What OTW Training have you done today

[mikvan52]

As for my own training:
A simple out and back on a fast flowing river.
The Power Company (hydro) has opened the dam wide to lower the level of our river basin in anticipation of record rain coming (associated with Hurricane Irene).

We've even cut a swale (with a bulldozer) by our house to limit erosion. We could get 18 cm of rain tomorrow!

The purpose of my workout was to get comfortable with 2:12/500m pace in anticipation of a 16k race that I'll be doing for the first time..
It's a head race (I think) and circles around several islands in a small lake in Maine. The event is called "Megunticook", named for an Native American "Indian brave", an epithet meaning "sits on ass and rows backwards"

Back to my workout:
7 k out
7 k back about 2:17 average with much faster and much slower sections

I calculate from old results that (on corrected time) I could win if I hold 2:12 AVG for the distance..

[Rocket Roy]

My money's on you mate, you can easily do that.

[Bob S.]

The purpose of my workout was to get comfortable with 2:12/500m pace in anticipation of a 16k race that I'll be doing for the first time..
It's a head race (I think) and circles around several islands in a small lake in Maine. The event is called "Megunticook", named for an Native American "Indian brave", an epithet meaning "sits on ass and rows backwards"

How soon is it? I hope that the effects of Irene will have passed by that time.

Bob S.

[DonS]

Check out the entry form here:

http://www.rowmaine.org/pdfs/2011MegunticookRegatta.pdf

Scroll down for a map of the two courses. It's a beautiful place to row.

-Don

[Rocket Roy]

That looks like one hell of a course, I can see a lot of looking behind coming up, unless you have the rear view glasses.

[sander]

Exciting stuff all around:
Sander ~ racing
Roy ~ 'logging'
Byron - cruising

Those races in the Czech Republic sound thrilling.

How many men did you beat to take the 1x title?

regards
~ Mike

Start list: http://regaty.veslo.cz/display.php?lang ... 32&nzav=37

Not many, this was a regional race, 45 minutes from my home. A nice 1km though with a turn. And of course I row with Concept2 sculls.

No training for me today, but family day.

[Rocket Roy]

How do you find the sculls? What did you use before? How do they compare?

[sander]

How do you find the sculls? What did you use before? How do they compare?

Now: Smoothie 2 vortex, low inertia
Before: Locally made, like original big blade

My old set of sculls was not good. Blade didn't lock in well in the water and especially at the end of races I had to focus too much on blade work. Concept2 are much easier in that respect.

I have never tried Crokers, so I don't know how they compare. I hear a lot of good about them though.

Sander

[mikvan52]

Check out the entry form here:

http://www.rowmaine.org/pdfs/2011MegunticookRegatta.pdf

Scroll down for a map of the two courses. It's a beautiful place to row.

-Don

Bob S. : It's not until the Saturday after Labor Day..

They have great FOOD too I'm told ++ You can't beat Maine for being a beautiful place to row.
My club mates, Paul & Peggy, from UVRF have been going up there for a while and come back with exciting tales.

This year they're having a 5k as well as the long distance row...

[mikvan52]

How do you find the sculls? What did you use before? How do they compare?

Now: Smoothie 2 vortex, low inertia
Before: Locally made, like original big blade

My old set of sculls was not good. Blade didn't lock in well in the water and especially at the end of races I had to focus too much on blade work. Concept2 are much easier in that respect.

I have never tried Crokers, so I don't know how they compare. I hear a lot of good about them though.

Sander

For us men (around 60 years old)... The low i feature makes higher rates and pressure easier on an older body...

This group of scullers, of which I am one, seem to be preferring the smaller of the two blade shapes (plain Smoothie 2's instead of Fat Smoothie 2's)
I have access to both and find I can punch out some faster strokes with the Fats over the short distances but for head races... my body responds better to regular Smoothie 2's and.... I feel less agony maxing out...

I feel it's important to pay attention to the "bio-mechanical price" you have to pay from over-loading an aging frame (shoulder girdle for me)....

Clean extraction of the blade can be an issue too.. The Fats have a larger lower edge that can drag a little too much if one's execution of the release isn't adapted correctly...

[Rocket Roy]

What difference does the vortex make?

And if one had a strong shoulder girdle would that enable the use of fat blades more preferable?

This is a great thread!

[gregsmith01748]

Today, there will be no OTW in Massachusetts. 3 to 10 inches of rain and wind gusts to 70 MPH. Definitely a good day for the erg!

