as often as you can.

Trade rate for pace.

Bust it.

Race your training.

The only thing that matters in sharpening is time over distance rowed.

ranger

[ranger]

This is an important fact, I think.

No one wins a race because of their sharpening.

All races are won by those who row more effectively, more efficiently, or in the normal case, both.

ranger

[chgoss]

Excellant, so, you've laid out this plan:

(1) Row effectively (at low rates).
(2) Row efficiently (at 30 spm).
(3) Row fast/sharpen (2 month's at most, most people make the mistake of "racing their training" and spend all their time doing this, at high rates).
(4) Race

- You've confirmed that you are currently in Step 3. Meaning that your training currently is "going as fast as you can, at various distances".
- You are expecting a decline in 12 seconds on your 2k effort
- Since you've indicated that you are currently in Step 3 (sharpening), this decline in 2k time will occur over the 2 month period: Sept-Oct 2009.
- you will be "fully trained" in December of this year, 2009

[bloomp]

The WP does not continuously 'sharpen', in fact the majority of it's meters are done 16/18/20spm, in the level 4 pieces.

[chgoss]

This is an important fact, I think.

No one wins a race because of their sharpening.

All races are won by those who row more effectively, more efficiently, or in the normal case, both.

ranger

I completely agree, and, for sure, we have identified why your training hasnt reached the stated goal for a particular year since the winter of 2003.

Here's your plan:
(1) Row effectively (at low rates).
(2) Row efficiently (at 30 spm).
(3) Row fast/sharpen (2 month's at most, most people make the mistake of "racing their training" and spend all their time doing this, at high rates).
(4) Race

Clearly, if you havent completed the work for #1 and #2, and you just rush into #3, you arent going to reach your goal.
After all, as you point out, sharpening has a specific gain, 12 seconds.

Said another way, if you arent within 12 seconds of your goal, you shouldnt start sharpening.

And, that's been your problem since winter 2003. You havent been finishing the work of #1 and #2. You just keep rushing into #3 before you're ready.

A person has to be willing to grind out the monitinous, boring, hard work of #1 and #2. You have to be willing to pay the price in preparation!

[mrfit]

So, chgoss, this 6:28 pre sharpening row must be pretty important at this point?