Way to go Paul!

That would have been a much better strategy for me. Our 2K times are almost exactly the same ... mine is 1:49.75. I'm going to try this next time.

Good show!

Good Luck Mark

Take it carefully on the 500 and 250 pieces and you will be in around 11:50 next time for sure.

Paul

Hi Paul, nice row and a nice even pace! Think I'll try a more evenly paced row next time!

Cheers, Paul

Nice one Paul - we're in third place as we now have a full boat
Splits are great with a nice pick up on the last 750

I am struggling a bit to get some 'distance back into my legs' Did a 1hour last night with a new PB of 13,562. Felt like giving up after about 15 minutes. Got 30 Nonathlon points - Carla is in 17th place on the nonathlon board - fantastic effort but I'm on your tail moving from 132nd to 131st last night


Brendin

Great job, Chippy & Dougie, you've clearly put us up in the standings. Congrats on being the Top Taffs in the Rugby Challenge!! I am slowing the boat down (must have caught a crab).

I have the feeling we are really going to have to fight to stay up there this month on this one. I expect to give this several tries a week myself and with increasing dread each time...

This hurt.

11.23.3 ave pace 1.45.1

1000m 146.7
750m 1.46
500m 1.44.7
250m 141
750m 143.8

chippy

I reckon I can do it again and go quicker. I wan't to beat SUB-7's Jef (and Chippy's current time).

11:25.5 1:45.4

03:31.7 1000 1:45.8
02:38.8 750 1:45.8
01:44.2 500 1:44.2
00:51.5 250 1:43.0
02:39.4 750 1:46.2

We have a new member (number 65)

who are you?

Welcome




3 and a half weeks ago we were 9.6Million metres behind WISE now it's 4.8Million

Look out Ancients here we come

[quote name='Brendo' date='Mar 5 2006, 08:16 AM' post='58511']
We have a new member (number 65)

who are you?

Welcome



Brendo

The new member is Chris Hourihne,i am helping him get in shape down the gym He has improved
a great deal in the last couple of weeks but his belly is the big problem.Think he will have to go down to the local butcher shop and have ten minutes on the bacon slicer to reduce his belly a bit. Chris is a practical joker so when he finds the forum expect some funny banter.

Chippy


Think i am still numero uno in Taff boat 1 and enjoying my day in the sun When Speedy and the big guns
get going ill be thrown out. As Chris said to me today about my gloating,"the sun shines on a crocodiles ass sometimes" Thats mates for you.

Chippy

Hi all, I managed to press gang my mate into joining us. His name is Paul Wapshare and he is unfortunately English, but for some reason always supports us at the rugby. He apparently is more used to rowing on water which seems a strange concept. I have also stuck his name on the C2C site and entered his time. Trust that's ok with everyone.

Cheers, Paul

Watchout Chippy I am coming back and look forward to tipping you out of that boat.

Monmouth Comprehensive School had a 24hr row over Friday/Saturday and alongside this had guest teams rowing. We had a village team of 6 of us. I managed 10 mins at an average of 1.52/500m. Nothing like I was doing pre Christmas but felt good to be pushing it a little.
I don't think I will find time for the challenge for a week or so but feeling good about my recovery.
Most impressive was my 9 yearold daughter who managed 10Mins at around 3.00/500.

PhilT

I am so chuffed, lungs bursting, heart rate 170, smashed my rugby test time and a new 1K PB for free

1000 3:39.7 ave 1:49.9 (a new 1K PB by 5 seconds)
750 2:44.7 ave 1:49.8
500 1:49.7
250 0:53.6 ave 1:47.3
750 2:44.7 ave 1:49.8 (exactly the same as the 1st 750)

11:52.4 Ave 1:49.6

I feel great, shaking a bt when I got off

that might be the best I can do, I'll give it another go later in the month

Brendin

Brendin:

Way to go!

Now I've got to do this again to give you another target to shoot at.



I'm certain you'll be able to improve on that time between now and end of month.

Regards ... Mark

Hi Brendin, brilliant row mate! As Tulky suggested a more even pace seems a better approach, I knocked 15 secs off my time earlier but nowhere near your pace.

Cheers, Paul

Thanks for the encouragement all

I notice Paul W. has already done a great time on the CTC, is he adding his metres to the cause as well? Get him to affilliate to Taff Attack too

An Englishman who supports Wales at Rugby - sweet

Brendin

Beat my ole mate by 2 secs today - didn't plan it that way - I wanted to trash him face down in the dirt - Just my maths is not like what it used to be see.

10:09.3 on my first official Rugby Test. Needed to go with one strap on this one (tore open my heel yesterday in the boat), so I know I can go faster. Just need time for the foot to get better.

Speedy

bahhh, one strap and you still managed a 1:33 split! YOUR A GOD!

Well done Dwayne

Calling Marie and Scott - where are you

And calling Adam ...

Nice go Dwayne ...

Great idea, I'm going to try the one strap method. Seems to work pretty good for Speedy!

Good times on the Rugby test everyone! So far I am the anchor in the boat (as per usual with the girlie times in the CTC boats!) I try again tomorrow. My schedule is totally screwed up this week and I'm going to have to do some early morning workouts which isn't so good usually but better than skipping.

