Hi

Bore Da!
My brain was toffee before I lived in Wales!! She wasn't my ex then. By the time I had learned to say "Machyncleth" we had gone our separate ways, thankfully.

I only did 10000 metres last night as I wanted to watch the Wayne Rooney show in the Champions League - Manchester Utd v Fenerbahce. I'll catch up on my metres at lunchtime.

Aussie Taff
My target goal for BIRC was >7'30" as I am new to concept2 rowing, but I have improved a little so we'll see nearer the time what I should be capable of at this point in time. I started concept2 training in June - the interactive program on the UK site - in a bid to lose a bit of weight and get enough fitness to maybe start playing squash again - I played for my university and county juniors( a long time ago, mind ). I hadn't played for a few years until I played someone in June and found I could still hit a squash ball reasonably well. BIRC gave me a target as I can be very lazy and would rather socialise than train sometimes. I keep a record of everything in an excel spreadsheet at work.

Is it cheating to add in the metreage I've done but not logged in my personal logbook now I've joined this team?


Prufrock

Thamks Niall, I was about to say the same thing to Bernie but wasn't sure what the other Taffers may think. In my opinion metres rowed are metres rowed, so long as they occured in the current season it shouldn't matter when they are logged (otherwise I'm in trouble with mine when I didn't have Internet access !). The whole thing is based on a honesty system anyway, so as long as Bernie has recourse to unlogged Kms for accuracy purposes, pop them in. OK with the other Taffs ?

Glad (if that's the right word ?) to hear the back injury is muscular and not skeletal-related as recovery is hopefully then just round the corner. I strongly believe, based on entensive past experience, that my back is there to be used wherever possible and erging has been an excellent way, combined with Carla's advice re warm-ups, Swiss balls etc, to strengthen it in recent months. "Pushing the envelope" (e.g. doing 15K's non stop for the first time) always has had a detrimental effect on my back but that soon passes (few days) and I can then build on it to enjoy a new level of activity (e.g. aim for a HM).

Cheers

Martin

PS I think Carla is looking for some info re 'inclusion of quotes' in posts and what fancy things can be done with a PM2 monitor re 'rest intervals' etc. I can't help here, can you ? (as our resident 'guru' on matters electronic)

Martin,

I had initially drafted some nicely formatted instructions but it dawned on me that any time I typed

Hi all



I've compromised and logged my metres up until the end of August. There weren't as many extra metres as I thought there would be.


Prufrock

Hey there Taffs,
Seems that C2 is being a bit finicky as far as my 2k time goes. Read and weep as I am.

"5:47.1 is awesome! But in order for us to post it as a new World
Record you will have to do it again.
All 2K World Records must be done at a sanctioned race such as CRASH-B, any
of the 20 Satellite regattas or any of the
National Championship regattas held in countries around the world. We also
accept times from any country's National Team
selection trials."

Sucks eh?!

Speedy

It does suck indeed. I'm sure there are good reasons behind the rules but it's still a shame that such a great effort will go unrecognised officially.

Still, you did it once, you'll do it again. Hell, you'll probably do it even faster next time.

Sorry to hear that , but you have done it now, and can do it again!
I surprised that even having a USIRA official, as well as 2 others witnesses, isn't good enough

You'll just have to show them all by breaking your record next time at an 'acceptable' event.

Sheesh! !!! I can't believe it's not good enough to have had official witnesses there! I wonder if it would have made a difference if you had taken a photo of the monitor. Though I suppose they would then figure you could have altered the image on the computer....

Well, I agree with all the other right thinking individuals on this team: You'll do it again--but faster! So there, DWR! (that's the Department for Withholding Recognition)

Way to go Rick! Now that you have returned, victorious, I suspect there will be a vigorous 3 way battle between you, Martin, and me for whatever place we are vying for....

Godfried--only a few days until you cross that million meter line--how are you going to celebrate?

Carla

Thanks for the support guys espeically Chippy, Graham and Sexy Suzy your cheering was motivating it was a good win for me and I deadicate my win to the TAFF ATTACK TEAM .

Speedy you are a legend, SUPERMAN has attacked good stuff. Just prove it to them all to shut everyone up we are all behind you.

Carla and Martin look out eat my dust!!!!

5th place would be nice COME ON!!!

Row Row Row your Boats everyone. The Team Managers have given orders.

RICKSTER

What a bummer Dwayne. I could understand the ruling if one were claiming a World record irrespective of category (i.e. the lowest time ever by anyone) but it seems overly restrictive when it comes to a Best Time in a particular category. Have the last word by doing a sub 5.45 at a suitable venue ! (Aussie IRC is on in Melbourne on October 17th - are you honeymooning down this way ?)

Thanks Godfried for the Quotes and PM2 info, I was a bit hazy on both. Well done on the upcoming 1 Million mark. With the current season only 5 months old and sitting on 800,000 metres are you going to shoot for a 1,000,000 at the halfway point ? If so then Chippy and Chris have no chance

And Ricky, it will take more than a puff of Welsh coal dust to keep Carla and I at bay, more like a good old Aussie outback dust storm She's probably erging past both of us as I speak ! Congrats on the squash title (where abouts is Gwent - I've lost track since Cardiganshire became Gwy-something).

