New Personal Best! Brag About That New Pb!

[VeloMark]

Progress has slowed to a trickle, but... progress is progress!

Today was 2K test #7 - I'm really starting to dread these! Probably means I'm ready to switch from my admittedly whimsical race focus, to the foundation building I know I'll need if I ever want to break 7 minutes. I'll do my first race in two weeks, then it'll be time, mentally and physically, for several months of more tempo and threshold type work.

2K progress from starting on the erg:

Test #1 - 16 July 7:47.4
Test #2 - 18 Aug 7:24.9
Test #3 - 22 Sept 7:16.7
Test #4 - 20 Oct 7:13.4
Test #5 - 17 Nov 7:11.8
Test #6 - 22 Dec 7:08.5

Today:
Fletcher's 2K race warm up for 1:46.5 pace, then...

Test #7 - 19 Jan 7:07.5

Time Meters Pace Watts Cal/Hr S/M
7:07.5 2,000m 1:46.8 287 1285 37 154
1:47.6 500m 1:47.6 281 1266 36 148
1:46.7 1,000m 1:46.7 288 1290 37 155
1:46.2 1,500m 1:46.2 292 1304 38 156
1:47.0 2,000m 1:47.0 286 1282 39 157

I'd planned to pace 1:48, 1:47, 1:47, 1:46, but was concerned that if I did well I'd be tempted to race starting @ 1:47. So I decided to start today @ 1:47.5. It turned out to be too fast, but I'm glad I experimented in training, freeing me up to start my race @ 1:48 without second guessing myself.

I suspect my times starting @ 1:48 or 1:47.5 would end up pretty similar, but I'd prefer to finish out my final 500 strong.

[mdpfirrman]

@ Mark - Congrats! That's still a PB and an improvement. Your times astound me at your weight (and age too)! Your cardio history must be pretty impressive. Nice work!

@ Rob - I totally missed that 10K! Nice work! I'm like Tom, I'd rather rate low than high. I'm a work in progress in that regard (but the opposite of you). Good to be able to do both. That's a very hard row, so kudos to you! I plan on attacking my own 10K times after my race in a few weeks, though I detest long, hard rows.

[VeloMark]

@ Mark - Congrats! That's still a PB and an improvement. Your times astound me at your weight (and age too)! Your cardio history must be pretty impressive. Nice work!

Thanks Mike! Your rowing and support have been key motivators these past few months. I really appreciate your comments and insightful posts regard your own progress. And yes, 15 years of competitive cycling, averaging ~10,000 miles/year in training, with a couple of top 10 finishes @ road Nationals, has given me a pretty solid aerobic base. But, as you know, cycling isn't rowing. So while my aerobic base helped me progress quickly to this point, I'm going to have to work hard to better apply it on the erg, not to mention developing the power so key to rowing well (from a skinny cyclist body).

I will be putting more of my energy into preparing for the upcoming road racing season soon, so not sure how my rowing training will look, but I'd like to work on form and longer rows through the summer - With the goal of breaking 7 minutes next season.

I think we're racing the same weekend next month. Your positive outlook of racing many guys about your speed has convinced me that, even though the one local race around here each year is heavyweight only, it will be good for me to have several guys about my speed to possibly push me to a PB. Good luck next month!

[RWAGR]

@Tom- true, but I suspect given your other times that your 10k PB is substantially out of date.
@Mike- thanks so much!

[OtwSL]

Well done Mark! Sub 7:05 next.

[VeloMark]

Well done Mark! Sub 7:05 next.

Thanks Scott. I'd be Over the Moon with sub 7:05, but am feeling slightly discouraged in that I may be reaching the limit of what I can do on 3 days/week erging. I know I need to up my rowing if I want to continue to improve, it's just not possible right now. I plan to keep at it, but may have to be satisfied with very small improvements going forward.

I do feel I've got room to improve my stroke, and certainly could add some muscle, so maybe after my race I can focus some energy in those areas.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to have come as far as I have, and look forward to that 7:05

As a side note, later this year I'll be moving to 5,500' elevation, not sure what to expect that'll do to my erg times? But it probably won't help them

[jbhop5857]

Good Day,

HM TT today that went quite well.

New PB at 1:22:48 (1:57.8)

I'll take it and a nice hot shower followed by a few ice packs and a whole lot of steak tips.

Have an awesome weekend.

David

[OtwSL]

Good Day,

HM TT today that went quite well.

New PB at 1:22:48 (1:57.8)

I'll take it and a nice hot shower followed by a few ice packs and a whole lot of steak tips.

Have an awesome weekend.

David

Wow. I thought you just did one! Impressive PB!

[Dangerscouse]

@ David, you're rate of improvement is astounding. Congrats on the PB

[jbhop5857]

@otw - Thanks - yes. I did one last week. However, I find, the longer the piece, the more room for micro adjustments that lead to a lower piece.

@danger - Thank you.

David

[kerosene]

New 10K PB: 39:29.4 (1:58.4 pace)
20 sec improvement over the old PB which was not full effort though.
Did it at work place gym and didn’t get the details.
Held 1:58 average till 8K mark but had to back of a bit to 1:59s and 2:00s. Was able to pick up a little on last 1000 and with only few hundred left squeezed it under 39:30. Very happy that I am making progress after so-so autumn.

[jbhop5857]

@kerosene - Awesome. Being under 2:00/500 is an awesome feeling.

Well done,

David

[Dangerscouse]

Well done on the PB Kerosene. That's a great effort

[chrisl]

Nice one kerosene, one day I hope to join you in a sub-2 10k

[G-dub]

Very nice work Kerosene! Nice to see the fruits of the labor