Ranger's training thread

[ranger]

Last year, in the male veterans/60s race at the Head of the Charles, only two boats were faster than 2:03 pace, Anderson and Meyer, and, even so, Anderson and Meyer were both _very_ fast, given historical norms.

In most cases, 2:03 pace is fast enough to win the male Veterans/60s race at the Head of the Charles.

At 15 seconds per 500m over erg times, 2:03 pace at the Head of the Charles is the equivalent of a 5K @ 1:48 OTErg.

My target this year for 5K OTErg is 1:39.

OTErg, I'll race 5K at 30 spm, not 23 spm.

Hopefully, I can also get the rate up to 30 spm for 5K OTW.

We'll soon see!

ranger

[PaulH]

So what's the response? You said your work on technique OTW was done, and then said that you didn't say that. So how do you account for that?

[nharrigan]

Ranger- You're almost out of time for HOCR registration.

17:50 that would be a very good result.
http://www.hocr.org/results/results_static.asp

[ranger]

So what's the response? You said your work on technique OTW was done, and then said that you didn't say that. So how do you account for that?

It's one thing to be a coach and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it sometimes but not all the time.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it most of the time but not all of the time.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time but not easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time--and easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

ranger

[ranger]

Ranger- You're almost out of time for HOCR registration.

17:50 that would be a very good result.
http://www.hocr.org/results/results_static.asp

You mean 19:50.

But no matter.

I have already registered.

Yes.

I think I can do just fine this year.

But I have no expectations/hopes one way or another.

I'll just try my best.

Given my lack of experience, certain things about a congested, difficult head race could turn out to be impossible for me.

But my basic technique is now up to it, and fitness is no problem.

With my Fluid, I now have appropriate equipment, too.

ranger

[bellboy]

Ranger- You're almost out of time for HOCR registration.

17:50 that would be a very good result.
http://www.hocr.org/results/results_static.asp

You mean 19:50.

But no matter.

I have already registered.

Yes.

I think I can do just fine this year.

But I have no expectations/hopes one way or another.

I'll just try my best.

Given my lack of experience, certain things about a congested, difficult head race could turn out to be impossible for me.

But my basic technique is now up to it, and fitness is no problem.

With my Fluid, I now have appropriate equipment, too.

ranger

Ok then kids. Shall we start taking bets on which excuse he will use when he doesn't show up? There won't be snow so i'm going for a tornado with hail the size of canned hams.

[ausrwr]

I'm going for a tornado spitting out hams.

It's one thing to be a coach and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

Well, you USED to be able to do it. Who's dumb enough to listen to you as a coach?

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

Again, you USED to be able to do it. Can't anymore though.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it sometimes but not all the time.

That's called "rowing with breaks", I believe.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it most of the time but not all of the time.

Rowing with breaks, again.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time but not easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

This has moved beyond rowing with breaks to "talking absolute shit".

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time--and easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

If we could take out the "to know what to do", we'd be fine. You "do it all of the time". Unfortunately, this involves: lying, dissimulating, partial truths, and bullshtting. All of the time.

How does it feel to know that you'll never show up to race, ever again?

[Byron Drachman]

April 5, 2011: I just need to pay attention to steering more closely in head races. There will no problem with this at all.

May 30, 2011: No, looking over your shoulder frequently is not the most important skill in rowing OTW. In fact, relative to other matters, it is so insignificant that it is almost entirely irrelevant. That's why I haven't paid any attention to it.

Given my lack of experience, certain things about a congested, difficult head race could turn out to be impossible for me.

[PaulH]

So what's the response? You said your work on technique OTW was done, and then said that you didn't say that. So how do you account for that?

It's one thing to be a coach and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

At this point a rower is certainly still learning to row.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it sometimes but not all the time.

At this point it's in the balance - I'd say a rower who can do this isn't still learning, but I can see the argument that they are.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it most of the time but not all of the time.

And here is where a rower is definitely not still learning to row.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time but not easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time--and easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

So we now know where ranger claims to be with his rowing - he knows what to do, but can't do it most of the time. That sounds like the perfect description of a HOCR winner, wouldn't you say?

[Citroen]

That sounds like the perfect description of a HOCR winner, wouldn't you say?

He won't row the HOCR. He hasn't answered Mike VB's question about "how many digits in the HOCR confirmation code". He hasn't even entered, he'll be spouting excuses around the time the event should take place. Perhaps we should have a sweepstake on what the excuse will refer to - my prediction is that his boat will develop a leak to prevent him competing.

