Random questions

[Daddy-O]

First - One of the rowers I have access to (this one is in a gym) can only reach a max drag factor of 99 when on setting 10. What might cause this? I know dirt and dust would affect it, but I guess I was assuming the drag factor would get higher, or do I have that backwards? Also, I live at altitude, but I can't imagine it would have that much of an effect.

Next - Is there anyway to program a workout to record times at multiple distances within the same workout? Since I've only recently started recording my times, I can often get a personal records at different distances several times during the same workout, especially on the longer ones, but trying to remember all of the numbers in my head in the midst of the delirium can be difficult.

And last - I'd love to hear any good tips and opinions for long distance rowing to reduce the need to pause to drink, eat, wipe sweat, etc. I'm sure I lost a few minutes in my first attempt at a half marathon, so I'd like to know what others do. I tried one hand rowing and it's ok, but still awkward. I'm leaning towards using a Camelbak.
Similarly, for indoor competition, is it allowed for people to assist with feeding & drinking or is the rower on his own to have everything he needs available at arms reach?

Thanks

[hjs]

1 yep its dust that does lower the drag. So it needs cleaning, the fan that is.

2 you can programme variable intervals with zero seconds rest. But going for a pb every session makes liitle sense.

3 rowing with hand s the best, a camelback will only make you sweat more, thus slowing you down. During races help is not allowed

[Daddy-O]

Thanks.

My #2 question may not have been clear. I just meant that during my 10k attempt, I also had a PR for my 5k and 30 minute within the same effort. I'm sure this won't continue to happen for long as I make more focused attempts, but until then, it's not rare that this happens.

[hjs]

Thanks.

My #2 question may not have been clear. I just meant that during my 10k attempt, I also had a PR for my 5k and 30 minute within the same effort. I'm sure this won't continue to happen for long as I make more focused attempts, but until then, it's not rare that this happens.

I understood, in the beginning you improve rapidly, so don,t worry to much about those pb s. Soon it will become harder and your pb s won,t fall every session.

But enjoy he rapid progress

[Daddy-O]

I'd love to hear more opinions on the Camelbak. My experience with one in other sports would lead me to think the pros would easily outway the cons, especially at half or full marathon distance. Without one, I can't help but think my performance would suffer two-fold, first from attempting to reduce the number of drinking breaks as a time saver while also most likely losing additional time from being underhydrated or lacking electrolytes near the end of a long event.

[Quatroux]

If you want to go that route then I would recommend hanging it next to you. There are youtube clips of folks doing just that. You save yourself from having to carry that weight up and down the slide and as you engage your back. I personally row with one arm for one or two strokes per sip/bite. You get pretty good at this with practice. The length of a half/full marathon should mean that losing a few seconds here and there won't make a huge difference.

[brianh]

#3: My first and last time using a Camelbak left me with chafing on my collarbones. I don't think the Camelbak actually saved any time over a bottle; I still had to break a hand off of the handle to grab the hose, and then producing the suction to get water out was seriously difficult while I was at a high heart & breathing rate. I'm a big fan of Camelbaks for cycling & hiking, but it just didn't work for me on the erg. I've also tried having just the reservoir sitting on a chair next to the erg for long pieces when I know I'll need a lot of water overall, but thanks to the suction issue I actually wound up stopping in the middle and getting two bottles of water instead.

The first thing I do when I'm going to tackle a long piece and I'm trying for performance is to overhydrate for several hours. When it's about time to start I continue to sip right until I have to relieve myself, and then it's go time. I also set my PM for short splits--usually 500 meters, or 2 or 3 minutes. The PM is limited to 30 splits, so for a half marathon, 750m splits. I start my workout with a target pace selected (I use watts, because I'm an enginerd), and I modulate my effort so that every split averages out to that pace. So when it's time to take a swig, or wipe off sweat, I wait until the start of a split, get it done fast, and row at a higher pace until I've recovered the split average. The longer you take to get it done, the harder you have to row to recover, so I leave my wide-mouth nalgene uncapped and keep a sweat rag just in front of of the foot pads. The sweat wipe can actually be a freebie that way; grab it on one recovery, pull, wipe, pull, replace, pull.

Competitions: I haven't been in one, but based on my own 2k time trials, if you have to take a drink during a 2k, your race is hosed.

[Citroen]

#3: My first and last time using a Camelbak left me with chafing on my collarbones ... then producing the suction to get water out was seriously difficult while I was at a high heart & breathing rate.

Hence the suggestion to mount your CamelBak on a chair with the tube where you can reach it on the recovery of your rowing stroke. You can easily take one hand off the handle during the recovery. Don't know what the solution is for the hard breathing while drinking problem.

