I have close to 20 2Ks faster than Roy has ever rowed.
When I was rowing those 2Ks, Roy was rowing, too, but as a heavyweight.
If he had been rowing against me then, I would have beaten him by 10-30 seconds--every time.
We just weren't in the same races, given that he was carrying around a bunch of lard, rather than getting in shape, as he should have.
Even so, when I rowed these races, and Roy was a lard ball, I wasn't rowing to the limits of my ability.
So, I invested some time and energy in getting better.
My rowing was technically poor.
I needed to learn to row well.
Yes, while I was learning to row properly, and not training to race, Roy beat me a couple of time, rowing 6:45, 17 seconds slower than I have already rowed.
Congratulations to him.
My investment in learning to row well is now coming to completion.
And with great results!
Fully trained, I think I will now pull 6:16 on the erg.
Hell, perhaps it's a nutty thought, but now that I row well, both OTW and off, I think I'll win the HOCR, too!
What then?
Investment pays off.
Those who don't invest go broke.
If Roy continues in the sport, we will be racing against one another for another couple of decades at least, perhaps beyond that.
So, if what you say is right, all Roy has to do is keep showing up and beating me, even when I am fully prepared to race.
Happy to see that happen.
If he can do this, I will be the first to congratulate him.
You can only do your best.
Roy's best time last year was 6:44, not the best time in his age and weight division, but a _very_ respectable effort.
Good luck to him in the future.
When Roy lost the weight and rowed as a lightweight, he didn't get any better at all.
As a heavyweight, he pullled 6:38; and as a lightweight, he pulled 6:38.
If Roy wants to get better, he'll have to invest some time and energy in the project, as I have.
He'll need to learn to row well.
I suspect that means he he'll need to learn to row OTW.
If he does that, all the better.
We can also row against each other for the next couple of decades at HOCR!
ranger
Rich Cureton M 72 5'11" 165 lbs. 2K pbs: 6:27.5 (hwt), 6:28 (lwt)