And all we need is 7.5K to make 56Million metres

It's midnight here so I'm off to bed so one of you guys or girls in daylight can take us over the line

then it's only 59Million metres to the leaders

I just set my daughter's team affiliation to Taff Attack. With her 193,301 we are now at 56,185,943!

On to 57!!

Marie

1:12.8

You're not welcome here on this thread. Please stay off of it.

I did get my shirt from Godfrey Sports, the AIO people, with a choice of red or white T-shirt. Also, they asked if I wanted a "performance" shirt or a regular daily wear shirt. I opted for the latter. I think the performance one is some kind of special fabric for training. Mine is a "lady-fit" Fruit of the Loom and kind of stretchy. I like it.

Carla, I am not sure how long the torso is on the AIO... but it is comfortable on me. I've been erging in it 'commando' and it doesn't ride up. And it doesn't have a shelf-bra.

- Krysta

The rugby test is :

1000m row, 3:00r
750m row, 2:30r
500m row, 2:00r
250m row, 2:00r
750m row.

This is seriously hard because if you start off too quickly the final 750 is h*** on earth.

It's supposed to measure aerobic and anaerobic capacity in one test - it does that and more - it also reems the inside of your lungs.

Paul

Paul,
Sounds like you've done this one before. I had a feeling it sounded easier that it actually was.

Dwayne

I've done it twice - but not in about 4 months and totalled 11:50 they reckon under 11:00 is pretty good and you can get down to about 10:00 with a 1:32 pace I believe.

Thing is that you need to do it a few times to get the pace just right. If you go off too fast in the first 1000m, the rest times really start to feel horribly short and you can end up dying horribly on the last 750m.

Like rugby, not for the faint of heart!!

I reckon you're going to be nearer to 10 mins than 11 mins for this.

i think Pete Marston has done it in around 10:00

Krysta, Does it.....................? Ah forget it.

Hmm, my age is not 43 but 33???? 300 meter is screwing my strength training, all energy leaves the limbs. My leg press max has dropped many kilos. My bench press is destroyed. This has been fun but I think it is time to reitre from this torture of CTC.

Does anybody else do strength training?

Sorry to hear about your troubles Nials, real life takes importance over the rowing.

For the record, mine doesn't ride up either!



The support I've got from you guys and those UK indoor rowers has been fantastic (and very humbling if I'm honest). Going to try my first row for 2 weeks this weekend. Just a steady 30mins r20, nothing mad. I'll let oyu know how it goes.

Thanks again guys!

The support I've got from you guys and those UK indoor rowers has been fantastic (and very humbling if I'm honest). Going to try my first row for 2 weeks this weekend. Just a steady 30mins r20, nothing mad. I'll let oyu know how it goes.

Thanks again guys!


God luck Niall - the first row getting back into into is always the hardest isn't it?

Also good luck with the move on the 1st

Paul

... until next month - which should suit you better.

... and after that, Niall, do a 300M and get yourself on the board for this month's CTC ... it will be good therapy, and yet another web site to peruse daily ...

Chris might be wondering if it has a "low" shelf ...

It's a good thing it has no shelf because there's nothing over here to put on it. Well, just 2 knick knacks.

Dwayne & Jumpsoda, you guys are awesome! I will try again on the 300 but it just isn't getting faster. My daughter says she will try before the end of the month and she is really a brute so it may push us up a place. Krysta was going to try again with a different technique because she did her time just rowing pretty normally (and darned fast for normal rowing!!!!!) so when she does an all out thrash she ought to pass me easily.

This rugby test sounds like absolute h***. Is it actually a go? I thought there was a lot of controversy about the rest times and people who had PM2s not being able to set proper rest times or something. I've never done a pyramid workout. I've only ever done single distance, single time, or regular intervales, so this will be a whole new (and awful) experience.

Work on the corrected stroke is doing better. I am getting much better at keeping the arms pulling in high, the back swing is much more natural and I have less lower back stiffness which is really good. Still have trouble driving before my legs are slightly past vertical so still having some back of the knee pains but I can feel now that I'm getting a much more even drive from both legs. I expect my 10K pb to plummet in about 2 weeks.

Niall, I am so sorry to hear of your sad times and I hope things work out better. Don't be a stranger!!!

Off to my mom's for the weekend, so after today's workout, no erg till Tuesday.

Doesn't weight loss always seem to happen in the wrong places! I am also not looking forward to the day I quit nursing my baby! My mom (who is going to be my cheering section/baby-sitter/general support during my first 2k race) was suggesting techniques for making weight on race day. She advised, "Make sure you breastfeed Kasey right before weighing-in! That should take off a few more ounces."



I can say with abolute certainty that I will not be passing you in the 300m CTC challenge, no matter how I change my technique. Your avg pace was 1:33.7 and I am not sure I could even pull 5 strokes at that. And I am dreading the thing so much that I'm really going to need a kick in the butt to try it again. But I really should try to give Helen a little more competition.

Great sprinting?
But you are more a strenght man? What is yout high/weight and what is your max on the bench/squat/deadlift?