[ranger]

So what's the response? You said your work on technique OTW was done, and then said that you didn't say that. So how do you account for that?

It's one thing to be a coach and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do but be unable to do it.

At this point a rower is certainly still learning to row.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it sometimes but not all the time.

At this point it's in the balance - I'd say a rower who can do this isn't still learning, but I can see the argument that they are.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it most of the time but not all of the time.

And here is where a rower is definitely not still learning to row.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time but not easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

It's another thing to be a rower and to know what to do and to do it all of the time--and easily, automatically, without thinking about it.

Your definition of _learning_ is too abstract to be of any use or relevance.

Live and learn, I guess.

I would guess that all sorts of veterans have "learned" how to row well in your definition of the learning process.

Nonetheless, none ever have.

60s veterans have missed rowing well by seven seconds per 500m, 4 SPI, 100 watts, a mile over 60min, etc.

ranger

[ranger]

So we now know where ranger claims to be with his rowing - he knows what to do, but can't do it most of the time. That sounds like the perfect description of a HOCR winner, wouldn't you say

Indeed it does.

My technical standard for my rowing OTErg is 13 SPI.

My technical standard for my rowing OTW is 8 SPI.

OTErg, most 60s lwts pull 9 SPI.

And OTW, 7 SPI (e.g., 1:59 @ 30 spm) would be entirely adequate in order to win the Veterans race at the Head of the Charles.

No reason to stop working on technique when you still row badly, though.

Impatience never got anything done right.

Races are won in training, not on race day.

ranger

[ranger]

He hasn't answered Mike VB's question about "how many digits in the HOCR confirmation code".

Yes, I did.

Eleven.

ranger

[ranger]

If we could take out the "to know what to do", we'd be fine. You "do it all of the time". Unfortunately, this involves: lying, dissimulating, partial truths, and bullshtting. All of the time.

So you presume, but with no evidence.

Luckily, there is no reason to speculate at this late date.

My training is over.

I now row well (13 SPI) at low drag (120 df.).

I am now just preparing to race.

From here on out, my races will provide the evidence for the "truthfulness" of my training.

My first trial/race OTErg will be a FM, 1:48 @ 23 spm (12 SPI), 120 df.

If I get this done, it will be six seconds per 500m faster than my pb of ten years ago.

It will best the _heavyweight_ 60s FM WR by six seconds per 500m and will be a full dozen seconds per 500m better than any 60s lightweight has ever rowed for a FM.

And then there is this:

It will predict a 1:34/6:16 2K.

A FM is done pretty close to a UT2 HR.

It is just a lot of UT2 rowing--necessarily, given the distance and duration.

A UT2 pace of 1:48 predicts a 1:33/6:12 2K.

UT2 is 2K + 15.

A FM is done at 2K + 14.

Given that my FM pb from 10 years ago is 1:54, if I now pull a FM @ 1:48, it will exceed expectations for 10 seconds per 500m.

The normal decline with age among veterans in the decade of their 50s is four seconds per 500m.

So, the prediction now, given normal decline with age, is that I should pull a FM @ 1:58.

Sure.

1:58 is still a fine FM for a 60s lwt.

It is two seconds per 500m under the 60s lwt FM WR.

But it emphatically _isn't_ 1:48.

1:48 is Slocum's long-standing 50s _heavyweight_ FM WR.

If I indeed do a FM @ 1:48, I couldn't possibly have made such a massive improvement in my rowing if I hadn't done exactly the training I have described here (and elsewhere)--day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.

So, no need to speculate.

The whole issue will soon be decided by deeds, not talk.

ranger

[ranger]

On the UK forum, Rocket Roy posted an interesting shot of a stroke from a pb 30min row he did a couple of years ago.

He did the row 1:48 @ 30 spm (9.3 SPI) in a 2-to-1 ratio at 128 df.

This underlines the effects of stroking power and drag on ratio.

I'll do my FM trial 1:48 @ 23 spm (12 SPI) in a 4-to-1 ratio.

When I am rating 30 spm, as in a 5K trial, I will be going 1:39 in a 3-to-1 ratio.

I am not in a 2-to-1 ratio until I am going 1:30 @ 40 spm (12 SPI).

Food for thought.

As in many other things, too, in rowing, the good get better.

If you improve one thing, other things improve, too.

And so forth.

ranger