Well, since my name is getting thrown around here I guess I'd better get my 2 cents in
As some suspected, the goal was to hit the 6:25 mark. Three weeks ago I managed a 6:26.5 and I knew that those 1.5 seconds were huge. It's amazing, it seems so close but when you are right on the edge, it's really far away. So it was all about getting a 1:36.2 avg split. Do or die trying.
The first 1000 was right on (3:12.3), the next 500 felt harder than usual and I did a 1:36.9 split (4:49.2 at 1500). Then things started falling apart in the last 350. My final 500 split was 1:39.2 (ugh!). Ended up at 6:28.4 for a 1:37.1 avg.
I was definitely off my game on Sunday. It was just one of those days where you just feel off. Maybe I screwed up my diet plan, I don't know. Anyway, no excuses, I just didn't have it on Sunday. I did get interviewed and quoted on ROW2K afterward, so that was cool. Oh yeah, and there was that hammer.
I talked to Paul afterwards and he said that when he set the WR all the stars aligned for him that year which is an important lesson when you're pushing your envelope. Everything has to fall in place at the right time.
As for the future, at this age, I'll take it year by year. I won't deny that that 55-59 yo WR isn't on my mind and right now it seems doable (Thanks for the vote of confidence Ed!). I might even give the 50-54 yo record one more go next year. But like it's been said above, things get harder after 50. About the only thing I'd do different is hit the weights a little harder. I think that's really important to do as we age.
Right now I'm just looking forward to getting off that damn machine and back on the water where I belong! Heading off to Amsterdam next week to race in an 8 with a great bunch rowers. Trying to defend our win from last year.
