TimbukTOO Team Room

[damselfly]

And if you really want to crash and burn from over-doing things on the rower, DON'T stretch after you row.

[ronmardix]

I am trying to improve my 2k time. I finally broke 8 minutes @ 7:55, I am wanting to improve my time so I can row more meters in a much shorter time. I can't seem to row fast at fewer then 35 strokes per minute.

As for improving your 2k time, have a look at the Pete Plan:
http://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/the-pete-plan/

If you are a beginner, you will probably want to start with the Beginner Training plan (from the same site) before moving to the actual Pete Plan:
http://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/beginner-training/

I wouldn't deny that plans can be good. But they are one-size-fits all. Also, they are somewhat complicated. All of the plans have the following elements: long, slow; intermediate, faster; and a series of shorter intervals even yet faster. Most people can probably come up with a plan that suits them that incorporates those types of rows. One can adjust based on their experiences.

See the training forum for variouis discussions on training.

Stroke rate comes in for a fair amount of dialog in the forums. There are many advocates for rowing down around 20 SPM. But there are plenty of rowers who never come close to those low SPMs. 35 is probably a bit high for 2K unless one has huge aerobic capacity. But 30 is reasonable. That is not too fast for a full long stroke. It does require quite a bit of power to row at the same pace at 20 SPM as at 30 SPM.

\

Oh yeah, oops, sorry. Not sure what I was thinking recommending the Pete Plan to a beginner asking for help. My bad.

[Cyclingman1]

One thing I found very inspiring last year were the ranking by age/weight/gender/distance/time. They were very motivational to me. At first I thought I would be happy at the 75th percentile across each distance. Good enough, right? But then 90th percentile looked pretty good. Then 95th percentile, 98th percentile, etc. You become very competitive with people in other countries, all over the world. You get ahead of them one day, and then the next day you see they bested you by a tenth of a second!!

The C2 ranking system is both a plus and a minus. On the good side one gets to see how they stack up against their equals, but on the bad side one gets to see how they stack up against their equals. It can drive you nuts.

There is another ranking system at nonathlon.com. In that system there is only one ranking taking into account ten rowing distances. The rankings are age, gender, & weight handicapped. Last yr, the overall winner was a 65 yr old female. That system feels a whole lot less competitive than the C2 ranking system. Take a look at it, if you are interested. Signing up is easy.

Oh yeah, oops, sorry. Not sure what I was thinking recommending the Pete Plan to a beginner asking for help. My bad.

My point is that not every one wants to have their every row programmed. I'm one of those. I did my own training from day one. A generic plan cannot know how one is feeling on a daily or weekly basis. So then one has to adjust the plan some or maybe a lot. Once a plan doesn't fit, then one is not far away from doing their own. To each their own.

[Izzzmeister]

Welcome to new TimbukTOOian Ed McCarthy! Hope we can help you reach all your fitness goals!
8 of 57 members (16%) logged 63,602 total meters Sunday which, with Ed’s 90,617, added 154,219 meters to our team total!

Milestones achieved: Dale did 100K! Ed ended up over 75K!!
Approaching milestones: Joseph (-18,200m) leads Kevin (-24,867m) to 400K, Pat racing towards 350K (-11,043m) while Ed is fast approaching 100K (-9,383m)!

Posted Meters:
Dale C - 12,282 Fifth row this week tops the charts!
Glen B - 12,000 Long!
Adam M - 9,000 Amazing consistency!
Pat M - 8,389 They add up quickly…

Joseph W - 8,281 Longest row this week!
Ulla D - 6,650 Ditto!
Ron M - 5,000 Nice!
Kevin K - 2,000 Back to back!

[Izzzmeister]

All hands on deck, building excitement for the Fall Challenge! A sweet 19 of 57 members (33%) logged a hefty 330,292 total meters Monday!

Milestones achieved: Yisroel topped 700K, Diane eclipsed 500K, Bobbie busted 350K while Jeff smashed through 150K!!
Approaching milestones: Jack a whisker from 450K (-602m), Kevin steadily builds to 400K (-19,867m), Pat one nice row from 350K (-5,440m), Matthew (-10,367m) leading Lisa (-23,766m) past 300K, Jeff sighting 200K (-24,433m) while Ulla approaches 75K (-7,784m)!

Posted Meters:
Jeff T - 148,463 Thanks for posting these!
David W - 24,289 Down to every other day?
Diane M - 20,000 Glad you took one day off at least!
Bobbie Z - 16,000 Very long!
Jim C - 16,000 Balancing speed & distance!

Yisroel H - 13,019 Can he build up in time?
Dale C - 12,711 Three days, 37K!
Glen B - 12,600 Your kid driving you?!
Matthew R - 10,500 Hope that was a vacation…
Jim G - 9,094 Going long!

