I am currently in a state of limbo as my club changes over from summer to winter training. No rowing has been availible since my return and since I am not in any racing crews, I may not get to row any more at all. However, circuit sessions start up soon (tuesday?) and I have been bike riding in the meantime - clocking up a pb that I then forgot on my shorter bike ride course.
In other news, I recently discovered what might just be the best inspirational pre-race movie. It is a movice of success in the face of sporting adversity with a street-wise undertone that appeals to my rough urban upbringing. I present to you the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQNMxzhYaT4
I personally commit as captain to providing a DVD copy of this film for the Fairbairns M1 crew to watch pre race, since we all know the difference quality cinema the likes of 'Any Given Sunday' can have on race performance. If that is not incentive to train i don't know what is; I am gonna train so fuckin hard to get a place in said M1 crew.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Various
I haven't been training too hard, but I have been running a couple of times, sculling, an outing in the pair and also an erg. Hopefully I will do something loggable at some point. I did do 10 mins at about 1:46.5 on the erg so I guess that is fairly decent.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The best of times, the worst of times
Apologies for the delayed update, I was actually back in Cambridge for a few days last week and forgot to update for the millions that read this website...
12/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r) 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.6.
13/8- 15k Fartlak as before, 1:57.8 @18 average.
14/8 - 60' on exercise bike - 20.4 miles. 3 circuits of endurance weights.
15/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r) 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.7, 2:01.6.
16/8 - 5k test @26 (rate capped 28). 18:16.5 (1:49.6).
As you can see the 5k test was awful. 1500m in, and my legs were gone. I kept going and managed to keep it under an average of 1:50 splits, but no-one likes to see 1:57s at any point in a 5k test. I left for Cambridge, more than a bit miffed at my performance. So, that evening:
16/8 - 5k test, take 2. 17:46.8 (1:46.6) @27. PB.
Then:
17/8 - 15k @18. 2:06.4. I really struggled with this, so took a few days off.
25/8 - 15k @18. 2:04.8. Still not back to normal.
It appears the second 5k test was a last show of resistance. I think I suffered from the same problem as when I was at the lightweights - I just wasn't eating enough. I lost 8lbs plus in four weeks, so clearly I wasn't getting enough calories in me. It is a stupid mistake, especially as I made the same one before. So, I am going to have to start thinking very carefully about nutrition, especially once I start cooking for myself in Lancaster.
12/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r) 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.6.
13/8- 15k Fartlak as before, 1:57.8 @18 average.
14/8 - 60' on exercise bike - 20.4 miles. 3 circuits of endurance weights.
15/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r) 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.7, 2:01.6.
16/8 - 5k test @26 (rate capped 28). 18:16.5 (1:49.6).
As you can see the 5k test was awful. 1500m in, and my legs were gone. I kept going and managed to keep it under an average of 1:50 splits, but no-one likes to see 1:57s at any point in a 5k test. I left for Cambridge, more than a bit miffed at my performance. So, that evening:
16/8 - 5k test, take 2. 17:46.8 (1:46.6) @27. PB.
Then:
17/8 - 15k @18. 2:06.4. I really struggled with this, so took a few days off.
25/8 - 15k @18. 2:04.8. Still not back to normal.
It appears the second 5k test was a last show of resistance. I think I suffered from the same problem as when I was at the lightweights - I just wasn't eating enough. I lost 8lbs plus in four weeks, so clearly I wasn't getting enough calories in me. It is a stupid mistake, especially as I made the same one before. So, I am going to have to start thinking very carefully about nutrition, especially once I start cooking for myself in Lancaster.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Mr T's Friend
This week I have been making friends with Mr T's best friend (pain). This was caused by the weights session on Thursday, where my non-existent muscles were put through a pretty tough workout. The rest of the week went like this:
5/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r). 2:01.8 (@17), 2:01.6, 2:01.6, 2:01.3.
6/8 - 15k Fartlak. 10 firm strokes @20 (1:49-1:50) every 1k. Steady state was @18, 1:59ish splits. 1:57.8 @18 average.
7/8 - 60' on exercise bike, 20.3mi. Endurance weights - 3 circuits of 30 reps.
8/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r). 2:01.9, 2:01.7, 2:01.7, 2:01.6.
9/8 - 15k @18. 1:59.4. Slower than usual, but consistent.
11/8 - 30' @20 test. 8,044m (1:51.8). PB.
I was really pleased with the half hour this morning - it was a good effort throughout and gives me hope that I am gaining power. At the moment I will stick with just one endurance weights session per week and see how that goes.
As for everyone else, I hope you are doing more training than this blog suggests. Training can be tough, but the three days I spent this week unable to walk properly were definitely worth it when I did that erg this morning. The Olympics are brilliant for inspiration if you need some...
5/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r). 2:01.8 (@17), 2:01.6, 2:01.6, 2:01.3.
6/8 - 15k Fartlak. 10 firm strokes @20 (1:49-1:50) every 1k. Steady state was @18, 1:59ish splits. 1:57.8 @18 average.
7/8 - 60' on exercise bike, 20.3mi. Endurance weights - 3 circuits of 30 reps.
8/8 - 4x6k @18 (2'r). 2:01.9, 2:01.7, 2:01.7, 2:01.6.
9/8 - 15k @18. 1:59.4. Slower than usual, but consistent.
