Patience or challenge

[Mwoodburn]

https://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/beginner-training/

I'm currently on week 5 of Petes Plan for beginners. I'm absolutely loving the plan, and what started as an absolute ass-kicker is turning into a very enjoyable daily workout.

For instance last Friday I completed my 20th workout in 4 weeks, and decided to complete an extra workout so I could hit exactly 100,000 meters rowed in 4 weeks (I was at 95,696).

This morning I completed my 7k workout at 2:21 average pace and it felt very clean, comfortable pace without straining myself too hard. Towards the end of the weeks I challenge myself more on pace and intensity but I guess my question is, is it recommended or encouraged to challenge myself more, or even do a different workout on the same days / on rest days?

I don't want to get overly cocky or ahead of myself, but I'm enjoying the results I'm noticing and wondering if there's more I can do.

Thanks for the help in advance!

[MPx]

Welcome and well done for getting into a great training plan. If you're enjoying it then there is no probem in doing more. Sadly you will have to remain patient as your body will only be able to adapt at a pace which will have a limit, but I doubt that you're pushing it yet. Many of us (admittedly after may years training) will typically do 50k a week - some double that, and the elite much more still, so you've plenty of headroom to do more. I would recommend that you stick to a plan as Pete is very good at building in repeats that allow you to both monitor progress and learn what pace should be achieveable for you. So yes push harder, but dont rush your training - give your body time to adapt.

[mitchel674]

Resist the urge to overdo it early in the BPP.

As you know, you increase distance every week. The volume becomes more significant as you progress particularly if you are doing all 5 workouts. If you must challenge yourself, go hard on your interval and hard distance pieces. Continue to take it easy on those two increasingly longer steady pieces. Remember Pete's words, "technique, efficiency and relaxation".

[Dangerscouse]

Now is the time to train your ego and stop it dictating your decisions. It's probably harder to not get carried away, so just keep it on a tight leash and enjoy a steady build of momentum and sustainable adaptions.

You'll be grateful in the long run when you're progressing faster than you would be if you didn't build a solid foundation of training.

[winniewinser]

Wot they all said

[Mwoodburn]

Well I was feeling cocky yesterday after getting through a 7k pretty easy, but today did 4 intervals of 800 at 2:02 and it put me back in line.

Appreciate the responses everyone!

[mitchel674]

Well I was feeling cocky yesterday after getting through a 7k pretty easy, but today did 4 intervals of 800 at 2:02 and it put me back in line.

Appreciate the responses everyone!

The rowerg can be a humbling machine!

Stick to Pete's advice on pacing.