Indoor Sports Services Interactive Programme vs. Pete Plan?

[blacklab]

I'm relatively new to erging with any discipline. I've had a Concept 2 rower for several years, but have only recently focused on using it on a regular basis.

I am just starting Week 6 of the Pete Plan for Beginners, and so far it seems to be going well. I'm doing 4 sessions per week.

I also created my profile from the Indoor Sports Services Interactive Programme, when I started the Pete Plan, to help give me some sense of HR bands. The initial 2K number I used for that was 10:00, although I think if I did a 2k row now it would be lower.

I am 64 years young, 175 lbs, 5'10".

My primary goal is "general fitness" and improving my aerobic endurance. I don't have any current plans to race, but that could change.

I have reviewed many of the postings here and have learned a lot. The recent threads regarding the 80/20 "rule" have been helpful.

I would greatly appreciate any insights on comparing the benefits of the Pete Plan compared to the Indoor Sports Services Interactive Programme.

Thank you.

Bryan
Portland, Oregon

[Bob S.]

It has been a few years now since I used either plan, but there was a time when I used them for a few seasons. My system was to use the IP (the 2k prep version) starting at the end of summer as a build up period. At the end of fall, I would switch over to the PP and get in 2 or 3 cycles of that to sharpen up for the racing season. For me, the racing season meant only 2 races with a possible 3rd. This means one (or 2) satellite race(s) and the C-B. That was the sum of my own personal "racing season."

In general, I regard the IP as the one to use for a long term (3 months or so) and the PP is the one to use to sharpen up for 2k races. I don't regard either of them as appropriate for general fitness, since they are both designed for maximizing your 2k. I haven't looked at the other IP and PP plans, i.e. the ones that are not 2k oriented, but I don't believe that either of them include a plan that was designed with just maintenance of fitness in mind.

[jackarabit]

Generally the workouts in the IPs are done as time except for a few distance pyramids in the "fast track fitness." All Pete Plan workouts are set as distance. As pace improves in any of the IPs, the rower will as a matter of course achieve greater and greater volume in a given time but future workouts are not of shorter duration. Pace improvement on the Pete Plan will result in rowing for less time in a single workout and potentially less time devoted to training. If you're the get er did and home before lunch sort, Pete has that fringe benefit which usually receives little attention. On the other hand, the advantage of timed pieces is said to reside in training which is slightly more difficult to relate to competed and ranked distances (500m, 1000m, 2000m) and is thought to suppress the temptation to think of every day as a time trial.

I don't see vast differences in daily volume and intensity between IP weight loss and IP 2K. There is an initial "test" day and a "race" day in the IP 2K prep. That feature draws attention to a looming objective which may give the rower an ever present sense of the urgency of the project. The objective of Pete Plan is equally obvious but the rower keeps his own counsel about the choke date.

Pete Beginner builds volume and aerobic endurance for new indoor rowers. Are you dissatisfied by what you're asked to do or uncertain how to make assessment of improvement? If not, the full 26 weeks shouldn't tax your patience. In your case, you could go for the fifth optional session if it gets too easy.

Pace targeting in Pete 2k is determined in reference to training results 3 weeks previous; in Beginner the suggestion of "same pace or faster than last time" may appear offhand and dumbed down.

In all cases, there has to be a motivation that puts you on the seat willingly. I can think of no better maintainer of motivation than reporting your dailies in the Training . . . Today thread.

[teddyDK]

If follow the IP but dont have a race ahead. How should i then do it?

[jamesg]

For fitness and learning how, cycle through the first half of any IAP, forgetting the second half.

In the weightloss schedules there is also a connection between ratings and HR bands/Watts/Pace. This can be used as a technique control in any IAP, as it fixes your stroke work level. As a result UT2 and UT1 are as hard as any other band, if not worse being longer and with fewer or no breaks, and with effectively specified stroke work. This corresponds to the basic idea of rowing: boats are to be moved fast using our best stroke, whatever the rating.

There are hundreds of 2k IPs, articulated as to number of weeks, number of sessions/week, training to date; so plenty of choice, why it's called Interactive.

[zacclowes]

I'm 11 weeks into the PP beginner and I've found it brilliant.
The volume Ramos up nicely and is manageable. And the different intervals being rotated give me enough variety to not get bored and there's a chance to improve slightly every time.
Only thing missing is a chance to do an all out 100% one rep race effort at a 2k but I'll get to do that in 14 weeks time and should get a decent time

[jackarabit]

TeddyDK writes:

If follow the IP but dont have a race ahead. How should i then do it?

Do a second 2k test to "compete" against your initial test. And you could do the base building UT weeks and omit the high intensity speed work.

[teddyDK]

TeddyDK writes:

If follow the IP but dont have a race ahead. How should i then do it?

Do a second 2k test to "compete" against your initial test. And you could do the base building UT weeks and omit the high intensity speed work.

My thought was more that i dont need all that basebuilding when not training more than 3 days a week. But rather i need some intensity.

[jamesg]

But rather i need some intensity.

Base building is tough if you do it right. It's the stroke that has to be intense, and 1000 strokes is more intense than 100.

[teddyDK]

I follow the Danish rowers alot and thats allmost interval only

[jackarabit]

TeddyDK writes:

I follow the Danish rowers alot and thats allmost interval only

Follow their training plan. Or pop the top on the IP and cherry pick what you like. Maybe you'll find the secret sauce, who knows?

[jamesg]

Have a look at the Interactives. They're mostly intervals. There are 3-day plans too.

[blacklab]

Thank you for all of your input.

I'm looking forward to continuing to log time and effort, and learn.

Cheers,
Bryan

[jackarabit]

26 weeks will put you on the road, Bryan. Cheers!

[kacken66]

My experience, did pp last summer, very inspireing , but for me the intensity were to high after a couple of Weeks. Every session tended to be competetion and maked me tired.
Took a step back and find the rytm again. I working to score better 2k with fokus on distans 8-14 k with strong stroke and longer 6-8 min interval sessions. Maybe pp in short term 2 k prep.