Racing For Mortals

[[old] Maddog]

I think it would be great to sign up for a race in the future as a means of training motivation. I did this a few years back in a triathalon and it kept me training hard all winter. The thing is in the triathalon there are atheletes of all shapes, sizes and speed.<br /><br />It seems that rowing events are much different, if you are a male and can't go sub seven you will be embarrassed. Well I guess there is always Rowpro.

[[old] michaelb]

<!--QuoteBegin-Maddog+Nov 5 2005, 04:55 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Maddog @ Nov 5 2005, 04:55 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think it would be great to sign up for a race in the future as a means of training motivation. I did this a few years back in a triathalon and it kept me training hard all winter. The thing is in the triathalon there are atheletes of all shapes, sizes and speed.<br /><br />It seems that rowing events are much different, if you are a male and can't go sub seven you will be embarrassed. Well I guess there is always Rowpro. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I haven't been to any venue races, but plan to sign up for the crash-b's this year (and yes, plan to go sub 7). But from past years results at the crash-bs or BIRC, many people row at these events who are "mere mortals".<br /><br />But I am not sure why you are downplaying Rowpro. Rowpro is great for rowing and online racing, and since you can set your race on a day and time you pick, and you can tell people what you want to do, you are likely to get other racers signed up, including other people at or near your pace. Want to do a 10k PB? Schedule one when you want. Also, we run a lot of "handicap" races online, which means we start at different times but all try to finish together. Today's 1k was the best online race I have seen in a year, but there have been plenty of other great races.<br />

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-Maddog+Nov 5 2005, 01:55 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Maddog @ Nov 5 2005, 01:55 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think it would be great to sign up for a race in the future as a means of training motivation. I did this a few years back in a triathalon and it kept me training hard all winter. The thing is in the triathalon there are atheletes of all shapes, sizes and speed.<br /><br />It seems that rowing events are much different, if you are a male and can't go sub seven you will be embarrassed. Well I guess there is always Rowpro. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I'm not quite sure you understand this Indoor rowing thing (not that I think it's wholey understandable). I've never seen an organized race where anything like "being embarrassed" takes place. In fact, it would appear that the ones that finish early are only the beginning of the excitement of the crowd and the cheering continues to build right through to the final finisher. My guess as to why this happens is that although everyone is suffering to a degree when giving their all, the ones that take longer, suffer longer, and everyone recognizes that.<br /><br />Sign up for a race, it's the most fun you can have on an Erg.

[[old] mpukita]

<!--QuoteBegin-Maddog+Nov 5 2005, 05:55 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Maddog @ Nov 5 2005, 05:55 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think it would be great to sign up for a race in the future as a means of training motivation. I did this a few years back in a triathalon and it kept me training hard all winter. The thing is in the triathalon there are atheletes of all shapes, sizes and speed.<br /><br />It seems that rowing events are much different, if you are a male and can't go sub seven you will be embarrassed. Well I guess there is always Rowpro. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Maddog:<br /><br />I've never gone sub-7 and I race every weekend. At least 25%, if not more, of the people that race with us have not broken 7. We do handicap races as well as straight races, so every other week, us slower folks get a shot at the fast guys!<br /><br />It's a blast, the group here is very supportive, and you'll want to get better so you can post your new PBs and have everyone congratulate you. It's all about personal goals, personal effort, age group success, fitness, and comraderie. <br /><br />Nobody who gets on an erg and rows should ever be embarassed ... they're doing more than 95% of the world's population in trying to take care of themselves.<br /><br />Join us next Saturday!<br /><br />Regards -- Mark

[[old] bmoore]

The handicap race this morning was a whole lot of fun. Everyone set a personal or season best, and the view at the finish line on RowPro was awesome with all of those boats on the screen in 3D. This is a very supportive group, and I have to echo everyone's thoughts. There's nothing to be embarrassed about with this.

[[old] mpukita]

<!--QuoteBegin-bmoore+Nov 5 2005, 04:50 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bmoore @ Nov 5 2005, 04:50 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The handicap race this morning was a whole lot of fun.  Everyone set a personal or season best, and the view at the finish line on RowPro was awesome with all of those boats on the screen in 3D.  This is a very supportive group, and I have to echo everyone's thoughts.  There's nothing to be embarrassed about with this. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Except I was in the rear, cleaning up the trash, because I got too aggressive with my target time!<br /><br /> <br /><br />C'est la vie!

[[old] bmoore]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Nov 5 2005, 04:54 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Nov 5 2005, 04:54 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-bmoore+Nov 5 2005, 04:50 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bmoore @ Nov 5 2005, 04:50 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The handicap race this morning was a whole lot of fun.  Everyone set a personal or season best, and the view at the finish line on RowPro was awesome with all of those boats on the screen in 3D.  This is a very supportive group, and I have to echo everyone's thoughts.  There's nothing to be embarrassed about with this. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Except I was in the rear, cleaning up the trash, because I got too aggressive with my target time!<br /><br /> <br /><br />C'est la vie! <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />You still ran a good race. Lesson learned for next time. You've got nothing to be embarrassed by when you set a PB.<br /><br />(See, we even support guys with pictures like this!)

[[old] mpukita]

<!--QuoteBegin-bmoore+Nov 5 2005, 04:56 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bmoore @ Nov 5 2005, 04:56 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Nov 5 2005, 04:54 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Nov 5 2005, 04:54 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-bmoore+Nov 5 2005, 04:50 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bmoore @ Nov 5 2005, 04:50 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The handicap race this morning was a whole lot of fun.  Everyone set a personal or season best, and the view at the finish line on RowPro was awesome with all of those boats on the screen in 3D.  This is a very supportive group, and I have to echo everyone's thoughts.  There's nothing to be embarrassed about with this. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Except I was in the rear, cleaning up the trash, because I got too aggressive with my target time!<br /><br /> <br /><br />C'est la vie! <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />You still ran a good race. Lesson learned for next time. You've got nothing to be embarrassed by when you set a PB.<br /><br />(See, we even support guys with pictures like this!) <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Bill:<br /><br />Exactly. After seeing my nasty pic, there's no possible way anyone else could possibly be embarassed!<br /><br /> <br /><br />-- Mark

[[old] SlugButt]

I'd liked to echo others' comments. My bias is that striving to do one's best is infinately more important than a time. I've been frustrated with myself for placing well in a race in which I did not push my limits and thrilled with races I didn't win but could not have found a way to have done better. <br /><br />My sense is that the culture of rowing is such that if someone is willing to take the risk of racing and, regardless of how they finish, puts everything they have into it then she or he has everyone's unqualified respect. No matter how stong or skilled someone is, a 2k rowed well humbles us all. Also, no matter how fast you are there's always someone somewhere who is faster or who may be by the next race.<br /><br />Best of luck to you if you decide to race, and have fun!<br /><br />David

[[old] Maddog]

Just like to thank everyone on the forum and would like to add that I didn't mean to sound like I was downplaying Rowpro (Damn I wish the wife would let me set up the comp downstairs so I could set it up), which brings up the point with todays current wireless and bluetooth technology, how hard would it be for concept2 to incorporate or sell seperately for that matter a PM3 that ran rowpro without the need for a bulky computer setup, I realize a laptop with wireless technology would work but that is a little costly when all I would be using it for is Rowpro.<br /><br />Anyway would like to thank everyone for there response and would also like to add<br />that this may be one of the finest online communities I have ever been associated with, it is nice to see a forum were there is no need for a FLAME emoticon.<br /><br />Thx,<br />Dog