Thanks for the extra metres Prufrock, you and Rickster will have to get together for a game of squash sometime.

Cheers all,

Martin

Welcome Back Rick! Congratulations on being The Champ!!

You're going to have to fight to keep that 5th place 'cuz I want it! And so does Martin! I'm unfortunately back to rowing one-legged and have ice on. But since it doesn't matter how slow these meters are, I'm still going to be pushing you.... 12K today, took me almost an hour, but it was 10MPS running on one cylindar...

Thanks for the info, Godfried, I guess I won't be needing to have my splits on the record breaking times I'm going to be rowing for a while. But I'm going to have one heck of a right leg when this is over.

Carla

Hi



I could only row for 45 minutes last night as the gym was quite busy and I was conscious of the fact other people would need the machine. I missed my lunchtime row as I had to do some work stuff so I could only manage 10500 for the day.

It will be the same today as I have some month end stuff to tie up today and overnight so will manage only one row to break up the day. Not quite what I had in mind but it will have to do til the weekend.

Well played Rickster! Thanks for the information on the setting splits Godried!

Prufrock

Hi Martin



I'm getting quite frustrated by the fact that once I've finished my warm up which will take about 3k I haven't got that much time to do anything before I have to cool down which is anything between 500m and 2k, depending on whether it was a long and slow row or a set of short and not quite so slow rows.

I think I'm going to have to invest in my own machine, even though they are not cheap!

There are two machines side by side at the gym I use as well. I agree with your observation and find it amazing that people can move that quickly up and down a concept2 and pull such slow times!

As long as they're benefitting I guess. Now and again I get a superstar sit down next to me who pulls 1'45" at 26spm for five minutes and then gets up as though he's done nothing. No sweat, no heavy breathing, nothing! That can be worryingly disconcerting!

I try to train in the morning and late in the evenings when no-one is around, unfortunately this gym has been refurbished and it seems everyone in the town is taking advantage of all of the offers around at the moment. The gym seems busy all of the time now.

Good luck with the half-marathon. It seems as though you will be rowing at quite a rate for such a distance. I'm not ready for these longer distances yet, but I will be.

Bernard

Thanks Bernie, mot sure how to approach it as it's a first for me but I figured if I aim for 2.00 Pace it will be over quicker than, say, 2.10's !

Had to laugh at your comment re 1.45 'supermen', happens to me sometimes and we end up having the erg equivalent of an arm wrestle whilst pretending not to look at each other's monitors Whilst all the time steadily upping the ante until one of us pretends that we've reached the end of our workout ! All good fun but invariably stuffs up my carefully planned workout.

Cheers

Martin

I recently had a young guy (that's anyone under 30 as far as I'm concerned!) who sat next to my rower. I was doing a 10K piece and was doing about 2:02 at 23spm. I noticed him looking over at my monitor so I did likewise out of curiosity. He was going 2:19 at 36spm and kept looking bemused at my steady progress (in reality I was a bit like a duck on a pond, on the surface all is calm and steady but under the water, the mechanics are going like hell!). He got off after 3 minutes and went over to the weights.

Like everyone else I've also had the opposite happen to me. This time the tables were turned and I sat down next to a guy who was well into his rowing session (judging by the sweat levels). I glanced over at his monitor as I started up and noticed he was coming to the end of his 10K row doing 1:55 at 36spm (final time was about 38:55). It wasn't you was it Martin????

Niall


I'm sure I'm not the first person to notice that your season's best are not as quick as your personal best. In fact all of your pbs were done last year and nothing has been beaten this year yet.

Is it normal for people to plateau or lose speed?

Apologies if you have had to answer questions like this before!


Bernard

oops! How embarrassing! Of course Rick meant 5th place for our great team! Guess I failed "Reading Comprehension" last night...and of course the spot we are struggling to get is 10th, not 5th....oy!!

You guys that have to use ergs in clubs really have a double challenge, not only motivating yourselves to get there and plan a workout, but having to deal with the logistics of sharing equipment or ending up secretely competing with neighbors...The machines are expensive, but it's so worth it to be able to do your own thing. I guess it might be motivational to have to erg with other people around who see your progress, or lack thereof, but I definitely prefer a more solitary suffering. ..

Carla

A message for Rick Bayko -

Rick,
I see you out looking at the 'Join Taff Attack' thread alot. Why not just join up man?! Instead of living outside the thrill, become part of it!! I'm sure the founding fathers (Bore da (Chris Adams) and Chippy (Robert Redmond)) could find some Welshness in you somewhere. How 'bout gentlemen? How 'bout it Rick???

Dwayne (aka Speedy)

Team mates, I just spent an hour reading 2 days worth of disscussion, pity we dont get awarded meters for jabbering, few comments below - Row On!

I had my last (hope) operation yesterday (3 screws removed from my left leg), I walked down to the theatre (wish it had been Rocky II), lead on the bed and got connected to the ECG. I had to be a bit nervous but as I looked over I saw my heart rate at 49bpm, Anethatist then got stroppy cause she couldn't get a vain to pop up - I thought "cool", and went to sleep thinking of ERGING!!!

