Still slow

General discussion on Training. How to get better on your erg, how to use your erg to get better at another sport, or anything else about improving your abilities.
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bigsimon123
Paddler
Posts: 8
Joined: August 15th, 2024, 10:19 am

Still slow

Post by bigsimon123 » August 20th, 2024, 3:03 pm

After reading helpful posts on here and watching videos I still can't improve my power !
Third week in and I'm doing 10k in around 55 mins.

I am 6ft and 40kg overweight. I think my fat belly maybe getting in the way lol

bigsimon123
Paddler
Posts: 8
Joined: August 15th, 2024, 10:19 am

Re: Still slow

Post by bigsimon123 » August 20th, 2024, 3:28 pm

Just seen this, and it has given me hope 😁

https://youtu.be/UxpSfL3CFtA?si=YQRwLPQVAOaUf5We

Dangerscouse
Marathon Poster
Posts: 10450
Joined: April 27th, 2014, 11:11 am
Location: Liverpool, England

Re: Still slow

Post by Dangerscouse » August 20th, 2024, 3:59 pm

bigsimon123 wrote:
August 20th, 2024, 3:03 pm
After reading helpful posts on here and watching videos I still can't improve my power !
Third week in and I'm doing 10k in around 55 mins.

I am 6ft and 40kg overweight. I think my fat belly maybe getting in the way lol
Never ever think that your destiny is set at this early stage. So many things will improve and they all cross pollinate each other to make it better than the sum of its parts

Assuming that you stay dedicated and patient, your power will keep improving. Your pace will keep improving. Your belly will disappear.

Keep interrogating all the parts of your stroke and you'll probably find some subtle changes will make fairly big differences, for example, don't grip the handle too hard, don't hunch your shoulders and make sure to take fairly regular deep breaths.

Give it another three weeks and I can almost guarantee that you'll be notably faster, and three weeks after that faster again.
50 HWT; 6' 4"; 1k= 3:09; 2k= 6:36; 5k= 17:19; 6k= 20:47; 10k= 35:46 30mins= 8,488m 60mins= 16,618m HM= 1:16.47; FM= 2:40:41; 50k= 3:16:09; 100k= 7:52:44; 12hrs = 153km

"You reap what you row"

Instagram: stuwenman

jamesg
Half Marathon Poster
Posts: 4168
Joined: March 18th, 2006, 3:44 am
Location: Trentino Italy

Re: Still slow

Post by jamesg » August 21st, 2024, 12:57 am

That speed is about 75W Power delivered to the flywheel for nearly an hour. So a lot of Work done well. It will increase as you pull a longer stroke and get fitter and stronger.
08-1940, 183cm, 83kg.
2024: stroke 5.5W-min@20-21. ½k 190W, 1k 145W, 2k 120W. Using Wods 4-5days/week. Fading fast.

JaapvanE
10k Poster
Posts: 1277
Joined: January 4th, 2022, 2:49 am

Re: Still slow

Post by JaapvanE » August 21st, 2024, 2:11 am

Congratulation on surviving a 10K so early on. What I noticed in my rowing journey is that it takes some time to really get the rowing stroke, it isn't an easy motion to master for most. Once you do, you'll become faster as pace follows form. And perhaps do so shorter pieces, just to allow yourself to go to the max without worrying of finishing a 10K?

p_b82
5k Poster
Posts: 543
Joined: August 8th, 2022, 1:24 pm
Location: South Somerset, UK

Re: Still slow

Post by p_b82 » August 21st, 2024, 4:23 am

It took me 2 months to work up to an hour on the erg when I first started, and my pace was only marginally faster at 2:41.7 / 83W average.

So well done on your progress so far!

I attempted my first HM after 6 months at a slightly higher pace than that first 1 hour - so don't get too disheartened too early on! :)
M 6'4 born:'82
PB's
'23: 6k=25:23.5, HM=1:36:08.0, 60'=13,702m
'24: 500m=1:37.7, 2k=7:44.80, 5k=20:42.9, 10k=42:13.1, FM=3:18:35.4, 30'=7,132m
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winniewinser
Half Marathon Poster
Posts: 3904
Joined: August 9th, 2019, 9:35 am
Location: England

Re: Still slow

Post by winniewinser » August 21st, 2024, 5:21 am

Maybe ditch the pace targets and just target those longer/slow rows that will help build fitness and drop some Kg's. It's very easy to get focused on improving the speed as we look at what everyone else is able to achieve but we are all very different beasts and on very different journeys.

Once the Kg's and belly start to drop the pace will follow naturally if you can also nail the technique to a reasonable level.

What Drag Factor are you using also? Useful like here https://www.concept2.com/training/artic ... er-setting. It's worth checking you have it set to something that works for you and allow you to generate power for you current form.
6'2" 52yo
Alex
Recent 2k - 7:19
All time 2k - 6:50.2 (LW)

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Rowan McSheen
2k Poster
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Joined: December 13th, 2014, 6:33 pm
Location: Cornwall, UK

Re: Still slow

Post by Rowan McSheen » August 21st, 2024, 6:48 am

Think of it like this -- you're not slow, you're an endurance athlete.
Stu 5' 9" 165 lb/75 kg (give or take a couple) born 1960

bigsimon123
Paddler
Posts: 8
Joined: August 15th, 2024, 10:19 am

Re: Still slow

Post by bigsimon123 » August 23rd, 2024, 7:03 am

Thanks for all the encouragement guys, really means a lot. Going to continue improving my technique ( allready got my spm down to 20 ) All the best my friends.

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