11/8 - 30' @20 test. 8,044m (1:51.8). PB.
I was really pleased with the half hour this morning - it was a good effort throughout and gives me hope that I am gaining power. At the moment I will stick with just one endurance weights session per week and see how that goes.
As for everyone else, I hope you are doing more training than this blog suggests. Training can be tough, but the three days I spent this week unable to walk properly were definitely worth it when I did that erg this morning. The Olympics are brilliant for inspiration if you need some...
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
I'm ill
Last week started off quite well:
Monday - 8k erg (1:59 ish) plus 2 mile run to station plus 6 mile cycle home
Tuesday - 10k erg (1:58 something) plus the run and cycle
Wednesday - Cycled to the station in the morning
But then on Thursday I started feeling a bit ill (headache and cough essentially). On Saturday it was quite bad but I felt much better by Monday so did a gentle 6k (2:01 splits) to get back into things. This erg definitely convinced me I wasn't well, it was a definite struggle. Yesterday did a 10k at 1:59.9 which felt much easier but once I stopped I got really dizzy. I then spent two hours standing in wet clothes last night waiting for a train to turn up and now I'm thoroughly ill and missing work. Pretty sure I'll be fine by tomorrow but I haven't done my own erg test which is a bit annoying. At least nobody else could be arsed either.
Monday - 8k erg (1:59 ish) plus 2 mile run to station plus 6 mile cycle home
Tuesday - 10k erg (1:58 something) plus the run and cycle
Wednesday - Cycled to the station in the morning
But then on Thursday I started feeling a bit ill (headache and cough essentially). On Saturday it was quite bad but I felt much better by Monday so did a gentle 6k (2:01 splits) to get back into things. This erg definitely convinced me I wasn't well, it was a definite struggle. Yesterday did a 10k at 1:59.9 which felt much easier but once I stopped I got really dizzy. I then spent two hours standing in wet clothes last night waiting for a train to turn up and now I'm thoroughly ill and missing work. Pretty sure I'll be fine by tomorrow but I haven't done my own erg test which is a bit annoying. At least nobody else could be arsed either.
Monday, August 04, 2008
WiiiiiiiiiFit
Since one of those WiiFit boards has turned up at home, I have been spending some of my evenings trying to get on the top of the leaderboard for all of the games. Yes I really am that competitive...
29/7 - 4x6k @18 (2'r). 2:01.9, 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.8.
31/7 - 3x7k @18 (2'r). 1:59.4, 1:59.6, 1:59.4.
1/8 - 20k @18. 2:01.8.
2/8- Tennis. 15k @18. 1:58.4.
4/8 - 5k test @25 (rate capped). 17:56.8 (1:47.6).
Really pleased with the erg test as it is my second fastest ever and I was feeling that I wanted to take the rate up in the last mile or so. However, I still feel short on power so will probably start to bring in some weights this week (my current weight is 10.13-11.2).
Incidentally, I hope Richard means that his dunking in the Thames was beneficial because he swallowed something radioactive that has turned him into a super hero (with a 6 minute 2k). Or at least made him into a bit more of a man...
29/7 - 4x6k @18 (2'r). 2:01.9, 2:01.8, 2:01.8, 2:01.8.
31/7 - 3x7k @18 (2'r). 1:59.4, 1:59.6, 1:59.4.
1/8 - 20k @18. 2:01.8.
2/8- Tennis. 15k @18. 1:58.4.
4/8 - 5k test @25 (rate capped). 17:56.8 (1:47.6).
Really pleased with the erg test as it is my second fastest ever and I was feeling that I wanted to take the rate up in the last mile or so. However, I still feel short on power so will probably start to bring in some weights this week (my current weight is 10.13-11.2).
Incidentally, I hope Richard means that his dunking in the Thames was beneficial because he swallowed something radioactive that has turned him into a super hero (with a 6 minute 2k). Or at least made him into a bit more of a man...
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Lack of training
Busy week with work and various family events, so haven't had a chance to train since tuesday. That is a legit claim, it's not that i'm arsing about. So anywho:
Mon: 1/2 hr weights
Tue: 10k, 40:47.1 PB
Mon: 1/2 hr weights
Tue: 10k, 40:47.1 PB
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Jungle erg
This week I went single sculling
I fell in the Thames
Twice
In one day
Besides that I had two equally productive quad outings (despite what you may think, that means good, the single outing was really good for me and I was subbing into the quads for race practice - sculling at race pace scares the shit out of me though)
I am saving the prime number erg test for while I am on holiday - I leave tomorrow to go out into the jungle where I expect to find a nice concept 2 waiting for me. Nobody else should use the excuse that they didn't erg cos they were in the jungle though or I will get suspicious. Keep going even without my guidance for the next fortnight, or heck, even start some training
Rizchard
I fell in the Thames
Twice
In one day
Besides that I had two equally productive quad outings (despite what you may think, that means good, the single outing was really good for me and I was subbing into the quads for race practice - sculling at race pace scares the shit out of me though)
I am saving the prime number erg test for while I am on holiday - I leave tomorrow to go out into the jungle where I expect to find a nice concept 2 waiting for me. Nobody else should use the excuse that they didn't erg cos they were in the jungle though or I will get suspicious. Keep going even without my guidance for the next fortnight, or heck, even start some training
Rizchard
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