Hi Taffs,

Sat down at the terminal this morning for my daily read of all your exploits when, ouch, multiple muscle spasms in the lower back (I blame Bore Da for making me laugh before I was properly warmed up). Thought about giving the gym (and HM) a miss but then thoughts of Chris erging away on the operating table and Carla doing 12K on a frozen leg inspired me to head on down for an exploratory row.

Ergs were free, none of the regular users in sight (i.e. no excuses) so on I hopped, setting the DF nice and low (108) for the back and pulled away. Back no worse than when I walked in so I thought "Game on". No way was I resetting the monitor and losing the 300 metres alredy done so I just carried on at 1,55 pace until got back to 2.00 average pace (after the exploratory slow start).

Monitor was showing time at top and distance rowed at bottom so I had a bit of mental fun working out how to account for the 'extra' 97 mtres and still do a sub 1.24.00. 5K gone, at 2.00 ave pace hardly a dent in that wretched 97 metres, then 10K and still no dent ! Trying to drink and row seemed to be the problem, costing me about 5 secs each time !

Righto then - no more drinks 15K and a better dent, at 17K dying but .... at 18K all the Taff exploits of late suddenly popped into my head and I was 'flying' - quite a surreal feeling. Then just a matter of what came first, cramp or a sub 1.24.00 and with a big last 500 going from 1.58's down to 1.50's we nailed that pesky 97 metres and a bit extra to boot.

1.23.49

A HUGE thanks to all the Taff team, there is no way I would ever have attempted a HM if it wasn't for the forum and reading about all your achievements. Until the TA team came along I was just mucking around on shortish stuff, aiming for a sub 7.00 2K as a 'sort of' goal. Longer distances really take one into a different world/mindset - terrific experience (especially when the row stops !)

A couple of questions to those to whom the above ramblings are 'old hat' -

Drinks - does one take fluids during a HM, if so how ?

Pacing - is it more effective (energywise, lower times) to row at a consistent pace throughout or go for variety (rate high, then low, pull harder, softer) ?

And the $64,000 question - I took the time from the time section of the monitor as the magic 21097 rolled past. Said 1.23.48 then (obviously) 1.23.49 so I've ranked it as 1.23.49. Given the recent issue of Speedy's record is my effort 'official' ! Do I have to do it again ? (Chris - Yes cos we 'loves the pain' is not a valid response !)

Cheers

Martin

Hi Niall, Prufrock, Carla

Couple more thoughts on gym vs home -

A plus for gyms - tank tops, bare midriffs and skin tight trackie bottoms on immaculately groomed youngsters now very much the 'in' look (not a bare midriff in sight at home !).

A plus for home - all the creature comforts on tap and can erg 24 hours a day !

Looks like the BIRC is a goer Niall. Are we dreaming of a sub 7 yet ? How about you Bernie, heading to BIRC as well ? Is it far from Felixstowe ? (although 'far' is a somewhat relative term - everwhere in Australia seems to be a long way from anywhere else ).

Passed Rickster yet Carla ?

Martin

I think I have Yale running scared. They've started pulling away from me now. I was only 40k behind 5 days ago, and now I'm 62k behind. Grrr.

Maybe my plan for solo world domination is flawed.

So, what were the criteria again?

- live in Wales

Neep.

- has lived in Wales

Neep.

- has been on holiday or visited Wales

Twice! Once for a week when I was 11 or so, on a Gingerbread holiday. Again when I was 17. Went to Betws-y-Coed for a week on a Biology field trip.

- can find Wales on a World Map

Bingo!

- has a Welsh name (forename, middle name or surname)

No, but I know people that have! Like my mate Huw!

- has read a book by a Welsh Author or author with a Welsh name (see above)

Again, no.

I worked near Wales for a year (in Chester), and I must have driven into Wales at least twice when I got lost. I'm a Liverpool fan, and Ian Rush is Welsh, ain't he. I can't stand that Ryan Giggs though. I saw him in a Manchester pub once (JW Johnsons I think it was called). He dances like a fairy.

When I was at college, I fancied a lass from Wales. She was from Tredegar, as I recall. Didn't get anywhere. Siân Jones, her name was. Or maybe it was the other one that was from Tredegar. Anyway, was a while ago.

I watched a lot of Ivor the Engine, as a kid. Peeer-scht-koof, and all that. I've got a dragon in an egg, too! Look!



I like dragons. They rock. If you ask me, St. George was a bully. Mind you, I'm a big fan of Slaine (2000AD), and he killed a lot of dragons. OK, I'm off on a tangent now.

I can't pronounce Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, but I do know roughly what it means in English, and that it was lengthened from the original as a publicity stunt. =)

Daren,

You look well qualified to me (almost over qualified some might say!). And anyone who has a liking for Ivor the Engine is a solid guy in my book. For those who are scratching their heads, here's a picture of Ivor the Engine:



This was a story of a steam engine and his adventure at Llaniog Station.

Anyway, back to business!

Daren, come and join the thrill ride that is TAFF ATTACK