I do some strenghttraining but not to much and heavy anymore. My best bench was 154 kg.

Do you also row the longer stuff?

Scott,
Just saw your smokin' 300m!! Way to go mate. Like you, I'm done with this challenge. Hopefully Carla will pull a good one and get us into 2nd (no pressure Carla...none at all...really...just the whole of boat one counting on you, but no biggy. )

Off to Maine till Monday night. I will try again before Feb ends. Bet you $5 my 16 year old daughter will beat me though.

I've been trying to get her to try rowing for a few years but she was never interested. Just this year she's started doing some weight training and cardio stuff for basketball and shotput/discus. Today she sat down at it and gave a few pulls and this glint came in her eye... I think the erg is going to get her after all! and she'll have to be a Taff 'cuz I won't let her log any meters rowed on my machine for any other team!

Any you other Taffs just see the ScrumV interview with Alfie, embarassing wasnt it? Will be very surprised if he continues as captain past the end of this season!

Owen

I am so excited! I just completed my first half marathon!

I started with the intention of doing 10,000 metres (the daily average I need to hit 2MM by the end of this season).

I felt good, so decided to go for 15,000 - the most I had rowed in one sitting in the past.

Once I got to 15,000 and was still feeling good, I decided to go for the half marathon. I had to get my daughter to look up the distance for me. I was at 20,000 when she told me. I had been rowing fairly easy, so I had to push it then to bring it in under 2 hours - 1:58:52. What fun!

Marie

Awesome, Marie! And an impromptu one without building up to it, nonetheless. Good work.

Maybe a marathon sometime in your future?

I always like to put a face to a name... Can someone tell me who everyone is in this Taff picture? I'm thinking that must be Niall showing off his six-pack in the front row? And did BoreDa say he was in the first AIO from the right? How about the rest of you?

Good Call Krysta - It is nice to know who's who

Brendin

Hi Owen

didn't see it but heard all about it form friends and the discussions on the GWLAD! rugby website http://forum.gwladrugby.com/

Sounds like classic Welsh rugby infighting as they say "Welsh rugby - never knowingly missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity"

Don't know he should stand down as captain he's only a player and shouldn't have been put in the position of having to defend the whole of the WRU.

Paul

I'll tell you the three that I know.

Niall - The chap with the shirt off.
Chippy (aka Robert Redmond) - The chap with the sun glasses on his head
Bore Da (aka Chris Adams) - the chap to Chippy's left.

Following up on Krysta's request to know who is who in the photo - as a new member of Taff Attack I would love to know a bit about everyone. So, hoping everyone will join in, I will start.

Marie, age 49, single, live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
2 daughters, ages 18 and 13 who have 2 cats and 3 guinea pigs
Practised law for 16 years, now manage the legal department of an international training company
Daughters are active in musical theatre productions, so I spend a lot of time driving to rehearsals.
Rowed on water one year at university (1977).
Started erging for fitness and weight loss (2004).
Outside of rowing, I play and umpire field hockey and play racquetball.

How about you?

Marie

Totally agree with you that he should not have to defend the WRU, but i do think he should justify his actions in insighting some sort of mutiny among some of the players. Don't get me wrong, Alfie is a player for whom i have a lot of respect and i think he makes an exellent captain on the field, no one leads more by example, BUT he has to know where to draw the line with the whole player power thing. I would also like to know Scott Johnsons role in all of this, i am sure all will soon be divulged!

Owen

P.S. My Dad lives on the Gwlad forum, wont tell me who he is though, apparently there have been 300+users on it at several points in the past few days.

On chippy's right is big Graham Davies (Ramboyo), next to him is Dykie. Dykie has his arm around his wife tracy, and tracy is stood next to Bernie Redmond Senior (Grumpy).

On my left is Eddie English (Yes the surname is right, and yes he takes lots of stick!). Sue (Blod) is stood in front of me, and knealing on the floor is Bernie Redmond Junior (Porky) Bernie is the third member of the Redmond clan to join Taff Attack - I dont know who the toughest is thou?

I think it's Nialls boy there too, but couldn't be sure.

Not sure I want it all divulged - it's a bit like watching a car crash at the moment

I think that the senior management have to take responsibility - it's beyond belief Alfie was representing Welsh Rugby Union on the TV yesterday.

Up 'till last week all I ever heard (including from friends of mine who know him) is that Alfie is such a great bloke - now we're supposed to believe that he's a right nasty piece of work.

Fact is that we want our sporting heroes to be great on the field - it's not in the rules that they have to be wonderful human beings too.

The latest now is that he's gone into hospital after collapsing with a migrane - what on earth is going on?

Paul

Not sure I'm "showing off" my six pack Krysta . I wanted to show off my Taff Attack t-shirt but the large logo was on the back of it so I took it off to show it.

If anyone wants to know mroe about Taff Attack team members then click on the Taff Attack Website link in my signature and then click on "Bios". This will give you a modest look at some of the team members. When I get more time I'll add everyone else's details (I normally PM new members asking them for their info but have got behind on this ).

