A legitimate WRC question

[Engine90Lt]

In being relatively new to Erging (I started last March as an alternative to an elliptical trainer), I have a question: are poeple actually able to row 60,000, 70,000, or 80,000 meters in two days time? If so, how many consecutive days can someone (who is trained and experienced in long, marathon type distances) put up those types of numbers? I am shooting for somewhere in between 200,000 and 300,000 meters during the WRC, depending on what my body tells me and/or uncontrollable circumstances. The sheer time requirement to put up, say, 80,000 meters in two days time is pretty remarkable. Thanks for any comments. I realize this is probalby a touchy subject, and I may be violating etiquette , but I need a better understnding of what I am actually looking at when I view the individual totals for the WRC.

Engine90Lt

[Citroen]

If you want to study someone who's rowing ultra distances check out Dave Holby http://worldrecordrow.com
He's doing 60K/day on the days that he rows. He did a million in 10 days a short while back.

I've done over two million since 1st May and expect to get close to 200K done before the end of the WRC. I'd like to get 440,000 done before 30th April to bring up the 2,500,000 for the season.

[Engine90Lt]

@ Citroen

Wow! That is amazing. Did you row in college? Did many who go those distances? I will definitely check out the web-link; and thanks for posting it. I truly have a semblance of sketpicism at times; however, I am relieved to know what I have seen is not only possible, but is actively being accomplished by more than a mere few.

Thanks again, Engine90Lt

[Citroen]

Did you row in college? Did many who go those distances?

Two problems with that: 1. I didn't go to university and 2. there's no river or lake near here.

I've rowed 12,405,000m since 1st May 2004 all of those were on the ergo.

[joe80]

Hi Engine,

There's a big difference between training for the 2km event and rowing easily for long distances. I'm preparing for an ultra marathon row and expect to row 50km+ tomorrow over a five hour period. The pace will be around 2:35 split which is not exhausting physically. It pans out at less than 100W and is only 1/3 of my 2km power,at 1:49 split. The aim of this, as with all training, is to become used to the demands that the targeted event makes on the body and mind. It's about the same level of activity as a long cycle ride or a day's walk in hilly country.

Personally, all my rows, whether training or trials, are recorded on the log card and uploaded to the C2 site using the C2 Utility. I have no problem at all in accepting 50km+ per day for other rowers. It just takes a good deal of time and makes full-time work and/or a social life somewhat difficult

Regards,

Joe

[Engine90Lt]

@ Joe,

Thanks for the info. So, @ 10,000 meters I have an average spilt of around 2:08. If I pushed it the entire time I could probably row an average split of 2:05. For 7,000 meters I average 2:07 splits; pushing it, I could probably turn in 2:00-2:02. Is this good/bad? What are solid splits for the average 6,000 meters and 10,000 meters? I am not looking to be elite, per se, just good. Anaerobic work-outs are not a focus currently, but I know they would help. How important are they? Anyone? Also, is the CorePerform worth it?

Thanks in advance,
Engine90Lt

[Bob S.]

@ Joe,

Thanks for the info. So, @ 10,000 meters I have an average spilt of around 2:08. If I pushed it the entire time I could probably row an average split of 2:05. For 7,000 meters I average 2:07 splits; pushing it, I could probably turn in 2:00-2:02. Is this good/bad? What are solid splits for the average 6,000 meters and 10,000 meters? I am not looking to be elite, per se, just good. Anaerobic work-outs are not a focus currently, but I know they would help. How important are they? Anyone?

Thanks in advance,
Engine90Lt

With no information about your age, weight and gender, there is no way that the members of this forum can answer that question. Besides, you can judge it very easily for yourself by just looking up the C2 rankings for your classification for the times or distances that you are interested in.

http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/rankings.asp

Bob S.

[joe80]

Hi Engine,

Like Bob said, performance is relative to your age, weight & gender categories. There's many rowers come on these boards and are at first daunted by the performances they see reported. Bit by bit, if you stick with it, your own standards will improve and perhaps, eventually, you will become a top-class contender. Even if this doesn't happen, you will derive a great deal of satisfaction at seeing your times falling and distances increasing.

Returning to your original question, I completed the five hour plod (5 x54 mins rest 6 mins) earlier today, covering 52km @2:35 split. During the five hours, my maximum heart-rate was 108. As a comparison, at the recent ergomarathon race near Eindhoven, my average HR was 160 and it hit 170 during the closing stages. Today's row was not a difficult feat; I could do it again right now and can see no obstacle to repeating it day in day out.

Don't know much about the Core Perform seat. There's a recent thread on the UK forum:

http://concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20729

and some of the bloggers speak highly of it.

Regards,

Joe

[wjschmidt2]

During the last C2 challenge in 2010, Virtual Team Challenge(VTC), I rowed about 3 to 4 hours a day. This was done either in one or two sessions, anywhere from 22k to 55k. Pace was about 5 seconds slower than my normal training pace. The goal was to just log as many meters a day as time permitted and still have energy to do it again the next day, and have a semi-normal family life. Managed to average a marathon a day for the whole month of January, felt good most of the month and was able to set a PB in the 2k and 60'.

If one has the time then rowing these mega-meters is totally legitimate. Also, the food bill went up during the month of January as well.

Bill

[Den-J]

During the last VTC I erged 351000m in the month ..my best speed 10k at the time was about 1:58pace I rowed 45min to 1h a day at 10k+10 averaging 2:08.5 for the 350k I have been rowing for 18months had no background in the sport and am a skinny 51 year old so yes big distances are totaly possible