Center City Slam

[Edward4492]

1st place 7:18.0 60+ open weight

Pretty happy with this one. There were (6) guys in my class including a couple of established local OTW rowers. Really had no idea what to expect, I planned on going out pacing to go under 7:20 again and see how the race played out. I had also decided I was racing for a placing; they had some really cool looking medals and I really wanted one. This is a pretty big event and since I'm skipping Boston and WIRC I was making this my target for erg season. Traditionally this is a cold, very dry environment; it's held at the Drexel Armory in Philadelphia. It was a relatively warm day so conditions were better than previous years. I saw quite a few people I know. All the coaches and local HS teams from the Cooper River boat house were there. Mike Smith was there and he had big plans. I was feeling pretty good and went through my normal warm up. Last time I was here I almost missed my start time so I was a little more attentive this time.

I got called up and sized up the competition. The guy next to me was a tall, big, fit looking guy. Every bit of 6'3" and 210lbs. A couple of other fit looking guys. My plan is always the same. Pull my number and take a look around at the half way point. I set the foot stretchers, dial in my 110df, pick up the handle, and get ready. 5-4-3-2-1 ROW!

I drill it down and with-in ten strokes I'm at a 1:48 average. Perfect! Start to settle in and by the 1500m mark I'm looking at 1:49.0. I'm in third place, one guy off the front by 30m, everybody else close. Pretty amazing how fast things started to shake out. Right now I'm thinking "1:49-50 for the next 250m". By 1250m to go there's a big separation in the field. The top three are putting big distance on 4th,5th, and 6th. I'm not going any faster; but I ain't slowing down either. Hitting 1:50-51's. I tell my self to just settle in, hold my number, and get down to 1000m.

I cross the 1k mark and half the field is done, off the screen.3rd place is hanging on at 20m back and first pace is 7-8 meters ahead. I always tell myself the only time I really need to "man up" and suffer is from 1k down to 750m. One minute of torture. By the 750m mark 3rd has drifted back, 1st is 4-5m ahead. I decide to just hang right here and attack him at the sprint, I'm feeling pretty good.

Then around the 600m mark the inexplicable happens. 1st place HD's! I immediately attack with out even thinking about it. He picks up the handle, but now he's 30m back. I'm thinking I can back off a bit and relax, but I keep pulling 1:47-48. He HD's again and I just keep pushing with a little sprint at the end. 1st place and a really cool medal for the collection.

Same strategy I employ at every event. Stick to my plan, pull my number, trust my training. I'm with in 7/10's of my best event last year (7:17.3) so it's good to see my fitness hasn't really dropped off. I'll be targeting to get under 7:18 at Swan Creek in three weeks.

[Cyclist2]

Bravo Zulu, Ed!

I like your focus - I can't remember my races that well. It seems the guy that WAS in first didn't have it (focus) to push through the pain.

Sorry we'll miss you at WRIC. Sounds like you'd be in the mix with your progress in these races.

[Edward4492]

Thanks for the kind words Mark. The 60-64LWTS at WIRC and "B"s will be going a lot faster than me this year. I'd be lucky to crack the top six. However, the real reason is I'm conserving my resources (time off from work, money, and time away from home) for Calm Waters rowing camp in May. OTW has become far and away my passion at this point. To be honest, I kind of like the erg vs. OTW seasons that the weather in the northeast forces upon us. By April I'm chomping at the bit to get back in the boat. And the winter gives me a chance to focus on building a solid base for spring. And if I can have some success at local erg events...well that's just icing on the cake. Good luck at WIRC, you actually WILL be in the mix!

[Marsh_Creek_Sculler]

Great job Ed! Trust your training, trust your race plan! Sounds like you did it right. If you’ve done the work ahead of time and know what you’re capable of, you won’t fly and die like your competition did. Good seeing you today. Glad you were happy with your piece. See you on the river this summer!
Mike

[Edward4492]

Thanks Mike! Big kudo's on the WR today, that record will stand for a while. Really glad I was there so I can tell people "I remember when.......". See you at on the water.

[jackarabit]

Well and truly raced, Ed!

Looking forward to the details of Mike’s WR pull by pull.

[Edward4492]

Thanks Jack! Unfortunately Mike was racing the same time I was on a different bank of ergs, so I didn't get to watch. Would love to get his perspective, just don't think he's as verbose as I am! He just rows fast.....real fast!

[Rod]

Great row Ed and big congrats on the Gold it was well deserved.

Sorry to miss you at WRIC this year but good luck with your otw races.

I'm planning to do WRIC again next year so maybe I'll see you at that one.

