Pete Plan Group - Startup Aug 20th thru 22nd

[Bloodbuzz Corio]

Crushed it, John. Nice work indeed.

What he said!

Glenn I think we must be going to start hitting some times soon where days get missed, travel starts etc. Dean has obviously got back into the groove after his travel (though still has upcoming OTW racing) - I think Mike is travelling October for a week and a bit? On short notice I'm away from Friday to Sunday this weekend - may have access to an erg on Sat and Sun but there's a real chance I won't - then will definitely be missing some days in Cycle 2 Week 3 for travel.

[mdpfirrman]

I'm actually missing two full weeks at the end of October (and first week of November). By then, should have 3 full rounds done. I might take off the fourth round (or just pick up the last week of it) - assuming we're all going strong, which is assuming a lot. You will start to have people rapidly drop off (with good reason) after 2 or 3 rounds - it's very tough to sustain. I'm personally planning on doing it until my race in February, so I should get another 3 to 4 round in after I get back from vacation. I'm going to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and I've been looking for Concept2 rowers there and not having a lot of luck. Might have to settle for the crappy little gym instead at my resort and do what I can to stay in shape (lap pool and such). I haven't had a break from the rower all year so I'm using that as mine mostly. I don't anticipate another break for some time after that.

Hoping to break 7:15 (and possibly 7:10 this year) at my race in February. I have a lot of work to do to get there still.

[Slacker]

@Rohan, I'll be sure to ignore your posts, but the colorful graphs make them so tempting.

@John, Nice session. You've shaved time on all of your session so far this cycle compared to the first one. I guess that's how it is supposed to work, but I'm sure it still feels good.

@Phxrow, way to get back in the saddle.

[JohnAd]

@Ben yes it does feel good to be making progress, I've been very pleasantly surprised by how fast I'm getting back to where i was 4 years ago after I did the BPP. I'm still in charted territory though will be good to step into PB land again.

Mike, Glenn Rohan. Agree that we'll hit more holidays, travel, sickness etc. I'm planning to do full PP until early December and then maybe dial it down a bit on the effort on the hard days but be looking to maintain through to Feb when I'm planning to do an OTW course. But having said that if there is an obvious goal close, say 8k in 30' or 7 if I don't get there in Dec, I'll probably keep going. I'm on holiday late Oct early Nov and that will no doubt take a second off my pace which is why I'm trying to make hay while the sun shines. The start of a school term also usually means I'll pick up whatever is going round.

[Litewait]

PPB week 4.4 6000m

Target was 2:14, upped the DF and lowered the SPM, same result of gassing me out at 2/3's of the distance. Part of it seems mental, I've never been a "long distance" anything in sports, so I keep obsessing on how much farther I have to go. Probably why intervals seem like less of a grind the finish line always close at hand.

One thing I have been meaning to ask about running an SPM ~~ 20ish, my return the catch is herky-jerky as I try to slow myself down, I wonder if any of you have a short video clip of what an experienced erg'er looks like at a low SPM.

@everyone - thanks for the encouragement.

6,000m 26:56.3 2:14.6

Average Watts 143 Stroke Rate 21 Drag Factor 104

2:07.4 500m 2:07.4 169 881 23
2:11.5 1,000m 2:11.5 154 829 21
2:13.5 1,500m 2:13.5 147 805 22
2:12.7 2,000m 2:12.7 150 816 20
2:13.8 2,500m 2:13.8 146 802 19
2:15.8 3,000m 2:15.8 140 781 19
2:16.5 3,500m 2:16.5 138 774 21
2:17.4 4,000m 2:17.4 135 764 21
2:18.3 4,500m 2:18.3 132 754 22
2:18.4 5,000m 2:18.4 132 754 22
2:16.1 5,500m 2:16.1 139 778 22

[Bloodbuzz Corio]

John are you still planning to be at BRIC on Dec 10?

