100,000 Charity Row...

[MarcusJ]

Hello All,

This is my first post and having looked at various other threads I have quite a few questions to ask the experts (you guys)...

On 17th November I am rowing 100,000 metres. Needless to say I am quite apprehensive about it and was wondering the following:

* What is an ideal SPM? (I am doing 20SPM)
* what is an ideal 500m split? (I am doing 2.20)
* How many breaks should I have (I was planning breaks at 35k and 70k)
* Is there an ideal was to take on liquid during the row?
* Training should not be a problem - although I am a bit concerned that I have not done any properly long rows. Only this week am I doing 20 / 30k...

Suggestions or help would be gratefully appreaciated...

Thanks

[seat5]

That's an amibitious goal! can't even imagine it, though I know of a few people who have done this--Anna Bailey and Carole MacNally. I would think by now you would have done a marathon with the event only 17 days away, though.

What is the charity? Can you post a link to a donation site?

[MarcusJ]

Thanks for the reply.

The charity is the BBC Children in need and the link to my fundraising page is below:

https://secure.artezglobal.com/registra ... nID=192791

Since posting the thread yesterday I have answered a few of the questions myself. I rowed 29k metres last night in a 123 minutes and only stopped when my MP3 player stopped.

Pace was 2:17-2:24
Strokes were 20-23 SPM
Fuel was taken on board via 30 second breaks at 10k and 20k metres.

What I will do is purchase a pair of very padded shorts...After a couple of hours things tend to get a bit numb

[Tyn]

Just some thoughts,

Fold some bubble wrap and put that on your seat,

Works great for long rows!

I never did 100k, just a FM, and I don't think I will try ever again,
But for charity?....,
I'll think about that one.

I've heard some people use camelbags, but I have never used one! It's an idea!

BTW I don't the Ipod batteries will hold for a 100k!

[MarcusJ]

Thanks for the bubble wrap advice...sounds comfier already

Yeah, I know about the battery issue, that's why I have a Sony

The camelbak is a good idea although I think i'm gonna just take a few ready made SIS drinks and slurp during my mini "breaklets" at 10, 20, 30, 40....k

My own route to success for this event will be finding a suitable rowing rhythm and pace then switching off to everything except the musical pace and rhythm coming through my 'phones.

Think it will actually be quite enjoyable

[gouldilocks]

Hi MarcusJ
Also posting on this forum for the first time.
I did my first 100k row last weekend and I found a few things that helped me complete it in one piece.
1. Break the distance down into mini-goals eg 30k, Marathon, 50k, 66k, 84k finish.
2.Start conservatively - I did my second 50k quicker than my first and I am convinced that the row is a helluva lot easier if you aren't struggling with 70k still to go!
3.Have things to distract you - I had a TV and a few video'd programmes to watch - I also turned the PM2 monitor away out of my eyeline.
4.Rests - For myself I prefer not to take too many rest breaks and those that I did take were fairly short(max 2 minutes) as I tend to stiffen up and get cold again.
5.Temperature - have some sort of fan or cooling equipment handy to keep your temperature down (not too cold though, I know you are heading into winter there).
6.Drinks and Eats - i found that ready made energy drinks and some water did the trick just fine( I finished 3.5 litres of energy drink and about a litre of water which is probably a bit on the low side).Maybe aim for about 600-750ml per hour.Personally I can't eat when doing something like this but if you are going to then make sure it is easy to digest food.
7.Pace - as I said start off conservatively - my best recent marathon was at 2:15 pace and I did the 100k at average 2:28.
8.SPM - whatever you are comfortable at for your longer sessions is probably the rate you want to maintain - it is very much personal preference(I averaged 29 SPM which is comfortable for me, being fairly short, but certainly not ideal for everyone.
9.Seat padding - everyone I had spoken to uses bubble wrap or similar on the seat on the longer rows and while I didn't I would recommend that you make yourself as comfortable as possible.
10.As far as using a Camelbak goes - if you are used to one and have trained using one then go for it otherwise I wouldn't try anything different on the day.

