Tag: steady state

Monday: 14K steady state r18

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Weather:  Stunning.  Sunny, cool, dry, light wind from the Northwest.  2 to 5 mph.  This was generally a cross wind, but always felt like a head wind.  :-O

Plan:

  • Easy steady state
  • r18
  • heart rate: 150 absolute, ease off at 145

The objective today was best stated by Dave C. in a blog post a couple years ago.

“Don’t piss off the boat”

Basically try to row smoothly, at low rate, in such a way to maximize the run of the boat and minimize the check.  This is what that looks like in RIM.

Screen Shot 2016-08-15 at 1.55.43 PM.png

The drive has a strong initial slope, there is no negative transient as I go from legs to body to arms.  There is no negative acceleration at the finish, and the recovery is very close to zero negative or positive acceleration.

The game is to try to maintain the stroke rate, and try to minimize the split time without driving up the heart rate.  I was happy with the way things felt, but I wish the boat was moving faster.  One thing at a time.

Tomorrow:  Schedule calls for a hard row, but I’m not feeling the love right now.  I think I will do another 70′ steady state session, at r20 and a 157 HR cap.

 

Wednesday: Steady State & Technique

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Weather: started sunny, then clouded up.  A bit of a breeze sprung up, seemingly from whatever direction I was trying to row.

Plan:

  • 4 x 2700m / 1′ rest
  • rate: 20 spm
  • pace: 2:25
  • HR limit: 155 (top of UT1)

myimage (61)

Start_|_Dist_|_Split_|_Pace_|_Strks__|_Rate_|_DPS_|_AvgHR_|_Remarks
00020_|_1040_|_05:12_|_2:30.1_|_110___|_21.1_|_09.5_|_128___|_dock to island
01051_|_2150_|_10:14_|_2:22.8_|_208___|_20.3_|_10.3_|_146___|_downstream piece
03201_|_0082_|_00:36_|_3:37.1_|_009___|_15.2_|_09.1_|_122___|_stop to talk to bruce
03283_|_0664_|_03:10_|_2:23.3_|_062___|_19.5_|_10.7_|_137___|_rest of downstream piece
03947_|_0064_|_00:22_|_2:48.7_|_005___|_13.9_|_12.8_|_116___|_turn
04011_|_2811_|_13:44_|_2:26.6_|_271___|_19.7_|_10.4_|_149___|_upstream piece
06822_|_0064_|_00:26_|_3:24.7_|_008___|_18.3_|_08.0_|_116___|_turn
06886_|_2754_|_13:34_|_2:27.8_|_274___|_20.2_|_10.1_|_150___|_downstream piece
09640_|_0074_|_00:28_|_3:05.8_|_007___|_15.3_|_10.6_|_131___|_turn
09714_|_0286_|_01:26_|_2:30.5_|_028___|_19.5_|_10.2_|_141___|_started upstream, decided I’d had enough
10000_|_0051_|_00:22_|_3:38.6_|_005___|_13.5_|_10.2_|_115___|_thought about life
10051_|_3685_|_21:26_|_2:54.5_|_390___|_18.2_|_09.4_|_136___|_drills

Dist__|_Time__|_Pace___|_Strks_|_SPM__|_DPS__|_AvgHR_|_Remarks
01040_|_05:12_|_2:30.1_|_110___|_21.1_|_09.5_|_128___|_warmup
08665_|_42:09_|_2:25.9_|_843___|_20.0_|_10.3_|_147___|_Main set
00335_|_02:13_|_3:18.8_|_034___|_15.3_|_09.9_|_121___|_rest meters
03685_|_21:26_|_2:54.5_|_390___|_18.2_|_09.4_|_136___|_cool down
13725_|_11:00_|_2:35.2_|_1377___|_19.4_|_10.0_|_142___|_Total

I was quite stiff and sore this morning when I woke up.  I think I dug deep enough in yesterday’s session that I was not fully recovered by 5:15AM today.  But, since I had a planned a low intensity endurance session today, I wasn’t too concerned about it.