Adam M - 8,500 Never taking a break!
Ulla D - 6,552 Back to back long ones!
Jack F - 6,178 Sweet, Jack!
Lisa H - 6,173 Getting back into the swing of things!
Dana H - 6,000 Every other day, & building!

Pat M - 5,603 Three nice rows!
Kevin K - 5,000 Whoa!
Ron M - 2,000 Glad you rowed!
John S - 1,610 A running weekend?

[CONLEJM]

There is another ranking system at nonathlon.com. In that system there is only one ranking taking into account ten rowing distances. The rankings are age, gender, & weight handicapped. Last yr, the overall winner was a 65 yr old female. That system feels a whole lot less competitive than the C2 ranking system. Take a look at it, if you are interested. Signing up is

I like the Nonathlon and a number of us here participate. But I actually find it MORE competitive than the Concept2 ranking process. From my perspective, it's one thing for a young man to lose a race to other young men ... but when you also lose to elderly women ... that's a tough race!

[damselfly]

Lisa H - 6,173 Getting back into the swing of things!

Trying, anyway. Nothing major but a crap-load of minor stuff that is all adding up. "Hormonal changes", let's just say, have brought on joint stiffness and pain (not to mention hella sleep problems). That has me going to PT for a stretching/strengthening regimen geared for my issues. Helping, but it takes a lot of time. Mild lower back ailment from said PT. Carpal tunnel acting up from being back to work. Feet hurting, but PT has taught me ice massage which is a great thing. And at my annual physical last week, the doc finds a heart murmur, so I need an echocardiogram and carotid artery ultrasound.

Someone here said it recently -- getting old sucks!!!

[damselfly]

There is another ranking system at nonathlon.com. In that system there is only one ranking taking into account ten rowing distances. The rankings are age, gender, & weight handicapped. Last yr, the overall winner was a 65 yr old female. That system feels a whole lot less competitive than the C2 ranking system. Take a look at it, if you are interested. Signing up is

I like the Nonathlon and a number of us here participate. But I actually find it MORE competitive than the Concept2 ranking process. From my perspective, it's one thing for a young man to lose a race to other young men ... but when you also lose to elderly women ... that's a tough race!

Suck it up and row harder!



P.S. You're coming up fast on an age where 65 isn't going to seem "elderly"...

[EdMcCarthy]

Thanks for the welcome! I'm coming back from a knee injury and starting to put more time on the erg, so I figured that joining the team that will *obviously* win the Fall Team Challenge will keep me motivated.

Ed McCarthy

[damselfly]

Thanks for the welcome! I'm coming back from a knee injury and starting to put more time on the erg, so I figured that joining the team that will *obviously* win the Fall Team Challenge will keep me motivated.

Ed McCarthy

Now THAT'S exemplary team spirit! Welcome aboard!

[Cyclingman1]

I like the Nonathlon and a number of us here participate. But I actually find it MORE competitive than the Concept2 ranking process. From my perspective, it's one thing for a young man to lose a race to other young men ... but when you also lose to elderly women ... that's a tough race!

Suck it up and row harder!

I agree that "older" rowers will find nonathlon more congenial. Afterall, 60+ rowers stand no chance against the 30-50 year olds. It may not be a perfect system, but the guy who came up with nonathlon has done a pretty good job.

You're coming up fast on an age where 65 isn't going to seem "elderly"...

It seems that 40-59 is a time when many come to rowing. I wish that I had. I also notice, based on FTC entries, that only 4 in TimbukTOO have crossed the 60 threshold. Trust me, the 60s are way different than the 50s. The mind may be willing but the body on many days is saying "no, no,no." Even though I am a Johnny-come-lately to rowing, I'm glad I found it. It is making the 60s seem a little easier. Just letting you guys know that 65 is a non trivial age when it comes to getting the old body to work, even though one has an athletic background.

[CONLEJM]

Even though I am a Johnny-come-lately to rowing, I'm glad I found it.

Well for a Johnny-come-lately, your times/paces listed in your signature are incredible!!! Keep up the great rowing!

My times from last season are nearly the same, but I am 20 years younger!! You are quite an inspiration!

[damselfly]

From our friends at Rowing Memes...

[Cyclingman1]

From our friends at Rowing Memes...

Very funny and a good point!

[johnb]

I just wanted to post a big thank you tot all those who have welcomed me to the team and responded to my requests for technical advice on improving speed and rowing longer distances. I have gone light on rowing this week until today. Today I rowed a little over 7k meters. When the 15th arrives I want to hit the ground running for the FTC. Sunday morning I plan to do at least 10k. I find this all very exciting, I love the whole community element of it; and I am really glad I joined the team. Night all!