Hope that some of the above is helpful to you and best of luck - your feeling of achievement on completing the distance will far outweigh any discomfort you experience on the way!

BTW, whereabouts in Surrey are you?
I lived in Walton on Thames for 5 years until returning to SA last year.

Paul G

[MarcusJ]

Paul,

Thanks a million for your helpful advice. It is great to hear from someone who has recently completed the distance.
Your advice about breaking the target down into sub goals is key to going the distance. During the last few training sessions I was keeping myself motivated by focussing on the 'estimated distance after 30 mins, 1 hour, 2 hours etc.
This worked fine until I rushed off for a comfort break at 20k and got back only to find the machine had gone to sleep in my absence, so I had to start all over at 0m - that was a bit of a kick in the teeth.
* Pace - again very helpful. I was going at 20-22 but found myself edging upto 24 and actually being confortable with this pace.
* 500m split - I have been aiming for 2.20 but this has resulted in my barn doors being blown by 30k - for the next few training sessions I will definitely keep it to 2.25 - 2.30. As you say there is not point struggling when you are still less than half complete.
* Food - Drink: 4% diluted SIS electrolyte drink is my preferred method of liquid intake. I will prepare about 4L before the row and see how it goes. Food is another matter altogether - probably bananas or grapes... Camelbak is out of the window - extra weight...
* Concentration will be a problem - I thought music would be my saviour but finding 8 hours of the right type of music is a challenge. I might get the audio version of The Lord of the Rings and bung that on my MP3 player.
* Seat padding - OUCH Suffering this morning from last night's rowing activity. Tried one of the Concept 2 seat pads which was OK but I have some bubble wrap which I will use in addtion to the seat pad and padded shorts.
* Temperature - doing it in a gym so they will provide me with a fan.
* Rests - I am taking short rests at 10k, 20k, 30k etc although I need to find out for how long you can stop rowing for before the machine shuts down and sets all figures to zero

Thanks again for your advice - I will take it all on board. I know I will feel a huge sense of achievement upon completion. My only worry is that I will feel so knackered that I wont be able to fully enjoy a couple of pints of Guinness after the event!

I'm in Guildford but doing the row in my work gym in The City. Walton is good - know it quite well. Its' on a couple of the cycle loops I do.

MarcusJ

[gouldilocks]

Cheers MarcusJ
WRT the machine dying when you wander off for a comfort break or whatever - I think you have about 2-3 minutes of no activity before this happens - for some of my drink breaks I would unstrap my feet but stay sitting on the machine and tug the handle every 10 seconds or so to keep the monitor ticking over.
As you said ,don't go too hard that you cannot enjoy a couple of pints afterwards.
What I found helpful was when I was approaching a milestone (certain distance or drink stop ) , that if I was feeling good I would carry on a few more k's before having a stop(If you have planned a stop at 60k and carry on to 65k when you re-start you only have 35 to go rather than 40).
Remember that a large part of it is a mental game (physically it is not that difficult if you pace it sensibly - a good guide pace-wise is to go at a pace that you are able to comfortably hold a conversation with your supporters and/or other amazed onlookers).
Another good motivation is the charity that is going to benefit - and of course the Guinness!

Paul G

[Citroen]

Can I suggest you start a thread over on http://concept2.co.uk/forum where more of the Brits hang out and discuss rowing?

[MarcusJ]

Sure - I wasn't sure that the UK C2 forum was ongoing. I got the impression that bacause of security issues the forum had been stopped.

This obviously isn't the case so I'll pop there now and start some blether.

MarcusJ

[Yukon John]

Just a note on the camalbak; you probably don't have this option since you are doing it at the gym, but for the couple of marathons that I've done I have the machine next to a wall with a hook on it (at about head height.) I can then just grab the end of the tubing and take a drink without stopping. Works well with a marathon if you're trying to get a good time. I'd imagine with a 100k you should be able to hydrate well enough during your breaks. I'm toying with the idea of trying a 100k during the x-mas challenge, but I haven't quite convinced myself that it's a good idea yet . Best wishes on yours!!! John.