I was on the water before 6:30 and basically jumped right into a rhythm at r20 as soon as I was clear of the dock.  I slowed down to go through the cut, and then got back up to speed for the roughly 3K down river.

I noticed that I was struggling to get anywhere near the paces that I was holding easily on Monday.  And stupidly, instead of just accepting that and rowing for form, I worked harder to try to hit the pace.  It made the session a bit of a grind.

When I got to the bridge, I caught up to a guy that launches from the same place I do and stopped for a quick chat.  He turned around to head upriver and I continued downriver another 1000m or so to the dam.

I turned to head upriver and again was having trouble holding my pace target.  I experimented a bit and at times, I was able to get long smooth strokes and a good pace without a ton of effort.  But it was spotty at best.  I definitely felt like focusing on holding a body forward position during the drive, and then opening my back was more efficient.  It was a little difficult to focus on that and at the same time keep my finishes early and crisp.  I have issues chewing gum and walking at the same time, apparently.

I spun at the upstream end and headed down to the dam again.  Grinding it out.  When I turned at the dam, I had every intention of just finishing up normally, but within about 500m, I was sick of it.  I was working hard and not going very fast.  It didn’t seem very productive, so a change of plan seemed like a good idea.

I decided to finish up with some technical rowing.  500m of square blades, 500m of alternating square and feathered, 500m of feathered rowing focused on balance.  Five 500m blocks brought me to the upstream end of the river, then I paddled back to the dock.

Thinking about it, since I pushed so hard yesterday, I probably should have done the whole session as a UT2, technique focused row.

Tomorrow:  Schedule calls for another threshold row.  4 x 2700 at r24-26

Monday: 14K Steady State

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Sunday:  A much needed rest day.  I had rowed the 7 previous days and put in some serious volume (88K on the water and 20K on the erg).  On Saturday, after my tough threshold session, we went out to Listen to The Boston Symphony Orchestra in Tanglewood.  We got home about 1 in the morning.

Back at it this morning!

Weather:  Beautiful.  Sunny and Cool, around 60f.  Dry.  Very light wind just rippling the water, from the northwest, which is basically a crosswind.

Plan:

  • warmup to the little island
  • 4 x 2800m
  • brief rest to just turn around the boat.  Less than a minute
  • rate: 20 spm
  • pace: <2:30
  • heart rate: cap at 150

What a difference flat water makes.  On Saturday, my average pace was 2:22.7 at 24spm and with an average HR of 165.  Today, my pace was 0.4 sec slower at 2:23.1, but at a stroke rate of 20spm and an average HR of 147!

The main difference was the wind and waves, but there is also a loss in efficiency as my stroke rate goes up.  I need to keep at the threshold sessions to improve my technique at head racing stroke rates.

Tomorrow:  4 x 2700m / 4′ rest, pace ~2:15, rate: 26

 

Friday: Long UT1 row

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Weather:  Awesome!  Sunny.  It started cool around 60F, but warmed up fast.  It was in the mid 70s by the time finished.  The wind was just like yesterday, around 2-4 mph from the West.  A tailwind going downriver and a headwind heading up wind.

Plan:

  • 90′ of steady state
  • rate: 20
  • pace: ~2:30
  • HR: <155

Start_|_Dist_|_Split_|_Pace_|_Strks__|_Rate_|_DPS_|_AvgHR_|_Remarks
00003_|_1201_|_06:00_|_2:30.0_|_124___|_20.6_|_09.7_|_132___|_warmup
01204_|_2784_|_13:14_|_2:22.6_|_268___|_20.3_|_10.4_|_147___|_tail wind
03988_|_0055_|_00:20_|_3:04.5_|_005___|_14.8_|_11.0_|_140___|_turn
04043_|_2818_|_13:54_|_2:27.9_|_280___|_20.2_|_10.1_|_151___|_head wind
06861_|_0078_|_00:31_|_3:20.6_|_009___|_17.3_|_08.7_|_133___|_turn
06939_|_2775_|_13:29_|_2:25.9_|_269___|_19.9_|_10.3_|_152___|_tail wind
09714_|_0077_|_00:34_|_3:42.7_|_012___|_21.0_|_06.4_|_143___|_turn
09791_|_2798_|_14:05_|_2:31.0_|_286___|_20.3_|_09.8_|_154___|_head wind
12589_|_0054_|_00:21_|_3:13.5_|_005___|_14.4_|_10.8_|_121___|_turn
12643_|_2822_|_13:54_|_2:27.7_|_279___|_20.1_|_10.1_|_153___|_tail wind
15465_|_0061_|_00:32_|_4:22.3_|_009___|_16.9_|_06.8_|_142___|_turn
15526_|_2315_|_11:46_|_2:32.4_|_238___|_20.2_|_09.7_|_153___|_head wind
17841_|_1683_|_09:14_|_2:44.4_|_183___|_19.8_|_09.2_|_146___|_back to dock

