LUNA-TICS TEAM ROOM: Year-round "Looney" fun.

[Kona2]

Anyone know how Spring Series will work for old farts who are not on competitive teams? It sounds like a fun wave to get a little bit competitive, but maybe it is only for competitive racers. Anyone else think it sounded like a hoot?

Eric

Eric started us down this path a couple of weeks ago, and look at us now! The Lunies are in full competition mode! Their personalities are coming to life! In addition to drag factor and damper settings, we are alerted to a new dial mode: sub migraine.


Round 2

All four of the Lunie boats are in the virtual waters, and all are doing well. Sprints aren't something that we're all good at, but give it a go just to check the box on this Challenge if you can. Hydrate a lot.

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:


4.05 MM David A
2.1 MM Jantuut
1.9 MM Andrew
1.85 MM Ted
1.7 MM Maria
950 K Stuart...the million meter finish line is near!
900 K Jodi ...the million meter finish line is near!
Zach 500 m
Brett 500 m
Jodi 500 m
Andrea 500 m
Eric 500 m
danwho 500 m...thanks for the help with the boats, too!
For all the teammates with a personal best !


THANKS, everyone, for erging with us! You are awesome teammates!

Joerg 1,513 m
Carol 1,740 m
Zach 1,849 m
Tombeur 2,116 m
Andrea 2,292 m
GMan 2,405 m
Carol M 5,000 m
Rebecca 5,000 m
Dan O' 5,011 m
Eric 5,492 m
Linda 5,550 m
Ross 5,652 m
David T 6,000 m
Ted 6,000 m
Jodi 6,735 m
Karin 7,000 m
Patrick S 7,142 m
Howard 7,182 m
Trevor 7,500 m
Barry S 7,501 m
Peter G 8,018 m
Larry 9,025 m
Baz 10,000 m
danwho 10,000 m
Michael C 10,000 m
Robert E 10,000 m
Virginia 10,000 m
Andrew 10,064 m
Jeff M 11,208 m
Rich Mc 11,701 m
Maria 12,000 m
Stuart 12,221 m ...a palindrome!
Jantuut 12,360 m
K2 12,500 m
Brett 15,040 m
Norma 15,151 m ...a palindrome!
Minnie 16,329 m
Gary 21,097 m...he moons us!
Ron 21,112 m ...he moons us with a palindrome!
David A 25,381 m ...he moons us!




This is a favorite comic strip (Pearls Before Swine...by Stephan Pastis. Rat is a great character.

[TallErgs]

My congratulations to everyone who managed to get back on and give it another go, you are all winners!
I gave it another go today, this time with maximal drag factor for my erg (210), but did not finish. It became apparent after 300 meters that I was not going to improve and my lower back has been twinging, so I did a slow 9k at the higher drag factor concentrating on form.

I will give it one last go tomorrow (my last chance being in Australia).

It has been great to see how enthusiastic everyone has been about this series, and the efforts that have gone into it. But I would like to reiterate the advice (that I tend not to follow myself ), LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH. There's plenty of time left in all of us for rowing.

"Let's be careful out there!"

That was absolutely the right call. The increased drag factor puts a HUGE load on the lower back - I've been feeling it too. My competitive drive urges me to ignore the pain, but I'm not a 16 year old kid anymore. I hope your back feels better with some heat and a day of rest!

[kpaine]

I think we do "bond" with these ergs. There's so much thinking time that goes on over the hours that we spend on them. They are our instruments of torture, and our call to discipline at the same time...finishing what we told ourselves we WOULD finish. That personal accountability that the erg demands is what makes for character...and we respect each other for it. We understand what it takes for a teammate to achieve a personal best or complete a distance that they've never attempted before. And, as noted before, sometimes it's harder in our adult world to find those events that bring FIRST EVERS, or hooyahs or the satisfaction that doing a hard thing is possible as we get older. The ergs sure provide plenty of opportunity for us to be better on so many levels. [/color][/size]

Well Said K2. I’m so thankful that I bought a C2 ERG and ended up affiliated with this group of people. It has been life changing for me and Y’all play a large part in it. Thanks Everyone!!

I gave the 500 another shot yesterday and failed. I ran it again this morning and beat my last time and PB by over 2 seconds to come in at 1:36.9. That’s probably gong to be it for me as I need to get back to some distance rowing and after sprinting my legs just don’t have it in them. I have enjoyed the sprinting, but I like rowing distance better I think.

[andreacs]

My congratulations to everyone who managed to get back on and give it another go, you are all winners!
I gave it another go today, this time with maximal drag factor for my erg (210), but did not finish. It became apparent after 300 meters that I was not going to improve and my lower back has been twinging, so I did a slow 9k at the higher drag factor concentrating on form.

I will give it one last go tomorrow (my last chance being in Australia).

