Thanks Chris - I wasn't sure of the 'legality' of doing 2 or more PB's concurrently.

We'll see your 10K (and raise it !) after the GP ? Good Luck with the Pothunting (Aussie for silverware).

Martin

Hi all



Brighton Tuesday night/Wednesday, no erg. London yesterday, got back at 11.00pm, no erging.

Some short intervals this morning.

The fire is burning brightly in my mind and in my belly, so Niall, be prepared to give back the spot you stole from me.

I haven't had time to catch up on everyone's exploits, but I'm sure everyone is pbing for fun. Daren, have you cracked sub 7 yet?

Bernard

My fellow Taffians, after laying waste to my 5k and 2k PBs yesterday, I decided to go for that 10k today; the second of the trio of pieces I promised to try and bring into line. My previous best was from 2 weeks ago; 40:29.5 (2:01.5).

Today, I've just brought that down to...

[b]39:04.0 (1:57.2)[/B]

I'm really pleased because it's a huge chunk off, and my first sub-40, but at the same time I'm a little disappointed because for some of the row I reckoned sub-39 was on the cards. Damn, damn, damn! A mere 4 seconds. That's what, a couple of extra hard strokes in the early part of the row. I'm such a slacker!

I aim to tackle this again and get under 39 minutes soon. Oh yes. Watch this space.

Only the hour to bring up to date now - and not before time as it's my oldest standing PB - from September 26th!

Say it loud; I'm Welsh* and I'm proud+!


* I'm not
+ I am

Hey Taffians, you should take Carole, you can use her to replace Speedy when he joins the MAD Team..........Pirate on a pillage to steal the Duke of speediness. I turn my nose up and wave my pirate sword in a threatening manner, as I set sail on the way to Thailand to capture the one know as Speedy.

Sir Pirate

Daren,
Not sure what's gotten into your water, but if you're breaking pb's like that, don't fight it. Document everything you've done leading up to them though, that way you can repeat it in the future. Great job!!!!!

Holy Crap man, if I could take 7+ seconds off of my 2k, I'd be in a very elite category indeed. Only three people in history have ever gone sub 5:40.

Speedy

The Pirate only transfers rowers from other people’s teams. You can take Carol from Team Oarsome (will give you Andy Burrows too) I take speedy to MAD Ville, job done, everybody’s happy and another victory for the devilish crusader of the high seas ……….Sir Pirate

Niall
My ship is a 21st century vessel....I have no plank to walk

Steve's right, Dwayne, I'm in that happy, happy, joy, joy, land of rapid improvement at the moment. From unfit couch potato to slightly fitter, rower-about-town.

I only started using the rower 9 weeks ago. The first 7 weeks were spent getting my first million metres under my belt, with 150,000m per week on average. In that time I took my 2K from 8:39 to about 7:14 I think. In the past two weeks, I've taken it easy since achieving my aim of rowing 1 million metres before my 36th birthday (not until a few days after BIRC), and I haven't really worked hard at anything in the past fortnight. I attribute my latest jump in pace to my bady finally getting the rest I hadn't allowed it for the previous 7 weeks. =)

I know my improvements will tail off (are tailing off already I guess), but I hope I can still keep taking the times down, even by ever decreasing amounts, for some time yet. If I can find a second per week, I might even go sub-7 at BIRC, and that would be MONSTER!

The thing is young bora da me lad, some rivers are full of prime stock, just like the river MAD that flows through MAD Ville. It is best to keep all the prize river stock together. Speedy is a BIG fish and needs to swim in a bigger river.
What’s that saying about big fish in a small pond.

Speedy is a tough nut to crack but I have not got my “big nut smasher” out yet. The line is cast, the bigger bait is heading for the hook, I shall then cast the line of the Pirate
Sir Pirate turns & waves to the Taffians crying on the sand banks of the sea, as he sails away with The Duke on board his vessel......Away to MAD Ville they go

Yep, see you Sunday. I am half Welsh you know

Sir Pirate

Ahhh, Wha???

Niall,


Now I'm annoyed

Nice time though.


This weekend is going to be a tough one!


Bernard

As an addendum to my earlier post (hastily typed in work after my even hastier 5K row in the work's gym) the splits (for those that are interested) for the 5K were:

1:52.9 (28spm)
1:54.5 (29)
1:55.7 (28)
1:57.2 (28)
1:57.9 (27)
1:57.3 (28)
1:58.1 (28)
1:57.3 (29)
1:57.6 (28)
1:50.0 (31)

Going into the last 500m I could see I needed a sub-1:51 time to get under 19:20 so really went for it. I must say the best thing I got out of this row was the realisation that I can get a good low split from a controlled and focus stroke (my 2K earlier in the week was anything but controlled!)

So what started off as a miserable start top my weekend with Bernard leapfrogging me into 10th place has ended with me reclaiming 10th place in the team AND getting a season's best time to boot. So there's only one word for how I feel...buoyant!

I dedicate my 5K season's best time to Bernard (thanks mate!). Without his prompt I wouldn't have done any rowing this afternoon.

Over to you now Bernard....

I set another new PB today. It was over 15079 meters, and it took me 1:07:29.1. I know its a strange distance and the time wont set the world on fire, but for some reason I just fancied it.

I wonder how Im doing in the million meter challenge?

Chris Adams Risca Wales GBR.............................896,018
Robert Redmond Caldicot Wales GBR.................896,017



I bet I get an abusive text message tonight!

Bore Da!

