CRASHed-B - 2015

so - what happened - well let's start at the start - I wasn't 100% going to Boston even up to a few days before due to my wive and child both being sick along with my own earlier in the month of February. In fact it was literally a last minute decision to enter at all as the deadline came on February 2nd, 2015 at Midnight EST (Eastern Standard Time) - I hit go on my entry at 4am on the 3rd Feb which was an hour before cut off. Flights where booked on the 18th Feb - I planned to fly on the Saturday and basically stay on Irish time for the race Sunday (which was at 3pm - so 8pm Irish time which was fine for me) that all went well. Arrived and got to the hotel, checked in and hoped to grab a quick erg before they where taken away but as I got to the erg rooms the guys wheeled the last one out so into the gym and onto the elliptical just to flush some blood through. Quick shower then met up with Q for some food, also started to bump into the world of facebook rowers who seemed surprised to see me lol. Bed at ten and slept through till about 7 the next morning US time although I woke about half a dozen times I managed to drop off again quite quickly, although I did wake in a pool of sweat, soaked in fact, but put that down to the travel. Up and breakfast then over to the arena to watch the morning races, a twenty minute gentle paddle on the erg before heading back to the hotel to get ready. At the hotel I felt fantastic and ready to roll. Back to the arena and it became a little panic to get to the warm up machines but got through that OK and then into the toilets but wasn't able to do what was needed there TMI lol. Still feeling good though I got out to the race machine, set the drag, and prepared. Music was on and I was ready, then attention and row and we was off. Target was 10 hard strokes then back off to 1:31/32 pace and sit on that until the last 500m - that too went well. Then...

Well I just started to cramp in my stomach, even now I'm not fully sure why, possibly the travel caused some "blockage" down there, maybe I ate something, I don't know, all I knew was that a mild discomfort gradually got worse to the point I was in quite a bit of pain and had to stop, so the handle came down, I felt like I wanted to hide, but there was no where to go, I wanted to get of the erg and cry, but couldn't, so I picked up the handle and tried to keep going, in my memory I started and stopped about half a dozen times, I didn't want to, I just wanted it over, but the pains kept coming back and I needed to stop, I then started worrying that I might be putting the guys of next to me, but they seemed to be flying along which was good, I think I saw 500m left and thought sod it lets blast the last 500 at least - but again the pain - by the end all I could do was get off and try and get off the arena floor, i made it to the back of the commentary area and needed to collapse again, I think a few people asked if I was OK as they walked past, I have no idea if I acknowledged them or not, eventually I got up as I remembered seeing Bob Spenger in the seating in front of me during the race and I said I would talk to him after I'd finished, I made my way round to where he was but he'd gone (luckily I saw him later in the hotel) I sat down a few seats back from the rest of Q-Power as I couldn't get to them as people where sitting on the steps and I wasn't feeling to good. I must have spent the next hour or more quite some pain sat there. Couldn't move and didn't want to, Stomach cramped up and felt like it was completely solid at the same time it felt like I was being stabbed in it from both sides. Eventually it subsided to the point I made it to the toilets again - hoping for "relief" but still non found. So that was it - World Championships over and I've never felt so low. But - when you are at the lowest you've been there is only one way to go surely ? so onwards and upwards!

Must say a huge well done to Andy Benko for winning - and will say that even if my race plan had of gone as planned he would still be taking the hammer home :o) Also a big thanks to Q who got me in a position to get there that day with a positive mind and ambition to compete.

(this was written on the 12th March after some time to reflect - another thing I have taken away from this experience is a new found vigor for training - I don't feel like I look like an athlete who should be on the top spot and so have taken steps to change that - I will be back)

Pictures below from various sources 

Boston Pictures and Videos

As I find them I'll post them

CRASH-B – 2014 – Boston USofA

(If you want to skip down to the race scroll and look for the bold title)

Well I’m currently on the long trip home from the 2014 CRASH-B (In the air just over the Gulf of Main the pilot just announced) so have plenty of time to write a blog while I watch a movie or three.

First and foremost I would like to thank Q (James Bailey) for all his hard work, time, effort indeed his essence for once again getting this old fat man out to race with the young guns – I can’t even imagine the emotional and time investment he puts into not only mine - but also the teams endeavours - most of which I will more than likely never even know about it – so thank you boss.