Next week I'm in VT. There is an erg there, but the gym is SO HOT and dry!! We were up last weekend, it must have been 75 in there. The condo we are staying in is electric heat and was only about 25% humidity (I know because I have a humidistat for my violin--it's supposed to be at 50%). I had pans of water by the heater but it didn't help much. Woke up so thirsty I couldn't believe it--drank water all morning before my 10K, and drank 3 more Nalgenes at the gymn--it was hopeless as far as getting any kind of a decent time on anything. I ended up doing a 10K with 100m sprints every 500m--the sprints were at around 1:54 and the not sprints 2:08ish--ended up in 42:11 and was just SO wasted and drained. I'm bringing a humidifier for the condo and a fan and my CBreeze to the gymn next week.

Hey Jumpsoda, are you giving this a shot this month?

Good job everyone, on your Rugby tests. I promise I will do mine next week sometime, after AIRC. I just don't want to do anything too bizarre this week.

BTW, I am officially a 'skinny' now. Last night at 5pm, I finally saw the blessed 135 on the scale. Now I have four days to maintain and lose a little more.. just in case.

- Krysta

You must be getting pretty excited! I'm sure all your good work and training are going to pay off and you'll do your Taff suit proud! I'll try to find a computer I can get internet access on in VT and see how you do. When your race is over you can pitch me out of Taff 1 on the Rugby Test. Go Krysta!!!!!

congrats on making it LW! Last time I weighed 135 I was 13. In fact the lowest weight I remember being was 140 at 14, and I remember worrying that at that rate, when I was 30, I'd weigh 300 lbs. ! Of course, that year I grew 9 inches during the school year and could hardly make it through a door without clobbering into one side or the other. These days, I am excited to be a "guinea pig" instead of a "pig" or a "hog". (The official definition of a pig is that it weighs less than 180, and a hog weighs more than 180. I've decided that girls that weigh less than 165 but more than 135 are "guinea pigs".)

Carla:

Take a look:

http://www.medfinity.com/web/product/Kaz_Compact_Travel_Ultrasonic_Humidifier-_PH5700/ID/200/product_detail_info.asp

The guys I ski out west with bring these along to every condo we rent. With a large ex-water bottle (1L, 2L), they can get a whole night out of them with water to spare.

-- Mark

Even better price:

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=137510&catid=91814&trx=PLST-0-SRCH&trxp1=91814&trxp2=137510&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SRCH

It amazes me how the human body adapts. Carla is having issues with humidity at 25%, and I live with that (or lower) everyday. Personally, I would have a problem rowing in the temps and humidity that you have back east.

Congrats on the skinny title Krysta and all the best at AIRC.

Keep those CTC times coming in folks. Looking at the boats that haven't been filled yet (MAD, Oarsome, etc), we're gonna have our hands full trying to stay in the 3rd spot.

Thanks for the product tip, Mark! I have one that is not too bulky, though.

I don't see how people can live in less than 25% humidity. Double UGH. I think I just run on more water than the average person though anyway, because my family isn't really bothered by it.

Did my second go at the Rugby test; set the goal to hit 12:8 and hit every piece just a tad faster, so ended up at 12:07.3. It still didn't feel dreadful dreadful, so I think my next shot will bring me under 12:00. We are still 10 seconds behind 2nd place. I hit the ends of the slides twice which was annoying but didn't mess me up too much but as the pace picks up it may become more bothersome. Plus, doing this first thing in the morning when I feel like I'm 96 isn't so hot. I have the feeling further improvements will have to be made in the evening as usual.

Two comments:

1) if it didn't feel dreadful, you dogged it.



2) you should be able to go AT LEAST as fast as me Carla; likely faster. You beat me in the 300M CTC, and your times are comparable, and better at distances.

Don't be a princess, be an animal! Grrrrr ....

I'll second that. You know you can go faster, just tell your body the same thing. Grrrrr...

Aw, come on, I'm just a Barbie Doll.

Come on Taffs. There's a lightweight ahead of all you strapping, heavyweight, built for rugby rowers (except Dwayne).

I'm now the number 2 Taff - with 11:16.8.
To quote Delia, "We need a twelfth man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be 'aving you! Come on."

Awesome Dougie!
Maybe they are like American football players (to quote somebody I can't remember who) "just a bunch of nancies in full body armor" Lightweights rule! (at least until somebody's goat is got)

6 = HWs

4 = LWs and FEMALE

Where are all the big guys?

Maybe because CRASH-B's are over, the whole lot is taking some time off.

Slackers ... the whole bunch of 'em ... one little race ... pfffff ...

GET BACK ON THAT ERG YOU BABIES!

Better be careful, talk like that will get CW back in the mix. Blech!!!

Great job on the Rugby Test, everyone!

Sorry, i have completed mine yet. i have been .... distracted...by a lady-friend.

I hope to join ya'all shortly!

thanks for the motivation.

Adam

No worries ... as long as she can do the Rugby Test ...

I did the rugby test for the first time tonight. No real idea how to tackle it, so I just did it without any warmup or plan other than I thought 2:30/500m would be a workable pace, since that seems to be my usual.