Good one, Chris! Gee, why DID you pick 15079?

Martin, I see I have my marching orders....at least 17K. At that rate I almost might as well do another HM. FINE!!!

Hey Dwayne, you're going to be the Six Million Meter Man soon...time for your own TV show!

GOOD FOR YOU NIALL ON YOUR NEW 5k! How much did your new 5K effect your Nonathlon score? 1:55, I think, was your overall average. When you rowed it, what did you have the display set on? Just wonder if it would have been easier to get the pace to 1:55 and then just keep it there instead of starting out fast, slowing down, and then sprinting.

Good to see Grumpy back on board. After a while of being a Taff, he's going to have to change his name to Happy 'cuz we're so much fun!

Carla

The new : click for paces - click for points.

After collecting from Nonathlon almost all is automatic , just remember to update your Nonathlon.

If you cannot make a decision:

Nonathlon score for 5K went from 827 to 840. Hoping that my HM time on Sunday will get me into the top 100.

As for the 5K today, I had the monitor on time. I know I've read a lot of recommendations for having it on avg split time but I must admit I prefer to do the mental arithmetic myself at each 500m stage as it keeps my mind active. Okay, some might say, I'd be better concentrating my mind on the rowing but I found a 10K row a bit boring without the mental arithmetic "challenge".

I must admit my general style for rowing has always been go out fast, try and maintain a good rate and then blast the final 500-750m. I guess this is down to confidence as I currently don't have the confidence in my ability to maintain a fast time throughout a while piece. Maybe this will come with time. All I know is that every PB/SB I've achieved has been as a result of the same strategy. (That's not to say I'm dismissive of other options though as I'm always willing to learn and try new things )

Hi Taffs,

Great end to the week Niall. Superb 5K row - splits almost mirror a good 2K strategy, just repeat for your next 2K thinking of it as that 5K with 10 secs off the Ave Pace ! Still on for the HM on Sunday ? (it was you wasn't it - starting to lose track with so many posts).

Hi to Debra, how's the erging ? Don't be shy to tell all - after all, standing on a soapbox is all part of being Welsh

Welcome back Mr Grumpy, you wasted no time moving up the ladder I see. What's happened to Trish - rigor mortis set in after a tough erg session ??

Great video Daren - feel like I know you so much better after viewing it.

Off to the gym now to knock of that new PB of Chris's (15079, 1:07, pop)

Martin

PIRATE .............................SLAP...................


Morris you ain't to big to take over my knee young man .....



Sorry folks I am Oarful to the core ........................my boys .... awwwww ... mind you got a soft spot for the Old Taffians they are almost as nutty as me .......

Hi Gang,

Want to hear about my latest 10K ? No ? Well - too bad, here it is

Went to the gym feeling really flat mentally, considered a 60 min, couldn't be stuffed so settled for a 10K'er. Aiming for 6K (1:50 pace) and 30 min (1:52 pace) PB's so off we went (splits were set for every 2K for brevity - hides a multitude of sins !) -

2000m 1:50.9 - Still on 6K PB pace sort of.

4000m 1:55.2 - mentally 'blew up' at 3K mark, couldn't care less, did some 2:30's, Bye Bye 6K pb !

6000m 1:54.6 - Back on horse, 30 min PB still there, mentally 'blew up' again, repeat of above ! Bye Bye 30 min PB.

8000m 1:51:6 - Back on horse, 10K PB still a chance.

10000m 1:49.9 - Motivated at last !!! Get that Ave Pace below 1:52.5 and I had a sub 37:30 ! Pulling 1:43's for last 250m - should be going for a 2K PB

End Result - 37:28:6 at 152:4 Ave Pace, 28 SPM (except 2:30's !), DF 117 . Old PB Carla - 37:53, increase in Nonathlon points - miserly 12 (that 4th power curve is deadly !)

Post Mortem :-

1) Classic example of how NOT to row a 10K

2) Doesn't matter how it's done, a PB feels GREAT !!!!

3) Getting ahead of PB Ave Pace allows a loaf or two


I'm dedicating this one to Mrs Mac. Thanks Carole, your timely Cheerio this morning was just the ticket to get me to the gym in the first place (hope you got my reply - I was flying blind with the technology).

Cheers from one stoked Taff,

Martin

PS Mike - splits can be viewed by repeated pushing of the 'M' button (on PM2) located bottom Left hand corner once a piece is completed. Have a play around with this feature next time you do a piece. Splits default to every 500m or 2 mins but can be set to different values for a piece if you wish (I set mine for every 2K for the above 10K e.g.)

Great job Martin, it's the hardest thing to get back on the horse when you've jumped off a few times...amazing that you pulled off a PB after all those times you could have just bagged it utterly.

Mike, you must be totally nuts! There's no way I can keep up with a plan like that. If this is a huge amount more than you normally do, make sure you are stretching!!!

I had a crappy row today, during which I mentally quit a million times. Couldn't make myself do a %$#$@*& thing. Finally I got so that whatever number of meters I had left of the piece (ended up doing 15K of "mixed junk", which means alternately quitting, sprinting, and lethargically flopping up and down the rail) I would set the meter for so I could get going again at the average I was trying to hit, which was just 2:05, but wasn't happening. So if I stopped and reset the monitor I could then make myself work for the remaining meters, but not if it had gone up to 2:23 or some absurd pace--it was too much of a downer! Oh well, one of those workouts where all it's worth is meters for the team.

Tomorrow is another day...

Carla