We’ll cover a bit of the lead up to Boston – basically not the best prep as three weeks out from D-Day I caught a chest infection – that put me out of work and action on the erg for about two weeks – and gave me only a 7 day run up to Boston – one day of that I would be travelling. Still look at the positives – this would mean I would be plenty rested :lol: also couldn’t pick up any injuries and unlikely to get ill with two lots of anti-biotic and steroids inside me. Travelling to Boston was eventful to say the least – the day before I flew I was due to drop the dogs to the kennels – a 90min round trip which is normally simple enough – unless of course there are 100mph + winds that are tearing trees up and dumping them on the ground left right and centre – still I and the dogs survived. On the day of the flight I had to drive from my home to Shannon airport (2 hour drive) the flight was 13:30 so needed to be there for 10:30 really – set off at 07:00 and it was a wise decision as it decided to snow that morning for the first time this year – I arrived at 10:00 so still time to breath :-D on to the flight without too much effort and even got a row of three seat to myself. Landing in Boston I decided to take the subway as Jen Howse had given me directions that seemed simple enough from the station near the hotel – of course what I didn’t do is work out how to get from there to the Hotel :lol: so I asked a Police man and then after a stop at another hotel I got to the Marriot – huge hotel interconnected to a massive shopping complex. Met up with Q and a few of the team then checked in – room sharing with Paul Brew I awaited his company as he was still to arrive. Out to the cheesecake factory for a meal with those there and on return to the hotel I met up with PB and after a small erg to loosen the muscles we retired for the evening. Never really got over the time difference – Paul and I both woke comically around 4pm when we both tried to sneak a look on our phones while the other slept – trying not to wake each other - then the other woke to try and sneak a look on their phone thinking the other was asleep until we both worked out we were both awake and said good morning :lol: at that point we’d have a bit of a chin wag as if we’d been mates for years having really only just met – maybe that’s the Power of Q-Power.

During the two days leading up to the race we had early morning gentle paddles and then in the afternoon we did something with a little more oomph – not too much – just enough to keep us ticking over. Also had a couple of team meetings and discussed a few things prevalent to the big day and the coming year – all in all a well organised and most beneficial time spent as a team building for something quite unique.

********** Race Here **********

So on to the big day – seeded 5th I had nothing to lose – the plan was to go out hard and see if I could get a little closer to that magic number 6 – with reports coming in from the early races it was clear that Boston was having it’s usual effect of a few seconds so do I adjust or do I go for it – feck it I’ll start hard and see – pre race warm up timed to perfection and out onto the race machine – Ollie to my right and Rich Connell to my left – set the drag – took a breath and got ready – attention – row – we was off and I was hitting it hard – the first 500m I went through in 1:30.8 – but at this point my mind started to drift and instead of keeping my eye on the split I started watching the race – the problem was that we were all so close that we all kept flipping places I saw everyone’s name from Jordan Weide (Q-Power) down to Toby Ayer flick on the screen and it became mesmerising to work out who was where and how close to the upper positions I was – this was a costly mistake in the end – instead of hitting 1:32’s at this point I so a few 1:35’s and 1:36’s come up when my attention turned to the split – damn it – OK focus Paul – the HD thoughts came – I took 5 seconds to picture my daughter’s face and that was sorted out – time to dig in – I have a aerobic base bigger than most and I just focused on using that to get me through to the finish – it worked and we started looking at less than 500m to go – time to push on – the middle two 500’s where 1:33.1 and 1:33.2 respective – Wulf time – hauling the average split down from 1:32.4 Q put in the shout I was on for 6:09 – then 6:08 then 6:07 then I heard it “PB is on!! PB IS ON!!” and I pumped for all I was worth – alas I ran out of rail as the 2k clocked down to 0 meters – I finished not knowing my time nor my position but looking up and taking a breath I saw the 6:06.1 – bugger! PB is still 6:06.0 – OK where did I finish – 5th! Bugger – missed 4th place by 0.3 seconds (Adrian Quinn on 6:05.8) at that point other than Jordan on 6:00.3 and Toby Ayer (6th) on 6:07.1 I had no idea of 2nd or 3rd – (I later found that Rich Connell had pulled 6:05.5 for Bronze (0.6 seconds faster than me) and Marcos Sarmiento had 6:04.8 (1.3 seconds faster than me) double bugger – that will teach me for taking my eye of the ball won’t it.

Later on the Q-Power team entered the team event – really enjoyed that I have to say – if anyone saw it they may have noticed that :lol: we set off to hit the first 500m on a even pace and then waited for the call from our cox – Q- it came at 200m to go – we lifted our pace and a erg :lol: we won the event with Jordan Weide, Ollie Osborne, Paul Brew and myself (all had rowed 2k’s less than two hours before) rowed the 4k combined distance in a ave split of 1:30.4 – awarded some very special hammers for that one. After the last of the medal ceremonies I went to pick up the erg I had ordered and with the very kind help of Jen and Ian Howse and Paul Brew I got it back to the hotel. A team meal that evening and a few drinks – not too many though as I had the erg to breal down to get the weight distributed for the journey home.

