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[old] AussieTaff · Post by **[old] AussieTaff** » October 23rd, 2005, 1:07 am

Hi Niall, Here's some pics from AIRC as promised :- General view of the stadium from behind my erg (not my race yet). <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0326.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> Stuffing around at the Pre-start with those wretched socks (note experienced pro next to me setting up monitor). <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0315.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> Pre-start photo shoot with son John. <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0316.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> Ready to start (too early) after noticing 'Stop Rowing' message (note exp pro next door still nice and relaxed !). <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0317.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> At the halfway mark. On the big screen I'm the #12 (lowest) boat locked in a battle for 2nd with boat #3, closely followed by the chap in #10. <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0322.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> Podium finish. First place did a 6:33 to win hansomely - an ex rugby (league) player like so many Taffs. l <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0339.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> Hope the camp went as well as your recent training Nialll - looking forward to some insights from it if you can pass them on. Actually, Mike Calviston in a thread (Wolverine Plan) in the Training section of the forum has some top comments to make on Pacing a 2K and the Start itself - well worth a read if you haven't seen it already. Cheers, Martin

[old] seat5 · Post by **[old] seat5** » October 23rd, 2005, 1:42 pm

What a beautiful set up for the races. So clean and bright! You look good up there on the podium, Martin, and it's only about a 3" step to the right to get on that Gold Medal platform! Next time I'm sure you're going to keep your socks on your feet, get your monitor set, and than everybody better just get their little yellow boats out of your way!

[old] Niall · Post by **[old] Niall** » October 23rd, 2005, 2:56 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(AussieTaff @ Oct 23 2005, 12:07 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Hi Niall, Pre-start photo shoot with son John. <img src='http://members.iinet.net.au/~john007/IMG_0316.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> </td></tr></table> I seem to recognise that flag , isn't that the one I sent over to you as part of your Taff Survival Kit?? Great report Martin and really appreciated the photos too. It's good to put a face to the name (I pictured you taller though ). <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(AussieTaff @ Oct 23 2005, 12:07 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Hope the camp went as well as your recent training Nialll - looking forward to some insights from it if you can pass them on. Actually, Mike Calviston in a thread (Wolverine Plan) in the Training section of the forum has some top comments to make on Pacing a 2K and the Start itself - well worth a read if you haven't seen it already. Cheers, Martin </td></tr></table> I worked on a report this morning for the camp but it took me so long that it prompted me for a login and then my report disappeared. Didn't have the heart to do it again so have decided to leave it for a while (will be available by Monday - Brit time) though. I read with interest the comments made by Calviston (obviously a very well respected rowing coach) and will be taking up a couple of them with my coach. Look out for the camp report on my Blog.

[old] AussieTaff · Post by **[old] AussieTaff** » October 24th, 2005, 1:50 am

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(Niall @ Oct 23 2005, 01:56 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I seem to recognise that flag , isn't that the one I sent over to you as part of your Taff Survival Kit?? Great report Martin and really appreciated the photos too. It's good to put a face to the name (I pictured you taller though ). Look out for the camp report on my Blog. </td></tr></table> It sure is Niall, it goes everywhere with me (well, to AIRC anyway). Couldn't find a spot to stick the flag on the erg ( and wasted more time looking !) - will need to work out something for next time. Looking forward to the report with keen interest, esp. if it lives up to it's 'description' Glad you liked the pics Carla, it was a superb venue indeed and just the right size for the occasion. Great atmosphere. Congrats to Byron for passing the 2 Million mark. Cheers for now, "Shorty"

[old] Niall · Post by **[old] Niall** » October 24th, 2005, 5:09 am

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(AussieTaff @ Oct 24 2005, 12:50 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Cheers for now, "Shorty" </td></tr></table>

[old] Niall · Post by **[old] Niall** » October 24th, 2005, 5:15 am

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(AussieTaff @ Oct 24 2005, 12:50 AM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(Niall @ Oct 23 2005, 01:56 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Look out for the camp report on my Blog. </td></tr></table> Looking forward to the report with keen interest, esp. if it lives up to it's 'description' </td></tr></table> The camp report is done (click Blog below). So this photo is just for Martin (can't believe I'm doing this ) <img src='http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/ ... InPink.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> (For info, the photo was taken at work when we had a "Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Week" - the pink boa was my daughter's by the way )

[old] Byron Drachman · Post by **[old] Byron Drachman** » October 24th, 2005, 11:18 am

Hi Niall, I love the pink. Here is a photo of two eights with <a href='http://www.freep.com/sports/michstate/r ... 050129.htm' target='_blank'>pink ribbon</a> rowers at the Head of the Grand, a regatta that I was in yesterday. <img src='http://www.math.msu.edu/~drachman/row/P ... _crew1.JPG' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> The photo was taken by Julie, a member of our local rowing club. Byron