Dist__|_Time__|_Pace___|_Strks_|_SPM__|_DPS__|_AvgHR_|_Remarks
01201_|_06:00_|_2:30.0_|_124___|_20.6_|_09.7_|_132___|_warmup
16312_|_1:20:21_|_2:27.8_|_1620___|_20.2_|_10.1_|_152___|_Main set
02008_|_11:32_|_2:52.4_|_223___|_19.3_|_09.0_|_144___|_rest meters
19521_|_1:37:54_|_2:30.4_|_1967___|_20.1_|_09.9_|_150___|_Total

I’m happy with this session.  I worked within the HR cap and felt like the boat was running well.

Tomorrow:  2 x 5.5K / 5′ rest, rate r24, pace <2:20 on Lake Quinsigamond

Thursday: Easy Technique

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Weather: Sunny, hot – in the 80s, light wind around 4 mph from the west, generally a head wind when going up river.

I was out late for dinner with a customer on Wednesday night, so I decided to sleep in, and maybe catch a row in the late afternoon after work.  I was able to get out around 4:30PM and I was on the water by about 5:15.

I was originally planning to do a hard threshold session, but I’m still feeling a bit worn down.  I’m also working through some lower back pain.  I was dreading the session enough that I found myself trying to come up with reasons to not row.  Once I figured that out, I decided that it was too nice a day to miss getting out on the water to enjoy it, and reset my plans.  I would do a low intensity technique session.

I didn’t have a ton of time, so I decided to just do one lap of river, about 9km.  It’s been a while since I did a bungee row, so I opted to row from the dock to the end of the river with the bungee and then take it off for the row back.  The main thing I try to do when I row with a bungee is to work on my form during the drive.  I want to accelerate smoothly while maintaining a body forward position, with my shoulders relaxed and my arms not bent at all, then swing my body through, and finish smooth and early and get my blades out of the water cleanly.  The big thing is avoiding opening up my back early.  Paradoxically, doing this session with a bit of lower bak pain was helpful.  Essentially, my back would remind me with a twinge anytime I opened early.

I was surprised by the pace I was getting with the bungee.  I usually lose about 15 seconds or more off pace, but today it was less than 10.  Once I turned the boat around and took the bungee off, I understood why.  I was rowing with a gentle tail wind.  Now I was rowing into the wind and frankly, it felt a lot like rowing with the bungee.  I tried to just stick at an easy 18 spm, and ignore the pace as much as I could to focus on getting the drive right and enjoying the sunshine.

 

Wednesday: 13K LIT Technique

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Weather:   cool and misty.  Around 60F, quite foggy at the start, but cleared up as I went along.  Light wind <2mph, seemingly from every direction of the compass.

Plan:

  • 2′ Square Blades
  • 2′ alternating square and feathered by stroke
  • 2′ feathered – r20
  • Objectives:  clean finishes, balance during recovery (blades high!), full compression at the catch
  • HR guideline:  Top of UT1 (155), maximize time in UT2 (137-143)

This was a nice relaxed session.  Good balance and some very nice strokes.

75′ LIT

Tomorrow:  4 x 2700 / 4′ rest @ r24, pace target <2:20, HR limit 170

Monday: 16K Steady State OTW

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Up at 5:15am, having gotten very little sleep.  Gotta get back into this timezone somehow.

Off to Newton for my first OTW session since July 20th!  I decided that a steady state session to just get some meters in the boat.

