I'm out too. Did a row Wednesday and the day after I could not get out of bed. Looks like disturbance of equilibrium, due to a cold.
( I always knew I was the center of the world, but I don't like it spinning around me this way ).
So I think we have to build us a 3- , or wait for another to get sick with us so we can use a standard 4-.

Ok kids...that's two of our serious meter inputs. Now the rest of us really need to step up. A few more recruits wouldn't be so bad either.

Dwayne

I could lay on the floor and spin the flywheel with a stick maybe...

I promise I'll do my part when I'm back. I'll be building back up with lots of long, slow, gentle rows--that'll mean lots of meters, low intensity stuff, for proably a few months.

This belt thing makes me look skinny! (just trying to see the bright side)

Hi, I'm a new recruit! Was with RowPro Rowers last year but defected for the new season. I see my meters for last year came with me too - would have been happy to leave them with the team I was with last year.

Welcome aboard Lynsey. Glad to have another Taff on the squad.

Speedy

Hello to all Taffs, and welcome to lynsey.
I started to put some meters in after i joined up at christmas but work made it all fade away. Now that it is a new start i want to try and help with the meters board, using the other members as an insentive to stay with them through the year. good luck to everybody going to Eveham in July.

Speak to you again,
Porky (aka B.Redmond jnr)

Great to hear from you, Porky! And welcome to newest member Lynsey! It's wonderful to have another lady Taff on board.

Belt's off, & I can walk almost normally now. A faint glimmer of hope that I will be able to go on my bike trip next weekend.

Hi Taffs,

A good news/bad news post -

The good news - I'm back in town and ready to pile on the Ks to keep those Ducks at bay Mum was better than expected so visit was a happy one.

Bad news - to see a number of our big metres stalwarts are laid low by flu/injuries. Disappointing to read about the back Carla, especially when you go to so much trouble to take care of it. I find I can't do sprints on their own, always pay for it later in the lower back region so I do them as part of a longer piece. Also I find a series of half strokes a good way of starting a 'fast' piece. Go for the bike ride, it's only once a year after all and you have a tradition to uphold !!

Better come out to sunny Oz Godfried for a spell of R&R to get those colds out of the system.

At least Niall is powering along and putting in some good swim legs. Keep it up Aquaboy

Well, back to marathon training then that sub 6:50

Cheers,

Martin

I cannot go left or right, nor up or down. So I see no way to find Oz.

Porky (baby bro)
I am looking for a few challenges for the season, 1 is to beat Martin to a sub 6.50 2k. How about a season total meter challenge . I would challenge Chris but it got to easy at the end of last season.

Lynsey
ya going to Evesham for the race july 9th.Entry forms are on the uk site.

Chippy

A big WELCOME! to you Lynsey. It's great to have a fellow Cardiffian (real word??) join the team. From the meters you've posted so far I can tell you're a regular and will be a real asset to the team (especially at this time when some of us are crocked and unable to row ).

Niall what's all this about you having a bad back?? what have I told you about jumping off the wardrobe with your undies on top of your jeans !!!!! weg ..

But it seemed like such a good idea at the time! I've been practicing and my aim has been improving

I'm going to book myself a session with a physio so I can get back on that wardrobe asap! (In the meantime I'm swimming and doing weights just to keep myself active).

I've progressed from Neandrethal to Erectus in the last day or so! Holding off on rowing till after bike trip & probably will wear the back support belt while riding just to play it safe (though that is going to be itchy and hot). So have high hopes of long gentle rows starting next week!

Recital now seriously starting to LOOM ahead....icky poo



I don't know what "weg" is...short for "wedgie?"

Don't force yourself back to the rowing too quickly now Carla. Listen to your body and come back when you're confident and not when you think you can get away with a session .

I've no idea what "weg" means either. Suspect it's some sort of Northern expression as Carole's from Manchester .

Wicked Evil Grin, I think.

Sir Pirate

yep.................wicked evil grin ...weg ...
laughing out loud ...lol..
rolling on floor laughing my flipping arse off ... roflmfao .....
ttfn .... xxxx gggggg

Thanks for the welcome everyone. No I'm not going to Evesham - I'm a slow plodder and wont be competing for ages yet!! I'm just in it to get fitter.

Greetings Taffians from the Bat Cave,and a big hello to Lynsey I've been suffering from the Valleys complaint "chest like a rusty horseshoe" not many metres Great start by all the team the Taffamericans leading the troops,looks like we are facing some extra opposition this season!!!
Nos da,cadwch fynd bois (keep going boys)
Sue and Graham.

Godfried,
I noticed (finally) that you have been trying to send me a PM. My work has a nice new SPAM blocker, which is making it alot tougher for things to get through. Sorry about that. Try sending me something direct if you still have a question.

dwayne.adams@microchip.com

Dwayne

We've fallen to sixth Taffs. Team Oarsome just passed us up. We need meters. Row Taffs....ROW!!!!!