It has been great to see how enthusiastic everyone has been about this series, and the efforts that have gone into it. But I would like to reiterate the advice (that I tend not to follow myself ), LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH. There's plenty of time left in all of us for rowing.

"Let's be careful out there!"

That was absolutely the right call. The increased drag factor puts a HUGE load on the lower back - I've been feeling it too. My competitive drive urges me to ignore the pain, but I'm not a 16 year old kid anymore. I hope your back feels better with some heat and a day of rest!

Agree! I feel my shoulders and legs this morning more than I would like...
I will be going back to a lower drag factor to be able to do the other events...
Jan so kindly and carefully listed all achievements! An amazing bunch of distances and times! Congratulations to all!
Few of us are 16 or around that age and we need to be able to continue this...
Happy rowing and stay healthy!

[TallErgs]

Two failed attempts today. Saturdays do not seem to be working out for me.

[dag1]

I think we do "bond" with these ergs. There's so much thinking time that goes on over the hours that we spend on them. They are our instruments of torture, and our call to discipline at the same time...finishing what we told ourselves we WOULD finish. That personal accountability that the erg demands is what makes for character...and we respect each other for it. We understand what it takes for a teammate to achieve a personal best or complete a distance that they've never attempted before. And, as noted before, sometimes it's harder in our adult world to find those events that bring FIRST EVERS, or hooyahs or the satisfaction that doing a hard thing is possible as we get older. The ergs sure provide plenty of opportunity for us to be better on so many levels.

Well said K2, I love this! I personally have been battling over the last 3 years a pace that has been consistently slowing and I just figured age was part of it, then I met a coach at the Row House where I work out a couple times a week and he is 65 and always at his best, in fact he just recently hit a world record for the 2k for his age category. I guess thats inspired me to just use this erg to shoot for my best, no matter what age. It's amazing what you find out about yourself when you dig deep. This new April team challenge has been very inspiring, just reading about all the efforts and strategies put forth (digging deep) and all the amazing personal best times that were put up, Great job to everyone, I personally am starting to feel rejuvenated and inspired by this team. Jan you're efforts are very much appreciated.

[BAZzy]

Finished April fools challenge and got my 1m goal for the World Erg challenge this morning.

It was a "quiet" statement of accomplishment, yet worthy of more celebration. Erging ONE million meters during a month long challenge is a feat that belongs to an elite group - even on this team. It's a lot of hours on the erg.

Whoop, whoop and way to get ANOTHER million meter challenge completed! Congratulations, Brett, on achieving another personal goal. We wish you many, MANY more celebrations and milestones!

A magnificent effort, well done Brett...Cheers, Baz

[Kona2]

Last chance for another go at the 500 m distance...

By now, most of the 500 m sprinters have given this one all it's going to get. Shoulders, legs, TRICEPS...we're feeling some twinges that say "maybe you should do a little more training in these areas"...pain is fleeting. Glory is forever? We won't come in as number 1 or even number 10 on the Spring Series, but it is nice to see that we are trying to better the position that we held the week before. And we get our boats out EARLY in the week's series event - then keep working at lowering the times. For this next week, it's all about increasing the distance! If you've done a timed 30 minuter somewhere in your Concept2 history, go to your logbooks and take a look at your history. See what number sits beside that 30 minute rowing piece. How long ago was that? Can you do it again? Inquiring minds want to know!

All the distance you can go in 30 minutes on your rowing machine may be a welcome scenario for those of us who are just not sprinters, but who can generally hang in there for the 30 minutes. Even better, you can get a twofer one row by completing the Challenge on Wednesday, 22 April.



Earth Day Challenge: Get Concept2 An Orbit !

April 22
The circumference of the Earth at the Equator is 40,075 kilometers, or 40,075,000 meters. Can we all collectively log that many meters in one day? In honor of Earth Day 2020, we invite you to join us in seeing how many times we can make it around the earth on April 22. Anybody who rows, skis or rides for at least 22 minutes will appear on the honor board.

The Details
Row, ski or ride as many meters as possible on April 22, 2020.
This is an individual challenge. There is no signup. (You do not need to belong to a team to participate.)
Meters must be entered online.
Anybody who rows, skis or rides for at least 22 minutes will appear on the honor board.
BikeErg meters count in full for this challenge.

