How to acheive a high world ranking in any sport

[PaulG]

This is how you achieve a high world ranking in any sport.

1. Pick an obscure sport: Indoor rowing; doesn’t get much more obscure.

2. Pick a rarely competed event or unusual aspect of the sport: 4 min row, there are not that many rankings.

3. Create your own category: 55-59 LWTs. This age group is not officially recognized by C2 (except for 2k distance), but there is a big difference between someone who just turned 50 and someone who is about to turn 60.

4. Have a piece of equipment of technique that you believe gives you an edge: I use the Dynamic erg and it is hard to believe that not having to reverse your body mass with every stroke does not give you an advantage, especially at short distances.

5. Ignore rankings that aren’t verified. There are better scores than mine, and I have no reason to doubt their validity. But these are my rules so I choose to discount them.

So that's how I got to be ranked second in the world at the 4 min 55-59 male LWTs with a score of 1157 m. In reality there are probably about a dozen 55-59 LWTs who could beat my score based on their 2k times, but they didn’t submit, and I did. When I see my name, I see a "2" next to it and that is what I am going with.

Oh, and don’t say anything until the competition year is over.

Most importantly my score this year ties my PB. I can't believe I could not squeeze out one more meter.

Erg on.

[Bob S.]

Actually, by using the dynamic, there plenty of opportunity to get a high ranking - like 1st out of 1, since no one else has posted in a particular event and category done on the dynamic. Just click on ranked workouts instead of rankings. That will give your standing among just those who use the dynamic erg. The erging population is indeed small, but the number of those using the dynamic is far smaller. But the term dynamic championship has an appealing ring to it - especially if you ignore the "out of 1" part of it. At a public event, it feels weird to be alone on the podium - knowing that, although you may be getting a first place medal, you are really first, last, and only.


Bob S.

[Ralph Earle]

So that's how I got to be ranked second in the world at the 4 min 55-59 male LWTs with a score of 1157 m.

And what's even better is that the other guy is next to last.

[hjs]

Nice one

[PaulG]

And what's even better is that the other guy is next to last.

Ok that means I'm ranked....hey wait a minute!

Seriously, my point was to make satirize the rankings although they do have a valid use. Rather than comparing ourselves to the worst scores in an event by saying we are ranked x out of y, we should be comparing ourselves to the best scores. To do this, compare your score to the best in an event on a percentage basis. I would much rather be within 5% of the best erger and ranked 100th than be ranked 2nd with a poor score. It doesn't matter how many people are between you and the best, it matters how close you are in time (or meters) to the best.

But nothing beats the thrill of a Personal Best.

Paul G

[hjs]

And what's even better is that the other guy is next to last.

Ok that means I'm ranked....hey wait a minute!

Seriously, my point was to make satirize the rankings although they do have a valid use. Rather than comparing ourselves to the worst scores in an event by saying we are ranked x out of y, we should be comparing ourselves to the best scores. To do this, compare your score to the best in an event on a percentage basis. I would much rather be within 5% of the best erger and ranked 100th than be ranked 2nd with a poor score. It doesn't matter how many people are between you and the best, it matters how close you are in time (or meters) to the best.

But nothing beats the thrill of a Personal Best.

Paul G

Thst is not the way I look at rankings, I see it in a relative way, keeping in mind wht the alltime record is. So 5.36 is my main benchmark.
Just like a 100m has 9.50
Highjump 2.45
Marathon 2.03

The pb thing is indeed the best, to be able to do something you never could before gives a very nice buzz, and also lots of motivation during the row.

[Rocket Roy]

Have a crack at the 55-59 LWT 2k record while you are at it

[PaulG]

I couldn't get within a calendar of that record. My strategy is to outlive everyone.

Paul G

[Gettingold]

Good plan Paul.
I'm only new to this C2 caper but I have already noticed that it does indeed favour the persistant.
My beligerant nature will undoubtably see me World Champion by the time I'm 90

[Bob S.]

Good plan Paul.
I'm only new to this C2 caper but I have already noticed that it does indeed favour the persistant.
My beligerant nature will undoubtably see me World Champion by the time I'm 90

Not there yet - I have to hang on for another year and 5 weeks, but yes, persistence (stubbornness?) is a necessary requirement. Belligerence, however, can be counterproductive.

For 90, the WRs are ripe for the picking except for the 2ks. I don't find any others listed, which means that all that is needed is completion. The FM is out as far as I am concerned. I tried one early this season and it was a disaster. Probably the HM is just a dream as well. However, unless something drastic occurs (death for example), or some 90+ year old comes out of nowhere and does some of the pieces, I should have a chance at the other 7. Going for both lwt and hwt again is still a question. I continue to hover on the borderline. This morning it was 165.2#: a couple of days ago it got as low as 163.6#.

Bob S.

[lomofo]

Although not new to the C2, definitely new to the idea of competition on it.

At the ripe-young age of 59 I plan to give up throttles and motors (for which the erg has been tremendous in maintaining base fitness) and have been studying WR, NR and such. As I find myself chuckling at mentions of longevity and easing into age group records, I just wanted to remind fellow rowers of John Hodgson who still owns the LWT 2000m WR from ages 90 through 100+...

I look forward to joining in some friendly banter here at the forum, however, I am here for education more than anything.

We can extrapolate current performance all the way to our ashes and dust; Mr. Hodgson proved it in the flesh, and I just wanted to give him proper respect...