Speedy

I've got an appointment with a physio (for my back) tomorrow so am hoping for a miracle laying on of hands so I can get back rowing asap.

I'll give you an update around:

- 16:00 (BST)
- 11:00 (East Coast time)
- 08:00 (Phoenix time)
- 02:00 (Friday - Oz time)

Champing at the bit to get rowing again guys so sorry I'm not able to contribute right now.

Decided to do 2x5000m this morning to help the team out. Did it nice and gently (20-22spm) so as not to aggravate the back. Although it was a little sore at the end I don't really mind as at least now I wont have any problems telling the physio where it hurts (there's nothing more frustrating that booking a doctor's appointment only to find you feel better and can't describe the pain to him/her ).

Let's keep those meters ticking over guys. We can't let Team Oarsome get too far infront of us (I couldn't take the ribbing on the UK Forum ).

Physio later....looking forward to it....

Good luck with the Physio verdict Niall. My daughter and son-in-law are both Physios so I would be interested to hear any details re your incapacitation. With so many Taffs going down with back ailments perhaps we should be called "Back Attack"

I hear the call for more metres, off to the gym on the morrow. Perhaps if the Rickster spent less time posing on the beach ???

Cheers from one of the "Bad Back Brigade"

Just got back from the physio. Good news is that I can get back to rowing tomorrow as the physio wants me to get use of the back to keep it flexible. He also wants me to have a go at a sprint session (it's these that regularly adversely affect my back) but important that I listen to my body and don't force it.

For the benefit of Martin (and his daughter and son-in-law), the problem lies with my LS/51 Facet Joint (left side). I was pummelled and twisted this afternoon and some of it was very painful (British stiff upper lip engaged!). Back's a bit sore now but at least the prognosis is good as the physio feels it's treatable.

Next appointment is Thursday next week.

So it'll be back to the rower for me tomorrow. Metres/meters for Taff Attack, HOORAY!!!!

Good to hear that you'll be back and crankin' out the meters.

I think you mean L5/S1. And was the Sacroiliac joint mentioned? That would make sense when you said the left side.

Yep you're absolutely right Dwayne, can't read my own righting!!
"Sacroiliac" sounds familiar but I must admit, medical terms just don't sink in with me!

Fellow Taffians,

For those with back problems, there was a discussion under training where Bert points out that lower drag factor is easier on the back. I'm sure everybody already knows this, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

I hope everybody recovers soon.

Byron

Away last weekend so no meters for a few days, back into it yesterday, and today was the first AN session of my current plan 10*1 min @ 1:38.

OOOWWW!!!

Quite painful but loved it

Welcome Lyndsey.

Welcome back Chris. Sounds like you are training for a sub 6:40 ? Same program as Chippy's ?

Great news Niall. Sounds like my lower back complaint. The good news is that I can usually tick along on the rower whilst waiting for it to 'rercover' - rowing only on alternate days at a slower ave pace for any pieces and Superlow DF (100 or less). The bad news is it seems to come on at any time (often the day after feeling great) and has done so for the past 20 years or so but in your case good back management should minimise this (too late for moi !!). Running doesn't seem to affect the recovery process adversely either.

Anyone seen Debra since the 2 Million ? With 5th spot hotly contested we need another 2 Million Debs !!

Aquaboy's Aussie fellow sufferer

Did a steady (20spm) 30mins this morning so added just under 7K to the team total. Unfortunately I see Ducks In A Row have overtaken us by 10K .

I'll be doing another erg session this afternoon and will do at least 10K to try and get us back into 6th place .

Just completed my second sesh of the day and as promised it was 2x5000m (20-22spm and capped HR).

Really pleased with how it went as both sets met the top (fast) pace target and were under the HR threshold. I'm going to do all my erg sessions in the afternoons now as I definitely perform better than at 07:00!!

Well done to all those who put some metres in today as we've now jumped back over Ducks In A Row. Let's not get complacent though, we're only just in front and we've still got Team Awful to catch .

Have a productive weekend everyone!!!

Yes 6:40 is on but it needs to be a comfortable one, not a die and spew affair.
Cheers.

Taffians
Decided to get back into running on Thursday after 2 years of with calf problems, so EASED IN GENTLY by running the Wye valley, up the near vertical 356 steps and back down the valley to the car. 1hr 15 mins. Ave HR 162 MAX 186. I cannot walk ,i cannot crawl, it hurts to lie down so rowing has been out the question.

If someone could call around and carry me to the ergo and strap me in ill have
a go.

Martin/Chris
Got my 10x1 min @ 1.41 pace Tuesday 5.15pm in my garage.ALL are invited to watch the pain.

