Niall

"If not me then who". One of my heroes, Gary Kasparov, use to have a poster with this written on over his bed when he was a boy. The answer is always someone else, so it might as well be you.

Sometimes it is about confidence! I KNOW I will go under seven minutes eventually. I KNOW I will do the work. I KNOW I won't beat myself up if I don't do it before the end of the year, but I will be going for it.

You must already know that physiologically you have the potential to go under seven minutes and I'm sure your coach's tests have already borne that out. You work hard at your rowing and deserve to reach your goal and as Speedy has already said you can go much faster than seven minutes even. But all in time.

The seven minute barrier is more psychological than real; it just gives us an opportunity to jump up and down and write lots of congratulatory postings.

And let's face it, it would be romantic for you to do it at BIRC.

Don't think you'll be letting me or anyone else down if you don't go under seven minutes at BIRC. You will still be an esteemed rowing colleague and you'll just do it when you do it. I'm just trying to wind you up to ensure you give it your best shot in a couple of weeks and you're in good shape physically, emotionally and mentally.

At least you know you have great support all around you.

Now get it done!

Best regards
Bernard

Speedy
Looks interesting

Chippy

Today I was supposed to do 12K at 2:08 and to make it 10MPS, between 23 and 24 SPM, and finish in 51:12. All was going according to plan when with about 3K left to go I realized I'd torn a blister wide open. I stopped to look at it and while I bothered around about it my average dropped from 2:07.8 to 2:08.? But then I decided I'd finish anyway, and at least finish in the right time even though it meant going faster than I was supposed to for this work out. I nailed it. Well, almost! (51:12.8 and avg spm 23).

Shows determination to finish the distance with a broken blister Carla! And what a fantastic performance to finish .

TAFF ATTACK TEAM CHALLENGE - NOVEMBER 2005

Okay Taffs, I've had to make a managerial decision and decide myself what the team challenge is going to be for this month.

So for the month of November, the challenge will be:

4x750m (2mins rest)

Rules:
1. You can do the challenge as many times as you like
2. Two ranking tables will be maintained:
- Absolute Ranking (simply a table ranked by time/distance ie Speedy topping the table!)
- Improvement Ranking (based on specified criteria for each challenge)
2. Rankings will be based on the relative difference between the average pace of all four sets and your 2K PB pace.
3. Everyone who does the challenge will be awarded 1 point (you don't get multiple points for multiple submissions)
4. Ranking points (for each Ranking Table) will be awarded for each challenge (10pts for 1st, 9pts for 2nd...2pts for 9th, 1pt for 10th)
5. Ranking tables will be updated monthly and made available on the team website

As challenges will be largely based on PB times, it's important that I maintain a register of all our PB times. For those more experienced ergers, I'll accept Season's bests though as the aging effect should not be a handicap for our challenges.

Can I ask everyone (who wants to participate) to email me their PBs (SBs if PBs not practical) for the following distances:

500m
1000m
2000m
6000m
10,000m
HM
FM
30mins
60mins

Please put TAFF ATTACK at the beginning of your email so I can easily recognise them. My email address is niallswilliams@yahoo.co.uk

Can I also get a consensus as to whether people are up for this (as much as I'd like to top the ranking tables, I don't want it being a table of 1).

** I should also add that the framework for the challenges is based on those managed by Matt Newman of Team Oarsome **

Great challenge Niall. I'm up for it.

FYI - stats are on their way.

Thanks Niall! I'm in. I'll send my stats tonight when I get back. When is the deadline for the last effort?

Midnight 30th November

Taff Attack Homepage

Okay I've updated the Taff Attack website (click on the link above):

1) Added the Challenge page with details of this months challenge
2) Added photos of Martin/AussieTaff from the Oz Indoor Rowing Championships
3) Added some videos to the video page
4) Updated the News page

Let me know if you want anything else added/updated or just to air your views on the website (good or bad).

I've had the PM from Niall asking me to join Taff Attack. (I don't know if I have any Welsh roots.) I'm honoured to be your latest member.

I've added a little over 1M metres to your team standing.

Stats are on the way , all from last year

This year has been a disaster.

Started again Oct 20.

Welcome aboard!

What part of IBM do you work for?

regards,

Mike

I'm the zSeries database (IMS and DB2) specialist in the UK Support Centre. That's part of UKISA, part of IBM Global Services. I used to be the database sysprog for NatWest Bank. I've been working with IMS / DL/1 since 1982 and DB2 on MVS since 1986.

