New Virtual Team/Affiliation for Marathon Challenge?

[Zuman]

I started indoor rowing last July and will have reached 1.57 million meters by the end of April. I'm a solo row-at-home participant, but I kinda feel like I'd like a virtual team affiliation before my first-ever marathon attempt next weekend.
I could join an existing online team, or "we" could form a new one if there are a few others in the same virtual boat...
Here's my snapshot:
Age: 67 (retired since this January; former wildlife conservationist); married to a non-rower
Rowing history: None
Live: About 20 miles south of Indianapolis (grew up in Bedford, England; emigrated 50 years ago)
Indoor rowing style: Slow. I can maintain 2:30 for an hour, but I'm planning to try for 2:51 for the Marathon Challenge so I can finish in under 4 hours (I'm about 50% sure I can make that pace...unless I need an extended bathroom break!).
Class: Lightweight (just...about 162 lb).
So...
Anyone want to join me in forming a new online team for the Marathon Challenge? Anyone willing to accept me into an existing group?
Thanks!

[DavidA]

I started indoor rowing last July and will have reached 1.57 million meters by the end of April. I'm a solo row-at-home participant, but I kinda feel like I'd like a virtual team affiliation before my first-ever marathon attempt next weekend.
I could join an existing online team, or "we" could form a new one if there are a few others in the same virtual boat...
Here's my snapshot:
Age: 67 (retired since this January; former wildlife conservationist); married to a non-rower
Rowing history: None
Live: About 20 miles south of Indianapolis (grew up in Bedford, England; emigrated 50 years ago)
Indoor rowing style: Slow. I can maintain 2:30 for an hour, but I'm planning to try for 2:51 for the Marathon Challenge so I can finish in under 4 hours (I'm about 50% sure I can make that pace...unless I need an extended bathroom break!).
Class: Lightweight (just...about 162 lb).
So...
Anyone want to join me in forming a new online team for the Marathon Challenge? Anyone willing to accept me into an existing group?
Thanks!

Welcome.
It sounds like you are sticking with the rowing since you have so many meters already.
Good luck with the marathon!
There are a few teams, e.g. Luna-tics, that are open to everyone, and are very active.

David

[Slothful1]

HI Zuman

We aren't planning anything specifically team-related around the Marathon Challenge, but the Forum Flyers are a generally welcoming, supportive team and you're welcome to check out our team thread on the forum, and see if it suits you. One of our members did one last weekend for charity, and there might be someone popping in an entry for the Marathon Challenge. I'm personally only planning on a half marathon given lack of distance training, but will be doing a 100km on the BikeErg (which I am more prepared for).

We get decent support for the team challenges, and also regularly contribute to the Cross Team Challenge which can provide some interesting options to mix into your training plans.

Cheers
Dave

[jackarabit]

I started indoor rowing last July and will have reached 1.57 million meters by the end of April. I'm a solo row-at-home participant, but I kinda feel like I'd like a virtual team affiliation before my first-ever marathon attempt next weekend.
I could join an existing online team, or "we" could form a new one if there are a few others in the same virtual boat...
Here's my snapshot:
Age: 67 (retired since this January; former wildlife conservationist); married to a non-rower
Rowing history: None
Live: About 20 miles south of Indianapolis (grew up in Bedford, England; emigrated 50 years ago)
Indoor rowing style: Slow. I can maintain 2:30 for an hour, but I'm planning to try for 2:51 for the Marathon Challenge so I can finish in under 4 hours (I'm about 50% sure I can make that pace...unless I need an extended bathroom break!).
Class: Lightweight (just...about 162 lb).
So...
Anyone want to join me in forming a new online team for the Marathon Challenge? Anyone willing to accept me into an existing group?
Thanks!

2:51/500m av. pace is dead on 4 hrs. flat to finish, not taking into account pace drop during drinking on the fly and very likely at least one stretch/fuel/relief stop off the seat. I suggest maintaining a flat pace in the interest of efficiency and letting elapsed time take care of itself.

https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/ ... calculator

You don’t mention previous long distance efforts beyond an hour. Most folks try to do a few half marathons and get their continuous distance out to 30+k before attempting the full. I did 13 halves prior to my FM. A virtual support group can provide encouragement and tips for training and execution but ultimately the FM is a Lonesome Valley.