[old] dadams · Post by **[old] dadams** » October 24th, 2005, 1:39 pm

Hey there fellow Taffs. Been in Asia (Thailand) for about two weeks now, and haven't had any real access to the internet. I am putting in the meters over here (using the erg in the hotel), but haven't had the chance to log any of them. Still have another week or two (depending on the job), so the meters will have to wait until then to be logged. Martin, Great photos. Good to see what you look like. Great job on the race. Hope to write more soon. Keep up the meters all. Speedy

[old] Prufrock · Post by **[old] Prufrock** » October 24th, 2005, 5:28 pm

Hi all Great pictures Martin. Interesting blog entry Niall. I tend to do a 15 minute warmup rather than 20 and I try to add technique drills I picked up along the erging journey in there as well. It sounds like a useful and informative session.. After a marvellous, relaxing 90 minute erg yesterday, it was back to earth a crashing bump today. I did 3x7 minute AT and boy it was a nightmare. My heart rate was fine and I recovered ok; it was the breathing, I couldn't! This hasn't happened for a while but for the final two minutes of each work period I was simply hanging on. At least I managed to maintain 26 spm all the way through. I did 3x500m intervals before warming down and found those ok. I think I'm going to have to cut out the long rows and concentrate on UT1 and AT stuff. regs Bernard Pru

[old] AussieTaff · Post by **[old] AussieTaff** » October 24th, 2005, 8:56 pm

Great writeup thanks Niall, especially given you had to redo it after being logged off the first time round. Sounded like a top camp to be at, wish I could have partaken too. I guess as Eddie has been your coach as well then there wasn't anything particularly new for you regarding training, racing and strategies but the insight into things like Pace/Watts, the Ageing process and the like would have been fascinating. Speaking of which, AussiePan and the Boyz from Never-Never land Down Under noticed your trepidation re impact of Ageing vis-a-vis Performance. So we have come up with some feelgood strategies to hopefully counter any sense of disappointment as time marches on :- 1. When going for a PB never row the same distance twice, This way one will ALWAYS PB no matter what one's age. For the very frequent (daily) erger anticipating a long and healthy life this may require a recalibration of the monitor to show distance in centimetres to ensure one doesn't run out of new distances. 2. If the official Ranking distances/times are one's thing then always aim to PB by the minimum amount possible (0.1 secs for time and 1 metre for distance - even less if recalibration of monitor is effected). This should allow one to PB 5-6 times a year in each category without setting too difficult a task for next year, esp. if the initial PB is nice and soft. Of course in your case Niall this may mean you don't go Sub 7 until about 2020 but hopefully the feelings of eternal youth outweigh any sense of lack of progress ! 3. Apply liberal doses of Anti-ageing cream before and after erg sessions. Not sure if this will help with PBs but should work a treat for photo-shoots as the years roll by. I'm sure you will come up with others along the same lines - they certainly have done the trick for me Once again thanks for taking the trouble to share the experience Niall and the classic photo - shades of Carole Mac and her troupe of Erg Bunnies ! Good luck for Newark this coming weekend and for the lead-up to BIRC. Cheers, Martin

[old] AussieTaff · Post by **[old] AussieTaff** » October 24th, 2005, 9:12 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE(dadams @ Oct 24 2005, 12:39 PM)</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Martin, Great photos. Good to see what you look like. Great job on the race. Speedy </td></tr></table> Thanks Dwayne, Bernie Pru. I was very happy with the outcome given it was my first competition. Looking forward to next year already. Martin

[old] chippy · Post by **[old] chippy** » October 27th, 2005, 3:15 pm

Martin Nice photos Martin and what a fine looking venue. For your first race i think you did a great job . Do not think we should take any notice of Nialls coach with the Age thing, my wife says i act more like a kid every day. Niall Good luck for the weekend. John Thomas Think you can come and take me on,Rowing,biking,wieghts, do not think so When you can beat the Porkster give me a call. Chippy

[old] Polka Dot · Post by **[old] Polka Dot** » October 28th, 2005, 12:42 pm

John Thomas Think you can come and take me on,Rowing,biking,wieghts, do not think so When you can beat the Porkster give me a call. Chippy [/quote] Hello there firstly i would like to thank you for welcoming me to the team so hospitably. I thought that it is time to give you a call coz although you would never know by his size that porky is actually small fry. Anyway really enjoying the rowing but would appreciate some tips as i am still an eager novice. oh and it is Chris not John, must be the same case as yours I am the leaner of my brothers. All the best Chris

[old] Porkchop · Post by **[old] Porkchop** » October 28th, 2005, 1:12 pm

"Gook," I don't know what your background is or where you are from, so please don't take this as a personal attack. The word you have chosen as a screen name has a fifty-odd-year history, at least in the United States, as a vicious, racist slur. I assume that you came to use it in an innocent fashion, and mean no offense, but you may want to consider changing it to something else. Regards,

[old] Byron Drachman · Post by **[old] Byron Drachman** » October 28th, 2005, 4:20 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'>QUOTE</div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>my wife says i act more like a kid every day. </td></tr></table> You know the old saying: You're only young once, but you can always be immature. That's basically my philosophy of life. Byron