I take it PB pace is average at end of row, not during the non-sprint parts of the row?
If not, no way.

Godfried:

Take your current PB. Use the pace calculator to figure out what the average pace was. Then do a half hour row, at that pace, but do a 100m sprint every 1K. You should come out with a faster time, and faster average pace than your PB, if you succeed.

This is how mine should have worked out (but didn't!)

PB 7291m
pace: 2:03.4

Ok, so that means I would instead be rowing 700m of it at say, 1:55 (I know, slow, but that's a sprint to me) and the non-sprint parts at 2:03.
700m @1:55 = 2:41
30 min - 2:41= 27: 19
27:19 at 2:03= 6662 + 700 sprint meters = 7362m, avg 2:02

Unless my math is screwed up, which wouldn't be anything new!!

(it was screwed up, I just edited it to fix it--still didn't make the goal, but my math mistake made me look 100m worse than I was)

I noticed that too. It's always fun when it is someone whose name I recognize from the forum.
Who is the 'Seedy' guy he is chasing.

David

Must be his brother.

Well, my math screwed up - missed by 5 meters - finished with 7686 meters.

I really hated it : normally I use average pace and now I had to set the PM2 at "meters rowed" and had to calculate my progress.

I needed 525 meters in the last 2 minutes - should not have been a problem . . . so I think I eased up a little too much in the minute-before-last.
I should have changed to "estimated meters" but forgot to do that.

So my score :
1) 1 point
2) 0 points
3) 1 point ( close enough )

and a bonus of 100 points for being so stupid to miss by 5 meters.

Hey Godfried...

Sorry....

I'm not sure you saw what I was getting at in my attempted answer to your question about #1. To succeed, you had to end up setting a new PB, so being short of your PB by 5 meters doesn't earn the point. (I did exactly the same thing--I was short of my old PB by 5m--no "success" point for me, either--unless I try again and make it this time. )

Your PB is 7691, avg pace of 1:57. Subtract 700m, because those are sprint meters. That leaves you with 6991m at 1:57,a total of 27:16. 700m at sprint pace (say 1:50?)would be 2:34.

27:16 + 2:34 = 29:50, leaving you 10 extra seconds to do at either 1:57 or 1:50. If you do it at 1:50, your final meters should be 42 higher than your old PB.

Of course, that is based on your sprint being 1:50. I have no idea what your sprint is, it's probably faster than that, and correcting the sprint pace makes your meter goal for the challenge higher.

I'm glad you tried it, even though you ended up hating it. You still get the point for doing it, and so far you will get the point for the highest meters, because you and I are the only ones that have done it so far! I might try it again this weekend.

You're a trooper!

Carla,
I have a great idea - how about if instead of sprinting that 100m every 1k I stop and take a rest? Will that count for 'attempting' it?
I think the closest I could get to a PB or SB right now is to actually get on the machine and row for 30 minutes!

2 more days...

Had a go at #1. Did'nt bother with the maths business. Managed a PB by 368 metres and went from 326 to 140 in the rankings.

Went down to Chippys garage. There was a load of kids outside with bananas waiting for feeding time

Dykie (Ebbw Vale)

I've never personally met Chippy, but he seems like a very nice guy. From what heartache that you guys continually give him, that would seem contrary. So what's the scoop? Nice guy? Nice guy to give s**t to?
Speedy

Carla,
You made your million (meters that is)!! Congrats.

Speedy

Hey Debra!

How about, one day you row a half hour piece. Use that as your "sb". Take a day off, and then try #1, basing it on your average pace for the "sb".
That could get you one point for trying it--though it you make it, I don't know if it's fair to give you a point for succeeding.
You'd get 2 rows in this week, instead of none, and have a crack at earning the special design for your sig (Oh, bliss!! )

Maybe you can get one of your kids to give you a 10 count on the 100m sprints.

Dykie:

Thanks for giving #1 a shot! Your results give you at least 2 points. Let me know your actual total meters--if you made more than Godfried, you'll (at least temporarily) have the third point for most meters.

Congratulations!

Better late than never! I ate too much dinner way too late Tuesday night to row. Nothing like a load of pepper steak & mashed potatoes and gravy to make you feel like doing absolutely nothing.

Started my workout last night at midnight; warmed up yesterday with slow 2K, then did 15 minutes (3664; was supposed to be a half hour, but wimped out), then did 5K with 250m sprints every 500m, sprints at 1:51).

Today I plan on some long slow distance, I may even cover the monitor and just row comfortably and concentrate on form, no set distance or time or pace, just row.