“You got to walk that Lonesome Valley,
You gotta walk it by yourself,
Ain’t nobody here can walk it for you,
You gotta walk it by yourself.

There’s a road that leads to glory
Thru a valley far away,
Nobody else can walk it for you,
They can only point the way.” —Woody Guthrie

[Zuman]

Thanks, all.
Jackarabit, I've done a half-marathon and a 30k in the past month.
-Mike (Zuman)

[Zuman]

PS- I joined the Forum Flyers. Thanks, Slothful1 and Meerkats!

[Dangerscouse]

PS- I joined the Forum Flyers. Thanks, Slothful1 and Meerkats!

Best of luck with the FM Mike. Don't get worried but there is a world of difference between a 30k and a FM so what you need to do is be prepared.

Every pain, and bit of discomfort will be magnified and you will think emotionally about it all and you can quite easily talk yourself into a HD if you're not careful. Make sure you stay hydrated and fuelled up (I'd recommend every 15 mins, and a good breakfast beforehand).

Remember to smile. Facial feedback is a great trick to make you think it's not as hard as it feels. Have a photo that will make you smile in your vision, and always focus on how far you've come, not how far you have to go. Count it off in percentages, and always remind yourself how good you will feel when you're finished.

Doing a FM isn't something that too many of us ever do, so that is something to be proud of.

[jackarabit]

Dangerscouse writes:

Remember to smile. Facial feedback is a great trick to make you think it's not as hard as it feels. Have a photo that will make you smile in your vision, and always focus on how far you've come, not how far you have to go. Count it off in percentages, and always remind yourself how good you will feel when you're finished.

Hard to do much with the rictus grin that comes with fighting thru the maelstrom of fatique like mad Ahab. It is important to keep the carrot in view of the horses!

[jackarabit]

I like analogies. I looked at the FM as my Assault on Everest. HM distance + 3k was base camp. I didn’t stop for brunch at 21k to avoid the temptations of a previous goal. I took a second fuel stop @ 36k (top camp where the Sherpas go back). 36 to 42k was final ascent. Ice axe and crampons, hypoxia and ego death.

Stu most likely laughing if he routinely smiles thru ultra rows that make the FM look like a warmup! I think we do agree that protracted performance requires protracted preparation and crazy desire.

[Dangerscouse]

I like analogies. I looked at the FM as my Assault on Everest. HM distance + 3k was base camp. I didn’t stop for brunch at 21k to avoid the temptations of a previous goal. I took a second fuel stop @ 36k (top camp where the Sherpas go back). 36 to 42k was final ascent. Ice axe and crampons, hypoxia and ego death.

Stu most likely laughing if he routinely smiles thru ultra rows that make the FM look like a warmup! I think we do agree that protracted performance requires protracted preparation and crazy desire.

great analogy, and it's not easy to keep smiling, even if only occasionally, but the more battle hardened you get the easier it becomes.

It's like a form of muscle memory as I suddenly felt like it all came back to me when I regularly started doing HMs again.

[Zuman]

Well, I just crept in under 4 hours at 3:59:38, but I made it!
It might have been a mistake to take it easy at the beginning, because I had to crank it up during the last hour. Oh, well...'til next year!
Thanks for your advice, all!

[DavidA]

Well, I just crept in under 4 hours at 3:59:38, but I made it!
It might have been a mistake to take it easy at the beginning, because I had to crank it up during the last hour. Oh, well...'til next year!
Thanks for your advice, all!

Woo hoo!
Congratulations!

David

[Dangerscouse]

Well, I just crept in under 4 hours at 3:59:38, but I made it!
It might have been a mistake to take it easy at the beginning, because I had to crank it up during the last hour. Oh, well...'til next year!
Thanks for your advice, all!

Well done. It's tough to know how fast you can go as there is a looming fear of fly and die, albeit in slower motion than usual, but doing HMs and up to 30ks will be really useful to give you confidence and belief in what pace you can handle.