Reflections on this season

[mitchel674]

This was my first full season on the erg. With a total of 1,367,959m I can honestly say I'm in better shape than this time last year. I'm not much faster on the rower, but my strength and stamina for my other athletic endeavors (tennis, skiing, water skiing) have improved significantly.

Thanks to all on this site who provide encouragement, wisdom and camaraderie to all of us newbs who are crazy enough to take up rowing.

How did your season go?

[KeithT]

This was my first full season on the erg. With a total of 1,367,959m I can honestly say I'm in better shape than this time last year. I'm not much faster on the rower, but my strength and stamina for my other athletic endeavors (tennis, skiing, water skiing) have improved significantly.

Thanks to all on this site who provide encouragement, wisdom and camaraderie to all of us newbs who are crazy enough to take up rowing.

How did your season go?

This was my first full season on the ERG too. Was a great year as I set a lot of PBs (including lots of newbie gains) and got to compete at the WRIC. This forum has been such great thing as people have patiently helped answer a lot of questions for me and gave me advice. I just finished a CF comp this past weekend and now thinking I am going back to more rowing like I did before the WRIC as I don't want to lose any ground and want to keep improving. I am super happy I discovered the ERG World and I plan to compete and be part of it for as long as I can.

[kini62]

This was my first full season of using the logbook.

2,896,962 total meters

999,247 on the skierg. Had I known I would've done the 753m last night.

[lancecampeau]

Second full season on the erg. Gains have become exponentially harder but I did manage to to set personal bests in the 100m, 1 min (347m), 500m, 1000m, 2K, 5K, 50K and 100K distances

1,507,258m for the season. Now its back to doing weights and cardio for a few months in preparation for setting new PB's in the 4 min (1200m or better), 6K (22:30 or better) and 30 min (7850m or better). Anything else is gravy.

[Erik A]

started the season with great expectations and was on track to 2 million meters for the season. then my elbow went on strike
so for the the season i logged 800k. all done in the first 5 months.
pretty gutted to tell the truth

[MartinSH4321]

No full season for me, first training was in the middle of june, so 10,5 months.
I got
1,455,959m, 106:45h on the rower and
1,267,868m, 43:28h on the bike.
I'm really pleased with that, especially as my structured training started in november and I wasn't able to row a lot in january and february due to a hurt shoulder and forearm.

I had some great improvements, once more: many thanks to all the guys who gave me helpful advises and helped me to stay motivated!

My goals for season 2019/20:
total rowing meters: 3.000.000
500m - 1:20
1k - 3:00
2k - 6:30
5k - 17:45
10k - 37:00
1min - 380
30min - 8.150
60min - 15.700

Some of them may be a bit (too) ambitious...

[Dino]

First season for me too, well more like half as only 27 weeks where actually rowed according to season history.

Season meters: 1,422,613
Season time: 105:30:57.3
Average daily 3898
Average active days 11,473

Definitely fitter, have lost about 6kg although this was not the goal, must balance training load with eating more!!
Really started in earnest with the holiday challenge and then my own goal of completing a FM in a time that would push me.

Not sure where to go next... happy with current fitness, more maintenance slant.
I think 1.5m to 2m for a season but spread out this time!
Other goals possibly 15k hour, 7:15 2k, and sub 19 5k, or just to get all the ranked pieces above 75% for age group.
Also not sure have finished with long distance stuff... although training time needed for these needs to be thought about first.
Thanks for sharing my journey with me so far!

[lancecampeau]

or just to get all the ranked pieces above 75% for age group.

This strategy has been a great motivator for me... I've hovered over 80 in most of the sprints and around 70 for the longer distances...

[Dangerscouse]

I have never been very prolific on the erg (I only row four, and sometimes three, times a week) and my season's total was 1,541,911, but as others have told me it is quality over quantity.

Quite happy with progress; entered two competitions, PBed 2k (twice), 30 mins and 1k (albeit I have never set a 1k time before), came very close to PBing my 5k, 10k and 60 mins too and I started to get the hang of higher stroke rates, although I'm still not very comfortable with them.

