Pan Pacific Masters Games 2106

[lindsayh]

For those interested in racing down under a little report about this weeks.
The Pan Pacs are a multi sport event (50 sports/3000 participants) on the Gold Coast in SE Queensland held every 2 years rotating with AMGs.
A good 2 days for OE rowing and this was one of the best we have had - 140 participants 35-93yo and very well organised.
Wednesday was 500m and 4min and Thursday 2km then 1km and a 4x 500m team race.
The full results are at:
http://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/sports/indoor-rowing/

Vincent Home the 90+ regular did great things as usual - probably his 4:35 1Km the highlight - he still looks great.
75+ Alfons took up the erg a year ago and did a 500 @1:34 and 2k @1:54 which is pretty cool.
Two 70+ ladies did 4 races neck and neck at very good pace - Bev Laundry beat up Annette Fletcher who is a very competitive Kiwi.
Elizabeth Feldman 65+ is very competitive and may well be in Boston to prove it.
Gary Atchison 70+ set a new NZ record for the 500 and went close on the others.
One of the stars is an adaptive rower named Richard Waddell who had a stroke whilst on a submarine 25 years ago in the middle of the ocean and suffered serious long term disability but has become an amazing endurance athlete including OTE where he is only using one arm. (he has a continuous 24hr WR for adaptive athlete ote).
His 500m was about 2:05 pace and he held about that for his 2k as well - his leg strength is affected as well. Amazing to watch - you should try it sometime.
There was good groups of competitive 40+ and 50+ men and women and a lot of close racing. No really amazing times - best 500 @1:20 (50+) and a young guy 30+ broke 3:00 and 6:30 and Haico Aldering did 6:29 for his 2k (he is 49) so it was pretty good.

For me it was a cautious first day to give the 2k a good bash.
500 @1:30.4 - very ordinary but OK with no sprint training for 6 months
4min = 1182 @1:41.5 - steady
2km goal (sub 6:50) => 6:49.5 @1:42.4 df130 sr31 - pretty good but a couple of seconds more would have been nice but it is a new AR
1km 3:17.1 @1:38.5 sr33 df135
then a 500 as part of a mixed team 4x500m 6:40 mine was just under @1:30

You all should come and visit some time!!

[hjs]

Nice write up Lindsay, some nice results, although no real super ones.

For you time to fully focus on the 2k, I have found that really going for a distance, will help that distance. Get plenty of 2k paced work in. Keep doing stuff like 4x1k, 95% 2k, some 5k s. Etc.

[lindsayh]

Nice write up Lindsay, some nice results, although no real super ones.
For you time to fully focus on the 2k, I have found that really going for a distance, will help that distance. Get plenty of 2k paced work in. Keep doing stuff like 4x1k, 95% 2k, some 5k s. Etc.

Yes thanks henry that is the plan now. going to IP from now until jan 31. have one more TT Nov 19. Think all is on track for now.

[G-dub]

I remain amazed at how much racing you can do in 2 days! No fear, big lungs, strong body.

[lindsayh]

I remain amazed at how much racing you can do in 2 days! No fear, big lungs, strong body.

Thanks Glen - there were quite a few who did all 4 events this time - 4 events in one day does tend to sort out the really silly (or fearless) ones though which is what they often do at the NZ masters.

BobS pointed out that I did a disservice to Vincent - he did a 4:22 1km and 9:35 for the 2km.

The other highlight that I forget to mention was that on the first day we had a visit from Leo Young! (he of the heroic 1:10.5 500m WR)
A very nice guy who still looks like he is in that sort of form now in his 50s. He stayed to watch some of the racing though couldn't convince him to have a go.