Dealing with 30 minutes of rowing

[neilgunton]

I recently purchased a Model D, after a few years of not having one easily accessible. Last regular use was around the year 2000, at a gym back in NYC. I used to find that having people walking behind me at the gym somehow motivated me to do better; even if it was in my imagination, I could sense them checking out how I was doing, and that helped me go faster.

Now I have this machine at home (currently in St Louis). And, I am trying a variety of different workouts, including the 30 minute. This is pure hell for me, because I am always trying to improve my previous time (can't help it) and so it's never, ever easy. Like Greg Lemond (?) said, "It never gets easier, you just get faster", or something like that.

Anyway, I was wondering how people deal with the mental anguish of long rows. I mean, after about 15 minutes of hard rowing, I find it very crushing to think to myself that I have 15 minutes more to go... it just sounds like forever, especially when you're pushing it already.

Also, has anybody else noticed that the little numbers at the top of the monitor display really seem to go a lot slower when you're doing a time rather than a distance? For example, doing a 2000m, the number is distance left, which tends to go down at a pretty good rate. But for a timed row, it just ticks along at the same rate, seemingly very slowly, no matter how hard you row. In fact, it just seems to crawl along. Excruciating.

Now, I'm not really complaining, it's all great and I hope to get better and better. This is just some observations about the agony of it all when the time gets longer. 5000m is just about bearable, but 30 minutes takes it just that bit further.

I'm ashamed to say that I have actually quit a couple of times around the 15 minutes to go mark (for the 30 minute). It wasn't physical, it was purely mental. Something about knowing what I have just gone through, and thinking about going through it again... wimpy, I know.

Am I the only one to have these weak, despicable thoughts? Or is everyone else here iron clad in their mental resolve and never experiencing the blah factor of thinking about how much longer you have to go on a longer row, where you're pushing it?

Just thinking out loud.... no complaints really, it's all in my head, I know, I know...

[Bob S.]

I find it very crushing to think to myself that I have 15 minutes more to go... it just sounds like forever, especially when you're pushing it already.

This is just some observations about the agony of it all when the time gets longer. 5000m is just about bearable, but 30 minutes takes it just that bit further.

I'm ashamed to say that I have actually quit a couple of times around the 15 minutes to go mark (for the 30 minute). It wasn't physical, it was purely mental. Something about knowing what I have just gone through, and thinking about going through it again... wimpy, I know.

Or is everyone else here iron clad in their mental resolve and never experiencing the blah factor of thinking about how much longer you have to go on a longer row, where you're pushing it?

For me, it helps a lot on the long pieces to look at bench mark distances and/or times. In a 30 minute piece I check the times for each km, starting with 3km and compare them with what I remember from previous 30' pieces. The point of this is that I am looking at specific times along the way and not thinking about how much longer there is to go. And, if I am running slower than usual, it gives me the incentive to push a bit harder.

Bob S.

[Tinpusher]

When I started early last year it seemed I was regularly getting new PBs, but I knew that it wasn't going to last, and sure enough, it didn't!
Don't sit on the erg every day trying to PB because it just can't happen long term and you'll just get disillusioned.
Decide before you row what your aim is. If you feel like PBing then go for it otherwise just enjoy yourself, no pressure.
Dave

[chgoss]

I always think in terms of 2k's... a 10k is five 2k's.. I dont know why that helps but it does..
but, more than that, no way I could row on my own night after night, hour after hour, like I see so many people doing, I dont have the mental discipline I guess...
I really enjoy training with other people, everybody pushes each other, training improves, win-win.
So, get Row Pro! free eval copy at http://www.digitalrowing.com/

[Nosmo]

Don't try for a PR every time.
How about doing 30 minutes and covering up the time. When the meters stop changing your done.

Actually try a few 10K's and 30 minutes will not seem nearly as hard.

Other options are try 2 x 15 minutes. Start with a 3 minute rest, then decrease by one minute.

Try changing the rating every 1K: something like 18, 20 ,22, 24, 26, 20, 22, 24. OR 18, 22, 20, 24, 22, 26, 28, or make something up. If the pain is too much drop the rating at the next 1K.

Personally I have no trouble doing 2 hour rows on an erg. However a stationary bike I can't handle at all.

Finally if you can't handle 30 minutes don't do them. Do a 5-15 minute warmup. Then do a 5K then do a 10 minute warm down.

Are you paying attention to your technique? There is a lot to think about if you want.

[ergscores]

I'm going through the same thing. After being off the erg for about 5 years I borrowed one from my old coach for the summer. I'm getting my 30 minutes in through a 20 minute piece and 10 minutes of warmup and cool down.

Personally, I like doing steady state while I watch TV. I also think it's easier to get through it if I tag (ergscores.com/tag/humbled) my scores.

[Liquid]

I can really relate to that one, good of you to be honest about stopping sometimes. I don't recommend pushing for a PB every single time you row, that is excessive. I always aim for within +/- 5% and this works for me.

