ROWED MY FIRST MARATHON TODAY!

[mmayzak]

I LIVED!

3:25:44.8

Nothing could have prepared me for the journey of pain that distance lead me on. After the second hour I was beginning to wonder why I even considered this... (the pin, it's all about the pin)...

Glad I got this done, I was curious on how it would feel... I am not curious anymore.

The only advice I have for someone wanting to knock this off... be hydrated.

Mike From Oklahoma
#GOROW

[Carl Watts]

Yes you cannot have enough fluids lined up. You need a row of bottles within reach with Electrolytes or a helper giving you constant drinks. The last hour is really tough.

[Edward4492]

The FM is no joke, good job Mike! Seems the danger zone is around 35k, you think "I got this" and all sorts of evil things start to happen. Very easy to "HD". And.....don't forget to print out your certificate!

[Carl Watts]

The FM is no joke, good job Mike! Seems the danger zone is around 35k, you think "I got this" and all sorts of evil things start to happen. Very easy to "HD". And.....don't forget to print out your certificate!

I agree, found it at 32Km if you try and get through it with no fluids you start hallucinating and the room starts to spin. Basically its a fail and you stop rowing.

Congratulations its a challenge just to finish one of these.

[gouldilocks]

Well done - good effort.
If you are properly hydrated beforehand you should be able to complete without having a water stop - not always the best option but certainly do-able.

Paul G

[Schooner36]

I am watching the Boston Marathon right now - the runners are certainly hydrating as they go.

[maestroak]

How did Ben de Wit hydrate? Certainly didn't stop while rowing consecutive sub 7's. Did he have a camelback? Can't imagine how much fluid he went through.

[mmayzak]

The evening before I just had some pasta, double serving of pasta actually.

The morning of I had a pre-workout drink with 2 scoops of dextrose and a scope of creatine EE. I also had a honey packet before starting....I did sip on the balance of my drink along the way... after I finished I could hardly stand, or walk.

I set the drag on 3 (DF of 83) and started down the path.

About 30K into my right leg/hip started aching ALOT so I had to adjust my recovery a little.

I was definitely dehydrated.

It was worth it on the eve of Boston.

MM

[Papy]

Nice one Mike, congrats on this milestone. I dropped at 34k on my first FM attempt on saturday so I can fully relate to your comments Great learning curve for the next time.

[jackarabit]

You never forget your first! Congrats Mike.

[DavidA]

I LIVED!

3:25:44.8

Nothing could have prepared me for the journey of pain that distance lead me on. After the second hour I was beginning to wonder why I even considered this... (the pin, it's all about the pin)...

Glad I got this done, I was curious on how it would feel... I am not curious anymore.

The only advice I have for someone wanting to knock this off... be hydrated.

Mike From Oklahoma
#GOROW

Congratulations.
It's nice to be able to tell yourself you accomplished a tough goal.

David

[Carl Watts]

You never forget your first! Congrats Mike.

Your not wrong, bit of a hell row however I think I made my first my last !

Still got to be easy for some people right ? top of the annual meters board they are rowing one every day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year or as they would say in our Tui adverts...yeah right.

[gouldilocks]

You never forget your first! Congrats Mike.

Your not wrong, bit of a hell row however I think I made my first my last !

Still got to be easy for some people right ? top of the annual meters board they are rowing one every day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year or as they would say in our Tui adverts...yeah right.

So you're basically saying that those at the top of the metreboard are lying/cheating?
I think they are genuine - when you look at the ages they are mostly at retirement age and have the time available - I don't imagine they will be doing the FM distance in one sitting either.

Paul G

[lindsayh]

So you're basically saying that those at the top of the metreboard are lying/cheating?
I think they are genuine - when you look at the ages they are mostly at retirement age and have the time available - I don't imagine they will be doing the FM distance in one sitting either.Paul G

I'm with you Paul - this is a Carl hobby horse. The queen of long meters Darlene Brennan has explained how she does it and it is witnessed by others and has been documented by Concept2. There is no doubt that she has done what is recorded over several years and lots of monthly challenges. It takes about 8 to 10 hours a day and is done in several pieces. Most of the others are retired as you say and some are members of the FIRT and are actually prisoners in French jails with time on their hands.

[mmayzak]

For me the marathon was a journey I needed to take... oddly it was on the eve of the Boston Marathon (and just a couple weeks before the annual marathon challenge from Concept2).

I think i'll row one annually (so I can get the pin ).

I think I will get one of those padded seat cover things for next time!

Looking over my time/splits this effort was at 2:26.2...23spm, slowest 2K was 10:17, fastest 2K was 9:07.1. Pace was key, hydration was key...the honey packet was a nice touch, I would have liked to have had more honey.

The goal was making the distance, not for a time... next marathon I row i'll focus on beating the time.

I did stop sweating after like 2 hours into it, which was odd?

Nothing will prepare you for the physical pain you'll experience, mentally it was just the determination to keep the stroke going.

GOROW