Pondering the Beginner Pete Plan

[reuben]

Reuben, we all go through peaks and troughs. So many variables from worrying about others to warmer weather to changes in diet besides the more obvious items you listed. Re longer sessions, if you don't like them, I suggest you do as intervals and perhaps chop each up with changes in pace & rate to keep it fresh. Some like to listen to music or films to help pass the time (although I find that there is more than enough to concentrate on keeping my pace, rate and technique solid).

I remember you suggesting splitting the SS rows into 2 or more intervals with short breaks, 1 min or so. It's a good idea, but I know that will make the session last even longer, so I tend to aim for a pace that I know I can hold through the entire row. If I lower my pace by 1 or 2s, that's OK, even though it will also extend the time required. I'm afraid that if I stop I might not restart! Putting the handle down is easy, picking it up again can be hard!

I think that my (mostly mental) block is 10k. Above that and I start to dread the session long before I sit down.

I typically turn on a radio when I row, but there's only so much that it can overcome. I think I'm just tired of rowing, at least for now.

I am in exact the same phase of the plan as you and I have also been struggling with stagnation for several weeks now.
But while it's obviously more fun to make quick and visible progress, I don't have any lack of motivation yet.

Some elements I have picked up from the advice of others:
* progress is not gradual, so don't micromanage your progress too much and above all try to appreciate your sessions and realize that every workout will eventually contribute to better fitness, even if it's not visible now.
* if certain sessions don't suit you, don't do them, or try to modify them a bit so that they are more tailored to your personal preferences, for example by dividing the longer sessions into two or more parts.

And some thoughts of my own:
* Since I started the plan in October, I've seen several people drop out, but I haven't seen anyone fully complete the plan. So also be aware that it would already be a great achievement if you complete this plan, regardless of the pace you put down at the end of the plan. At least that is a compliment I will give to myself if I manage to complete the plan.

* Instead of dividing the long steady state sessions into several parts, perhaps you could consider doing them at a slower pace? If I am not mistaken you are doing them at UT1/AT zone now? AT zone in particular seems better avoided for steady state sessions, but maybe you could even consider doing these sessions in UT2 zone? Or depending on the shape of the day, alternate your steady state sessions a bit between UT1 and UT2.
Personally, I finished my last three steady state sessions in UT2 and found it less boring than I feared.
Among other things, this new approach allows me to listen to podcast because in UT1 I found that too intense.

I knew I was in sync with someone in the BPP, but couldn't remember who. We're almost there!

I certainly don't expect a PB every time, and I'm not completely surprised when I take a half step, or even a full step, backward, either. Periodic stagnation, even regression, is expected, but ongoing lack of desire or motivation is somewhat different. Maybe it's burnout, but that seems sort of ridiculous when others have been erging for decades. But we all have different limits in the activities we try, as they appeal (or not) to us in different ways.

After completing the plan, I had thought about testing myself a few times in a 2k to see what my limit might be, but that holds less appeal than it did back in week 16 or 18. I figure that I should be able to maintain a pace within 2-5s of the 50th percentile pace of my group, so maybe 40-45th percentile. Not a great achievement, but not to be sneezed at, either.

I've also thought that maybe we should have a separate "BPP - experience and summary" thread for future BPP participants. I'm sure that there's a lot of good information in this thread, but no one in their right mind will read all 133 pages. I think it would be appropriate for those who start and quit to post as well. The reasons could be the usual, such as work or family obligations, or others like boredom, injury, and so on.

I'll make it. I just need to muddle through these last two weeks.

Thanks to both of you for your support.