Focusing on the PM and your pace vs not watching and/or letting your mind wander

[Ombrax]

Perhaps because I don't do enough long stuff, I've fallen into a routine where the majority of my workouts are around a 2k +5 sec pace, +/- a few seconds, depending on how I feel that day and whether I'm doing a single longer piece or multiple shorter intervals. Basically it's hard enough (for me) that I have to concentrate on the PM the entire time, otherwise my body will slack off. If my attention wanders I almost always slow down.

When you're doing harder workouts do you watch the PM most of the time and concentrate on maintaining your planned pace, or are you able to maintain a given somewhat-strenuous pace without constantly cracking the whip?

For example, I sometimes read on the forum about folks who cover the PM so they can't see the display, and they just row. Perhaps I need to try that, but not knowing how I'm doing would drive me nuts, and I'd probably end up rowing at a pace that's way slower than what I wanted to do.

[hjs]

Always watch the pm, sometimes cover it up partly, but always some info to be seen.

2k plus ? So you race every day, sounds pretty draining to me. My paces vary from 2k minus 20, up untill 2k plus 25. Most work 2k plus 15/27.

[Ombrax]

2k plus ? So you race every day, sounds pretty draining to me.

I'm not a racer and not terribly fast, so It isn't as big of a deal as it may seem to be.

It was just my way of specifying that I'm not talking about relaxed erging, where for example, you can carry on a conversation with others, but are instead pushing yourself and challenging your cardio systems.

[hjs]

2k plus ? So you race every day, sounds pretty draining to me.

I'm not a racer and not terribly fast, so It isn't as big of a deal as it may seem to be.

It was just my way of specifying that I'm not talking about relaxed erging, where for example, you can carry on a conversation with others, but are instead pushing yourself and challenging your cardio systems.

If so, then you are not going at 2k plus 5. That reference being is used for a real max effort. Absolute pace does not matter so much. A max effort is a max effort, nomatter what pace.

In general though, most ergers do not go easy, you seldom see people using a conversation pace. I never do. Think most sessions are not long enough to do so. Like for instance cycling.

If you don,t train a lot and or long and feel fine doing what you do, whats the problem. If you have reasons to change things, do so. But not because others train differently.

[Gammmmo]

2K+5 stood out in my mind too...esp if those aren't part of an interval session.

To answer your question...I am glued to the PM for 90% of my efforts. In my case there is a tendency to slacken off if I don't.

[jimmyshand]

When you're doing harder workouts do you watch the PM most of the time and concentrate on maintaining your planned pace, or are you able to maintain a given somewhat-strenuous pace without constantly cracking the whip?

Yes, I always watch the PM when doing harder workouts - or similar data on ErgData which I have on my phone in the cradle above the PM. I find the constant feedback on pace helps keep me from going too fast or too slow if I'm aiming for an exact target pace (e.g. 1:50.5 on a 5k PB attempt). If I'm just going for a fast piece but not PB effort I'll still be looking at the PM almost all the time.

[Dangerscouse]

I like to watch the monitor most of the time, mainly because I like the data feedback but I don't mind looking away as I'm constantly thinking of things.

As I have done so many longer distances I kind of fall into automatic pilot so as long as I have got music I slip into a nice groove quite easily

[alien878]

I've started to look away and see if I can maintain the same pace/rate for long periods of time. Maybe I'm a bit old-school, but it seems the monitor can become a bit of a crutch replacing feel if constantly monitored. I even close my eyes sometimes which was really weird at first (I thought I was going to fall off), but once I got use to it I can really feel my stroke better.

As much as I love the numbers it gives, I find that constantly watching the monitor is like watching a pot boil. It seems time passes quicker when I look away.

Allen

[Anth_F]

In general though, most ergers do not go easy, you seldom see people using a conversation pace. I never do

This in a nutshell for me!!!

When i get on that erg i like to feel i've actually done a workout. I tried rowing at conversation pace and got bored to tears after about 5mins. Not for me thanks

The PM is the interesting part for me... i have OCD with it. I'd probably not be erging today without a PM to look at.

[jackarabit]

My 2kpb pace + 5” is my 6kpb pace. Ain’t I wonderful? I watch watts like I use cruise control. Skin the mule but avoid the speed traps. Get to work on time. That’s not an obsession but a necessity.

[Ombrax]

If so, then you are not going at 2k plus 5. That reference being is used for a real max effort. Absolute pace does not matter so much. A max effort is a max effort, nomatter what pace.

Of course by definition neither a 2k pace, nor a 2k + 5 pace can be a max effort. Clearly 2k+5 is slower than 2k, so that's not max. A 2k effort (at least for me) can't be a max effort either, because I can't sustain my true "give it all you got" max effort for that long.

As far as whether or not I am truly rowing at 2k+5, since I know approximately what my best 2k effort would be right now (last time I did a test was over six months ago) I have a pretty good feel for what my 2k + 5 pace would be.

[Carl Watts]

Tend not to look at the monitor itself very much during a row as RowPro is a better distraction.

The important number for me to use these days is the "Projected Finish". Typically I start the row with a target finish and stick to the plan.

Between the projected finish and the heartrate as the main source of information.

[Erik A]

tend to watch the screen at almost OCD level. i have my target pace in mind and stick to it. target pace and s/m is what i watch mostly. not that interested in distance unless im doing a distance piece. most of my sessions are time based not distance based.however if a good looking women is doing some exercises in my field of view at the gym i tend to get distracted and slow down also if a person is having an ok session on the erg next to me i sneakily look at there screen and see whats going on. and tend to ramp up to the same level unless i really concentrate on not doing so.

[MartinSH4321]

If so, then you are not going at 2k plus 5. That reference being is used for a real max effort. Absolute pace does not matter so much. A max effort is a max effort, nomatter what pace.

Of course by definition neither a 2k pace, nor a 2k + 5 pace can be a max effort. Clearly 2k+5 is slower than 2k, so that's not max. A 2k effort (at least for me) can't be a max effort either, because I can't sustain my true "give it all you got" max effort for that long.

As far as whether or not I am truly rowing at 2k+5, since I know approximately what my best 2k effort would be right now (last time I did a test was over six months ago) I have a pretty good feel for what my 2k + 5 pace would be.

I don't think Henry meant max effort as "hardest pull for a few reps (like LP)" but max effort for a given distance or time, a max effort can be 100m or a FM as long as you do it as fast as you can.
For most people here a 2k+5 pace means a faster pace than 5k pace and so they won't be able to train longer then 10-15min (or do intervals).

[Dangerscouse]

I don't think Henry meant max effort as "hardest pull for a few reps (like LP)" but max effort for a given distance or time, a max effort can be 100m or a FM as long as you do it as fast as you can.
For most people here a 2k+5 pace means a faster pace than 5k pace and so they won't be able to train longer then 10-15min (or do intervals).

Yeah, I agree with this. 2k+5 is close to my absolute max for 5k (absolute as if I can hold this pace for 5k my 2k is too slow) and I'd probably have to stop at about 10-12 mins and to regularly train like this would destroy me.