Welcome aboard Dougie. Welsh roots are always a good factor, but even if you can point to Wales on a map that's good enough.

Speedy

Hi Dougie,

Your photo proves that we're related. I'm wearing a cap so it's not obvious, but we have identical hair styles. By any chance are you my long lost son? Yes, that must be it. In that case, you have plenty of Welsh ancestors. Welcome.

Byron

I got on way back in the fall of 2004 based on the fact that I had been reading (and loving) a trilogy of Welsh historical novels "Here Be Dragons" being the first one...
Welcome aboard!

I've caught the Welsh bug already.

I said this


in George from NZ's diary today http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/weblog_entry.php?e=6845.

Sorry about the rugby, it looks like NZ were the stronger side today.

Keep those PB lists coming through guys. Here's the list so far:

How do I report the results?

Post them on here in blue and/or email/PM me

Training session tonight was 5x750m with 3mins rest:

Target session: 5x750m (3mins rest) 32spm+ 1:50

1) 750m / 1:49.0 / 29spm
Splits: 1:46.8 (31) / 1:49.6 (28 ) / 1:50.4 (29)

2) 750m / 1:48.6 / 30spm
Splits: 1:47.0 (31) / 1:49.4 / (30) / 1:49.8 (31)

3) 750m / 1:48.5 / 30spm
Splits: 1:46.8 (31) / 1:49.0 (30) / 1:49.6 (31)

4) 750m / 1:49.4 / 31spm
Splits: 1:46.8 (33) / 1:50.8 (31) / 1:50.6 (30)

5) 750m / 1:48.7 / 31spm
Splits: 1:46.6 (33) / 1:51.4 (29) / 1:48.0 (33)

Felt well in control throughout and the fact that my stroke rate was below the target must mean my power per stroke is improving (I guess).

Got 3x1250m tomorrow morning (10 hours time )

Dougie
Welcome aboard the good ship Taff Attack I see from your stats you can eat 4 shreaded wheat Think you got to be a bit Welsh.

Niall

Da challenge.
Today in the gym
1.45.3
145.6
1.45.5
149.5

Blew up big time on the last set. :oMy HEART RATE WENT THROUGH THE ROOF 184 .. Ill send you the rest of my stuff tomorrow.

Chippy

I'm aiming to do eight shredded wheat (after BIRC, I don't want to end up HWT) to break Harry Blackwood's record or seven.

I'll check with my sister, she was doing some stuff on our genealogy. I do have a current connection with Wales - my niece is living there.

I must bring a bike over and steal some of your mud.

Hey Niall,

Great job on your 750s. But they don't count, right, 'cuz you did 5 instead of 4

Did I leave off my 2K PB of 7:48.6? Or is 2003 to early?
Anyway, that's been my best (hate to admit that in this company!) so can you make that empty spot go away on my chart.

I'm giving the challenge a go tomorrow night. I think that will be my "Level 1" workout for the week.

It's been a little crazy over here, my husband totalled one of our cars (he's not hurt!!) and we've had a bit of a juggling act the last few days but just replaced the car so back to normal tomorrow.

Just in case you are wondering, in an argument between a Honda Civic and a semi, the truck wins....

You're right, they don't count. I did 5x750 as that was in my training schedule. I'm due to do the 4x750 later this week and I'm hoping to average under my 2K PB pace.



Will do Carla. I did wonder why the empty spot then remembered all the trouble you had with your back and the comments you'd made in the past that you were staying away from the 2K distance.



Glad to read your husband wasn't hurt.

Hi Niall, quick post (not much logon time here) - PBs below for moi. Can you put link to TaffWeb in your signature ?

Cheers

Martin

Your wish is my command oh respected wise one

Thanks for the PBs, I'll get your details updated tonight and upload them to TaffWeb.

Niall hits the 1 million mark for the season...congrats!!

Nice one Speedy, thanks!

Any news on the US Development Squad for EIRC? I've been scanning the forum but haven't come across any announcements.

They're suppose to be picking the squad today. Won't be on it though. I didn't get around to submitting a trial time (the trip to Asia pretty much sealed that door shut).

Won't be on it!!!

Are they MAD??

Surely you've done enough to prove yourself?

I'm seething on your behalf mate, it's madness!

Website Update

1. Updated Bio front page although I'm still not happy with it (more work to do).
2. Added Bio of Chris "Bore Da!" Adams including the "interview" he did back in May 2004!
3. Updated Robert "Chippy" Redmond's Bio to include the "interview" he did back in October 2004.