As we get closer to races I'll certainly have lots of questions for the experienced folks on tapering, plan between races and pre-race testing, but planning to save those questions for a bit closer to the time!

[JohnAd]

John are you still planning to be at BRIC on Dec 10?

Yes, really looking forward to putting some faces to names and there being some in different classes means we should get some opportunity for cheering each other on. I wasn't planning to taper any more than customising the week before, probably shifting sessions to the same sort of time as my race, practicing warm ups and starts instead of SS, Friday off that sort of thing.

[JohnAd]

Tim, well done for sticking with it, I may be a broken record on this by once you try negative splits you won't look back. My tricks for getting through the dark bits are doing some combination of the following:

The Pete game of most strokes with the same split showing. PB 23 SB 7

Working out what percentage of the row I've done or have got to go left. This one us more "fun" with odd distances like the 6500

Working out when I'm going to be 100/50/20 strokes out from some milestone and seeing if I'm right.

Closing my eyes and thinking it will be over soon.

Does anyone else have any other ways of passing the time?

[Goldenbarry]

Joe, very impressive improvements, your plateau looks a way off yet.

Barry, well done for sticking with it and it looks like a sensible row given you'e coming off the antibiotics, how did it feel?

I'm definitely not feeling all the way back but getting there. The work felt about right. Tonight I'll pick up the pace a little with the 3x8 minute optional to close out week 2.

Thanks for asking.

[G-dub]

Decided to carry on despite the drive. I have a medical fast Monday, so didn't want to get too far behind. Turned out anyway. Snagged a nice PB on 30' a full split better than previous best.

[S-man]

@Glenn, superb PB on the 30’ – you need to warm up for all your PB attempts with half the day in the car from now on
@Tim, well done for grinding the 6k out, but you really are doing it the hard way – if you did those same splits in reverse order, you’d feel miles better

Ok, today’s session. Garage was as hot as an oven this evening. That will teach me to skip the morning row
PP W4D3 – 1500 x 5 r5’ Last time I averaged 2:11.7 r23-24 so the plan was to reduce the split but keep the rate at 23 so I could work on generating power each stroke.
Intervals
1. 2:11.8 r23
2. 2:11.6 r23
3. 2:11.3 r23
4. 2:11.1 r23
5. 2:09.7 r24
Avg 2:11.1 r23

Started to feel like hard work in the second half of the last 2 intervals, but didn’t want to rate up, and tried to keep the pressure on instead. Happy with that and it’s nice to see the avg split coming down compared to 3 weeks ago.
Sanz

[G-dub]

Good stuff Sanz. How was your perceived exertion on those intervals? 8?, 9?, 10? This summer I did many of the PP endurance intervals with rate caps like you are and really think it helped my stroke and power. It gives you a different "tired" - leg tired more than lung tired! Good workout.

[S-man]

Good stuff Sanz. How was your perceived exertion on those intervals? 8?, 9?, 10? This summer I did many of the PP endurance intervals with rate caps like you are and really think it helped my stroke and power. It gives you a different "tired" - leg tired more than lung tired! Good workout.

PE was mostly between 7 and 8. I could've pushed the split down more, but I really struggle with endurance so am aiming for gradual progression. Like you in the summer I'm trying to develop more power in the leg drive. Unlike you however, the rate limitation is not entirely voluntary - rating up with the same drive brings the splits down really well, but I'm gassed within a few mins
Sanz

[G-dub]

Nothing wrong with sneaking up on it. It's all about improvement over time. I think when I did them I was in a similar PE. About 7- 8. Now when you get to the waterfall and do those lower rate it becomes a different matter!

[Goldenbarry]

image.jpeg

The accomplishments of my BPP Brothers and the outstanding efforts of the seasoned veterans of the plan are keeping me motivated. My goal was to complete this at a challenging yet manageable pace. I set about finishing each section faster than the last. Mission accomplished.

Thanks everyone.