Plan:

  • row for about 80 minutes
  • short <1′ breaks at the turn arounds for a quick drink.
  • r20
  • pace target ~2:30
  • HR cap: 155

Weather was cloudy, 70F and 90% RH.  Another recipe for copious perspiration.  There was a light wind 2-4mph from the east.  This was roughly a head wind heading down river and tail wind going up river.

Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 1.15.09 PM

I used RIM today to see what’s happening with my stroke.  Here are plots of a few strokes with a light headwind (purple) and tailwind (yellow)

Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 5.26.47 PM

Not much to see at these rates really.  At least it doesn’t look like I am lurging at the catch, like I used to do.

Heart rate was high and speed was slow, as I would expect after so long out of a boat.  I tried to easy up when my HR got above 155, but it got harder and harder as I went along to row that slowly.  Finally after about 12.5K, I decided to transition over to some form drills, so I finsihed with a few 500m sets of SBR and alternating SBR and feathered rowing.  This felt pretty good and I was happy that my balance seemed no worse for the layoff.

Start_|_Dist_|_Split_|_Pace_|_Strks__|_Rate_|_DPS_|_AvgHR_|_Remarks
00020_|_1072_|_05:32_|_2:34.6_|_108___|_19.5_|_09.9_|_133___|_warmup
01087_|_2765_|_13:42_|_2:28.7_|_274___|_20.0_|_10.1_|_153___|_head wind
03852_|_3091_|_15:17_|_2:28.4_|_298___|_19.5_|_10.4_|_152___|_tail wind
06943_|_2698_|_13:48_|_2:33.4_|_273___|_19.8_|_09.9_|_154___|_head wind
09641_|_2890_|_14:33_|_2:31.1_|_282___|_19.4_|_10.2_|_152___|_tail wind
12531_|_3407_|_18:21_|_2:41.6_|_330___|_18.0_|_10.3_|_148___|_drills

Dist__|_Time__|_Pace___|_Strks_|_SPM__|_DPS__|_AvgHR_|_Remarks
01072_|_05:32_|_2:34.6_|_108___|_19.5_|_09.9_|_133___|_warmup
11444_|_57:21_|_2:30.3_|_1127___|_19.7_|_10.2_|_153___|_Main set
03407_|_18:21_|_2:41.6_|_330___|_18.0_|_10.3_|_148___|_cool down
15923_|_21:13_|_2:33.0_|_1565___|_19.3_|_10.2_|_150___|_Total

So, not a bad return to the water.  Still working on endurance base.

Tomorrow:  4 x 2700’/4′ rest @ 24-26spm  (threshold)

 

Sunday: 4 x 20′ / 1′ rest

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Was planning to go rowing but I was still really jet lagged and had trouble falling asleep at a reasonable hour.  Finally fell asleep around 2am and got up around 10am.

I went and did an erg session around 3 in the afternoon.  Goal for today was to basically do the same thing as Saturday.

Still hot ~80F and humid 80% RH.  A real sweat fest.

Today, I was going for r19 and 185W.  Basically the same results as yesterday, but started at a higher initial heart rate.  I eased off against the target power in the last 20 minutes to try to stay right at the top of the UT1 band, but missed it by a couple BPM.

 

Wednesday: 3 x 30′ UT2/UT1

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Still in Shanghai.  I fly to Kumamoto early this afternoon, so I had time for a nice(?), long session in the fitness center.

  • 30′ incline treadmill (15% grade, 3.3mph)
  • 30′ Stationary bike (random profile, 15/25 load)
  • 30′ elliptical (rolling hills, 15/25 load)
  • HR limit ~150.  OK to exceed that briefly with variable load
  • ~1′ between machines

What a bore.  Listened to NPR’s “Ask Me Another” game show, and then a the “Daily Tech News Podcast”.  That got me into the last 30 minutes, when I needed a bit more motivation.  I switched over and listened to Steely Dan’s “Gaucho”, which brought me home in mellow style.

Screen Shot 2016-07-27 at 10.04.56 AM

Tomorrow: 60′ treadmill threshold run.