[Daddy-O]

Don't know what the solution is for the hard breathing while drinking problem.

An I.V.?


Thanks for all of the suggestions

[RBFC]

The reason that a Camelbak is inefficient in this application is the cost of inspiratory force. You must use your diaphragm to create suction to drink, which disrupts breathing much more than merely drinking from an open bottle using gravity. I can take a bottle drink, keep the water in my mouth, and breathe through my nose, swallowing when it's easiest. In this way, your breathing cycle is minimally disrupted. When you're operating near your limits, even one bad breathing cycle can have a significant effect. Remember, rowing causes bilateral compression of the knees against the thoracic cavity and produces higher intra-abdominal pressures than most other sports.

Lee

[DavidA]

And last - I'd love to hear any good tips and opinions for long distance rowing to reduce the need to pause to drink, eat, wipe sweat, etc. I'm sure I lost a few minutes in my first attempt at a half marathon, so I'd like to know what others do. I tried one hand rowing and it's ok, but still awkward. I'm leaning towards using a Camelbak.
Similarly, for indoor competition, is it allowed for people to assist with feeding & drinking or is the rower on his own to have everything he needs available at arms reach?

Thanks

I usually don't use anything unless it is a half-marathon, or more, and even then not all the time. When I do use something, it is always a Camelbak. I have never had any issues with it myself, and find it much easier than trying to grab a cup or bottle. I am not going for any records, so the the little bit of extra weight at the beginning is not an issue. (And it gets less as you row, and drink .)
I also will often take in some water to my mouth, but don't swallow until my breathing allows if comfortably.

David

[steveroedde]

I have a slightly different take on the fluid issue. If the projected finish is < 1:30, don't bother drinking. Performance will not be compromised until one is 1-2% dehydrated and this in unlikely over the HM distance Also, because glycogen is stored "wet" in muscle/liver, as one consumes this substrate you liberate the fluid which can move into the plasma space. You have 3+liters of this fluid on board before you start to exercise. Assuming a perfectly timed FM where you hit the wall at the finish, you have consumed 3L of fluid...without drinking.
That said, exercise in a cool environment is key. I use an industrial fan to keep cool and free of sweat. This may not be possible in a poorly equipped commercial gym.

For what it is worth, I never drink in HM, have only done so once in ~7-8 FM's and drink only once (possibly twice) in 100k efforts. I stop, drink from an open container and go. 10-15 seconds lost max. Perhaps I am a camel (as opposed to camelback), but it has worked for me.

Always the contrarian....

[RBFC]

I have a slightly different take on the fluid issue. If the projected finish is < 1:30, don't bother drinking. Performance will not be compromised until one is 1-2% dehydrated and this in unlikely over the HM distance Also, because glycogen is stored "wet" in muscle/liver, as one consumes this substrate you liberate the fluid which can move into the plasma space. You have 3+liters of this fluid on board before you start to exercise. Assuming a perfectly timed FM where you hit the wall at the finish, you have consumed 3L of fluid...without drinking.
That said, exercise in a cool environment is key. I use an industrial fan to keep cool and free of sweat. This may not be possible in a poorly equipped commercial gym.

For what it is worth, I never drink in HM, have only done so once in ~7-8 FM's and drink only once (possibly twice) in 100k efforts. I stop, drink from an open container and go. 10-15 seconds lost max. Perhaps I am a camel (as opposed to camelback), but it has worked for me.

Always the contrarian....

Good post.

I believe that the absorption timetable for drinking fluids is about 20-30 minutes, so any fluid consumed closer to the event merely sits in your digestive tract. The end result is no increase in performance during absorption, and possible cramping/diarrhea. Marathon runners understand these factors and time limits very well.

Lee

[Daddy-O]

For what it is worth, I never drink in HM, have only done so once in ~7-8 FM's and drink only once (possibly twice) in 100k efforts. ....

I think you typo'd and added an extra 0 to that distance! Really only twice in 100k??

I could see doing up to a HM without water, mostly the drinking is probably a habit/drymouth avoidance thing, but any farther than that sounds insane. What about calorie replacement? I was thinking at full marathon distance for sure it wouldn't be hard to use a full 100oz of Gatorade (or similar) in order to eliminate the need to eat in addition to drinking.

[steveroedde]

Nope, not a typo. From my log in 2011.....
"100,000m 7:40:23.4 2:18.1 Ranked 2011 10/23/2010 4:56:00 PM 56 H standard C2Log Got a bit behind on my rowing...playing catch-up. Surprisingly hard row. Couldn't drink much. "
I recall stopping only once to drink although it could have been twice. I commented on an earlier 100k that I stopped to urinate and lost a second/500...obviously drinking too much!
Cheers, steve