To Do List
1. Smarten up Bio front page (gonna make it all HTML rather than an image map)
2. Build up the Challenge pages now that Chippy's registered the first result for this month.
3. Build the Links page (shouldn't take too long)
4. Build a News page so we have instant headlines when we enter the site
5. Update the Bio page so all members are listed in the order they joined the team (this means me trawling through all the pages of the Taff Attack thread - on page 43 so far !!
6. Last but not least, I'm going to track down that interview of AussieTaff!

If you think of anything you'd like to include then let me know.

Thanks Niall, great going on achieving 1 Million Metres, training well in the lead up to BIRC and on the emerging Taff website. Better get a few more photos in it though as it looks more like the 'Boyo from Down Under' show at the moment Needs some names under the group Taff ones for ID ?

Martin

PS Think I joined TA about a week after it started - Chris/Chippy may recall the dates of the welcoming emails they sent ?

I'm giving the 4 x 750 a go tonight but I'm sort of scared! so I'm posting this so as to not chicken out. I haven't done any sprints longer than 200m so far this season, so 750m sprints seem like they are going to be hard! whimper whimper

drat it, done with 20 min warmup and ready to go, but IS IT ACTIVE OR PASSIVE 2 MIN REST???? I'm doing passive so the flywheel will be stopped. HOpe that's right.

At the bottom of the page is a "Lo-Fi Version" button : after that only 69 pages by Taff to scan for you.

Nice one Godfried, that's gonna save me loads of time. Thanks!!


Great result in this month's challenge Carla. Sounds like there's plenty more in the tank and 1:55 sounds like a sensible goal for next time.

Web page looks great Niall.

Carla,
Niall's right, sounds like you had plenty left in the tank to go quicker. He says 1:55...I'm thinkin' maybe 1:35. Just kidding...I bet 1:55 shouldn't be all that tough though.

Speedy

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Carla reads your post Speedy. I can imagine her spitting out her coffee when she reads 1:35 . Classic!!

Niall,

Using frames on website is so 1990's. You should be using a CSS stylesheet.

Using if the image isn't exactly 998 * 538 is ugly. Also image maps are so 1990's.

Other than that the basics of your website are excellent. You've done more than Statto Matto has for the Team Oarsome page. Although you could nick an idea of his from http://mattn.uuhost.uk.uu.net/teamoarsome.htm (which is their rogues gallery).

Hello,

Have just strated at Cardiff uni, and started rowing. Can I join? Am in the novice mens 8 and doing about 2/3 river sessions on the taff, and 5/6 training sessions a week. Any Cardiff uni students in Taff attack? What about Llandaff? (you grumpy buggers).

I'm thinkin' the fact that you're actually in Wales is good enough. Welcome aboard.

Today was supposed to be a 8-15K long steady row. I was going for 15K to try and get it in under the hour (again). It turned into 3*5K 1:00r (because I couldn't hack it at 1:55 for more than the first 5K).

This Thursday has the 3K,2.5K,2K 5:00r intervals on the Pete Plan. I think I'll go for the Taff Attack challenge then.

Tomorrow is a 8-15K long steady row, so I may do a 5K warm-up and the 6780m Boat Race (this month's Sub7 challenge) for that session.

They let me in and my Welshness amounts to being able to spell Wales and find it on a map. If Niall doesn't let you in that would be a crime against humanity.

Lenny! You're in mate!!

Welcome to Taff Attack!!

Anyone who can get Cardiff, taff, and Llandaff in their pitch for membership is okay by me!!

Nice one!

Dougie, if I could use stylesheets I would. I'm limited by my technical knowledge and am using Dreamweaver and Notepad to create the pages. There's lots I'd like to do but simply can't due to ignorance.

It really is a best endeavours effort at the moment.

Yeh, I like Matt's Rogue's Gallery and will probably do something similar (need photos though guys!). I also like the Sub-7 IRC website too (Sub-7 Website).

Yeh, I don't like it either. It was a quick and easy solution short term though. Don't intend utilising it going forward though.

The bios-page has changed - and all my times are gone !

Website Update
1. Smartened up the Bio front page (no more image map Citroen! )
2. Updated the Bio list so most are listed in the order they joined the team (shout if you disagree except if you're from Oz !)
3. I've even added Sir Pirate to out Bio page as an Honorary member!
4. Last but not least, I've trawled the forum and found the AussieTaff Interview. I've added it to Martin's Bio page so if you click on his name it'll come up.

It's coming guys.......