Speedy,
Cheeky, chippy, Chappy, is a nice bloke, to get a good character reference try to find the fella who tried to mug him for his squash bag as he walked home from the local leisure centre. Oh yes the fellas.
You know in the old cowboy films John Wayne was a really nice hero, but you always wanted him on your side. Better to have him on your side.

Home cured.

I figured he was a nice guy. You just love giving crap to your bro.

Taffians
No meters so far this week as i have been to ill All the abuse i have taken this week as made me laugh so hard its made my cough worse. Hope to
have a gentle row tomorrow and get back into full training by sunday Mabye
for tea on Sunday ill have a Porky sandwich with Dykie sauce.


Big game on Saturday against the old enemy.CUM ON WALES.Lets get behind them
boyos.

Chippy

A day off orrible work tomorrow so will row for 1st time in at least a week. will try carla's challenge. then off to the big smoke on satday to watch the match. I use the term 'watch' loselly coz im meeting the other boyos for breakfast at 8am, and kick off is 5:30pm dont think my eyes will be open but my heart will be in it, dead or alive!

C'MON WALES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS - stop taking the mick out of Chippy - I met his mam, and she said he is a 'lovelly boy', and all those rumours about him are just lies!!! Welsh mam's are NEVER wrong!!!

I did hear that when Chippy was a boy, he was picked to play the inn keeper in the christmas nativity play. Well always the actor he relished the part. There was a knock at the door, Chippy answered it to see a poor craftsman with his tired wife. The carpenter asked "Do you have room at your inn for my wife who is heavy with child?" Chippy replied "Yes" he said "Plenty of room, isn it, come on in butt"

Glad to hear you are feeling better, Chris, hope you can get some more meters in soon. If you have not been feeling great this #1 challenge is going to be pretty hard!

Hi Carla,

Just got back from hols and on catching up with the Taff news see that you have -

. Already achieved your 1 million metres for the season goal

. Done a sub 1.30 HM

. Done not one but 2 Marathons in impressive times

. Come up with a creative set of challenges that redefines the word 'masochistic'

Congrats on all 4 accomplishments.

I tried the first challenge :-

PB currently 8038 metres at ave Pace 1:52. So held 1:52 for 900 metres then sprinted (1:44's) for 100 metres. Same for the next K. Then blew up well and truly !!! Limped along just hanging in there, sprints last thing on my mind. Fell over the line in 7864 metres.

Question - do I still get a point for having a go ?!

Martin

Hey Martin!!!

So glad you are back. In fact I was just checking the team stats and saw your numbers going up and was going to come on and give you a holler. How's everything? Is your Mom Ok?

Yes, of course you get a point for having a go. So far only one of us did better than our PB so join the crowd of "participants!" By the way, so far you now have the extra point for the most meters even though you didn't beat your PB.

My attempt ended up with the sprints still being sprints, but I couldn't keep the base pace. I'm going to try again on Saturday.

I'll bet it took a while to catch up on the forum!

Carla,

Congratulations on the MILLION

Total metres for #1 was 7841

Dykie

Dykie,

Martin is ahead of you by a mere 23 meters.

Give it another go and see if you can take away his extra point?

Of course someone else might jump on and beat you all!

Member PB Goal Challenge Try Succeed Best
Carla 7291 7362 7286 1 0 0
Godfried 7691 7732 7686 1 0 0
Dykie 7473 ? 7841 1 1 0
Martin 8038 ? 7864 1 0 1



Copying and pasting an Exel spread sheet here doesn't work very well! I tried to make colums by adding in spaces, and it looks fine in my window, but when I post it it goes all ke-flewy.

I haven't done the math to figure out what Dykie's and Martin's goals should have been, but everyone's goal has to be better than their PB just because of the way it's set up.

Any other takers? Challenge #2 starts on Sunday!

Thanks Carla, thought I was 'disqualified' cos I couldn't sprint after the first 2K!

Mum not so good, that's why I'm 'commuting' to Queensland (2000K) so often nowadays - to spend as much time as possible before ...

Good luck with your weekend attempt on 7291. I had a quick go at the maths for coming up with a reasonable appoximation for the 'Goal' column - assuming the sprint Ave Pace/500 is about 7 or 8 secs faster and one coveres 700m at sprint pace then this makes available about an 'extra' 11 secs worth of rowing at PB Ave Pace. At 2:00 Ave Pace/500 this translates to about 45 metres 'gained'. So "Goal' for a 2:00 PB Ave Pace person wouls be PB distance plus 45 metres. If PB Ave Pace > 2:00 then extra metres are a bit less than 45, if PB Ave Pace < 2:00 then extra metres a bit more.