I did manage to fill boat II - just waiting quietly now for someone (perhaps my mean daughter or I can wait until next week for Krysta) to bump me out.

I will put my results here and would appreciate your suggestions on how to do better next time. (Keeping in mind that my 2K PB is 9:04.7)

1000m 4:51.0 2:25.5 31 s/m
750m 3:28.2 2:18.8 28
500m 2:24.0 2:24.0 30
250m 1:10.2 2:20.4 28
750m 3:24.7 2:16.4 29

I look forward to your ideas.

Marie

The first try at the Rugby test is a real mystery for everyone, so don't feel bad about not seeming to know what you are doing! We're happy to have you on board. I don't have too many suggestions for you except to make a sign for yourself that you can see as you try it next time, with the pieces listed out and the paces you want to hit on them--say a second faster/500m on each piece. Not much help, I know, but that's all I can think of to do, really. The 250 is a very odd distance and I think most people don't even row normally for it--a partial slide sort of thrash is what it ends up being.



New 60 minute PB tonight, by 234 meters: 14510 2:04 on slides

That was almost a cookie--tosser workout. I don't think I can do better, drat it, someone is 90 meters ahead of me!!!!arghghghgh

Thanks for the suggestions Carla. I like the idea about the sign with the paces to hit - will give that a try.

So my time in boat II was very short - my daughter pushed me out!

Now we need 2 more rowers and we will have 3 boats in the challenge.

Marie

I agree with Carla on the 250m, it is an odd distance. It seems almost like a trick, if you really thrash it you can gain a couple of seconds except of course you will probably lose more than that on the final 750.

I think it is the longer distances (1000 and 750's) where you can gain the most time. Super sprinting the 500 and the 250 just makes you tired and more likely to lose time on the final 750.

Just my humble opinion as I cling desparately to my position in boat 2

Marie - Mark Pakita has a sheet to give you a guide based on your best 2k time...

But I think there is a big clue in the fact that the last 750 was your fastest pace of the whole test. I bet you could do the whole thing at 2:16.x on your next attempt which will knock off about 30 seconds

Brendin

Oh, that mean kid! But what fun for you to have this to do together.

I use the sign idea just about every time I do any kind of worthwhile row. It really helps me keep the focus. Otherwise I tend to forget what I'm trying to do. If I go faster than I meant then I can't remember what pace it's ok to slow down to. I just get addled and confused without the sign.


We have slipped way down now that some of the other teams are filling their #1 boats. A serious shot at the Rucking Fugby test for me tomorrow.

Your 2K is a 2:15 split. The rugby test shouldn't be too hard (unless you're aiming for sub 11). So one way would be to go at your 2K 2:15 split for the whole way. Your last one was a 2:21 average, so you could go with 2:20 as a target split (that gets a small improvement). It depends how brave or keen or mad you are.

The trick and the crux of this test seems to be to aim for a steady split for all the intervals. The 250m then becomes the easiest part, you can throttle back on that effectively extending the 2:00 rest with ~1min of active rest then the last 750 doesn't hurt so much.

That one I did yesterday was much better than my first one as I had a plan of a steady 1:44.6 split for the whole way (to get a 11:20) time. I got a 1:44.1 average. Next try I may look at doing a 1:43.8.

Niall,
Was just over on the UK side, and read the news.

So sorry to hear about your Mum. Don't know what else to say mate....

Thinkin' 'bout you though. Hang in there.

Dwayne

Some people do have a trainingplan and don,t just fool around just. If you want to improve you have to use you mind. You can,t improve all year round.

Latest Rucking Fugby Test results (sorry, we are still in 4th)

11:57.6 av 1:50.4 40 (what a loony high rate, but it was early in the AM and I didn't feel at all powerful or limber so I made up for it by trading rate for pace)

3:46.2 1K (1:53.1) 38
2:46.6 750 (1:49.7) 40
1:50.1 500 (1:50.1) 40
51.0 250 (1:42) 47
2:45.7 750 (1:50.4) 39

on slides
Goal was 11:50.5 but I missed by a mile, splits were supposed to be 1:53, 1:48, 1:50, 1:41, and 1:48
Mark, I am tied with you!

This will be my last try at this till I'm home again the 20th (the erg at the resort is in a very hot room, so probably lots of long slow distance while I'm away, which will be good for working more on technique.

I see we have a new LW in Taff 1, good row, Adam!!!

nice piece, Carla.

we'll see if we can't lower the times a bit in preparation for your return on the 20th.

maybe tempt you into another go at it.

Adam

Nice piece Carla. I knew you had it in you. You'll be hittin' that 11 minute mark in no time.

I'll give it another go on Monday. The heel is coming along, but I'm still needing to go strapless with the left foot.

Adam,
Also a very nice piece. Think you can go sub-11?

how can you do that dwayne? you just put the left foot on there but you dont strap it in? anyway , props to you for being able to get that 10:09, dont know how your going to manage to beat it with only one foot strapped in!!!

Yes, I just put the foot on there and don't strap it in.

The heel should be healed enough by Monday to give it a pretty good go.