[Hillclimber]

Congratulations, Ed!
Solid training, peaked according to schedule, held your race plan.
Great job!!
Damien
58 MH

[Edward4492]

Thanks guys! Damien, hope your "comeback" is still on track. I seem to re-call you breaking 8k for 30min recently. Rod, you're going to have your hands full; but with your recent training numbers you'll be in contention for sure. Sub 7 will happen for you, and that's what it's going to take to win or place. Skipping WIRC and B's so I can marshal my resources for rowing camp this spring and really get faster in the boat. Next year? Never know!

[G-dub]

Great going Ed! The joy you find in racing is always inspiring. Way to nail the race down as planned!

[Marsh_Creek_Sculler]

Thanks Jack! Unfortunately Mike was racing the same time I was on a different bank of ergs, so I didn't get to watch. Would love to get his perspective, just don't think he's as verbose as I am! He just rows fast.....real fast!

Yes Ed, you are a little more verbose than I am
Not too much to say about it. It went about as well as I could have hoped. Three weeks ago I pulled a 6:35 after the end of a hard cycle of training so I knew I pretty much had the WR locked up. Last weekend, after a good recovery week I did a 1st 1500/3'rest/last 500 and averaged a 1:37.7 for the 1500 and felt pretty good. So for the Slam, my goal was to be right at that 1:37.7 pace going into the last 500 and then just let loose with whatever was left. Which is pretty much the way it went down. I just stayed as relaxed as possible for the 1st 1500 at a 30-32spm, kept it under control avoiding the urge to up the pace, and didn't worry what anybody else was doing. My erg was right in front of the guys running the computer and a few times I found myself watching them and wondering what they were discussing. Once I hit the last 500, I upped the rating to 35+ and dropped the splits to ≤1:36 and went for it. I had figured that breaking 6:30 was my stretch goal so no complaints.

That was good fun (once I was off the erg). Hopefully this record will stick for a while and I won't have to do another 2K until I turn 60!
Cheers!

[Edward4492]

Nice write up Mike. Thanks Glen, really enjoying your OTW progress, keep posting those sessions and in particular the races!

[lwtguy]

Glad to hear you had a good race Ed! I don't hide my dislike for indoor races and CC Slam was my least favorite venue of them all. But normally it's freezing cold in there and dry as hell which makes for some rough racing.

It always feels nice to beat those people that are bigger than you though! Best of luck with any other races you'll be doing!

[DavidA]

1st place 7:18.0 60+ open weight

Pretty happy with this one. There were (6) guys in my class including a couple of established local OTW rowers. Really had no idea what to expect, I planned on going out pacing to go under 7:20 again and see how the race played out. I had also decided I was racing for a placing; they had some really cool looking medals and I really wanted one. This is a pretty big event and since I'm skipping Boston and WIRC I was making this my target for erg season. Traditionally this is a cold, very dry environment; it's held at the Drexel Armory in Philadelphia. It was a relatively warm day so conditions were better than previous years. I saw quite a few people I know. All the coaches and local HS teams from the Cooper River boat house were there. Mike Smith was there and he had big plans. I was feeling pretty good and went through my normal warm up. Last time I was here I almost missed my start time so I was a little more attentive this time.

I got called up and sized up the competition. The guy next to me was a tall, big, fit looking guy. Every bit of 6'3" and 210lbs. A couple of other fit looking guys. My plan is always the same. Pull my number and take a look around at the half way point. I set the foot stretchers, dial in my 110df, pick up the handle, and get ready. 5-4-3-2-1 ROW!

I drill it down and with-in ten strokes I'm at a 1:48 average. Perfect! Start to settle in and by the 1500m mark I'm looking at 1:49.0. I'm in third place, one guy off the front by 30m, everybody else close. Pretty amazing how fast things started to shake out. Right now I'm thinking "1:49-50 for the next 250m". By 1250m to go there's a big separation in the field. The top three are putting big distance on 4th,5th, and 6th. I'm not going any faster; but I ain't slowing down either. Hitting 1:50-51's. I tell my self to just settle in, hold my number, and get down to 1000m.

I cross the 1k mark and half the field is done, off the screen.3rd place is hanging on at 20m back and first pace is 7-8 meters ahead. I always tell myself the only time I really need to "man up" and suffer is from 1k down to 750m. One minute of torture. By the 750m mark 3rd has drifted back, 1st is 4-5m ahead. I decide to just hang right here and attack him at the sprint, I'm feeling pretty good.

Then around the 600m mark the inexplicable happens. 1st place HD's! I immediately attack with out even thinking about it. He picks up the handle, but now he's 30m back. I'm thinking I can back off a bit and relax, but I keep pulling 1:47-48. He HD's again and I just keep pushing with a little sprint at the end. 1st place and a really cool medal for the collection.

Same strategy I employ at every event. Stick to my plan, pull my number, trust my training. I'm with in 7/10's of my best event last year (7:17.3) so it's good to see my fitness hasn't really dropped off. I'll be targeting to get under 7:18 at Swan Creek in three weeks.

Woo hoo!
Congratulations!

David