Pondering the Beginner Pete Plan

[mitchel674]

W9S2 4x800m/2'rest
target pace from the last time I did this session: 2:18.8 (which I did NOT overshoot this time )



Better sleep last night but we've got thunderstorms and 100% relative humidity. The air is so heavy, even with a fan. Ugh.

Curious how your pace on your 3x1000m was so much faster than this piece. Any thoughts?

[fancyoats]

W9S2 4x800m/2'rest
target pace from the last time I did this session: 2:18.8 (which I did NOT overshoot this time )



Better sleep last night but we've got thunderstorms and 100% relative humidity. The air is so heavy, even with a fan. Ugh.

Curious how your pace on your 3x1000m was so much faster than this piece. Any thoughts?

For the 3x1000 I was supposed to be matching the pace from the previous 7x500 (2:13.1), which I took to mean "sprint like hell the whole time" because I wasn't sure I could hold that kind of pace for twice as long. Well I discovered that I could hold it (sort of) and I ended up overshooting the mark by a lot, and crashing in the last interval.

For this 4x800 I tried to actually match what I was supposed to match. I could have gone faster, for sure. Maybe I should have? I gather that is supposed to be the point of these types of interval sessions, to really push yourself, right?

[iain]

The general PP idea is that you never set out at a pace that you aren't confident of finishing at and then you give your all for the last. Having shown you can go faster, I would say keep some at least of the gain in your targets, but back off a bit to leave some room for improvement as the sessions get harder.

[mitchel674]

W9S2 4x800m/2'rest
target pace from the last time I did this session: 2:18.8 (which I did NOT overshoot this time )



Better sleep last night but we've got thunderstorms and 100% relative humidity. The air is so heavy, even with a fan. Ugh.

Curious how your pace on your 3x1000m was so much faster than this piece. Any thoughts?

For the 3x1000 I was supposed to be matching the pace from the previous 7x500 (2:13.1), which I took to mean "sprint like hell the whole time" because I wasn't sure I could hold that kind of pace for twice as long. Well I discovered that I could hold it (sort of) and I ended up overshooting the mark by a lot, and crashing in the last interval.

For this 4x800 I tried to actually match what I was supposed to match. I could have gone faster, for sure. Maybe I should have? I gather that is supposed to be the point of these types of interval sessions, to really push yourself, right?

I'm merely suggesting a little introspection. I think these interval pieces can be a challenge to estimate proper pacing for us newbies. Sure, you are basing your target off your previous pieces, but you had just shown that you could hold 2:10 on your "fly and die" 3x1000m.

I'm also curious if you have tried to rate up at all during these shorter intervals. Get a little more freedom in your stroke without putting more pressure on each drive. For giggles, just try a 500m at 25spm. You might be surprised.

[fancyoats]

Well now I kinda feel like I phoned it in this morning.

[mitchel674]

Well now I kinda feel like I phoned it in this morning.

Not at all. Still a great session!

[Rowan McSheen]

Good to see the BPP thread still going strong!

After a while doing RowAlong workouts I'm back on The Plan and taking it from the beginning. There's no real pace or hr guidance in the notes so I'm going to tweak it a little to suit myself, being in my 60s with decades of running and rowing behind me (and not particularly fast). Looking to maintain fitness and/or manage decline rather than to progress rapidly as a fit young newbie. And to inject a little variety. Although any gains that do come along will be gratefully received

W1S1 5000m done as UT2 (2:19.8 at 20 spm, hr capped at 120).

[fancyoats]

W9S3 8000m



This felt pretty good - only 89% relative humidity today. haha. But seriously, nice and steady with plenty of oomph at the end.

[Rowan McSheen]

W1 S2 6 x 500m 2 mins rest

Total effort distance of 3,000m and decent rest duration so I figured shoot for halfway mark between 5k pace (2k + 5-6/500m) and 2k pace, which makes 2:05-ish in my case. Mindful that these interval sessions ramp up going forward.

Averaged 2:04.7 with final rep fastest at 2:04.0, at 27-28 spm.

Happy with that. 70% humidity made me sweat. I think I'd dissolve altogether in "only 89%"

[fancyoats]

W9S4 8000m (again)

very similar to yesterday, overall.

70% humidity made me sweat. I think I'd dissolve altogether in "only 89%"

Did you see my post where I said it was 100% RH? Then I get pushback for not going fast enough.
(I'm only making fun, I really do appreciate the accountability)

84% today - 70% sounds practically desert-like!

[Dangerscouse]

Did you see my post where I said it was 100% RH? Then I get pushback for not going fast enough.
(I'm only making fun, I really do appreciate the accountability)

84% today - 70% sounds practically desert-like!

In my erg room (loft conversion) it gets really humid too. I've seen low 90s a few times, and it's usually around 80-85% in the summer. It definitely makes a difference to your ability to push harder.

[fancyoats]

Did you see my post where I said it was 100% RH? Then I get pushback for not going fast enough.
(I'm only making fun, I really do appreciate the accountability)

84% today - 70% sounds practically desert-like!

In my erg room (loft conversion) it gets really humid too. I've seen low 90s a few times, and it's usually around 80-85% in the summer. It definitely makes a difference to your ability to push harder.

I can't wait for winter erging...

[Dangerscouse]

I can't wait for winter erging...

The only good thing about it is, you're more prepared for when the temperature and humidity drops. It makes it a bit tougher now, but it is sort of worthwhile

[Rowan McSheen]

W1 S3 of the "BPP reimagined" -- 5,000m done at UT1, which for me is 120-130 bpm. Pitched for 2:15 and finished with 2:14.8 and 22 spm, hr in the mid-120s most of the way. Had to ease a little in the final 1000 to avoid drift so this pace will probably fade slightly as the distances increase.

Going forward the idea is to do the steadies alternating at UT2 and UT1.

Warm here today at 24 degrees but Sahara-like 65% humidity!

[fancyoats]

W9S5 2x10:00/2:00r
instructions say to target the first interval at 1-2 sec faster than the 8000m piece I just did (which was 2:34.0) and then beat that time for the second interval.

Seemed easy peasy, so maybe I'm missing something?



95% RH today!