A fantastic few days (even though this is the first erg comp I’ve been to where I haven’t medalled – but saying that I have probably taken more away from this than some of those that I have) – the entire Q-Power team rowed fantastically as did every one of those there – as ever I’m so grateful for meeting so many wonderful ergers – too many to mention – although it was nice for them to ask where the fat man went who was there two years ago – wait till next year as the chubby man is about to get cut :evil: I have plans on a few changes that need to be made – which I will talk about as they happen – but first the English

Good job I don’t fly very often after a race – I might overload the blog servers :lol:

Just landed in Shannon - now to collect the luggage and erg then get car and drive home ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz

My potted Concept2 Indoor Rowing history

Hi, I’m Paul although I also go under the name "Beowulf" which is my Concept2 forum name. It has become an adopted motivation name which I use to gear myself up for the "pain" sessions… and it might have something to do with traditionally fast finishes to races.

I am originally from Yorkshire in the UK although my father's family is from Belfast. I moved to Cork in Ireland in 2005 and have lived and worked there ever since. Before I moved to Ireland I weighed in at about 120kg (18st 12lbs). I played No.6 for my rugby club’s first team every Saturday and trained in the gym five days a week - weights and some indoor rowing for CV.

When I moved to Cork I stopped the rugby and took up an old sporting interest in American Football for four seasons but in 2009 I finished with this. Gym work came to a halt at around the same time. Then the inevitable happened and I gained weight, which somehow worked its way up to about 137kg (21st 8lbs).

I had to do something about it and so in March 2010 at the ripe old age of 35 I started back in a gym and after reasonable amount of CV work I got down to 127kg (20st 0lbs), but I needed more motivation and a goal. I was no longer playing rugby or American football and I needed a reason to go to the gym or I would get bored and start skipping it.

This is when a flash of inspiration appeared in the form of a "Gym Challenge" at my local gym. I only found out about it 24 hours before the competition (1km bike, 1km x-trainer, 1km run, 1km row) but gave it a go anyway. Now the run was not pretty, but I came fourth overall and noticed that my rowing smashed the rest of the guys. It was not long before I found the concept2.com website and realised that my 1k erg score was a reasonable time for the distance.

It was another short hop to concept2.co.uk which had a forum of people from around the world discussing indoor rowing, as well as OTW (on the water rowing), cycling and a host of other topics. My interest in the sport was further aroused by the Rowing Ireland Indoor Championships 2010. At the time I was fairly proud of my 3:10.6 1k and 1:25.0 500m… how things have changed. I was introduced to a few of the PaddyPower Indoor Rowing Club members (no affiliation to the bookmakers) whom over time helped me out immensely. Members of PaddyPower IRC are supposed to have some form of association with Ireland, but half of us cannot identify Ireland on a map and “once had a pint of Guinness” seems to be a sufficient connection. I became a member, it being my first indoor rowing club, and I proudly remain a member today.

So after a little work and a bit of encouragement I found myself entering the 2010 RIIC and managed a personal best over 2,000m with 6:20.1 and winning the bronze in the 30-39 heavyweight category. After returning home I realised I was hooked and found myself checking out the records on the C2 UK website I found that the Irish 30-39H record for a 2k was 6:07.1… it seems that I had my new target and set myself the goal of going back to the RIIC in 2011 and taking both the gold and the Irish 2k record. Ambitious? Perhaps. Achievable? Well, it was going to be fun finding out.

I also discovered that the English Indoor Rowing Championships were being held in January 2011 so I entered. At this point I was lucky enough to find my now mentor and coach who has become known simply as "Q" within the Concept 2 UK community (real name James Bailey). He put together a training plan for the run up to the event and mapped out a strategy for my race.

At this point I was still a relatively unknown on the indoor rowing circuit and certainly not fancied for a medal in the 2k so I was pretty much left to myself. After utilising the warm up Q had given me for the first time in a race context, I settled myself on the race erg and racked the drag factor up as high as I could get it (DF192; I used to train at DF220 until Q found out, went berserk, and brought me down to DF145). After the initial panic of the start I settled in and plugged along at just over 1:35.5 pace for the first 1500m, but as I came within sight of the finish Beowulf made his first appearance and within the last few 100 meters I overtook 4th place and then 3rd place to cross the line in 2nd to the sound of a shocked commentator bellowing "Oh look at the finish from Buchanan". The time was a new personal best of 6:16.7, the last 500m split coming in at 1:29.5. Watch the race

I also managed to jointly win the 500m (30-39H) in a dead heat with 1:19.1, and to pick up another gold in the mixed relay team.

After that things started to get rather more serious. Q persuaded me we had hardly started and decided to make a serious go of things. With a broad long term training plan which would run for some 3½ years , Q geared the next tranche of training towards the Irish Championships in November 2011. As an extra incentive along the way, I set myself the target of breaking as many of the Irish 30-39H records as possible and also the overall records if I could.

