Pete Plan Summer 2015 starts June 14

[Bob S.]

Why is OTW rowing so much harder on the hands?

Aren't the handles of the oars designed so that they wouldn't chafe up your hands too badly?

One thing you can always do is tape up your hands w/ athletic tape.

Just a few guesses here. I was a surprised myself when I first heard about it, but additional reports convinced me that it happens. One item is that the angle of the erg handle is constant, whereas the handle of an oar moves in an arc. Another is that the oar handle has to be pushed as well as pulled; the erg handle is automatically retrieved by the bungee. Feathering is another difference. There is no need to rotate an erg handle. Some innovators have altered the erg handle so that it can be rotated. That way erging provides a better imitation of the mechanics of rowing. The fingers do all the work pulling an erg handle; there is no need to grip the handle. In rough weather on the water, it is often necessary to use a tight grip so that the handle doesn't get knocked right out of your hand(s). On the erg, the fingers are just hooks for pulling, much like an ice hook or a hay baler. OTW, the hands have a lot more work to do.

Like I said, these are just guesses. There have probably been scientific studies about the differences between erging and rowing, so there might be much better answers out there somewhere.

Bob S.

[f2d]

That makes a lot of sense. The handles rotating would chafe the hell out of your skin.

[jackarabit]

Turned 68 while at camp, Bob. I was very slow to learn to pull level, delay opening the back, keep my eyes on the back bearing rather than the stern deck. So I haul like a doryman, follow the shoreline, run in to every little cove, and still get around first. Some shoulder soreness but lots of blisters on the right hand and the left swelling on the third day. Thought at first bug bite but it's the result of muscling the boat. I was still in a Maas Aero on the final day. i would have rolled anything narrower. Man did I have fun and every class needs a clown! But by day three I was starting to concentrate and do as commanded so perhaps there's hope? Jack

[Bob S.]

@Jack. Sounds like a good start. OTW is a heck of a lot of fun either way - recreational or competitive - or some combination of both.

Bob S.

[Galeere]

Did a variety of UT1/UT2 work as well as some sprints and a 500m session for technical review SPM 20/25/30/36/37, times 1:57.5/1:47.0/1:41.5/1:31.5/1:29.0
Comments welcome (coaches Greg, Henry et al.): https://youtu.be/UklsG-X4uu4

[Edward4492]

Nice work Jack! I always figured that OTW rowing was an entirely different skill set, the only relevance to erging being the fitness required and the general motion being the same. lots of skill required to be sure. I'm fascinated by how fast and smooth the crews go in the eights.Well done.

G-Dub, nice job on the (4) x2000m, very solid pace. Sounds tough!

[G-dub]

UT 30 minutes 7K HR under 150.

Thanks Edward, it was tough but doable. The last 1K can get snarky. You should give it a go!

[f2d]

Tried to do the speed pyramid today.

Held about 1:52 for the first 4 intervals. The 1K did me in and 6 minutes wasn't long enough to recover from that so I quit partway through the 2nd 750.

[hjs]

Did a variety of UT1/UT2 work as well as some sprints and a 500m session for technical review SPM 20/25/30/36/37, times 1:57.5/1:47.0/1:41.5/1:31.5/1:29.0
Comments welcome (coaches Greg, Henry et al.): https://youtu.be/UklsG-X4uu4

Bit difficult to judge, I see a very morfed image, but it looks well, nice long arms and good separtion of the body, the legs really do the work, with the back nicely waiting. Maybe a bit of overreaching of the knees, but would not worry about that much.

[Galeere]

Tried to do the speed pyramid today.

Held about 1:52 for the first 4 intervals. The 1K did me in and 6 minutes wasn't long enough to recover from that so I quit partway through the 2nd 750.

Pacing the speed pyramid right is quite difficult as the 1k and the 750m are just too long to tough it out if one went too fast in the beginning and is expecting negative splits.

[Galeere]

Did a variety of UT1/UT2 work as well as some sprints and a 500m session for technical review SPM 20/25/30/36/37, times 1:57.5/1:47.0/1:41.5/1:31.5/1:29.0
Comments welcome (coaches Greg, Henry et al.): https://youtu.be/UklsG-X4uu4

Bit difficult to judge, I see a very morfed image, but it looks well, nice long arms and good separtion of the body, the legs really do the work, with the back nicely waiting. Maybe a bit of overreaching of the knees, but would not worry about that much.

Yeah, somehow the image was distorted somewhat during the load up to youtube. Knees/timing of the recovery are a problem and I am trying to solve it by consciously pushing the handle forward. Still room for improvement. What I dont get is how people go at SPMs>40 though. 37 is pretty much my max, I just don´t know how to go faster than that.

[gregsmith01748]

Did a variety of UT1/UT2 work as well as some sprints and a 500m session for technical review SPM 20/25/30/36/37, times 1:57.5/1:47.0/1:41.5/1:31.5/1:29.0
Comments welcome (coaches Greg, Henry et al.): https://youtu.be/UklsG-X4uu4

Nice leg drive! And I agree with Henry about them drive sequencing. I think there is nothing really wrong with your form. If you want to try to experiment with a couple of suggestions to get faster, here is my only one.

- your back is quite curved at the catch and your shoulders a extended forward. Some people coach a straighter back and a more erect posture through the stroke. I have this same habit and when I concentrate on keeping my back straight and hinging forward at the hips to the catch, I seem to pick up a bit of speed. The best way to do this is to keep your core tensed as you go into the catch.

As for going faster than 40 spm. You basically have to just push the rate up in some short sprints and let your technique fall apart. Over a session of a dozen or so 100m sprints, it starts to feel more controlled and reasonable above 40.
-

[f2d]

Tried to do the speed pyramid today.

Held about 1:52 for the first 4 intervals. The 1K did me in and 6 minutes wasn't long enough to recover from that so I quit partway through the 2nd 750.

Pacing the speed pyramid right is quite difficult as the 1k and the 750m are just too long to tough it out if one went too fast in the beginning and is expecting negative splits.

I actually screwed this up.

I thought I was supposed to pace the speed pyramid at the same pace as the 8x500. I looked at the pete plan website for the pacing guidelines and it says to do the speed pyramid a bit slower.
Knowing that, I feel a little bit better about imploding since the pace I was going for wasn't supposed to be something I can do.

[hjs]

Yeah, somehow the image was distorted somewhat during the load up to youtube. Knees/timing of the recovery are a problem and I am trying to solve it by consciously pushing the handle forward. Still room for improvement. What I dont get is how people go at SPMs>40 though. 37 is pretty much my max, I just don´t know how to go faster than that.

For 2k not important, for pure sprints it does. First the faster you go, the shorter the drivetime and higher the spm. And most importantly, shortening the stroke, a sprintstroke keeps the heels connected, you will get a higher spm right away. But for real high spm s you need a not overly high drag, a very fast pace, and a sprintstroke.

Re drag, even Ross Love, around 1.12 on the 500m does not use a very high drag.

[Galeere]

Thanks for your comments/suggestions coaches Henry and Greg! I will try how it works out to be more tense/erect in the upper body tomorrow.
On the vid I used a 140-drag, so I will try out lower settings as well.