Cheers,

Martin

Correct Martin, did some work on it : see Carla's first torture.

This is assuming you end with a sprint.

CYFARCH
greeting fellow taffs
the new D machine has arrived serious training is now a prrospect.
I no longer have to wait for the dear ladies to get off the machines
down the gym.
there are a couple of WHIPPER SNAPPERS who need taking down a peg.
namely my two sons chippy and porky.
watch this space

HYWL
good bye grumpy gramp

Hey Grumpy
good thing you have your own machine now. Going to give Challenge #1 a shot now that you don't have to shoo the ladies away?

Hello Taffs,
Successful completion of America's first 3k relay race. We finished with a 8:32 (1:25.3 pace). Quite a bit off of the WR (7:41 by the Brits), but I think it was fantastic for a first run. Couldn't believe the positive response we got. Will definitely make it part of next years AIRC.

Completely spent, must go and rest.

Speedy

Well done to you and your fellow relayers, that is a good average split for your 3K. This is a very technical event, easy to make errors, you guys did great.

Sir Pirate

Great Speedy!
Did anyone video it by any chance? I've never seen a race like that, it sounds exciting. Did you actually do 15 strokes each or some other interval? (or do like someone suggested and let the other team members each pull 15 strokes & then you finish it up 'cuz you're a MACHINE!)

I just got my Xeno Muller workout DVD and did it. It's really good. I have been wanting some coaching for some time and found it very helpful. I think I will do it at least once a week to work on technique, I think it is going to help me get the whole body swing thing right and will be really good for my back. The ratings are much higher than I ever row at but always short bursts, 20 strokes, or 15 seconds, or whatever. Sometimes he is going around 40 spm, I can't keep up, I'm around 36 or 38 (and I never row usually any faster than 25 or 26). I saw some split times that really surprised me (1:45!! yikes) but of course only for 15 seconds and certainly not at 10MPS, it was around 9. I would like to be able to do that at 10. Also it is all strapped in which I'm not used to, and some with one leg at a time, some just arms, etc.

It was hard and not hard at the same time, when I was done I felt invigorated and like I'd had a very effective warm up an-d if I didn't have to go out and pick up a kid I would have done a half hour peice or something. Perhaps I will be sore tomorrow but I don't expect it. But I think working with it will help me engage my body more effectively so I'm going to continue with it. I would recommend it, especially to anyone who is not sure their technique is correct and is injuring themselves or is afraid they will.

Hope your Mom gets well soon Martin,
I will try challenge two I guess Carla, seems I missed my chance on one, seems a lot of work you have done there Well Done.
ZJ is over 150,000 and very proud of his Xmas pin.
I sent the tee shirt out Godfried, time to move out of the spare bedroom and get back on the machine you have been holding below me to long
I am trying to do five Half Marathons in a row this week, why I am not sure but it seemed a good idea, goal is new PB we will see. Mike Z

Thanks Mike for best wishes for Mum.

I saw Mike Jr has been clocking up the K's and is nicely on target to do 10% of the big fella's total by seasons end. Great going young fella.

Don't feel too disappointed in missing Chal #1 Mike, it was MURDER and you are at least still alive to try #2. Though if 5 HMs are on the agenda it will be a top effort to fit in #2 as well (unless of course Carla changes #2 to be 5 HM's at PB pace, each one to be faster than the last or something like that !)

Martin

Today new PB for 30 mins 7,746 ( 1:56.2 / 500 ) was 7,690 ( 1:57.0 / 500 ) ( Jan 23 )

More points for me , just screwed up again , this time with the SPM , target was 20 SPM , finished in 27 SPM.

Outstanding Godfried!!! That is such a hard piece to do at that rating. I'm going to give it a go apon the morrow.

Martin,
A prayer for your Mum mate.

Speedy

I know I ain't a Taff but would just like to say Martin my thoughts are with you and your family and hope things improve.


Godfried you are rocking man.................

Carla you making me go green with envy with your times at the moment can't see me doing a Hm this side of May..

Awesome job Godfried. At 7690 total meters, 20 spm would be 600 strokes, so the goal was to do 7690/600 = 12.82 mps. Your 7746 at 27 spm comes out to 9.56 mps, so by my horribly draconian standards you didn't "succeed", but that was a great row and currently the highest meters per stroke rowed, so you get 2 points so far. By the way, what was your stroke rate for your old PB? It would be interesting to see what the improvement in meters per stroke is.

I will have to get 12.15 meters per stroke to "succeed". I usually row at 10 so that's a significant increase.

