Early early start - scar healing well

So got up very very early today in order to walk the dogs - grab quick breakfast - and drive to work to do a 30 minute row - aimed at r22 and at the start wasn't sure how to pace it - started hard and got sub 1:50 split and then as the HR creeped up I decided on targeting 80% HRR (160) have to say it was bloody tough in comparison to my best and the pace - but got through it and that's all that's needed sometimes. HR dipped in the middle and I thought my v8 had come back on line - alas I think it was a low battery ... on the strap not mine.

Lunchtime CTC r24 – target 1:38 – 30r20 70%HRR pre work

Got in early this morning so went for a 30r20 70% HRR – little overcooked it but result was OK – 7704m 1:56.8 HR Ave 142 Max 151 (70% for me was 143 but guessing it’s slightly higher at moment as I am “untrained”)

Lunchtime wanted something more challenging so went for the CTC – r24 having done the r20 at 1:42.6 and the r22 at 1:39.9 pace I figured 1:37.9 would be a good target – so after upping the drag to 135 (was at 126) I went for about a  1000m warm up and then set off. Hmmm – that was a bit faster than expected – oh well best stick with it. Apart from the hands and feet and backside blisters I’m developing (not only the inners that go soft from lack of time on the mistress!) it wasn’t too bad – messed up the start of the 10th rep and a few reps I took the last stroke a little too early and had to watch the “predicted meters” reduce as the fan slowed down but apart from that and a lot of sweat all is well :o)

30r20 - kinda like old school

Couldn't decide on what to row at lunchtime - considered a r24 ctc shot but came to my senses and went for a 30r20 - instead of targeting HR specifically I thought I'd row to pace and see how I got on - target 1:55.0 pace and keeping a check on my back all went well. Ave HR was 140 which is below 70% HRR although I topped out at 156 bpm which is just over 75% all seems well with the back - but will continue to take it easy

When is a 2k test not a 2k test

When you bottle it and do a CTC rate capped instead ...

Went out to train tonight after a heavy weekend of household chores - not training at all since last Tuesday - life been putting the boot in in terms of time needed for extra ordinary "stuff" - but tonight I saw a opportunity to train so after fighting for half an hour with my old car to try and get it started in the damp (it's over 20 years old and don't like the damp ....) which I failed to do in order to get it to a salvage yard I then took the dogs for a walk in the damp and misty evening - sounds romantic unless your have four soggy dogs who insist on walking right next to you so you become soaked by proxy - did I mention it was damp .... So the "plan" was to do a 2k - target between 6:30 (ideal) and 6:40 (I could deal with) on the model B in the shed - so once I put it in place and organised everything else up there I went through the 5k warm up - although I got it wrong and had to restart it - been a while lol. OK 2k set up and off I set - got about 250m in and basically bottled it - not sure if it was concern for the back or complete lack of confidence in rowing hard for more than a minute or so at a hard pace - but I stopped. Thought about going again and reduce the target - but the thought went quickly as I turned my mind to the CTC - 15 by 1min 1min rest - gives a workout and gives me time to assess as I go - so last time was rate 20 figured r22 this time with a target of 1:40 (1:42.6 on r20) set off and it all went reasonably well - wasn't blowing too hard - did mess up a couple of starts (5th one in particular) and about 4 or 5 times messed up the timing and took the last stroke with 5 seconds left - still target attained and split. Also managed to get some lovely blisters on my hands and heels - actually that was something else that put me off on the 2k - the heels on the model B - I suppose its something the guys got used to. Oh back seems ok so thats good :o)

 

OCT C2CTC - r20

So saw the consultant yesterday about my back and he was happy enough to sign me off - still need to wait a while before full bore erg training can commence but he said I would be OK to do some small amounts if I was careful - so 15 by 1min on 1min rest (October ctc) and rate cap it at 20 to keep an eye on my form seemed good - started with a target of 1:45 and kept a conscious aim to listen to my lower back although there was an ache to be honest I get worse from merely sitting in the chair or car for more than half hour - followed it up with some stretching and all seems fine now :o) still won't be going to silly yet .... had the drag down at 105 which strangely felt quite heavy

In memory of Joan

Although I missed the actual day I'm sure she'd understand - I'm taking that view having never met her but heard and seen such wonderful things I'm sure she'd understand - my first row since the operation so took it easy and after starting it decided a truly fitting tribute would be aiming at hitting target as a 30r20 session :-)

Oh up in Dublin as taking our daughter in for a yearly check up on her heart (she was born with a hole in it) and EDS no major drama just keeping an eye on it. At the Clarion hotel in Liffey Valley - only walked in and saw the ergs but seemed reasonable. Was actually suprised as there was one guy on one erg and another lady got on one as I did my 30 then as I was getting off another two ladies where starting...

Getting a sweat on..

Out tonight to the shed for some light weights and then hopped on the bike on the turbo - changed the setting on the turbo from 7 to 4 (it's very high tech ....) and this seemed to mean I could spin the wheel s bit faster so kind of means that as far as keeping record is concerned the speed/distance isn't going to mean much - so if I need to track anything it would need to be HR and cadence I think - anyway got a great sweat on with it being 20c in the shed and 70% humidity - it's nearly October in Ireland!!

134ml/kg
HR High 174
HR Ave
TE 3.5
Ave Speed 49.8
Max Speed 57.2
Distance 24.9km
Ave Cadence 95rpm
Max Cadence 109rpm