In order to cope with the distance/time it helps to break it up into discrete parts and also to have a glass half full mentality. Lastly, no matter how hard it is NEVER give in to an impulse to stop, at worst slow your pace down a little, you may surprise yourself. Once you develop a habit of stopping your brain becomes very adept at convincing itself time after time. I have never given in and acquired a mental toughness, the pestering thought of stopping rarely comes now and I banish it away the instant it does. Instead of thinking of "I could be on the couch having a nice cold drink" I rewire and visualize a boot camp instructor yelling at me "what the hell is wrong with you, get that thought out of your mind and keep going or I'll make you row 20K!" Here is my mental process during a typical hard 10K:

0-500 Whoa, going out fast again but I feel great. 4.7 m/s
500-3000 Settling into a normal pace, no fatigue 4.5-4.6 m/s
3000-5000 My least favorite part but it passes quickly 4.5-4.6 m/s
5000-6000 Woot, passed the 1/2 mark, it is all downhill from here 4.5-4.6 m/s
6000-8000 Tough going but if I can make it through this I've got only 2K to go! Sometimes during this part I slow down to 4.4 m/s but often after doing so for about 500m I get energy all of a sudden
8000-9000 At this point I am thinking of the surge in the last 1,000 meters and am glad I am not there yet. 4.5 m/s
9000-10000 This goes very quickly as I start to push for the end, 4.7-5.0 m/s.

The hardest parts for me are the 3-5K and the 6-8K. The first I don't like because there is so much more to go but on the other hand I still feel quite strong. The second is tough going and I do slow down a little if I need to, many times I find myself picking up the pace shortly after that and I feel better.

A few other tricks that I use:

1. Listen to music, only check distance after the end of every song. Use very inspirational music.
2. Race virtually using NetAthlon. This REALLY KEEPS ME GOING, without it I would be struggling a lot more.

If they had crowds and individual people cheering you on during a virtual race, that would be the icing on the cake. Some day....

[neilgunton]

Thanks for the advice... of course in the end you have to "just do it", I know that, but lots of good ideas for taking your mind off the grind. I also agree that it's not good to be aiming for new personal best times every time, that just puts too much pressure on. I think deciding beforehand that this is just going to be a cruise helps a bit too. No pressure, just slow down... man, I'm such a wimp.

I think at least one of the reasons I gave up during the 30 minute was because of heat/humidity. We moved down here to St Louis just recently, and I guess I'm not really used to the humidity. It really saps my will. I have started making sure the AC is on when I am rowing, that really seems to help.

I have thought about playing music before, and intend to try that on the next 30 minute... also, doing a 10k will probably make the 30 minute not seem so much.

Thanks again,

/Neil

[parishd]

The most difficult part of rowing for me was to teach myself not to row all out, every time. Like you, I ended up quitting mid-row a few times and was not able sustain it over the long-haul. Eventually I came to the conclusion that it was/is more important to finish a row at a given pace, even if you have to knock 5-10 secs off the split time to do it, than it is to hit your PB.

One other note of possible interest to you: My regular row is now 60 min and for me the jump from a 30 to a 60 min row was not nearly as difficult (mentally) as the jump from 20 to 30 mins. You may be dealing with the most difficult transition right now.

Daniel

[chgoss]

2. Race virtually using NetAthlon. This REALLY KEEPS ME GOING, without it I would be struggling a lot more.

Havent heard of NetAthlon before.. Does it allow internet racing, or is it just rowing against a computer program?

cheers

[Nosmo]

I think at least one of the reasons I gave up during the 30 minute was because of heat/humidity. We moved down here to St Louis just recently, and I guess I'm not really used to the humidity. It really saps my will. I have started making sure the AC is on when I am rowing, that really seems to help.

When the heat and humidity are bad you just have to slow down. No shame in that, just realism.
Check out the C-Breeze www.ps-sport.net to keep you cool.

You will get used to long pieces if you work up to them. I've found my self thinking OK only 30 minutes left, I'm almost done.

[Liquid]

Havent heard of NetAthlon before.. Does it allow internet racing, or is it just rowing against a computer program?

cheers[/quote]

It has been around for years I am on the second version. It allows you to race against computer boats that you program individually, against any of the boats programmed with your past performance times and also on the internet (although I never tried that and have not heard anyone using it). You select the race course and row through a 3D setting, the view is from the cockpit instead of a bird's eye perspective. I usually "name" the competition based on countries and then assign their speeds (constant, variable, past performance, etc.).

[gooseflight]

2. Race virtually using NetAthlon. This REALLY KEEPS ME GOING, without it I would be struggling a lot more.

Just downloaded, thanks for the tip. I haven't hooked it up to the PM3 yet but it looks rather good. If the pacers work that's one better than RowPro.

[ajohnston]

What Nosmo said about breaking it up really helps. I hate timed pieces. In fact I would rather do a 10k then a 30' (stupid I know). The best way I have found to break it up is 4 minutes, 3 minutes, 2 minutes,1 minute starting at 18 spm and then going up by 2 every time. Do that 3 times but the second time you start at 20 spm and the third time starting at 22 spm. So in total

4' @18
3' @20
2' @22
1' @24
4' @20
3' @22
2' @24
1' @26
4' @22
3' @24
2' @26
1' @28

Keep your mind of how dull the piece is

[John Hendrie]

2. Race virtually using NetAthlon. This REALLY KEEPS ME GOING, without it I would be struggling a lot more.

Just downloaded, thanks for the tip. I haven't hooked it up to the PM3 yet but it looks rather good. If the pacers work that's one better than RowPro.

Looks like it won't work with Mac OS X. Correct?

john