Yesterday: We did 18K (one and a half times around the lake) in a mixed Quad (2 men, 2 women).
3.5K - steady state, lowish rate (20?)
6K - steady state, with power10s, 15s or 20s at about 1K intervals
2.5K - pretty gentle, 3/4 pressure
1K - just me and joe rowing. Full pressure, high rate sprint for about 500m. Rowing a quad like this VERY heavy. Imagine Spinal Tap setting your drag factor "11" on a scale of 1 to 10. Like rowing a lead sled through wet concrete. I'm a bit sore today.
5K - steady state, with a final pyramid power10, 15, 20.

I was working on getting my grip improved. I was trying to loosen up my grip and keep the oars more in my fingers and less in my palm, with my wrists flat. On the plus side, my oar control was better. On the minus side, I have a whole new crop of blisters on my fingers between my palm and the first finger joint (6 out of 8 fingers)

Question: We are using Wintech UltraLight oars, has anyone else used these? I think the grips might be part of my blister trouble. The surface is different from what a concept2 oar looks like. It's a rough cross hatched red rubber. It's OK until my hands get soft from sweat, and then they seem to really tear up my skin. The question is...how much can the quality of the grips effect getting blisters on your hands? Maybe I should buy myself a set of good oars for Christmas

[Rocket Roy]

Today, there will be no OTW in Massachusetts. 3 to 10 inches of rain and wind gusts to 70 MPH. Definitely a good day for the erg!

Yesterday: We did 18K (one and a half times around the lake) in a mixed Quad (2 men, 2 women).
3.5K - steady state, lowish rate (20?)
6K - steady state, with power10s, 15s or 20s at about 1K intervals
2.5K - pretty gentle, 3/4 pressure
1K - just me and joe rowing. Full pressure, high rate sprint for about 500m. Rowing a quad like this VERY heavy. Imagine Spinal Tap setting your drag factor "11" on a scale of 1 to 10. Like rowing a lead sled through wet concrete. I'm a bit sore today.
5K - steady state, with a final pyramid power10, 15, 20.

I was working on getting my grip improved. I was trying to loosen up my grip and keep the oars more in my fingers and less in my palm, with my wrists flat. On the plus side, my oar control was better. On the minus side, I have a whole new crop of blisters on my fingers between my palm and the first finger joint (6 out of 8 fingers)

Question: We are using Wintech UltraLight oars, has anyone else used these? I think the grips might be part of my blister trouble. The surface is different from what a concept2 oar looks like. It's a rough cross hatched red rubber. It's OK until my hands get soft from sweat, and then they seem to really tear up my skin. The question is...how much can the quality of the grips effect getting blisters on your hands? Maybe I should buy myself a set of good oars for Christmas

I wouldn't wait til Xmas, do it now.

Byron gave me some great advice about blade grips, he'll be along soon to help.

I got blisters the other day when my handles got wet. That is the only time i have had them, apart from blisters on my little finger's end segment

[Byron Drachman]

Byron gave me some great advice about blade grips, he'll be along soon to help.

My 2 cents:

Our Olympic sculler told me that Staempfli grips are the best. They are orange and made of a soft rubber. There is some texture so even if they are wet they grip pretty well. It is good to clean the grips often, even if they don't look dirty. They don't last long but they are so soft and non-slippery that it is easier to use a lighter grip.

On the other hand, one of our local coaches told me he doesn't like the Staemfli grips. So obviously it is a matter of opinion which grip is best. Probably grips on club boats don't get replaced often enough. The blue grips with ridges, if they are old and should have been replaced, get hard and are tough on the skin. They are probably fine when new.

[Tinpusher]

Saturday:
Feeling flat. 8.3K total 1x with 1K in 4:23.0 r24

Sunday: Rest

Monday:
2K WU 10:04.3 r17.1 2:31.1

1K 4:26.5 r22.5 2:13.2 EHR 156 Paddled 500 in 2:46.0
1K 4:21.5 r24.1 2:10.7 EHR 159 Paddled 500 in 3:08.7
1K 4:21.9 r24.3 2:11.0 EHR 160 Paddled 500 in 3:13.9
1K 4:18.4 r25.3 2:09.2 EHR 165

5K paddle and CD 26:51.1 r17.9 2:41.6

12.5K total in 1:03:37.2 1238 strokes Avg r19.5 Avg pace 2:32.7

Tried the drinking straw on the stern. Surprised at how well it worked. Not much check on the recovery.