There were a few training hiccups along the way, something I have now come to appreciate are fairly standard given the training I was doing, but we seemed to be on track. Who said a few years of rugby and American football doesn’t take its toll. With the substantial (although steady) increase in training volume, and a marked sharpening of attitude and approach, I moved my training from the back bedroom of the house to a purpose built shed in the back garden specifically for my training, affectionately named The Temple of Q. After some of the hard sessions where I am out for there for 2 hours and finish up lying on my back too tired to get back into the house, I want to call it something else.

I have to say "Q" is an outstanding coach and has guided me to some huge PB's including a 17k+ 60min row. By the time we got to the Irish Championships in November 2011, I had taken all my age group records apart from the 2k (which the regulations provide can only be broken at a C2 event), so the pressure was on. The race went well and I won gold in a time of 6:11.8 (another PB), but not the Irish record we wanted - more work to be done.

I was entered into the World Championships in Boston, USA (known as the CRASH-B Sprints) in February 2012 - a long way to travel for just over 6 minutes of intense pain and suffering, but I had the opportunity to go and grasped it with both hands. Part of the motivation was the race in itself, part was a reconnaissance effort  for future appearances there, and part was to meet more of the hugely supportive indoor rowing community – a truly global and very friendly group.

I was pretty sure I was outside medal contention when entering, but I trained hard for the event and Q kept me precariously balanced between physiologically beneficial fatigue and total exhaustion. I was knocking out 100,000m or more each week and by February 2012 I was ready for it.

Travelling out to Boston as part of Team GB & Ireland was fantastic and I would love to go again.

It was clear from some of the earlier races in the day that conditions were slow. The air was quite warm and humid, the water vapour replacing some of the much needed oxygen according to Q. All I can say is that it certainly felt like it!

However all said and done, I put in a solid performance and won my first World medal (a bronze) in a time of 6:12.2. It was not the time I had been hoping for, even though I picked up a bonus trophy for being the fastest member of Team GB & Ireland. I believed I was capable of more. Q said he knew I was.

It was only a month to the British and European Indoor Rowing Championship in Nottingham but Q intervened with concerns about the way aspects of my physiology were developing (or not). Q and I talk a great deal and it is very much a team effort. He proposed cutting the speed work went from the schedule, declaring my racing season to be at an end, and returning to the long hard slog of foundation work. The reasoning and argument behind it seemed compelling, so a period of gruelling power endurance began. The concession was that I could go along to BIRC to race if I wanted to, but no training specifically for it. I managed to negotiate a three day taper.

Plainly the power endurance work was doing something since I could no longer get up the stairs after training sessions. I found a great deal of confidence grew out of the training and I could really feel the increase strength in my legs (which to be honest were pretty strong already) during the leg drive.

At BIRC I was lined up to race alongside Graham Benton who I knew was looking to take Steve Redgrave’s 30-39 Championship Record. Graham is out of my league - for now – and the pressure was truly off. I was seeded 4th, so no pressure to win, no pressure to medal. It was all about I wanted to get out of it and I set myself my own “personal” goals: my personal bronze was to break my 6:11.8 PB; my personal silver was to break the 6:10.0 barrier; my personal gold was to break the Irish record of 6:07.1. Q and I had formulated the plan, I had it clearly in my mind, and it was simply a matter of rowing my own race. I got the start and the first 500m I wanted and was able to hold the pace I needed through the middle 1000m.  As I came into the final 500m my average pace (/500m) was showing 1:32.7 but I needed a 1:31.8. It was time for Beowulf to make an appearance and he duly did - my final 500m came in at 1:28.1 and I smashed my own PB by 5.5 seconds, finishing with an official time 6:06.2 and a new Irish Record by 0.8 seconds. I also managed to pick up a bronze in the process - to say I was delighted would be an understatement. Even got a hug from Q.

So what next?

Well, I have only been in the sport for 15 months (a fact Q reminds me of on a weekly basis) and some of the competition have been doing this for 10 years, so there is a long way to go. On the immediate horizon in the 2012/13 season there are three overall Irish records that I have firmly in my sights: the 30 minutes, 10k and 60 minutes.

I had my eye on the 100k record but hopped on the erg in April 2012 and set an Irish Record in a time of 6 hours 46 minutes 7.7 seconds.I need to finish the 2011/12 Concept 2 Challenge Series where my Q-Power team mate Andy and I are fighting over gold and silver. Later on in the season I am hoping to break the magical 6 minute barrier for my 2k. I am now down to 114kg (18st 0lbs)…

 … and all thanks to Concept2, a gym challenge two years ago and Q.