This season is about trying to get better at all types of distances and not just my preferred longer sessions, learning more about mental fortitude and still considering a solo 24hr WR attempt....it still slightly feels like an itch I need to scratch. Maybe a 100k TT first of all to test the water, especially now I have my own erg.

I'm keeping a keen eye on quite a few of us on here as it's great to see such strong progress, whether that's starting from a 10 mins 2k or a low 6 mins 2k, it's all about staying committed and giving 100% in my book.

[jimmyshand]

I enjoyed this season and good to see others did too. It was my second full one and now I've hit 4million lifetime meters it feels like I might be hooked on it. Did just under 1.5m first full season and just under 2.3m this season, which I'm happy enough with as it's more than the 40k a week I had in my mind as a baseline.

I have my own erg and that has helped a lot with getting metres in. My main things this year were.

1. I got better at going slower, but still not good enough at it.
2. I got better at going faster and hit new PBs I'm mostly happy with.
3. I replaced some of the bits on my erg and it felt good as new! (it's a new-ish Model D anyway)
4. I did quite a few HMs but no further.

For this season I want to row more, get fitter, eat better and have a happy life!

[thewagster]

First season for me too. Started on the 4th June - never even knew this log book world existed.

Managed 1351771m and got lots of good advice on here. (thanks for all the supporting comments.)
Distance Time Pace Standing Percentile Date Age Weight Verified Rankings
1,000m 3:27.3 1:43.6 253 of 1161 78th 03/08/19 56 Hwt No
2,000m 7:30.0 1:52.5 657 of 1966 67th 03/22/19 56 Hwt Yes
5,000m 19:18.0 1:55.8 408 of 2117 81st 04/01/19 56 Hwt Yes
7,660m 30:00.0 1:57.4 285 of 1445 80th 04/06/19 56 Hwt Yes
10,000m 39:23.2 1:58.1 300 of 1552 81st 04/08/19 56 Hwt Yes
14,651m 1:00:00.0 2:02.8 215 of 603 64th 09/15/18 55 Hwt No

I am 56 and was happy to get into the 80th percentile in several areas
I am going to keep going and have already improved my 2km time this season and completed a HM in 1:26:52, at 2:03:5 pace.
I think I am trying to improve all my times - and would love to get close to 7min for a 2km.

[Tenshuu]

Turned 30 at the end of March. Here is my history
2018/2019 619,702m
2017/2018 66,311m
2016/2017 87,634m
2015/2016 67,259m

Season bests
Date Distance Time Pace
02/09/19 6,944m 30:00.0 2:09.6 Rower Hwt
04/16/19 14,359m 1:00:00.0 2:05.3 Rower Hwt

Date Distance Time Pace
03/12/19 500m 1:44.4 1:44.4 Rower Hwt
03/08/19 1,000m 3:36.7 1:48.3 Rower Hwt
02/10/19 2,000m 7:56.0 1:59.0 Rower Hwt
02/04/19 5,000m 20:49.4 2:04.9 Rower Hwt
02/02/19 6,000m 24:47.1 2:03.9 Rower Hwt
03/18/19 10,000m 42:19.9 2:06.9 Rower Hwt

Mud Madness was a great month for me, a little suffer, but a lot of accomplishment as well. Lots of self improvement to be proud of, especially if you look at my previous seasons from when I first bought the rower.

[mdpfirrman]

Fifth year rowing for me. First significant injury this year. It took me off the rower for four months. I'm just able to get back into it.

I went from 7:50 in my first year to 7:11 last year and was hoping to be nearer 7:00 by the end of this year and compete in Paris. The back injury had me rethink my entire approach. Also, my stepson got engaged and they planned their wedding at the same time as the World Comps. I wasn't really planning on doing all that well, but wanted to place respectably around the middle of the pack. Now, it looks like I'll have to wait until 2021 and see where the competitions are at that year.

You'd think I'd be disappointed, but I've actually found the break a bit enjoyable. It's also less pressure on my training and, although I'm still training hard (my paces are slow), I've got a clearer view of being less competitive and more just about health and fitness. I'll also dial it down on monthly CTCs if I'm not feeling it (how I got injured).

Back to around 45K meters this week. All slow but I'm just enjoying rowing again.