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

6.1 MM Ron
3.65 MM Minnie
2.9 MM danwho
2.85 MM Gary
2.7 MM K2
2.65 MM Ken G
1.65 MM Doug
600 K Larry
500 K Rich Mc ...a cool half million!
250 K Virginia

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Tony 1,111 m ...a onesie palindrome!
Carol D 1,766 m...might have given the 500 m another try?
Dan O' 4,507 m
Rebecca 5,000 m
Sorin 5,000 m
Tombeur 5,028 m
Gines 5,081 m
Ken P 5,521 m
Larry 6,000 m
Ted 6,000 m
Priscilla 6,016 m
Leigh 6,904 m
Andrea 7,785 m
Doug 7,972 m
David T 8,300 m
david w 9,739 m
Virginia 10,000 m
Louie 10,101 m ...a one aught one palindrome!
Keith F 10,427 m
Howard 10,462 m
William C 11,017 m
Andrew 11,269 m
Maria 12,000 m
danwho 12,121 m ...a Welkian palindrome!
Rich Mc 12,225 m
Eric 13,369 m
K2 14,000 m
Norma 15,651 m ...a palindrome! And 46,829 m to go!
Minnie 16,510 m
Ed 20,002 m ...a two aught palindrome!
Ron 21,212 m...a reverse Welkian palindrome! Mooner!
Gary 23,427 m...mooner!
Steve W 27,078 m ...mooner!
Ken G 30,000 m ... mooner!

[CarolD]

Yes, I did another 500 sprint yesterday, which was my third and best attempt so far.

My first attempt was a "fly and die" which netted me a 2:11.0. I started with a 2:03.5 and ended with 2:18.5. My second attempt I planned to set a 2:10 pace from the start and hold it, but I still gassed out at the end and netted 2:11.4. So yesterday I decided on a hybrid approach. Hard push at the beginning, but not as hard as I possibly could. I figured I would still hit a wall before the end and see my average creep up, but I hoped that a more aggressive pace at the beginning would compensate. The approach worked and I set a new PR at 2:10.0.

Zach (aka TallErgs) was by my side the whole time. He helped me strategize each attempt, coached me on form, and cheered me on from the first pull to the last. I never would have gotten into regular exercise without his encouragement, let alone join this team and participate in all the myriad challenges. He's taught me that most of my limits are mental ones, and that I can do more than I ever imagined. His competitiveness and sportsmanship are an inspiration.

[TallErgs]

1:28.7. That one made me puke. Stop the ride, I want to get off.

[Shabana]

1:28.7. That one made me puke. Stop the ride, I want to get off.

Great effort, Zach! A big improvement. Perhaps you can do a little better

Only joking. There came a point where I just had to admit I did not have it in me to go any faster.

I tried all the little things that might help, dropped the df back to 180, lubricated the slide, wore a short sleeve shirt, turned off the fan to reduce wind resistance, did an hour of stretching beforehand, recited mantras to myself, positive visualisations and everything else I could think of...

No power, I just could not get going.

Never mind, I have still achieved the fasted 500m since I started my Concept 2 logbook, and really enjoyed this week with the extra banter and competitiveness, it has been a trip down memory lane.

I will probably give the 500 another go every week or two, my son has told me he knows I can get under 1:30 if I train and try hard enough, I just need to believe him.

[just27]

I will probably give the 500 another go every week or two, my son has told me he knows I can get under 1:30 if I train and try hard enough, I just need to believe him.

Time to sign that coaching son up for an attempt of his own?

[Jodi]

I saw this on Twitter and thought it would be an inspiration for our team. It was retweeted by Concept2 so some of you may have already seen it. But if not check it out. https://twitter.com/7newssydney/status/ ... 69345?s=21

[TallErgs]

1:28.7. That one made me puke. Stop the ride, I want to get off.

Great effort, Zach! A big improvement. Perhaps you can do a little better

Only joking. There came a point where I just had to admit I did not have it in me to go any faster.

I tried all the little things that might help, dropped the df back to 180, lubricated the slide, wore a short sleeve shirt, turned off the fan to reduce wind resistance, did an hour of stretching beforehand, recited mantras to myself, positive visualisations and everything else I could think of...

No power, I just could not get going.

Never mind, I have still achieved the fasted 500m since I started my Concept 2 logbook, and really enjoyed this week with the extra banter and competitiveness, it has been a trip down memory lane.

I will probably give the 500 another go every week or two, my son has told me he knows I can get under 1:30 if I train and try hard enough, I just need to believe him.

I was doing many of the same things - stretching extensively, changing what / when I eat, trying to pick the time of day that I felt "peppy", yelling at my erg that it's "not better than me" ... My first attempt on Saturday had me backing out after 250 meters. On my second attempt that day, I didn't drop my split fast enough and my first 100m was done at a 1:33 average, so I stopped after ~100 meters.

I'm positive that you'll go sub 1:30 if that's a long-term goal - the difference between 1:32 and 1:29.x isn't a whole heck of a lot of watts. Squats and even hard seat time should help - at least that's my hope!

[SweatSlide]

Awesome work Zach! Such great fortitude to make so many attempts. We are lucky to have you on the team.

I fear my inexperience will come to the fore this week with the 30 min challenge. After the struggle with the 6k, it seems quite daunting. At least the April Fools challenge will not be overlayed on it all.

Best of luck to all in the week to come.