Chippy

Well, you have done your best your first million is done.

enough with the bumping, already. .....geeze.... give it a rest!

eh?

Mr Adams, have you been upsetting people again?

What's that all about?

Sir Pirate

Shu 246

If you got something to say about my team or anyone in my team,be a man,take 2 deap breaths, stick your chest out and just say it.

Chippy

Hi Chippy

Gutsy first up run - no half measures for you. Good that the calves held up. Next run the 3 Peaks ?

Enjoy the 1 min x 10 1:41's, I'm still on long slow marathon type stuff thats relatively nice and easy

Race you to 3 Mill ??

Cheers,

Martin

I don't think so. The only person I try and provoke is you.

Hey gang I'm back! What a great bike trip, I'm sooo glad I went. 36 miles on Friday, 57 on Saturday, 25 on Sunday. A miserable headwind on Saturday. I had a "passenger" drafting me all the way home because the wind was so stiff--kept my mph down to 13 so they could stay close enough to benefit from the wind shadow (it was a bad enough wind that on terrain that should have been 17-19 mph I was only able to crank out a desperate 14.5, but kept it down to 13). One woman, who only weighs about 104, could barely keep her bike from being pushed up against the curb by the wind. Rowing rules for getting in shape for the bike. Had a ball passing lines of people on long uphills, my favorite game. Also catching up after having to go back 1.5 miles after sunglasses. Also getting to tell everyone later that yes, my bike is steel, and yes, it only has 12 gears! Gotta be my C2 engine that makes it faster than their titanium 24 gear machines!

I'll be on the erg for my first gentle go tomorrow night, I don't know how far I'll go but it will be s-l-o-w. I don't need the back support belt for day to day stuff, but I used it on the bike, mostly to remind myself to keep the abs nice and tight and had no problems except for some stiffness.

Great to hear you are recovering too, Niall! Let's get the team meters back up!

Carla

Welcome back Carla. Get those meters in, but go easy. I think we'd all rather you be putting in some meters (and stay healthy), than get hurt again, and don't put in any meters.

Dwayne

Martin
When you having a go at the big M ?????
The 1min x 10 1:41 pace hurt like h***. I hit 1:25 or under on all 10 starts
within 5 pulls, think thats what made it so bad with only 1min rest.

3 mill.......Going to bed with something to think about.

Chippy

Hi Chippy,

Was going to try one last Sunday but did a 17K run instead. Why - Physio daughter talked me into doing the Gold Coast HM run again (July) and in a moment of weakness I agreed. Sunday was lovely and sunny and the longest run in K's I've done recently need less than 10 fingers to count on so .... Not sure which would have been worst, the run or your 10 x 1 mins

So will schedule a crack at the sub 3 FM this Sunday arvo - the only time it is nice and quiet at the gym. Looking forward to it in a perverse kind of way

Great bike ride Carla, aren't you glad you went ! A memorable event indeed. Thanks for sharing the story. Good luck with the come'back' from injury as you ease back into erging again.

Martin

Martin,

Prior to my first marathon Chippy told me you hit the wall at 33,000 meters. I pooed my pants all the way from 21000 to 33000 then thought about nothing else for the remaining 9000.

My advice to you, take a bucket to pee in, get Vanessa to bring you fruit and water halfway, stick some vaseline under your armpits, towel on seat, and forget about the wall untill you actually hit it at 41,194. The last 1000 meters are easy, but the 1 meter from 41193 to 41194 is a real killer!

Enjoy.
Chris

And after that another 1 to get to 42,195.

Or even 1,001m

And I thought you were good with numbers Godfried!!!!

I'm back in the boat!
A leisurely 8K today, gentle & careful & lots of stretching. I plan to do 8--10K a day very slowly, nothing faster than 2:10, for a couple of weeks. No goals in mind but to ease back into training. At least it will be meters for the Taffy bank!

Carla,
I don't think you need to worry about the new ranking rules. Evidently nothing has changed. Take a look at women's 40-49 6000m #1 ranking. The time is obviously bogus, yet it has still been allowed into the ranking with a place number. The only thing I can guess is that when someone does a 'validated' piece this person will be put as #2???
Also, I asked C2Bill about validated ranking using slides since there is such a controversy over them. He said that all pieces except 2k can be used. Good news to enjoy that extra 1sec or so each 500m! (as well as saving our backs!)

Take care of your back. Take the time to build up the rowing-specific muscles before doing any really hard pieces. You're a strong, fit, healthy woman with a lot of potential to do great on this training machine, but like any sport you need to take the time to get sport-specific or you're asking for trouble - as you have found out. I know from the past that you don't respect what I have to say, but at least think about it. Remember that I've been rowing for over 20 years and have competed Internationally. So I'm no smuck! Believe it or not, I do know a few things about this sport!

Happy rowing!
DB