Even if none of us ever actually "succeed" at these challenges, we're getting in good workouts and sometimes getting PBs so that's not a bad deal!

Good luck everyone on #2. The third point for best score will go to whoever gets the highest meters per stroke.

No going green, Carole, you look MUCH better in pink! I haven't done anything special lately anyway. Still trying to build up to a 500m sprint.

Mike, 5 HMs in one week is way over the top! While you are at it you might as well just make them FMs--you won't feel a difference! Tell your son I'm really impressed with his meters.

Speedy.....your goal for #2 is humanly impossible...15.42 meters per stroke...but I'm sure you'll end up with 2 points anyway, so I'm not too sorry for you!

Martin, you just keep loving your Mum and making sure she knows it-- that love is stronger than anything out there, no matter what happens...nothing can take away that love you have. Hang in there!

Challenge #2 Failure Report

I attempted #2 and ended up doing it in 2 parts, with about 3 minutes rest between, so it can't count for succeeding, even if I managed to hit the pace and spm goal
18 minutes at 21 spm, 4287 meters, 11.34 mps (goal was 12.15)
12 minutes at 20 spm, 2861 meters, 11.92 mps
Total 7148 meters (30 min PB is 7291, so off that by 143 meters)

All in all a total failure....
Do I get the point for trying?

Thanks Dwayne, Carole and Carla for your well wishes. Mum has suffered from Parkinsons plus severe Osteoathritis for a long time now and the battle takes its toll. Very heartening to know your thoughts are with her.

Great PB Godfried, Challenge #2 is off to a flyer.

Martin

Hope she gets well from me too.


As allways : it pays to cheat.

Tough one to call Carla. Adjudicators have conferred and decided that 33 mins is not 30 mins (let this one through and I could spread my go over 7 days ) Sorry but its back to the torture machine for you for another go.

Given your current fitness level a rego shouldn't be too difficult - didn't you do something like this a while back when Carole Mac and her team had this as their challenge ? From memory you really crunched it then.

7148 was a great distance though.

Judge "Hang em High" Judy

PS Thanks Godfried

Oooo you are soooo mean Aussie Taff.....
Hmmm maybe we should DQ you on Challenge #1 for not sprinting after the first 2K HMMM

That's OK, I will do it again, and I will like it, yesssss! ARGHGHG

Yes, I did try this workout sometime in November? December? I held to the 20 spm and kept it up for 30 min, but my total was 7087 which is 204 meters short, and 11.81 mps. This time I was better about keeping the average pace closer to where it belonged but then couldn't keep it up.

Don't shoot Carla, I'm just the messenger !! With the likes of Judge Judy, Roy Bean and Julius Caesar on the Panel it's tough to get a 'thumbs up' decision. Though they said my Challenge #1 effort was super gutsy and gave it the OK

Happy hunting with the next attempt.

Martin

PS Chris and other Wales-based Taffs - see Wales beat England on the weekend, must have been a great atmosphere at the Park

Ok Carla now that the race is over, time to give your challeges a try.

If I understand it correctly, 30 min at 20spm and try to beat your PB. Right?

Question on #3. Is that a active or inactive 30 sec rest?

Speedy

Hey Speedy,

#2: you don't have to BEAT your PB. Just try to match it. ( It won't be fun. )
#3: Inactive. You have 19 sprints of 100m (at 9500, 9000, 8500, etc, so there are 1900 meters of sprint), 8100 meters at your 5K pace, and 9:50 minutes of resting. My goal comes out: 8100m at 2:03 (33:12) + 9:50 rest + 1900 @ 1:55 (7:17) = 50:16.

I am not sure the what the best way to set the monitor is to do this. If you set it on meters so you can see when to sprint, then you don't have the avg pace so you are not sure if you are on target, and just have to hope that making all your pulls as close to the right pace as you can will do the trick. If you set it on avg pace then you can count strokes (if you are at 10mps) for when to sprint but that may not be accurate. Also about how to measure the 30 secs rest. Any ideas?

I told you guys it would be better if someone thought these up who knew what they were doing !

Today new PB for 5,000m in 18:55.6 ( 1:53.6 / 500 ) was 19:09.1 ( 1:54.9 / 500 ) ( Sep 3 )

wow Godfried! more than a second off the avg pace is excellent.... and how many Nonathlon points do you gain?

You're sure on a roll lately!

yesterday 30 mins

from 7690m to 7746m
from 875 to 882 points.

today 5,000 m

from 19:09.1 to 18:55,6
from 868 to 879 points.

Remember : only 82 days to end of season.