Pondering the Beginner Pete Plan

[Dangerscouse]

For the grip, I don't feel like I'm holding it too hard. In fact since I'm not using my thumbs I don't see how I could even hold it less hard at all. Only enough to actually pull it on the drive really. Thankfully they've settled down completely on one hand and are toughening up on the other. Shouldn't be an issue long term.

I find blisters are due to sweaty palms (i use liquid chalk) and also slightly inevitable if you don't use gloves, and regularly row a decent distance.

IME they do settle down and don't keep getting worse, but obviously that's no guarantee that will be the same for everybody.

[Sakly]

For the grip, I don't feel like I'm holding it too hard. In fact since I'm not using my thumbs I don't see how I could even hold it less hard at all. Only enough to actually pull it on the drive really. Thankfully they've settled down completely on one hand and are toughening up on the other. Shouldn't be an issue long term.

I find blisters are due to sweaty palms (i use liquid chalk) and also slightly inevitable if you don't use gloves, and regularly row a decent distance.

IME they do settle down and don't keep getting worse, but obviously that's no guarantee that will be the same for everybody.

I don't like gloves as I really sweat much. Since using wrist bands to suck up sweat, my hands stay dry much longer on steady states which reduces blister problems much. On harder efforts I use chalk additionally, but after some time wrist bands are full and hands get wet anyway. Thinking about using 2 bands on each side for these workouts...

[mromero680]

I just hang a hand towel nearby and grab it every once in a while between strokes. A stroke or two with the towel on the handle and I'm good for another 10-20 minutes depending on the weather. I don't like gloves but have thought about wristbands.

[frenzen]

Week 7 done. Rowed 3 days straight to finish it before week ends. I felt really sore today after yesterday intervals, I do not remember being this sore in any of the weeks.

[Rowan McSheen]

The three "compulsory" workouts for week 10 done. First steady row was supposed to be 9500m but I cut out the middleman and went straight to 10k. Had to reduce pace a little more than usual to stay within hr band, for whatever reason, but the second steady session of 8000m was back to normal.

Feeling good. Onwards and upwards.

[thaloun]

Week 14 complete. Went ahead with my plan of 2:16.5 target for the 10k. Felt pretty winded at the end but not sore or exhausted so I was positive. What I didn't realize was how it would affect me the next day, as I failed to re-do the pace of 2:04.9 for the 3x2k that I had achieved the week before. Just, had to stop at 1k left on interval three. Finished the final interval with 2:15 overall pace. Looking back I think it was underestimating the effect of the fast 10k the day before plus eating at a pretty hefty deficit for the past few weeks. Took Wednesday off and bounced back fine for the rest of the workouts. Pleasingly was able to do the sprint intervals at 31s/m with scope to probably inch that up a bit more which is nice as I always was simply too winded to keep the rate up that high previously.

Goal is still 2:14 tomorrow for the 10k to hit 25th percentile for my group in the rankings. It's kind of fun exploring the people around me way at the bottom of them. I am currently tied with someone who only signed up in April but has already done a FM and a 100k since then?!? Good on them!

[frenzen]

Week 8 complete

[RayOfSunshine]

Week 4 on the SkiErg complete. It was a bitch coming back after a few weeks off due to a minor surgery. Onward.

[Rowan McSheen]

Sympathy to all who blow up on an interval. The two optional sessions done so that's week 10 completed. Today's final workout was 7 x 500m, hold pace of last time and then hit it on the last rep. I managed the first 6 but was beginning to struggle ... and blew up on the 7th, coasting home in the last 100m. I think my pace may have culminated on these shorter distances at 1:59. Week 11 has 8 x 500m so I'll find out soon enough!

Onwards, undaunted.

[thaloun]

Week 15 done. Blasted my goal for the 10k (see the pb thread for details) and the rest of the workouts felt pretty good.

Current rates are:

~2:21 for SS pace
~2:08 for the 1500 or 2k intervals
~2:15 for the 10-20m intervals

We'll see where the sprints end up.

Paying attention to dry off my hands during breaks and my blister issues have gone away also.

[Dangerscouse]

Paying attention to dry off my hands during breaks and my blister issues have gone away also.

I'd highly recommend liquid chalk, and your hands do become hardened over time. I get some blisters if I have a week off, possibly due to using them for sun cream, but they're only an issue about five days and then they harden up again

[mitchel674]

Week 15 done. Blasted my goal for the 10k (see the pb thread for details) and the rest of the workouts felt pretty good.

Current rates are:

~2:21 for SS pace
~2:08 for the 1500 or 2k intervals
~2:15 for the 10-20m intervals

We'll see where the sprints end up.

Paying attention to dry off my hands during breaks and my blister issues have gone away also.

Nicely done. You are making steady progress!

[mitchel674]

Completed the final session of the beginner Pete plan this weekend. Week 24 ended with a whimper as I was only able to complete the three mandatory rows due to work being crazy.

A few personal observations from me on my third time through the BPP in the past 4 years.

1. I challenged myself to complete all 5 rows each week. I probably completed all 5 at least 80% of the weeks. This became a bit much for me in the end, but was very easy in the first half.

2. I really enjoy a regimented program. This keeps me very motivated and accountable.

3. I'm still a slow rower. My steady state pieces are now comfortably done at 2:20, r22 which is a significant improvement, but my short intervals barely break 2:00. I suspect I could go sub 8:00 for a 2k at this point.

4. Pete never speaks of rating. For me, this is the major weakness of the BPP. I need to push myself to rate up. I did some stroke rate pyramids yesterday with the Asensei app which I really enjoyed.

[thaloun]

Great work and follow through Mitchel!

What do you think you're gonna do next? The jump from week 24 to the full 6 days a week plan feels pretty large to me. I've seen people pooh poohing the plan as an all-the-time prospect elsewhere also. I have a couple months to decide yet though.

[mitchel674]

Great work and follow through Mitchel!

What do you think you're gonna do next? The jump from week 24 to the full 6 days a week plan feels pretty large to me. I've seen people pooh poohing the plan as an all-the-time prospect elsewhere also. I have a couple months to decide yet though.

My last time through I did the 5k pete plan which is a 6 day/week program. I got burnt after 3 weeks and actually felt like I was over training.

I'm hiking with my son through Yosemite next week. I'll decide my next plan when I return. I think I would like to focus on a 5k time trial.