As for the photo:

[Back Row, l-r] Grumpy (Bernard Redmond Snr), Tracey Shaw, Dykie (Richard Shaw), Ramboyo (Graham Davies), Blod (Sue Rendu), Chippy (Robert Redmond), Bore Da (Chris Adams), Eddie English
[Front Row, l-r] Niall (Niall Williams), Daniel Williams (Niall's son), Porky (Bernard Redmond Jr)

Hope that helps!

Daren, 37, married; I live in Morecambe, Lancashire in England (ducks and runs for cover)
Daugher, 7; Son, 3; dog (border collie).
I'm a computer programmer, and have been since I dropped out of my degree, aged 20.
I've never rowed on water, and I can't swim so I probably never will.
I started erging to lose weight, and it's coming off very, very slowly.
Aside from the erg, I ride my push bikes (I have a road bike and a mountain bike), although I don't do anywhere near as much cycling as I used to.

Good idea, Marie. My mini-bio:

Krysta, age 26, 5'7", 138lbs
Family - Married in 2004 to Darrel, we now have a 1 year old daughter, Kasey. Also 2 step sons, Cash (11) and Stephan (18). Stephan is having a baby this June, making me a "step-grandma" waaay before my time.
Career - I was an industrial radiographer in the oilfield for 5 years (welding inspection). Gave that up when we got pregnant for my new career as a wife and mother. Husband is a power tong operator (oilfield) and water well driller.
Sport - Never really did any competitive sports. Used to lift weights a lot, but have recently started to favour cardio. Started erging June 2005, but not very much until I got my own C2 in August. I also enjoy cross-country skiing.
Goals - I want to get a few pounds below the 135lb lightweight mark and I'd like to get my 2k time under 7:30. We'd also like to get pregnant again soon.

I Agree, it is completley ridiculous that Alfie was sent on to argue the WRU's case, that is if he did not force his way on because he felt it was his role as captain..... to represent the players. I have met Alfie (once) and he seems a very nice feller, it is unfair that this one interview, where he was clearly way out of his depth, draws so much personal criticism. Heard about the migrane this morning, the last thing we need a week before the Irish game after so much going on is our captain (and one of the key players) out. The whole situatioin is ludicrous, but i do not think it has all been revealed yet, there is definatley more to this story!

Owen

If he is out it would be a bit like last year when Alfie broke his thumb second game in against France. They did alright then albeit with a stronger squad.

Maybe this would be a chance to bring back Gavinhenson

Greets,

Decided to join up and throw my meters in the team's direction. Besides being of Welsh descent, in 1985 I spent 2 weeks drinking Brains in a pub by the brewery while my mates went off pony-trekking. I believe this should meet the requisites for membership.

Henson may be back, he gave a very solid performance on friday night for the Osprey's, didnt really put a foot wrong. However, many think that it was Ruddock that favoured Henson and that Johnson wil not pick him, he certainly didnt during Hansen/Henry's reigns. All will be revealed in the week

Welcome aboard. \o/

Welcome! Start rowing!

Ok...took my first Rugby Test. Three words...O MY GOD!! Finish time of 10:21.4

I thought if I went out relatively slow (for me) that this would be a piece of cake. Not so. Went out WAY to fast, and ate it on the last 750. This will be a good one for our CTC.

FYI - I was head toward a sub-10 on this until that last 750.

Dwayne

But wait a minute!
Isn't it still February? Or am I in a time warp?

If you didn't like this I'm sure it's going to be unpleasant (does this make me an understatement of the year award nominee?)

By the way, I'm new enough to my PM3 to not know how to set it for this crazy thing. Is it a Ruby test or a Rugby test, anyway. And what pace do you use as a sort of guide for your first go? I am utterly clueless on this one.

It is going to take a few goes to get the pacing right and then you are going to eat up those times.

My thought on this challenge is maybe to have the same rate (i.e. 1:35/500m) on each section, since if you go mad for the 250m element you will tire yourself out but still only knock off a couple of seconds.

The big gains are in the 1000 and 2x750m elements.

I also think that what will catch people out when they do this the first time is having done the 300m challenge this month.

It would be great to know what the pro-players can achieve on this challenge though!

Who thinks up this stuff?

Paul

I read on the bbc website this morning that Watkins is a doubt as well which is a shame - but it does set it all up for the permatan'd one!

How fickle can we be? Primadonna show pony one week - hero the next - bring it on!

Paul

Back from hols and business travelling.....got some sun in Spain

Niall & Daren, Sorry to hear the news guys.....

Lost a bit of fitness but am bashing my erg hard now trying to catch up some meters and post some respectable times.

Daren, can you mail me (wilko51@gmail.com) or reset my CTC password as I don't have it

Cheers

Mike

Thanks Daren!

Niall and Daren,
I am sorry to hear about the unhappy challenges you are having in your lives. I wish you both all the best, and hope that things turn out well for you

Sincerely,
David