Beginner looking for some guidance please.

[Papy]

I assume from the fact that you entered the BRIC that you are based in the UK. The thing is that this is the beginning of the erging season and there are a lot of indoor rowing events in the UK and nearby countries from now until the end of winter. The annual season ends in May and there are rarely any indoor rowing events in the northern hemisphere until winter comes around again. June is very unlikely. It is at the height of OTW racing and a large fraction of indoor rowing participants are juniors and college rowers who are busy with the OTW activities in the Spring and Summer. In the Fall the OTW rowers of all ages are involved with head races. I think that it would be worth your while to enter a couple erg events in the next 3 months, if there are any near enough to you for convenient access. I have a hunch that some of them allow coxing, just like the World IRC.

Bob S.

silly me, of course, didn't think of that season angle. Yes, based in UK, will have a look around.

[Papy]

Great images from the event and good advice from the C2-professionals regarding your grip. The downside might be some problems with blisters, but skin will harden up in due process.
Regarding pacing I prefer the method to go 800m at target pace +1 sec, 500m at target pace, 400-500m at target - 1 sec and then try to get whats left on the last 200-300m. So that would give you a 2sec-spread for the first three splits and then hopefully some more on the last one. As pace is not a linear function to power (wattage), (much) broader gaps will not yield an ideal relation between total power output and average pace. The flatter the better, with 2-3 secs IMO being all rigt.

Thanks Hardy.

For a 7.40 PB (1.8 sec less than current), that means 800m at 1'56, 500m at 1'55, 400m at 1.54 and 300m at whatever left. sounds workable on paper