Indoor Rowing on the Concept2 target was sub6 on the 2k as a 40 year old - now 50 and just getting some ducks in a row lets see where we can go. Previous Overall World Record holder in the 100km 6H12m39.2s ave 1:51.7 and Irish National Record holder in 30's 40's and 50's groups. Age group European & Irish 2k Champion and British Open 2k Champion
Showing posts with label Irish Indoor Rowing Championships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish Indoor Rowing Championships. Show all posts
Huge thanks to my beautiful wife for looking after our kids (6 week old babies take a lot of looking after lol) yesterday which meant I could row in the Irish Indoor Rowing Championship. Since the babies arrival (Adam) coupled with a new job (45 min to a hour commute each way) training took a hit, four weeks off completely and only back for two weeks. Also increased in weight (not a bad thing for the 500m but the 2k felt like I was dragging an anchor..). Wasn't going to go until the last minute but off I set. Was fantastic to see old friends and meet new. Amazed by the struggles people go through yet keep smiling. Signed up for the 1k, 2k and 500m. Everyone of them a close race but managed to win the three. So a gold medal for each of the kids. Lilly said she would look after Louis's as he's up in heaven. Love to all and to all keep going.
As I said a few days ago "I would rather go and lose than stay at home and wonder" and as Q said to me "Sometimes racing is about getting to the finishing line... sometimes the victory is getting to the start line. I think turning up and rowing a 2k of any description is a victory - you have been to hell and back. This is not about winning in the eyes of others, it is about winning your battle. That occurs when you take the first stroke. Nothing after that matters..."
I had a not very good session on Thursday I attempted two by 1k on 4min rest first 1k was aimed at 1:33 r30 which I hit (this was target for 2k) the second 1k was to be 1:32 r32 but 400m in I just felt it on the legs and stopped... But I've learned and this didn't completely disrail me but gave me a new target for the day. From looking at the competition I thought the 1k could be around 2:55 so I planned to start at r32 1:28 pace and I would do what I needed to do to win. If I have to bury myself so be it. As it turned out the guy I expected to be the main competition didn't arrive so I changed the plan to 1:30 r30 and see what was happening at halfway. On starting the race I noted that guys from the lower age group where showing on the screen but knew that one of the guys in front of me was in this lower age group and pretty sure that the guy leading was also in the other group. At about 600m gone I saw that I was in second and as I was pretty sure the leading guy on the screen was in the lower group thought I would just sit behind him .... that didn't last long and the pace came up to 1:26's and with about 100m to go I went passed him finishing in 2:57.8 - the second guy came in at 2:59.2 - it turned out he was in the same category as me - phew!
So the 2k plan was aimed at a 6:15 orinally as again I had it planned around another rower being there - for some reason he didn't make it - it was to be r32 and start at 1:35 pace and this was to remain until half way at which point I will decide if I needed to destroy myself to go for the win or if I can save some for the 500m. I ended up rating a little lower than planned at 30 maybe the 1k took more than expected or maybe the recent cold/flu - lack of training etc etc still I had the control and come the final 500m I simply kept the pressure on and controlled it home - a win but I'll be honest slower than I really wanted.
There was quite some crowd there ....
ahh the reason for the crowd :o) O'Donovan brothers
So then the 500m that itself will be a fly hard from the start and hold on to the wings of the angels. As I was lining up to get to the erg I heard the all so familiar "Attention - This is a emergency - Please evacuate the building" ... err no that's not right its Ready Attention Row! Nope there is was again and at that the arena was cleared and we waited outside for the fire brigade to come on scene and declare it safe - as there was apparently a fire detected in a plant room this took about a half hour or more. Still once back in I was even more pumped for the 500m - on the erg - music on and ... balls forgt to put the phone on airplane mode and the wife was calling - quickly chucked the headphones off and tried to focus - got a good not great start but think I missed first stroke - patiently waited for the pace to come down as I was hitting 1:16's but the average was showing over 1:20... eventually it came down and I was looking at a sub 1:20 finish up to the last few strokes - ended on 1:20.1 and my third Gold.
Overall I was happy with my day - it was about getting to the start as much as it was about finishing the races and to get three wins made it all the better - talked to some old friends and met some new ones and for that I am grateful. Also got three new t-shirts :-)
Well you can only plan and execute your own race - can't influence what others are doing.
Plan was 1:19 - first 100m 1:18 and then hold the decline. Had a great start but noticed I dropped to third pretty quick - no worries the other two will decline at the end more than me - one did one didn't - I did my part lol - through the line on a 1:21
Spoke to Damian after to let him know he broke the Irish 500m record and asked which age group he was (he looked over 30) he's 35 - bugger no chance of getting that back :-) big guy - little taller than me and more muscle I'd say - his first race so hopefully we'll see more from him
So waking up this morning with a 2 hour drive ahead I hear my daughter calling me "daddy, daddy, don't go to work today!" shes breaking my heart... Nearly didn't get in the car but she drifted of and so of to "work" I went. That is what today was about - a job - rowing a 2k from start to finish following a plan as best as I could - plan was hard start and settle to 1:32 at 250m then keep the 1:33's tapping away until between 500m and 300m before the end and lift.
So once at the venue and registered I took myself of to a quite place and sat down relaxed and waited to warm up - during which I noted the Irish Heavyweight team also warming up and a line from monsters Inc came to me
"if I lose no one will remember but if you lose know one will let you forget"
Not that I have anything against the young guys but it was more for me to remember why I picked the open and not the 40's group - it was the "I have nothing to lose" mentality also meant I could focus on the process and ignore the placing - I've rowed in races where I've been leading and backed off pushing myself to make sure I finished - it's a silly way to race in those circumstances. Not today.
Today was a job. And surprisingly I enjoyed it - stuck to the plan - I'll admit I wasn't it real hellish trouble (which I have been in 2k's) but that again what want today was about - I stuck religiously to my goal - ignored largely the other guys positions (although noted I started in first place and spotted myself in 4th or 5th most of the way)
Not to worry - wasn't expecting a medal - so with 500m to go I lifted - down to 1:32 and 1:31 and then about 300m out I went again and hit a few 1:28's maybe - still solidly in 4th by 14m I drove on to get a sub 6:10 score (my own silver for today - my personal gold would have been 6:07.7) 6:09.6 so 2 seconds of ideal time but walked away having completed a 2k inside 6:10 and nicked the bronze in the open at the same time ;-) still not sure how or who but one of the guys in the top three apparently stopped with a stroke left - be interesting to see the split data.
I'm currently chilling in my car - going back for the 500m open in two hours - time to let the Wulf out....
