Training for the Holiday Challenge?

seanv2 · Post by **seanv2** » October 26th, 2009, 1:58 pm

Hello All, I am pretty new to the concept2, but want to attempt the 200,000 holiday challenge. Is this a reasonable goal and if so, any tips on training over the next month before the challenge starts?

For some background, I am a (relatively) fit runner who had been battling a recurring injury and looking to the erg for some cross training while I heal.

Thanks in advance!

sheehc · Post by **sheehc** » October 26th, 2009, 4:38 pm

So long as it doesn't aggravate your injury, it should be fine. Best bet is to try it and just be smart if your body starts to rebel. Remember, it doesn't all need to be hard pressure either. If you are sore, back off the pressure for a day, let yourself heal and live to row another day.

As for training tips, just slowly up your daily mileage. You'd probably want to be at 10k/day 5x a week to make that challenge easily. Again though, goals are great but healed injuries are better. Listen to your body and slowly push your mileage up.

djh · Post by **djh** » October 26th, 2009, 4:46 pm

For me, the 100,000m challenge is a better fit. That's 6 km done four times a week. That's my normal routine, and the challenge will make me hold to it.

I know I haven't answered your question. Try a 10 km row and see if you can handle one or two of these a week to bring your weekly total up to 50 km a week for four weeks. Personally, I find 10 km a bit too much of a good thing, but many other rowers seem to thrive on them.

bloomp · Post by **bloomp** » October 26th, 2009, 4:54 pm

I'm not sure of how familiar you are with the erg, but make sure you get your technique through the drive down pretty well before anything else. Longer rows 5k-10k or more at lower pressure are best for getting your muscle memory for the erg down.

Glad to have you rowing, the holiday challenge will be a good thing to start with for sure!

seanv2 · Post by **seanv2** » October 26th, 2009, 5:01 pm

Thanks for the well wishes. I have some experience with the ERG and some guidance from a former rower and the rowing doesn't impact my injury at all.

I take it then that I'm not crazy to go for this considering I am currently rowing around 2-3,000 meters a couple of times a week?

bloomp · Post by **bloomp** » October 26th, 2009, 7:28 pm

Well the holiday challenge is a month to do 200,000m or 7000m per day. At 2000-3000m per day you're really not working much at all. And if you are going full pressure, it's senseless to do short workouts without long workouts as well. As a runner, do you only do 2 miles of sprints per day?

Definitely try to focus in and step it up to 7-10k/day before deciding on the 200km challenge. Good luck!

gobrian77 · Post by **gobrian77** » October 26th, 2009, 11:19 pm

As long as your injury doesn't stop you and your schedule will allow you to put in the time, 200K isn't much in 31 days- last year was my first year on the erg- my biggest month prior to the January team challenge was 228K, and I managed 530K for the team challenge (I love having the instant info of the online logbook

)- I was #67 over-all, so there were plenty of people who did even better- 200k is definitely an attainable goal.

seanv2 · Post by **seanv2** » October 27th, 2009, 10:57 am

Thanks to everyone for the guidance. I'm going to try and up the meters significantly this week and see how it goes. Looking forward to learning more about the erg around here.